A rally for teens and young adults offers much-needed spiritual nourishment A band comprised of David and Dawn Bentz and Alex and Mary Nelson plays during praise and worship for youths and young adults Jan. 22. Davidâs brother, Fr. Mark Bentz, was a speaker at the Salem gathering. (Courtesy Greg Jones)
select Fr. Mark Bentz, pastor of St. Alice Parish in Springfield, prays during eucharistic adoration at a Jan. 22 rally for teens and young adults in Salem. Events like the rally can be transformative, said the priest, who discovered his vocation while at a retreat. (Courtesy Greg Jones) Young Oregon Catholics recently stepped away from their computers, tablets and smartphones in some ways lifelines during the pandemic to encounter what ultimately sustains life: sacraments, prayer and in-the-flesh friendship.
Parents spreading wonder of Catholic teaching on body and personhood Merry Irwin and her seventh grade daughter Mary, of St. Francis Parish in Sherwood, work on a painting of a pregnant Virgin Mary during a gathering of mothers and children who are part of the new Theology of the Body Parent School. The project aims to educate parents on Catholic teaching about personhood and then pass that along to children. 1/28/2021 4:43 PM
select Luke Caron, a first grader at Our Lady of the Lake School in Lake Oswego, holds a painting of the Virgin Mary made during a gathering of moms and children associated with the Theology of the Body Parent School. The new project seeks to educate parents on the richness of Catholic teaching about personhood. (Photos courtesy Lindsay Caron)
Portland church gathers more than 12,000 pounds of food for Portlanders in need Volunteers at St. Rose of Lima Parish in Northeast Portland organize food in the church parking lot recently. The parishâs food drive is one event in a pre-Thanksgiving to Christmas tradition that results in thousands of pounds of food for those in need. (Courtesy St. Rose of Lima Parish) 12/22/2020 8:35 AM
select St. Rose parishioners, including Heidi Hodge, sort and stock food to be delivered to six Northeast Portland neighborhoods as part of the parishâs annual food drive. (Courtesy St. Rose of Lima Parish)
More than 100 volunteers from St. Rose of Lima Church gathered outside recently distanced and masked to obtain food drive assignments. They then fanned out to canvass six Northeast Portland neighborhoods for nonperishable food donations. The Nov. 21 food drive is just one event in a pre-Thanksgiving to Christmas tradition that res