South wall foundation
Entrance foundationTuesday, December 22, 2009
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
Cement has been poured
On December 2, the pouring of the foundation of the church began. The following pictures show the progress of that pouring which was for the west wall of the church. We have had some great dry weather these past couple of weeks and hope to see more progress in the coming weeks and months.
The first truck of cement arrives for the foundation pouring.
A St. Juan Diego medal was blessed by Fr. Kerns and put into the foundation.
Fr. Kerns and Kathy Yee are very excited to see this much progress.
The first truck of cement arrives for the foundation pouring.
A St. Juan Diego medal was blessed by Fr. Kerns and put into the foundation.
Fr. Kerns and Kathy Yee are very excited to see this much progress.Monday, November 30, 2009
Looking for that perfect gift?
Why not point your friends and families to the St. Juan Diego gift catalog? Just like buying a new house, you still have to buy the furnishings. We have composed a list of items that can be gifted to the church just in time for Christmas. What a wonderful way to honor Jesus, our Lord and Savior! Click Here to view catalog.
Thursday, November 12, 2009
Please pray for the safety of the workers
As they continue to work on the new church, please remember to pray for the safety of the workers. The above pictures show more work on the forms for the foundations.
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
Tour this Sunday - November 8
If you missed the tour a few weeks ago be sure to join us this Sunday, November 8 after Mass for another chance to check out the church site. This is your chance to get a feeling for what the church will look like sitting back in the trees. We will begin sometime after Mass, probably around 11:00.
Monday, November 2, 2009
More work on the foundations
The above photo is looking west at the church. You can see the where they have dug the walls of the foundations for the church and vestibule area.
There are forms on the left side of the above photo showing the round form of the outer church wall looking east.
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
Tours with Fr. Kerns and the Building Committee
Despite the rain, this is Oregon after all, Fr. Kerns and members of the Building Committee gave tours of the church building site on Sunday, October 25 after Mass. They plan to have more tours as the building progresses which we hope to post notice of here on this blog.
Pictured above, the outline of the church can be seen marked in white on the gravel. The altar has been marked with a couple of sawhorses and a sheet of plywood.
The retaining walls for the sloped portion of the lot have been poured (above).
Pictured above, the outline of the church can be seen marked in white on the gravel. The altar has been marked with a couple of sawhorses and a sheet of plywood.
The retaining walls for the sloped portion of the lot have been poured (above).
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
A look inside... a model of the church.
Model design and execution donated by Larry Eisenbach, parishioner. Thank you Larry!
The model does not show the backs of the pews, kneelers, ambo, presider's chair, piano and other details that will definitely be included in the church.
Sanctuary looking north
Entry area
Sanctuary looking west
South side
Forest side - west side
Entrance - east side
The model does not show the backs of the pews, kneelers, ambo, presider's chair, piano and other details that will definitely be included in the church.
Thursday, September 24, 2009
Rebar, gravel and pipes. Oh My!
(Above) Middle Lot showing some of the sewer pipes and materials for the retaining walls. Click on pictures for larger images.
(Below) Work being done on the lower lot to handle the storm water.
(Below) Lower parking lot.
Retaining walls for the middle parking lots. The green pipes are for drainage.
This is where the sanctuary will be. They are starting to add the "bowl" shape where the pews will be on the sloped floor. Photos taken by Fr. John Kerns.
Friday, September 11, 2009
"Love Your Neighbor" - Fr. Kerns Bulletin Letter
We all know that love of neighbor is core to what it means to be a Christian, second only to the command You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. (Matt 22:37-40). We at St. Juan Diego Catholic Church have an immediate way of putting this into practice, now that we will have “bricks & mortar” parish with actual, approximate neighbors along the perimeter of our property.
In some ways, their lives are being disrupted more than ours by this process with noise, traffic and dust. I have received numerous phone calls and emails with questions, concerns and curiosity. They are all very friendly. But for some, they have lost their shade, their quiet forested “backyard”, and – for kids – a playground. Though there has been some problematic activity on the property over the years such as dumping of trash and yard debris, the property has also had an important role for many children growing up in the area. Many, like Mary Johnson’s son, Tim, when he was little, thought it was “his” forest.
The response I hear most from neighbors is that they will miss the forest, but they much prefer a church to the multiple-unit apartments for which the area is zoned. One neighbor told me that she has not heard a single disparaging remark about our project. Another said about the noise: “No big deal. That’s just part of construction.”
Dave Kirk, of The Grant Company (our contractors) is the Site Superintendent and is a very friendly guy who has made himself very available to the neighbors. They have been following our progress with great interest. We had not considered that so much when we started planning our building blog on the web, which Bridget Becker is capably managing for us (see the link from our parish website: www.stjuandiego.org). But the neighbors refer to it frequently. One can even be notified automatically by email when there is an update.
So as we build and, in a year’s time, move in, we will want to be mindful of our new neighbors and how they are accommodating us. Again, they are intrigued and welcoming. May we build strong, friendly relationships with them for years to come.
Your brother in Christ,
Fr. John Kerns
Parish Priest
In some ways, their lives are being disrupted more than ours by this process with noise, traffic and dust. I have received numerous phone calls and emails with questions, concerns and curiosity. They are all very friendly. But for some, they have lost their shade, their quiet forested “backyard”, and – for kids – a playground. Though there has been some problematic activity on the property over the years such as dumping of trash and yard debris, the property has also had an important role for many children growing up in the area. Many, like Mary Johnson’s son, Tim, when he was little, thought it was “his” forest.
The response I hear most from neighbors is that they will miss the forest, but they much prefer a church to the multiple-unit apartments for which the area is zoned. One neighbor told me that she has not heard a single disparaging remark about our project. Another said about the noise: “No big deal. That’s just part of construction.”
Dave Kirk, of The Grant Company (our contractors) is the Site Superintendent and is a very friendly guy who has made himself very available to the neighbors. They have been following our progress with great interest. We had not considered that so much when we started planning our building blog on the web, which Bridget Becker is capably managing for us (see the link from our parish website: www.stjuandiego.org). But the neighbors refer to it frequently. One can even be notified automatically by email when there is an update.
So as we build and, in a year’s time, move in, we will want to be mindful of our new neighbors and how they are accommodating us. Again, they are intrigued and welcoming. May we build strong, friendly relationships with them for years to come.
Your brother in Christ,
Fr. John Kerns
Parish Priest
Thursday, September 10, 2009
"Oregon's newest parish begins construction"
The following Sentinel article was published Sept 10, 2009. Read article here.
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
Email Updates now available
A new feature has been added (and is now in testing) that will allow you to get email updates when this blog has been updated. See left hand column "Subscribe via email"
Saturday, September 5, 2009
Site Information
1. Where will the entrance to the property be?
The entrance to the property will be off of 178th Ave. Access from 179th Ave will be for emergency use only.
2. Can we check out the progress by going onto the property?
For safety reasons, we are asking everyone to stay off of the property while construction in underway. Tours will be arranged in the coming weeks.
Wednesday, September 2, 2009
Construction Underway! (see pictures below)
A few parishioners gathered on our property last Monday morning (August 24, 2009) to say a prayer with the excavation crew. Then they set about marking the trees to make sure they cut the right ones. As the cutter said: “I can cut ‘em down, but I can’t put ‘em back up.”
It is bitter-sweet seeing the beautiful and serene forest disturbed. We obviously use many natural resources for food, shelter and clothing. It is comforting to know that some of the trees will be incorporated into our church, such as the pillars. It also reminds us of the mystery of the incarnation.
Jesus, in his divinity, entered the order of nature – human flesh – to live among us. We take from the earth wheat bread and grape wine and they become the body and blood of the Divine Christ. We receive the sacraments of Baptism and the Eucharist and we become the Body of Christ in this world and we share in his divinity. We are now taking trees which have kept vigil on this sacred land since before our memories and we will incorporate them into the home of the Body of Christ. These are all attributes of the mystery of the incarnation.
The work over the next few weeks will focus mostly on excavation, firstly by cutting down trees and hauling them away (some to be prepped for our building, most to be sold for other uses). Then they will start grading the property. The hope is to get the “dirt work” done before any big rains, which make messy work of earth moving. So pray for good building weather.
A note about SAFETY: Please do not go on the property and just observe the project from the road or sidewalk. After a construction trailer is on site it may be possible, during construction hours, to check-in with the Superintendent who will issue you a hard hat and let you know where you can and cannot walk on the site. It is all very exciting to see such dramatic changes, but even at this point with logs on the ground and all kinds of debris, there are many tripping hazards. Perhaps we will be able to organize tours as we get more underway. But for the time being, please exercise the most caution. Thank you.
Your brother in Christ,
Fr. John Kerns
Parish Priest
(from the letter in the bulletin dated August 30, 2009)
.JPG)
The upper area where the church will be located. Large logs on the right will be used as pillars. (pictured below)
.JPG)
Panoramic view from the lower portion of the property where the parking will be located.
It is bitter-sweet seeing the beautiful and serene forest disturbed. We obviously use many natural resources for food, shelter and clothing. It is comforting to know that some of the trees will be incorporated into our church, such as the pillars. It also reminds us of the mystery of the incarnation.
Jesus, in his divinity, entered the order of nature – human flesh – to live among us. We take from the earth wheat bread and grape wine and they become the body and blood of the Divine Christ. We receive the sacraments of Baptism and the Eucharist and we become the Body of Christ in this world and we share in his divinity. We are now taking trees which have kept vigil on this sacred land since before our memories and we will incorporate them into the home of the Body of Christ. These are all attributes of the mystery of the incarnation.
The work over the next few weeks will focus mostly on excavation, firstly by cutting down trees and hauling them away (some to be prepped for our building, most to be sold for other uses). Then they will start grading the property. The hope is to get the “dirt work” done before any big rains, which make messy work of earth moving. So pray for good building weather.
A note about SAFETY: Please do not go on the property and just observe the project from the road or sidewalk. After a construction trailer is on site it may be possible, during construction hours, to check-in with the Superintendent who will issue you a hard hat and let you know where you can and cannot walk on the site. It is all very exciting to see such dramatic changes, but even at this point with logs on the ground and all kinds of debris, there are many tripping hazards. Perhaps we will be able to organize tours as we get more underway. But for the time being, please exercise the most caution. Thank you.
Your brother in Christ,
Fr. John Kerns
Parish Priest
(from the letter in the bulletin dated August 30, 2009)
.JPG)
The upper area where the church will be located. Large logs on the right will be used as pillars. (pictured below)
.JPG)
Panoramic view from the lower portion of the property where the parking will be located.
Monday, June 29, 2009
First Mass on Church Property
It was a bit chilly and damp (it is Oregon after all) but as you can see we had a nice turnout for the very first Mass held on the church property (June 20, 2009). We plan to continue having Mass on Saturday mornings until the construction begins. So the next Mass with be July 4 at 8 AM.
Friday, June 12, 2009
Article in the Catholic Sentinel
There was an article in this week's Catholic Sentinel about the Ground Blessing.
Monday, June 8, 2009
NEWS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
For More Information, Contact:
Kathy Yee, St. Juan Diego Church Pastoral Associate
(503) 644-1617 / kyee@stjuandiego.org
Archbishop John G. Vlazny celebrates Mass with the newest Catholic Parish in the Archdiocese and blesses the building site for their new church.
Archbishop John G. Vlazny will celebrate Mass with St. Juan Diego Church on Sunday, June 7, 2009 at 9:30 AM in the gymnasium of Portland Community College’s Rock Creek Campus, 17705 NW Springville Road. The celebration includes a procession with the Archbishop, founding pastor, Father John Kerns and parishioners to a five acre plot of land, the site where which construction begins this summer for the parish’s new church. This is the first church to be built in the Archdiocese since St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Church was established in 1982 in Aloha, Oregon.
The land was purchased in the early 1980’s by the late Father Joseph M. McMahon of St. Pius X Church in the Cedar Hills neighborhood of NW Portland. Father McMahon witnessed the growth in this suburban community and foresaw the eventual need for another parish. The land is located near the PCC Rock Creek Campus on the corner of 178th and Springville Road.
Phase I construction will provide 11,500 square feet representing the sanctuary with pews for 450 people, a narthex, restrooms, sacristy room, reconciliation room and office space. The seating has been designed to accommodate upwards of 650 people within the structure. Phase I construction will last approximately one year. In the future, Phase II includes a community center and the capability to seat 800 people.
Background:
Previously of All Saints Church in NE Portland, Father Kerns accepted his appointment by Archbishop Vlazny to start a new parish on July 1, 2002. The church is named after Saint Juan Diego who was canonized by Pope John Paul II in Mexico City on July 31 2002. The Archbishop declared this date the foundation of the parish.
On Monday, December 9, 2002, on the Feast of St. Juan Diego, the parish held its first Mass at Christ Church in Hillsboro. After a lengthy search for a facility to hold Mass in regularly, PCC Rock Creek agreed to rent to them and on Palm Sunday, April 13, 2003, the parish celebrated its first Sunday Mass in the school’s gymnasium.
Currently, Father Kerns’ home acts as the rectory and office space is donated by St. Pius X Church in their Community Center. Saturday evening Mass is held at St. Gabriel’s Episcopal Church at 17435 NW West Union Road and Sunday Mass remains in PCC’s Rock Creek gymnasium.
Seven years since the parish was founded, there are 450 registered families, active religious education programs and ministry services. 5% of the weekly offertory is allotted to St. Juan Diego Church’s Social Justice Committee for outreach programs in the community as well.
Mass and Blessing of the Grounds
PCC Rock Creek Gymnasium, 17705 NW Springville Road
Sunday, June 7 @ 9:30 AM
For More Information, Contact:
Kathy Yee, St. Juan Diego Church Pastoral Associate
(503) 644-1617 / kyee@stjuandiego.org
Archbishop John G. Vlazny celebrates Mass with the newest Catholic Parish in the Archdiocese and blesses the building site for their new church.
Archbishop John G. Vlazny will celebrate Mass with St. Juan Diego Church on Sunday, June 7, 2009 at 9:30 AM in the gymnasium of Portland Community College’s Rock Creek Campus, 17705 NW Springville Road. The celebration includes a procession with the Archbishop, founding pastor, Father John Kerns and parishioners to a five acre plot of land, the site where which construction begins this summer for the parish’s new church. This is the first church to be built in the Archdiocese since St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Church was established in 1982 in Aloha, Oregon.
The land was purchased in the early 1980’s by the late Father Joseph M. McMahon of St. Pius X Church in the Cedar Hills neighborhood of NW Portland. Father McMahon witnessed the growth in this suburban community and foresaw the eventual need for another parish. The land is located near the PCC Rock Creek Campus on the corner of 178th and Springville Road.
Phase I construction will provide 11,500 square feet representing the sanctuary with pews for 450 people, a narthex, restrooms, sacristy room, reconciliation room and office space. The seating has been designed to accommodate upwards of 650 people within the structure. Phase I construction will last approximately one year. In the future, Phase II includes a community center and the capability to seat 800 people.
Background:
Previously of All Saints Church in NE Portland, Father Kerns accepted his appointment by Archbishop Vlazny to start a new parish on July 1, 2002. The church is named after Saint Juan Diego who was canonized by Pope John Paul II in Mexico City on July 31 2002. The Archbishop declared this date the foundation of the parish.
On Monday, December 9, 2002, on the Feast of St. Juan Diego, the parish held its first Mass at Christ Church in Hillsboro. After a lengthy search for a facility to hold Mass in regularly, PCC Rock Creek agreed to rent to them and on Palm Sunday, April 13, 2003, the parish celebrated its first Sunday Mass in the school’s gymnasium.
Currently, Father Kerns’ home acts as the rectory and office space is donated by St. Pius X Church in their Community Center. Saturday evening Mass is held at St. Gabriel’s Episcopal Church at 17435 NW West Union Road and Sunday Mass remains in PCC’s Rock Creek gymnasium.
Seven years since the parish was founded, there are 450 registered families, active religious education programs and ministry services. 5% of the weekly offertory is allotted to St. Juan Diego Church’s Social Justice Committee for outreach programs in the community as well.
Mass and Blessing of the Grounds
PCC Rock Creek Gymnasium, 17705 NW Springville Road
Sunday, June 7 @ 9:30 AM
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
Christ be our Light
When I was reflecting on where to go next with the blog... this song came to my mind
Longing for light, we wait in darkness.
Longing for truth, we turn to you.
Make us your own, your holy people,
light for the world to see.
Christ, be our light!
Shine in our hearts.
Shine through the darkness.
Christ, be our light!
Shine in your church gathered today.
If you'd like to listen to the song, Christ Be Our Light.
Longing for light, we wait in darkness.
Longing for truth, we turn to you.
Make us your own, your holy people,
light for the world to see.
Christ, be our light!
Shine in our hearts.
Shine through the darkness.
Christ, be our light!
Shine in your church gathered today.
If you'd like to listen to the song, Christ Be Our Light.
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
Inspiration
So you may be wondering about the design now that you've seen the actual 2009 Paschal Candle. I hinted about the inspiration coming from our pilgrimage to Mexico City earlier this year. While on pilgrimage we spent time understanding the culture on St. Juan Diego and the indigenous people of that area around the early 1500's. We saw lots of stone carvings and so that is where I went with this design. I choose the color grey to represent the stone that was used during the time of Juan Diego. Then I set out to find images that I thought represented the Paschal mystery. The picture below has images which I found and used on the candle to represent water and the Holy Spirit - the waters of baptism and the power of the Holy Spirit.
Monday, April 13, 2009
Now begins the Easter Season
I love that Easter is not just one day... for us Catholics we have from now until Pentecost for our Easter Celebration. This also means that the paschal candle will be lit at all services from Easter Day through to Pentecost, when the Church celebrates the coming of the Holy Spirit, marking the conclusion of the Easter season, the "Great Fifty Days" of Easter.
Proclaiming the resurrection of Jesus, the paschal candle remains in its place in the sanctuary or near the ambo until Pentecost. After Pentecost, throughout the rest of the year the candle is bit at every baptism and funeral celebrated by our parish. At baptisms it is used to light the candles that represent the light of Christ.
Proclaiming the resurrection of Jesus, the paschal candle remains in its place in the sanctuary or near the ambo until Pentecost. After Pentecost, throughout the rest of the year the candle is bit at every baptism and funeral celebrated by our parish. At baptisms it is used to light the candles that represent the light of Christ.
Sunday, April 12, 2009
Alleluia!
Our Saturday Easter Vigil Mass was beautiful! We welcomed 6 adults and 5 children into our church. Jesus is relevant today as we witnessed the "Yes" proclaimed by those who were baptized. The light of Christ was shining bright in the hearts of everyone and as you can see in the following pictures of this year's Paschal Candle!
Above: The initial lighting of the candle from the Easter fire. Here Fr. Kerns is outlining the cross as he recites the prayer said over the candle (see post on April 7)
Below: We have Deacon John Riherd assisting Fr. Kerns as the candle is dipped into the baptismal font three times. (see post on April 9 for prayer)
Friday, April 10, 2009
Good Friday
Dear Heavenly Father,As the Paschal candle remains dark this Good Friday waiting for the first light of our Easter celebrations, we wait in solemn reflection and ask You to prepare our hearts for the immense joy of Christ's resurrection. A Paschal candle truly represents Your Son's steadfast presence in our midst, its flickering flame dancing with light and warmth to illuminate our shadowed world. In the splendor of this holy time, we pass over from sin to forgiveness, from death to life, from coldness to warmth, from despair to hope, from darkness to light.
May the Paschal candle always be a sign of Your presence among us as an enduring reminder of the love and sacrifice of Your Son, Jesus Christ. In Jesus' name we pray.
Amen.
In Him was life; and the life was the light of men.
And the light shines in the darkness,
and the darkness has not overcome it.
John 1:4-5Illustration 1999 S. Erspamer
Thursday, April 9, 2009
Holy Thursday
So when he had washed their feet and put his garments back on and reclined at table again, he said to them, "Do you realize what I have done for you?You call me 'teacher' and 'master,' and rightly so, for indeed I am.If I, therefore, the master and teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash one another's feet.I have given you a model to follow, so that as I have done for you, you should also do." John 13:12-15
The above passage is taken from the Gospel that will be read at this evening Mass of the Lord's Supper, Holy Thursday. We hear the story of Jesus washing the feet of the disciples. Tonight's ritual of the washing of the feet is about service through the washing with water and on Saturday it will be about birth to new life through fire and water. At the beginning of the Easter Vigil liturgy the priest lights and blesses the "new fire" outside the sanctuary. He then uses the blessed flame to kindle the Paschal Candle, a large candle which symbolizes the Risen Christ. Later on, the priest blesses the water of the baptismal font in preparation for the baptism of catechumens and dips the bottom part of the Candle into the font three times, invoking Jesus Christ to send the Holy Spirit upon the water. After this, he proceeds to baptize the catechumens. The following prayer is recited while the candle is dipped three times into the water.
The above passage is taken from the Gospel that will be read at this evening Mass of the Lord's Supper, Holy Thursday. We hear the story of Jesus washing the feet of the disciples. Tonight's ritual of the washing of the feet is about service through the washing with water and on Saturday it will be about birth to new life through fire and water. At the beginning of the Easter Vigil liturgy the priest lights and blesses the "new fire" outside the sanctuary. He then uses the blessed flame to kindle the Paschal Candle, a large candle which symbolizes the Risen Christ. Later on, the priest blesses the water of the baptismal font in preparation for the baptism of catechumens and dips the bottom part of the Candle into the font three times, invoking Jesus Christ to send the Holy Spirit upon the water. After this, he proceeds to baptize the catechumens. The following prayer is recited while the candle is dipped three times into the water.
We ask you,
Father,
with your Son
to send the Holy Spirit
upon the waters of this font.
May all who are buried with Christ
with your Son
to send the Holy Spirit
upon the waters of this font.
May all who are buried with Christ
in the death of baptism
rise also with him to newness of life.
We ask this through Christ our Lord.
All: Amen.
rise also with him to newness of life.
We ask this through Christ our Lord.
All: Amen.
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
Lent is coming to an end
As we finish up the candles for the Easter Vigil, I am reminded that Lent will be ending tomorrow evening. I still have a mess on my craft table from working on the candles as you can see in the picture below. Roger has polished the Paschal Candle so it is ready to go for Saturday evening. I've decided not to post a picture of the actual candle until Saturday so check back then.
I read an interesting article in this months issue of Living with Christ" which I will include bits of for you to enjoy also.
The Size of the Paschal Candle Early Christians rather naturally viewed the kindling of the new fire at the Easter Vigil as a symbol of the presence of their resurrected Lord, the new "pillar of fire" (see Exodus 12:21-22). Thus, the candle grew in size so as to merit the attribution of pillar mentioned in the Exsultet.
There have been paschal candles weighing more than 300 pounds. In the medieval church they often reached astonishing sizes. For example, the paschal candle at Salisbury Cathedral was said to be 36 feet tall! Remember our Paschal Candle is about 4 feet tall and weighs around 9 pounds.
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
Lighting of the Candle
The first part of the Easter Vigil is the Service of Light. Our Paschal Candle will be lit from the fire and the following prayer will be read:
Christ yesterday and today
beginning and the end
Alpha and Omega
all time belongs to him
and all the ages
to him be glory and power
through every age forever.
Amen.
During this prayer the priest will trace the vertical arm of the cross, the horizontal arm , the alpha above the cross, the omega below the cross, the '2' upper left, the '0' upper right, the '0' lower left and the '9' lower right.
The Symbols: The paschal candle is inscribed with a cross, the current year (traced on the four side of the cross), and the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet: an alpha (A) above the cross and an omega below. The symbols on the cross reinforce the point that Christ is present among us now and throughout eternity. Christ is the same yesterday and today, the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End (Revelations 21:6;22:13)
Monday, April 6, 2009
Candle from 2008
Last year I tried a new technique for the design of the Paschal Candle. A friend at Holy Redeemer was showing me their candle and I was very intrigue by the design. An artist had used thin colored wax sheets to cut out the design and then pressed it onto the candle. Wax sticks to wax very well. So I purchased some of these sheets and got out my exacto knife and began cutting. The upper band represents fire, flames and the Holy Spirit while the lower band represents the waters of baptism. In the middle, we have the cross, current year and the Alpha and Omega symbols. This years candle will also incorporate these thin wax sheets which you will see come Easter.
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