HISTORY SKETCH
In January, 1910, Bishop Charles Joseph O'Reilly,
First Bishop of Baker City Diocese, secured land for a Catholic
Church. Through his efforts, the Capuchin Fathers came here and on
February 20, 1910, Father Luke Sheehan said Mass in Umatilla and on
the 21st in Hermiston. November 13, 1910, the Church at Hermiston
was dedicated. It was a two-story building and served both as church
and rectory.
In 1913, The Maxwell Land and Irrigation Co. donated "the west
one-half of Block G" in the second addition to the original town of
Hermiston, to the Franciscan Capuchin Order of the Diocese of Baker
City. In December, 1914, first purchases of material for the new
church began. October, 1924, the old rectory was moved next to the
new church. The property it had stood on was deeded back to the city
and is part of the land The Good Shepherd Hospital is now on. In
1925, this Church and rectory was dedicated in honor of Our Lady of
Angels. This was the first Church in America for the Franciscan
Fathers of the Capuchin Reform, who came here from Ireland.
After being dedicated to our Lady, Father Dominic O'Connor placed a
statue of her over the altar. In 1927, Bishop Joseph F. McGrath
consecrated the church. The Relics of St. Auralis, Martyr, and St.
Aelodore, Martyr, were inserted in the Sepulchre of the altar with
the necessary documents. This was the first occasion on which a
church was consecrated in this Diocese.
In 1953, under the direction of Fr. Leopold O'Riordan, building of a
Parish Hall began; in 1956, a new church; in 1960, a new rectory;
and in 1964, classrooms were built. In 1965, blacktopping was done
around all the buildings. It soon became apparent our number had
outgrown our parking. In the early 1970's, the property across
Hermiston Avenue was purchased, cleared and blacktopped.
In 1975, Fr. Brian McKenna came as pastor of Our Lady of Angels.
In 1982, the property across Sixth Street was purchased, and the
house (The White House) is used for Religious Education offices.
Also in 1982, Fr. Brian handmade the Byzantine Cross, the stained
glass figures around the Crucifix, above the Altar.
In ,1983, with the guidance of Fr. Brian and parishioner volunteer
labor, the basement of the rectory, which had never been finished,
was completed and is a beautiful Chapel and meeting room. The
stained glass windows from the first little church were used in the
decor of this area.
Now, in 1984, work is being done on the Parish Hall. The ceiling is
being lowered and a new furnace and air conditioner installed. |
