By Portland Archbishop Press Release,
After many months of planning and work, St. John the Apostle Parish in Reedsport celebrated the 100th anniversary of its establishment. Originally known as St. Anne’s and located downtown, the church building was moved by truck to its current location in the 1950s. In 1959, St. Anne’s Church was replaced by a new building and renamed St. John the Apostle, at the request of a large donor.
The centennial celebration began with the blessing of the Our Lady of Grace statue in the courtyard. Among the honored guests included Archbishop Sample, assisting priest Fr. Randy Hoang; the Knights of Columbus Honor Guard from St. Mary’s, Florence; Fr. David Brown, pastor of St. John’s from 2008-2011 and currently pastor at St. Paul’s in Eugene; Fr. Dale Thomas Waddill, a former parishioner who attended Reedsport schools before entering the seminary, now retired; Fr. John Congdon, an Episcopal priest convert who retired in the area and frequently assists by offering Mass at St. John’s and St. Mary’s; and Deacon Tom Altenhofen of St. Mary’s. The church was filled with past and present parishioners and many visitors from St. Mary’s in Florence. Fr. Amir Irudayara did an excellent job facilitating the celebration.
In his homily, Archbishop Sample spoke about the changes in the parish since its early days. He noted that, in the past, the faith was typically passed down through families, with generations remaining Catholic due to cultural heritage. Today, this is less common, and Catholics need to know their faith and actively share it with people of all backgrounds. This outreach is essential, as Catholics have generally been more private about their faith. It is now a time to go out and share the Good News.
The Mass was followed by a BBQ/potluck dinner in the parish hall, featuring delicious pulled pork, brisket, enchiladas, tamales, tacos, and Italian selections like ziti, spaghetti, and stuffed shells, along with a variety of salads and desserts. The hall was filled with stories, memories, and fellowship. Parishioners were happy to welcome Archbishop Sample and Fr. Randy who they described as friendly and gracious, visiting with everyone and making their presence a true blessing.
The evening concluded with a raffle. A quilt donated by long-time parishioner Becky House, who recently passed away after moving earlier this year, was won by Fallon Rochon of Sacred Heart Parish in Medford. Additionally, several beautiful religious images made and donated by an anonymous parishioner were also raffled off.
This event marked not only the parish’s history but as well as that of the Archdiocese of Portland which is the second oldest archdiocese in the United States. In celebrating a parish’s 100th-year anniversary, we honor the legacy and sacrifices earlier Catholic families made in establishing their parish. Now, we look forward to the future as we continue to spread the Good News of the Lord Jesus Christ in our region.
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