St Charles Borromeo
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News

Christmas Décor

12/19/2022

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Many thanks to all the people who helped decorate the church for Christmas: Linda Pashley and the Flower Committee, Confirmation Students and their parents, Lindy and Logan Gibbons, and so many others. A special thanks to Gloria Luna and Vicky Velarde for hanging lights on the tall trees! The church looks great. We are ready for the Christ child!
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Our Lady of Guadalupe

12/12/2022

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Many thanks to the Multicultural Committee for a wonderful celebration on Sunday, December 11. The Aztec Dancers were spectacular, and the Mariachi was extraordinary. And special thanks to Rosa Barajas for her organizational efforts, and to Melecia Torres & family for making posole for to all to eat.
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Responding to Gun Violence

9/11/2022

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A group of thirty parishioners gathered on September 11 to explore the important issue of gun violence in our culture today. In the session we sought to:
  • explore the Christian response to the prevalence of gun violence in our culture. 
  • be informed and enlightened by the Bible, Catholic Social Teaching, Church leaders, social science data, and one another.
  • to discern a call to action, for each of us, and for the St. Charles community.

Posted here is the video recording of the session, along with the Powerpoint slides and handout packet.
​
PowerPoint Slides
File Size: 1992 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

Handout Packet
File Size: 6496 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

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Welcome Fr. Tony Galati

6/29/2022

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Fr. Tony has been assigned Administrator of St. Charles, effective July 1. You can reach him at the parish office at 503-281-6461 or by email at frtony@stcharlespdx.org. He grew up in Holy Redeemer Parish and is a graduate of Central Catholic High School and the University of Portland. He is a father (dad) of two and a grandfather. He was ordained priest in 2021 and comes to us after serving a year at Holy Trinity Parish in Beaverton. We will have a special blessing a reception for Fr. Tony after masses on the weekend of July 9-10.

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Church Heating System

6/29/2022

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Church Heating System. The Administrative Council and Leif want to apprise you of an issue with our church heating system. We learned last winter that two of the four furnace units that heat the church need to be replaced.

To address this problem, we have consulted with our longtime HVAC maintenance contractor and with the Property Management office of the Archdiocese. We obtained two competitive bids for the job, both were nearly identical in scope and price. The cost will be approximately $110,000.

We investigated the more environmentally friendly heat pump solution, but learned that it would be prohibitively expensive and time consuming.

Along with the Pastoral Council, we have consulted with our former priest/administrator, Fr. Jerry, and with our current Administrator, Fr. Tony Galati. All recognize that this is a necessary project. We don't have a choice but to keep the heat on in the church.

So, we have signed a contract with Heinz Mechanical for the work. The contract has been fully vetted and approved by the Archdiocese, and the initial payment of $40,000 has been sent. Due to supply chain challenges, obtaining the necessary equipment may take up to 18 weeks, so actual work won't occur until early November. Of course, we will need to dip into our savings (approx $340,000) to pay for this project, but this is what our savings is for -- planned and unplanned expenses.

​We welcome your comments and questions. Talk to Leif or anyone on the Admin Council: Sandy Bossom, Dave Pierce, Barbara Keepes, Barbara Schulze, Angie McKinney, Steve Moore.
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Leadership Retreat

11/1/2021

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On October 30, twenty-six parishioners* joined with Leif Kehrwald to spend the day charting a post-pandemic, post-construction course for the parish community. See pictures below!
 
Purpose
The specific purpose of the day was stated thus: Since March 2020, St. Charles has been operating in "crisis" mode, dealing with COVID-19, managing construction chaos and welcoming De La Salle onto campus, and navigating the challenges of priest transition. While these issues are still with us, it's time to move out of "crisis" mode and into "mission" mode, from survival mindset to thrive mindset. It's time to look further ahead than just day-to-day, week-to-week, month-to-month. Through prayer, conversation, input, sharing food (safely) and time together, let's set our sights on a new vision for St. Charles Parish. 
 
Scripture, Prayer, Song
Throughout the day, we sang and prayed together, relying on these Scripture passages to guide and inspire us: Isaiah 62:1-2 and Luke 4:16-21. From the Breaking Bread hymnal we sang “Day of Peace”, “Open My Eyes”, and “City of God.”
 
Morning Question: What’s the heartbeat of our parish today.
Participants were asked to reflect on this question, engage in one-to-one conversations, and then bring their “headline” responses to the large group. After bountiful sharing and discussion, participants prioritized the “headlines” as such:
(8 stars) We need to practice personal invitation in all matters
(7 stars) We are struggling, but we are blessed and loaded with potential and endurance
(6 stars) We are dedicated to caring for and serving others
(5 stars) We are the people of God (Vat II parish)
(5 stars) It’s all about the people => in relationships with each other => leads to relationship with God
(4 stars) We are wounded and tender, and need healing
(4 stars) We are non-judgmental and accepting of all
(3 stars) We provide healthy enrichment
(2 stars) We are reawakening
(2 stars) Our heartbeat is healthy and full of energy
(2 stars) We need to diversify our core of leadership
(1 star) We need to recognize and reach out to inactive parishioners, particularly the elderly who feel undervalued
(1 star) We rely on our historical persistence in the midst of challenge
(1 star) We are always creative in response to crisis
(1 star) We are grateful for loving leadership
- We need to move from crisis mode to mission mode.
- We are grateful for the core leadership base of the parish.
 
Afternoon Question: What should our priorities be to chart our next course?
Participants were asked to reflect on this question, engage in small group discussion, and then bring their “headline” responses to the large group. After bountiful sharing and discussion, participants prioritized the “headlines” as such:
(12 stars) Gain a better understanding of how other cultures meet, work, and make decisions
(7 stars) Survey – listening process on what people want (in different languages)
(7 stars) Engage in relational conversations
(6 stars) Create opportunities for expanded relationships
(5 stars) Find ways to respect and support those not able to come to Mass (elderly)
(4 stars) Build informal multi-dimensional relationships
(4 stars) Put relationships before tasks
(3 stars) Have Name Tag Sunday regularly
(3 stars) Create faith mentoring relationships
(3 stars) Question current leadership structure
(3 stars) Personally ask specific questions about what works and what doesn’t – really listen!
(2 stars) Bless the new Commons as our place for Sunday Hospitality
(2 stars) Provide regular faith formation for youth of all grades
(2 stars) Do ‘with’ instead of do ‘for’
(2 stars) Reinstate Children’s Liturgy of the Word
(1 star) Engage in leadership development
(1 star) Expand our horizons
(1 star) Find common goals with De La Salle (DLSNC)
- Attend services with De La Salle (DLSNC)
- Bring back Welcoming Committee
- Market our new priest
- Flatten the leadership structure
- Reimagine . . . don’t have to do what we’ve always done
- Keep our identity (signage)
 
Going Forward
The day concluded with a promise from Leif to share the summary of the day with key leadership group and the parish as a whole. Pastoral Council, Admin Council, Liturgy Committee, Multicultural Committee, Care 4 Creation Team, along wit others, will all be involved in acting on the key “headlines.”

* Those who attended include:
Rosa Barajas
Margaret Retz
Ruth Julkowski
Mary Lynn Pierce
Dave Pierce
Angie McKinney
Sr Phyllis
Barbara Hays
​Kathy Brown



Jane Evans
Marilee Hankins
Ricardo Gil
Marianne Mauldin
Kent Ludwigsen
Linda Pashley
Cathy Perkins
Jennifer Winslow
Tom Ficker
Launie Litowinski
Paul Bachman
Barbara Keepes
JD Duran
Verna Russell
Kate McCormick
Cathy Smith
Peggy Johnson
Cora Wrede
Leif Kehrwald
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Welcome Fr. Jerry

10/4/2021

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Picture
Fr. Jerry Graham, SJ will be our part-time priest through the end of the year, and perhaps through June 2022. He will serve as our Sacramental Minister: presiding and preaching at weekend masses, on holy days, and church feast days. He will provide the Sacrament of Reconciliation on Saturday afternoons, and will participate in liturgical planning with the Liturgy Committee. While collaborating closely with me on administrative matters, Fr. Jerry will be with us primarily on the weekends, and will not have regular office hours during the week. Fr. Jerry has been a Jesuit for 30+ years, has served as parish priest at St. Patrick's in Tacoma and St. Aloysius in Spokane. He has done mission work with Native Americans, and served as chaplain for the Gonzaga-in-Florence program in Italy. He is an accomplished poet.

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New Directive on Lay Reflections

9/13/2021

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In August, it was announced at Mass that we had been directed by the Archdiocese to make a change in our liturgy on the Sundays when either Sr. Phyllis or Leif was scheduled to share the Reflection on the Word. We were told that on those days, the Reflection must be given just after Communion. Why? Liturgical law dictates that one must have preaching faculties to give the Homily at Mass, which is the message delivered immediately after the Gospel is proclaimed. Only an ordained priest has preaching faculties. Therefore, to avoid confusion, and to make it clear that what Sr. Phyllis or Leif offered was a Reflection on the Word, not a Homily, it was to be delivered just after Communion time. 

However, on September 13, we received an updated directive from Archbishop Sample which makes it quite clear that any form of Lay Reflection on the Word at any time during Mass is not acceptable. Parish leadership (Pastoral Council, Admin Council, Liturgy Committee, and Staff) discussed the letter on September 15 and decided to make it available to all in the community. See the Archbishop's letter posted here. We will comply with the directive, and we are exploring options for lay reflections outside the celebration of Mass.
​
Your comments on this directive are welcome. Use the comment feature on this page, or write directly to Leif Kehrwald at lkehrwald@stcharlespdx.org. 

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Fr. Schwab Announces Retirement

7/4/2021

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In his sermon over the weekend of July 3-4, Fr. Schwab announced that he will be retiring in August. He had hoped to stay on until De La Salle North Catholic High School is fully up and running, but health concerns are forcing him to step away earlier than planned. "Want to make God laugh," he said, "Tell her your plans!"

For many, many years St. Charles was the parish for the Schwab family, and today Fr. Schwab recounted some of his memories, as well as some of the many accomplishments of the parish.  Watch the full sermon in the video on this page. The Catholic Sentinel will look back on Fr. Schwab's ministry in its July 16 issue.

Fr. Charles Holden will become the new pastor at St. Charles. Fr. Holden has been serving as pastor at Our Lady of Fatima in Shady Cove. 
En su sermón del fin de semana del 3 al 4 de julio, el Padre Schwab anunció que se jubilará en agosto. Tenía la esperanza de quedarse hasta que De La Salle North Catholic High School esté completamente en funcionamiento, pero los problemas de salud lo obligan a alejarse antes de lo planeado. "¿Quieres hacer reír a Dios?", Dijo, "¡cuéntale tus planes!"

Durante muchos, muchos años, San Carlos fue la parroquia de la familia Schwab, y hoy el P. Schwab relató algunos de sus recuerdos, así como algunos de los muchos logros de la parroquia. Mira el sermón completo. The Catholic Sentinel recordará el Ministerio del P. Schwab en su edición del 16 de julio.

P. Charles Holden se convertirá en el nuevo pastor de St. Charles. P. Holden ha estado sirviendo como pastor en Our Lady of Fatima en Shady Cove. 

​
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COVID Protocols

6/29/2021

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Updated September 2021. When you come to St. Charles for worship or any other purpose:
  1. Masks are required at all times.
  2. Physical distancing is encouraged.
  3. Sanitizing hands is encouraged. 
  4. Holding hands during the Lord's Prayer is discouraged, for now.
  5. At the Exchange of Peace, do only what is comfortable for you and for the other person. Give a clear gesture that indicates the level of contact you wish.
  6. Communion will be in the form of Bread only, for now. Respect others' distance in the Communion line.
  7. Sunday Hospitality is suspended for now.
  8. The option to worship via Zoom will continue indefinitely. The Zoom link for Sunday worship is https://zoom.us/j/98155735623 or dial in by phone 253-215-8782, Meeting ID: 981 5573 5623. 

Thank you for journeying with us through the pandemic. We have kept each other safe throughout, and we pledge to continue to do so. Your comments, questions, and suggestions are welcome. Contact Leif Kehrwald at lkehrwald@stcharlespdx.org or 503-351-9889.

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St. Charles Church  |  5310 N.E. 42nd Avenue, Portland OR 97218  |  503-281-6461  | stchas@stcharlespdx.org


  • HOME
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    • Mass Times
    • Bulletin & Calendar
    • Contact
    • Staff
    • Ministries and Committees >
      • Pastoral Council
    • Finances
    • Liturgical Ministries Schedule
  • News
  • Faith
    • Advent Reflections 2022
    • Baptism
    • First Communion
    • Confirmation
    • Synod 2023 >
      • Respond
      • Responses
    • Reading the Bible Rebelliously
    • The Lasallian Way
    • Spiritual Growth Challenge >
      • Gun Violence
      • Essential Elements >
        • Essential Elements - Results
      • Personal Journey in Faith
      • Christian Practices
      • Finding LIfe's Purpose
      • Racial Reconciliation
      • Care for Creation
    • GIFT >
      • GIFT Prayer
      • Past GIFT Programs
  • Word
    • Voice of the Community >
      • Reflections
    • Homily
    • Children's Liturgy of the Word
  • Justice
    • Care 4 Creation >
      • Understanding Natural Gas
    • MACG Summary Report
    • Racial Justice
    • Local Resources
    • Renter's Assistance
    • Food Insecurity
    • Utilities Assistance
    • Care For The Elderly
    • St. Vincent de Paul >
      • Who We Are
      • WHAT WE DO
      • GET INVOLVED
      • GIVE
      • GET HELP >
        • FOOD HELP
        • FINANCIAL HELP
      • NEWS