Catholic Church marks 40 years

The St. Edward's church building was moved through Sisters to its current site in May of 1983.

Although the history of Catholics in Sisters predates the formal establishment of a church, St. Edward's took root forty years ago -- in 1962, when Rex and Minerva Trowbridge donated land for a church.

The following year, Bishop Francis P. Leipzig provided plans and authorized construction of a small mission church on the site.

The design was modeled after a similar project in Wallowa.

Under the guidance of Father Francis McCormack of St. Thomas Parish in Redmond, a building committee was formed that included chairman Pete Leithauser, the Trowbridges and Connie Amsberry.

The church received a big boost when the Catholic Extension Society of Chicago donated $10,000 toward the project, nearly half the total cost.

Construction began in 1963, and the first Mass was celebrated in St. Edward the Martyr Church on Christmas Eve of that year.

At the time, church membership consisted of 16 families from Sisters and eight from Camp Sherman. Just like today, however, attendance figures were swelled by a steady stream of tourists and seasonal visitors.

Over the next 15 years, the little mission church at the corner of Cascade and Locust streets had no permanent pastor and was served by visiting priests from Redmond and elsewhere.

The first permanent priest, Father John Murphy, was assigned to St. Edward's in 1978.

In 1981, during Father Murphy's tenure, Brooks Resources created "Heavenly Acres," a subdivision at the west end of town that would eventually become home to most of Sisters' churches.

The tracts of land on the McKenzie Highway were offered at "bargain prices" solely for use as church sites, and the St. Edward's church building was physically moved there in May of 1983.

A rectory was also built as part of the relocation project, and the facility was rededicated by Bishop Thomas Connelly in October of that same year.

By that time, the parish rolls had grown to include 73 families.

Father Michael Miles succeeded Father Murphy as pastor in July of 1989 and in 1991 a new parish center was built.

The addition included kitchen facilities, two classrooms, a conference room, an office and additional seating.

In 1994, however, the church suffered a setback caused by a shortage of priests in Eastern Oregon. Sisters was left without a permanent pastor.

The next two years saw a succession of visiting priests, and Deacon Bob Hegenbach became the parish administrator.

In 1996, help came from the neighboring Diocese of Boise in the form of Father W. Thomas Faucher. On "loan" from Boise for six years, Father Faucher took over the reins in Sisters while simultaneously serving as Judicial Vicar for the diocesan office in Bend.

Father Faucher's tenure ushered in a period of unparalleled church growth that saw membership mushroom to 185 families over the next three years.

Faced with a church that was bursting at the seams, Father Faucher spearheaded construction of another addition that not only increased seating capacity but added St. Winefride's Garden.

The garden courtyard and church addition are accented by pine log pillars carved into statues of the 37 saints representing each of the churches in the Diocese of Baker.

The church expansion and St. Winefride's Garden were dedicated on November 2, 2001 by Bishop Robert Vasa.

The garden is "dedicated to victims of terrorism throughout the world and to those who labor for peace and justice."

The site has already become a popular pilgrimage destination, and the public is welcome.

When the time came for Father Faucher to return to Idaho this year, his place was taken by Father Jim Logan, a home-grown priest descended from Central Oregon ranchers.

Father Logan recently stated that his goal in Sisters is to make the church and garden "a place to come for prayer and reflection, so this can be a place of peace for people."

For more information contact Mary Giraudo at the church office at 549-9391.