The Saint John Society arrives at Portland

UNITED STATES (Portland)

misaportland2

The Saint John Society arrives at Portland!

Fr. Lucas Laborde has been appointed the pastor of St. Patrick church in Portland and Director of Catholic Campus Ministry for Portland State University. Fr. Pablo Dumas, who came from Argentina for the occasion, more that thirty OSU students, the missionaries of the Society of Mary, along with friends and supporters of the SSJ, joined St. Patrick's parishioners on July 11th for the Installation Mass. Fr. James Mayo represented Archbishop Vlazny at the installation. It was a joyful celebration, with a full church. The installation rite is in itself very eloquent. Five people from the parish would come forward with signs that represent the pastor's ministry and hand them over to Fr. Lucas. Fr. Mayo would ask him: 'Fr. Lucas, do you accept this stole, that is, the mission of sanctifying? Do you accept these Gospels to be a preacher of the Word? Do you accept these oils to bring healing and hope to the sick? A reception followed at the Parish hall, where we had the chance to talk about the history and the mission of the SSJ.

A central part of the Saint John Society's ministry in Portland will be the PSU Newman Center, hosted at St. Michael's parish in downtown Portland. Portland State University has over 27,000 students - the largest school in Oregon. We want to replicate here the same ministry that has been so successful at OSU, helping many students encounter Christ.