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History of Bend Mission
1. V. Rev. Fr. Luke Sheeham O.M.Cap. sailed from Queenstown Ireland on Sunday Jan. 9th. - 1911 1910 A.D. and landed in New York Jan. 15th.
2. He reached Baker City Oregon on Feb. 11th. and was very cordially welcomed by Bishop O'Reilly. by
3. Soon after Fr. Luke was joined V. Rev. Fr. Thomas O.M.Cap. Def. ( afterwards Min. Pro. and L.L.D. of the N.U.I. )
4. The worthy Missioners attempted to reach Bend in Feb. but were held up at Shaniko by a heavy snow storm.
5. They arrived in Bend on March 30th. 1910. Fr. Thomas left for Ireland, after a few weeks so journ, and Fr. Luke remained to bear the burden of the Missions alone.
6. The parish of Bend then comprised the whole of Crook Co. an area of over 8,000 sq. miles ( which is larger than the Province of Munster Ireland ) plus the Warmspring Indian Reservation.
7. This vast territory had to be traversed on foot or on horseback and naturally great hardships were the constant companions of the zealous Missioner. E.G. a journey of
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48 miles on foot through the share-brush in the night. Also a night's vigil in the snow on the high desert.
8. At that time there were but 150 catholics scattered over the entire parish with one small church in Bend.
9. There was only one small church in Bend and this was enlarged and dedicated in the Autumn of 1911.
10. Fr. Luke immediately set to work to build churches in the four chief towns of the parish. He bought an old school-in Madras house, converted it into a church and transferred it to a lot he had purchased in town. Bishop O'Reilly dedicated it in August 1912.
11. He built a nice church in Redmond in the summer of 1912 and Bishop O'Reilly dedicated it on Sept. 1912
12. The beautiful little church in Prineville was dedicated in August 1913, by the same Bishop.
13. The church in La Pine was completed in 1915 but is not yet dedicated.
14. In Dec. 1914, a part of Crook Co. (1,548 sq. miles ) was cut off to make Jefferson Co. with county seat at Madras.
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15. In Dec. 1916 Deschutes Co. ( area 3,060 sq. miles ) was cut off from Crook Co. with county seat at Bend.
16. The parish now comprises the counties of Crook, Deschutes and Jefferson plus the Indian Reservation.
17. The comparative populations of these towns are :-
Bend
Redmond
Prineville
Madras
1910.
1921
1910
1921
200
8,000
300
650
La Pine 1910-150
1921.
200
18. The Catholic populations have already been supplied.
19. In the first week of Nov. 1915 Fr. Luke received a very valuable assistant in the person of Ven. Bro. Seraphim O'Reilly.
20. Rev. Fr. Adrian Sharkey O.M.Cap. arrived in Bend in the second week of Nov. 1915. and left for Roseburg in Nov. 1919. Rev. Fr. Urban Riordan O.M.Cap. succeeded him arriving in Bend on Christmass Eve 1919. and leaving for Ukiah, Cal. in Sept. 1920. Rev. Fr. Gabriel Harrington O.M.Cap. took his place arriving in the same month.
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Statics of average year
Adults
Children
Converts
9
Baptisms
9
30
Burials
4
2
First Communions
9
32
Confirmations
48
Easter Communions
40n