Name of Church St. Francis de Sales Cathedral

Address 2235 First Street, Baker City OR 97814

Phone number 541-523-4521

Website saintfranciscathedral.com

Mass times Saturday vigil, 6 p.m.; Sundays, 9:30 a.m., noon (Spanish); St. Therese (parish mission), 135 Bell Street, Halfway OR, 2 p.m. Daily mass is held in a day-chapel behind the cathedral; check the website for the varying times.

Confessions Sundays, 9 – 9:20 a.m.

Names of priests Father Robert Greiner, rector. He’s an orthodox and faithful priest; for the Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary on October 7, for example, he was encouraging his families to say a daily rosary.

School No.

Parish groups and activities Knights of Columbus, Hispanic ministry, food bank

Fellow parishioners English-speaking community, with some Hispanic parishioners. The eastern portion of Oregon is sparsely populated with few jobs (one of the big industries, timber, has been in decline), hence there is a dearth of younger families with children. Although the diocese is composed of much of the state of Oregon, there are fewer than 40,000 Catholics, or 7% of the general population. Parishes typically have a single priest who covers one or more parish mission churches.

Parking There’s a lot beside the church and ample street parking.

Additional observations St. Francis de Sales is the cathedral parish of the Diocese of Baker, the eastern two-thirds of the State of Oregon. The cathedral is in the northeast corner of the state, not far from the Idaho border. It’s a beautiful, historic Gothic revival church, built 1906-08, made of volcanic tuff stone on the exterior with colorful stained glass windows and traditional statues and paintings inside. Baker City was once home of the chancery office of the diocese, but it was moved to the more central and populated Bend in 1985. The bishop may celebrate Christmas and Easter at the cathedral, and there is an annual Chrism Mass. Other significant events, such as the ordination of priests, are held in Bend, about a 5-hour drive away.