Letter from Fr. Fabian Reynolds

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St. Mary of Angel's Church, Hermiston, Oregon. U.S.A. June 1937. The following is the subject of a conversation I had with Fr. Joseph before he left for Ireland and which he asked me to put in writing so as he could place it for consideration before the Chapter or the Subsequent definitorial meeting in August. The time is approaching when the parish of Hermiston will have to support itself or be subsidized by the Order. At the present time the difference between expenditure and income is being supplied by Bishop McGrath out of his own generosity. Last year the sum amounted to $500.00 - total expenditure was in round numbers $1700.00 and total income $1200.00. From a material business point of view something must be done. As far, as I can see there can be little if any increase in the present income. Therefore we should try to cut down the overhead. At the present time the parish, which in regular attendance numbers at the utmost 200, is trying to support six churches. Four of these churches are situated within a radius of ten miles. One of them has been closed for over a year and I think two more should be closed likewise and disposed of so as to eliminate the expense of upkeep and insurance. It is not asking too much of the people in this age of the automobile to come ten miles to church. The remaining two churches, namely Pilot Rock, which is situated 50 miles from Hermiston and Boardman, which is 26 miles from Hermiston will have to be continued of course, Boardman, as you know, does not belong to us and it is only a question of time till it will be taken back by Heppner parish which is being reorganized right now. So that it would leave us one mission church which could and should be attended every Sunday. So much for the material point of view. From the spiritual point of view I would say the need for reorganization and centralization is more urgent. At the present time the parish is split up into four or five little bunches which have no social contact through meeting at church or at church parties, so that it is almost impossible to organize any concerted general activity. There is an Altar Society which functions fairly well, each in its own selfish circle. There is no Holy Name Society. There is no Third Order. There is no Confraternity of the Blessed Sacrament, of the Holy Rosary nor of Christian Doctrine - two of which are regarded as essential to the spiritual needs of the parish. There is no catechetical instruction for the children for this reason - the people attend whatever Mass suits them best no matter which church it is at. I have tried to establish classes. The priest cannot teach nor supervise because he must rush away to another church for late Mass. I secured teachers and on one Sunday had a very fine attendance and everything seemed to go beautifully, for two Sundays running those same children went to one of the other churches to Mass and the teachers were left high and dry. It is impossible to have any consistent instruc…