Part 7
RECENT YEARS
In 1992 Fr. Milan, who was almost 80 years old at the time, felt that he needed to turn over the reins of the parish to someone younger and selected Fr. Joseph Browne, a Holy Cross priest who was Director of the Library at the University of Portland, because he was willing to offer the traditional Latin Mass. This selection was confirmed by Archbishop Levada and Fr. Milan officially retired on January 1, 1993. For some months he continued to come back to the parish for one Mass each Sunday but finally, in September, he returned to his native Croatia to end his days “at home.” He died there on February 13, 1997. Fr. Milan had served as pastor of St. Birgitta’s for 38 years.
Fr. Browne was followed by Fr. Joseph Barita, ALCP in 2005. Fr. Browne continued to say the Latin Mass until 2009, however, at which point he was not well enough to continue. Fr. Barita desperately searched for a priest to celebrate the Latin Mass, even reaching out to the archbishop. Fr. Barita received a letter dated July 12, 2009, from Fr. Luan Tran, who was serving down the road at St. Frederic’s in St. Helens at the time, offering to say the Sunday Latin Mass at 3:00pm. By December, Fr. Barita and Fr. Luan swapped their early Sunday Mass schedule so that the Latin Mass at St. Birgitta’s could be celebrated at 8:00am as before. Fr. Barita would rush back to celebrate the English Mass at 10:00am. That same month saw damage to the hall ceiling following extensive cold weather and frozen pipes. The plumbing, ceiling tile repair and lighting repair were all performed by volunteers.
In 2010 Fr. Barita was reassigned to St. Frederic’s and Fr. Luan was reassigned to St. Birgitta’s. Fr. Luan also served the parish of St. Mary’s in Vernonia, as he had at while serving at St. Frederic’s. During Fr. Luan’s tenure catechism classes, which had suffered from the Latin Mass schedule changes, were reintroduced and a security fence around the perimeter of the property was installed by a parishioner. In 2015 the steeple was blown off the church, and while it wasn’t replaced, a cross was placed on the church roof towards the front entrance.
Fr. Luan was assigned to St. Agatha’s in Portland in July of 2018 and was followed by Fr. Joshua Clifton, a priest of the Diocese of Monterey in California. Fr. Clifton also followed Fr. Luan in serving at St. Mary’s in Vernonia. In recent years the church has erected a new sign by the driveway and grown vines along the security fence. Security cameras were added around the property and new gates were installed at the driveway and the walkway in front of the church. Between 2020 and 2022, the parish weathered the COVID-19 pandemic. For a number of months, under the direction of the Archdiocese, only a few people were permitted to attend Mass at a time. As time went on, the number of people allowed to be inside the church at the same time grew. During the pandemic, Adoration took place outside followed by the traditional “Procession in time of Epidemic and Plague” found in the traditional Roman Ritual. In 2021 the confessionals were redesigned, allowing more space for penitent and confessor, and soundproofing was installed. A new floor was put in the choir loft and two windows added to the front of the church. The church purchased a GX-215 Allen organ from Rose City Organ Builders which replaced the previous organ which had been installed in 1974.
Fr. Browne was followed by Fr. Joseph Barita, ALCP in 2005. Fr. Browne continued to say the Latin Mass until 2009, however, at which point he was not well enough to continue. Fr. Barita desperately searched for a priest to celebrate the Latin Mass, even reaching out to the archbishop. Fr. Barita received a letter dated July 12, 2009, from Fr. Luan Tran, who was serving down the road at St. Frederic’s in St. Helens at the time, offering to say the Sunday Latin Mass at 3:00pm. By December, Fr. Barita and Fr. Luan swapped their early Sunday Mass schedule so that the Latin Mass at St. Birgitta’s could be celebrated at 8:00am as before. Fr. Barita would rush back to celebrate the English Mass at 10:00am. That same month saw damage to the hall ceiling following extensive cold weather and frozen pipes. The plumbing, ceiling tile repair and lighting repair were all performed by volunteers.
In 2010 Fr. Barita was reassigned to St. Frederic’s and Fr. Luan was reassigned to St. Birgitta’s. Fr. Luan also served the parish of St. Mary’s in Vernonia, as he had at while serving at St. Frederic’s. During Fr. Luan’s tenure catechism classes, which had suffered from the Latin Mass schedule changes, were reintroduced and a security fence around the perimeter of the property was installed by a parishioner. In 2015 the steeple was blown off the church, and while it wasn’t replaced, a cross was placed on the church roof towards the front entrance.
Fr. Luan was assigned to St. Agatha’s in Portland in July of 2018 and was followed by Fr. Joshua Clifton, a priest of the Diocese of Monterey in California. Fr. Clifton also followed Fr. Luan in serving at St. Mary’s in Vernonia. In recent years the church has erected a new sign by the driveway and grown vines along the security fence. Security cameras were added around the property and new gates were installed at the driveway and the walkway in front of the church. Between 2020 and 2022, the parish weathered the COVID-19 pandemic. For a number of months, under the direction of the Archdiocese, only a few people were permitted to attend Mass at a time. As time went on, the number of people allowed to be inside the church at the same time grew. During the pandemic, Adoration took place outside followed by the traditional “Procession in time of Epidemic and Plague” found in the traditional Roman Ritual. In 2021 the confessionals were redesigned, allowing more space for penitent and confessor, and soundproofing was installed. A new floor was put in the choir loft and two windows added to the front of the church. The church purchased a GX-215 Allen organ from Rose City Organ Builders which replaced the previous organ which had been installed in 1974.
The new organ is lifted up to the choir loft.
Also in 2021, St. Birgitta’s chartered Trail Life USA and American Heritage Girls troops, giving young people an opportunity to grow in their love of God and neighbor, develop character and learn practical skills – all while having fun with their friends and family. The church also welcomed a Seven Sisters Apostolate where seven women each take a day of the week to offer a Holy Hour for the parish priest and his ministry.
The church underwent a major renovation beginning in 2022, with the help of John Demers, architect, and construction company Reimers and Jolivette. A portico was built in front of the church, shielding parishioners from sun and rain. The decks on the sides of the church were replaced. The carpet inside the church was replaced with luxury vinyl tile and new pews were constructed and installed by the Marshall Company of Payette, Idaho. The sanctuary underwent significant changes. The paneling on the back wall was removed and replaced with drywall. The altar was pushed to the back wall and connected to a reredos which had come from another altar and a newly constructed gradine. Some of the statues were repainted and the statues of Mary and Joseph were removed from the corners and attached to the back wall. The tabernacle was retained but placed on the gradine of the altar and the crucifix was placed along a rood beam above the Communion rail. The Communion rail was upgraded with added metalwork. The sanctuary floor was replaced with porcelain tile and new lighting was added. Overall, the project was a great success, and after having Mass for several weeks in the hall while the floor was being installed, people returned to the church with great joy. Finally, new exterior metal doors were installed.
The church underwent a major renovation beginning in 2022, with the help of John Demers, architect, and construction company Reimers and Jolivette. A portico was built in front of the church, shielding parishioners from sun and rain. The decks on the sides of the church were replaced. The carpet inside the church was replaced with luxury vinyl tile and new pews were constructed and installed by the Marshall Company of Payette, Idaho. The sanctuary underwent significant changes. The paneling on the back wall was removed and replaced with drywall. The altar was pushed to the back wall and connected to a reredos which had come from another altar and a newly constructed gradine. Some of the statues were repainted and the statues of Mary and Joseph were removed from the corners and attached to the back wall. The tabernacle was retained but placed on the gradine of the altar and the crucifix was placed along a rood beam above the Communion rail. The Communion rail was upgraded with added metalwork. The sanctuary floor was replaced with porcelain tile and new lighting was added. Overall, the project was a great success, and after having Mass for several weeks in the hall while the floor was being installed, people returned to the church with great joy. Finally, new exterior metal doors were installed.
The new portico under construction.
The sanctuary under construction.
A homeschool co-op was started in 2024 along with a Legion of Mary praesidium. New activities and groups continue to spring up to meet the needs of the parishioners and the wider community. The main social event at the parish are monthly potlucks, held on second Sundays of the month after the 9:30am traditional Latin Mass. The church also celebrates an annual parish picnic in July, close to the feast of St. Bridget of Sweden (July 23). Recently, the church has started having contra dances in the hall.
St. Birgitta’s continues to grow as people near and far have come to discover the reverent liturgies and friendly people found here.
St. Birgitta’s continues to grow as people near and far have come to discover the reverent liturgies and friendly people found here.
St. Birgitta Catholic Church, 2025