St Francis De Sales

Stained glass of St Francis in the Baker City Cathedral

Born in 1567, the eldest in a large family, Francis was ear-marked by his father to become a lawyer. He was more interested though in Canon Law and with the support of his mother, he studied in Paris, France and Padua, Italy and was ordained a priest in 1593. As a priest he set out to offer clear and solid teaching, even slipping articles on Catholic doctrine under the doors of people’s homes, for which he was later named Patron of Journalists. In 1602, he was made Bishop of Geneva, and here he strove to educate the clergy as well as support and enrich religious life. He gave spiritual direction to many, as well as through his letters. St.Francis gave special attention to women, to the poor and to the disadvantaged. His famous book The Introduction to the Spiritual Life was a result of his letters written as spiritual direction. The Treatise on the Love of God came about in response to the Visitation Sisters, whom he helped found with the help of St Jane Frances de Chantal, with whom he became a spiritual pen-friend, their letters also published in a book. He died in 1622 and was canonized 33 years later in 1655.
This is a much-beloved feast for me, as I spent 8 glorious years at the Cathedral parish dedicated to St.Francis de Sales in Baker City, Oregon between 2005 and 2013. Reflect on these two photos, and I suggest you enlarge them by clicking on them, then read on......

The Sanctuary of the Cathedral before the renovation done in 2007

The same Sanctuary after the renovation in 2008

To coincide with the centennial of the building of the Cathedral, I led a renovation in 2008 and the result is quite impressive as one can see from these two contrasting photos, before and after the renovation. Thanks to many parishioners who donated their time, their talents and their treasures, we were able to change the overall look of the sanctuary, with a baldachino erected in the center with the tabernacle underneath. The carpeting, the color scheme, and the seating arrangements were changed, and the result is a very reverent sanctuary area, very conducive to prayer, appreciated by parishioners and visitors alike.