Our student friars are currently traveling through Oregon on pilgrimage, tracing the path of the Capuchins who first established our province in the western United States. These early friars arrived with little, relying on faith, perseverance, and the support of the Catholic communities they served.
One of the places the student friars visited was Roseburg, Oregon, where they stopped to pray at the gravesite of Fr. Luke Sheehan.
Fr. Luke Sheehan was an Irish Capuchin sent to the West Coast during the early years of the province. At a time when the Catholic Church was still taking root in many parts of the region, he helped establish one of the first Catholic parishes on the West Coast and served the growing Catholic community there.
Fr. Luke is also remembered for his courage during a difficult period in American history. When the Ku Klux Klan attempted to intimidate Catholics and other religious communities in Oregon, he stood firmly with the Catholic faithful and supported the laity during those tensions.
Visiting places like these helps our student friars remember the sacrifices and witness of the Capuchins who came before them. The foundations of our province were built through the quiet faith, courage, and service of friars like Fr. Luke Sheehan.
Please keep our student friars in your prayers as they continue their pilgrimage.
Fr. Luke Sheehan, pray for us.
