About Diocese of Baker
The Diocese of Baker (Latin: Dioecesis Bakeriensis) is a Roman Catholic diocese in the U.S. state of Oregon, covering the 18 counties east of the Cascade Range. Erected on June 19, 1903 by Pope Leo XIII as the Diocese of Baker City, it was renamed simply the Diocese of Baker in 1952. While the seat and cathedral — St. Francis de Sales Cathedral — remain in Baker City, the pastoral offices were relocated to Bend in 1987 and to Redmond in 2011, reflecting the westward shift of Oregon's population. It is a suffragan of the Archdiocese of Portland in Oregon and is currently led by Bishop Thomas J. Hennen, ordained in 2025.
- Bishop
- Thomas J. Hennen
- Established
- 1903
- Cathedral
- St. Francis de Sales Cathedral, First and Church Streets, Baker City, Oregon
- Territory
- The 18 counties of Eastern Oregon east of the Cascade Range: Baker, Crook, Deschutes, Gilliam, Grant, Harney, Hood River, Jefferson, Klamath, Lake, Malheur, Morrow, Sherman, Umatilla, Union, Wallowa, Wasco, and Wheeler.
- Parishes
- 36 parishes and 21 missions (57 pastoral centers)
- Province
- Archdiocese of Portland in Oregon (Ecclesiastical Province of Portland)
About the Diocese of Baker
The Diocese of Baker serves the 18 counties of Eastern Oregon east of the Cascade Range, an area of more than 66,800 square miles — an expanse larger than many U.S. states. Approximately 12,500 registered Catholic households belong to the diocese's 57 parishes and missions, served by roughly 38 to 44 priests, 11 permanent deacons, and a small number of religious brothers and sisters. The see's patron is St. Francis de Sales, the 16th–17th-century bishop and Doctor of the Church whose Introduction to the Devout Life remains a spiritual classic. The cathedral, St. Francis de Sales, stands on the corner of First and Church Streets in Baker City, while the pastoral offices (chancery) are now in Redmond, having moved from Baker City to Bend in 1987 and to Redmond in 2011.
- 18 counties of Eastern Oregon
- 66,800+ square miles
- ~12,500 registered Catholic households
- 57 parishes and missions (36 parishes, 21 missions)
- Patron: St. Francis de Sales
Our History
Pope Leo XIII erected the Diocese of Baker City on June 19, 1903, carving it out of the Archdiocese of Oregon City. Bishop Charles J. O'Reilly was its founding ordinary and built St. Francis de Sales Cathedral. He was succeeded by Bishop Joseph F. McGrath (1918–1950), Bishop Francis P. Leipzig (1950–1971, who attended Vatican II and built more than 95 churches and schools), Bishop Thomas J. Connolly (1971–1999, who moved the chancery to Bend), Bishop Robert F. Vasa (2000–2011), Bishop Liam S. Cary (2012–2025), and the present bishop, Thomas J. Hennen, ordained September 29, 2025. In 2003 the diocese celebrated its centennial, and in 2008 the cathedral marked its centennial as well.
- 1903 — Diocese of Baker City erected by Pope Leo XIII
- 1952 — Renamed Diocese of Baker
- 1987 — Chancery moved to Bend
- 2003 — Centennial of the diocese
- 2008 — Centennial of St. Francis de Sales Cathedral
- 2011 — Chancery moved to Redmond
- 2025 — Bishop Thomas J. Hennen ordained as seventh bishop
Deaneries of the Diocese
The diocese is organized into five deaneries — Eastern, Western, Central, Southern, and Northern — each led by a Very Reverend Dean. The Central Deanery (Bend, Redmond, Prineville, Sisters, Madras, La Pine) and the Northern Deanery (Pendleton, Hermiston, La Grande, Milton-Freewater) contain the largest concentrations of Catholics, while the Eastern and Southern Deaneries encompass the historic mission territory. The Western Deanery covers the Columbia Gorge counties around Hood River and The Dalles.
- Eastern Deanery — Baker City cathedral, Burns, John Day, Ontario, Vale, Nyssa, Jordan Valley
- Western Deanery — The Dalles, Hood River, Condon, Dufur
- Central Deanery — Bend, Redmond, Prineville, Sisters, Madras, La Pine, Warm Springs (St. Kateri Tekakwitha Native American Ministry)
- Southern Deanery — Klamath Falls, Lakeview, Chiloquin, Merrill, Bonanza
- Northern Deanery — Pendleton, Hermiston, La Grande, Enterprise, Wallowa, Heppner, Boardman, Milton-Freewater
Catholic Schools
The Diocese of Baker and four parishes sponsor and support four Catholic schools, with a combined enrollment of more than 550 students from Pre-K through 8th grade. The schools are primarily staffed by lay women educators, with a small number of religious sisters at St. Francis in Bend. The diocese pays for a part-time superintendent of schools and subsidizes staff at each school, particularly to support increasing numbers of Hispanic students and to provide special education support.
- St. Francis of Assisi Catholic School, Bend (~90 years old; largest enrollment ~200)
- St. Thomas Catholic School (now Redmond Academy), Redmond
- St. Peter Catholic School, Ontario
- St. Mary's Academy, The Dalles — open since 1864
- Superintendent: Jim Golden
Faith Formation, Youth & Family
The diocese supports a range of youth and family formation programs, including Catholic Family Camp held each summer at Cascade View Retreat Center in Powell Butte (two sessions in 2026, July 16–19 and July 23–26), and Beloved Camp for Young Women, open to girls in 7th–12th grade with young women 18–20 as non-chaperoning adults and women 21+ as chaperones. The diocese also partners with Newman Connection (Newman Ministries) to help graduating high-school seniors connect with campus ministry at their college or military assignment.
- Catholic Family Camp at Cascade View Retreat Center, Powell Butte
- Beloved Camp for Young Women (grades 7–12)
- Newman Connection partnership for college-bound and military-bound seniors
- Safe-environment background checks and training for adult volunteers
Vocations & Clergy
The Diocese of Baker maintains a Vocations Office that supports men discerning priesthood and connects them with seminary formation, religious communities, and resources. Currently three seminarians are in formation from the diocese (2022 directory). A Vicar General and a clergy roster support pastoral care across the five deaneries.
- Vocations Office — diocesan discernment and seminary referrals
- Vicar General and deanery leadership structure
- 3 seminarians in formation (2022)
- 31 diocesan priests and 13 religious priests serving the diocese
Pro-Life & Lay Ministries
The diocese sponsors a Sanctity of Life Conference and other pro-life formation opportunities for Eastern Oregon Catholics. Diocesan communications and resources are produced for the chancery and made available to parish leaders. The diocese also supports bilingual outreach, retreat programs, and lay-leadership formation through parish-based ministry teams.
- Diocesan Sanctity of Life Conference
- USCCB Regional 'Listen, Teach, Send' Workshop hosted in Hermiston, OR
- Bilingual (English–Spanish) Masses and ministries across parishes
Legacy of Faith Foundation
The Legacy of Faith Catholic Community Foundation (LFF), in continuous operation since 2007, supports the religious, educational, and charitable programs of the Diocese of Baker — including parishes, schools, camps, retreats, and social-service ministries. The Foundation administers endowments and donor-advised funds, and in 2023 distributed more than $60,000 to support schools and greatest-need initiatives. Its origins trace to Bishop Robert Vasa's 2006 decision to consolidate multiple diocesan stock portfolios into a single diversified, protected entity.
- Established 2007; in continuous operation since
- Endowments and donor-advised funds for parishes, schools, retreats, and charities
- 2023 distributions exceeded $60,000
Cathedral, Chancery & Visiting
St. Francis de Sales Cathedral, on the corner of First and Church Streets in Baker City, is the bishop's parish and the seat of the diocese. The bishop presides there at the major liturgical feasts and sacramental celebrations. The cathedral parish has 450 registered families. The diocesan pastoral offices (chancery) are located at 641 SW Umatilla Avenue, Redmond, OR 97756 (mailing: P.O. Box 5999, Bend, OR 97708). The main telephone number is (541) 388-4004.
- Cathedral: St. Francis de Sales, First & Church Streets, Baker City, OR
- Chancery: 641 SW Umatilla Ave., Redmond, OR 97756
- Mailing: P.O. Box 5999, Bend, OR 97708
- Phone: (541) 388-4004
Get Involved
Catholics in Eastern Oregon can engage with diocesan life by supporting their local parish, participating in Catholic Family Camp or Beloved Camp, attending the annual Sanctity of Life Conference, contributing to the Legacy of Faith Foundation, volunteering for safe-environment-certified ministries, and supporting seminarian vocations. The diocese also welcomes new parishioners, school families, and Hispanic Catholics through bilingual parish communities in The Dalles, Hermiston, Boardman, Madras, Milton-Freewater, Ontario, Nyssa, Klamath Falls, Hood River, and Pendleton.
- Parish and mission involvement
- Catholic Family Camp and Beloved Camp
- Sanctity of Life Conference
- Legacy of Faith Foundation giving
- Seminarian and vocation support
