About St. Therese · Halfway, Oregon
St. Therese of Lisieux Catholic Church is a small Roman Catholic mission parish serving the remote ranching community of Halfway, Oregon, in the Eagle Valley of Eastern Oregon. It is canonically a mission of St. Francis de Sales Cathedral Parish in Baker City, within the Diocese of Baker, and is currently pastored by Reverend Suresh Kumar Telagani, who also serves as pastor of the Cathedral. The parish traces its roots to 1947, when monthly Mass began to be celebrated in scattered family homes, and the present church was built and dedicated in 1954 with the help of the Catholic Church Extension Society. Today it sustains a tight-knit Catholic presence in eastern Oregon with weekend Mass, a Wednesday Mass with Adoration, faith formation for all ages, and active parish council leadership drawn from local families.
- Established
- 1947 (regular monthly Mass); church building dedicated 1954
- Patron
- St. Therese of Lisieux (originally dedicated as St. Winifred)
- Rector
- Reverend Suresh Kumar Telagani
- Diocese
- Diocese of Baker
Why belong here
St. Therese offers a rare and intimate Catholic community in the isolated Eagle Valley of Eastern Oregon, where the parish serves as both a spiritual home and a gathering point for scattered ranching families. With Saturday Vigil Mass at 2:00 PM, a Wednesday evening Mass with Adoration and Confession, regular Rosary, monthly Benediction, and an active Faith Formation program for all ages, parishioners are able to live the liturgical year fully despite the mission's small size. The parish is supported by St. Francis de Sales Cathedral in Baker City and a dedicated local Parish Council, giving visitors and members the support of a larger diocesan family while remaining a close-knit local church.
Mass times at St. Therese
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Wednesdays during Adoration, 5:00 - 5:30 PM
- First Sunday of the month at 1:00 PM (one hour before Mass)
- Upon request before Mass
Adoration times
- Wednesdays, 5:00 PM (following the 4:30 PM Wednesday Mass)
- Sundays, 4:00 PM to 5:00 PM
Welcome to St. Therese of Lisieux Catholic Church
Located in Halfway, Oregon, St. Therese is a Mission Church of St. Francis de Sales Cathedral Parish in Baker City. Tucked in the remote Eagle Valley of Eastern Oregon, it serves the Diocese of Baker's high-desert ranching community with the Sacraments, Faith Formation, Adoration, and a welcoming Parish Council. The parish is grateful to be in communion with the Cathedral and the wider Diocese, while remaining a small, close-knit local church.
- Mission of St. Francis de Sales Cathedral Parish, Baker City
- Within the Diocese of Baker
- Catechetical mission embracing faith formation for all ages
Our History
In the early years, Mass was celebrated only occasionally for a few scattered families in private homes. Starting in 1947, Mass was offered regularly once a month. With a gradual increase in the number of Catholics, the decision was made to build a church; the building contract was signed on May 10, 1954. The Church was dedicated in honor of St. Winifred on September 19, 1954, by Archbishop William O'Brien, president of the Catholic Church Extension Society of Chicago. The name of the Halfway church was later changed to St. Therese, and it continues as a mission of the Cathedral Parish to this day.
- Pre-1947: occasional Mass in private homes
- 1947: regular monthly Mass begins
- May 10, 1954: building contract signed
- September 19, 1954: church dedicated as St. Winifred by Archbishop William O'Brien
- Later renamed to St. Therese
Pastor and Staff
St. Therese is pastored by Reverend Suresh Kumar Telagani, who also serves as Pastor of St. Francis de Sales Cathedral Parish in Baker City. The local Parish Council carries out the day-to-day life of the mission, with named members including Eileen Monti, Karen Endersby (Secretary), Louise Johnson, Yvonne Riggs, and Luke Gilmer. Faith Formation inquiries are handled by Claudia Strom.
- Reverend Suresh Kumar Telagani — Pastor
- Eileen Monti — Parish Council
- Karen Endersby — Parish Council Secretary
- Louise Johnson — Parish Council
- Yvonne Riggs — Parish Council Treasurer
- Luke Gilmer — Parish Council
- Claudia Strom — Faith Formation contact (541-742-6891)
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Faith formation at St. Therese serves parishioners of all ages and follows the catechetical mission set forth by the USCCB — helping the faithful grow in both human and Christian maturity, enriching the whole of life with the leaven of the Gospel. The parish combines in-person gatherings, video studies, and the FORMED.org platform (subscription paid through the Diocese of Baker) to provide a robust formation experience despite the mission's small size.
After Mass Faith Formation
A weekly program begins approximately 15 minutes after Mass in the Fellowship Hall, where parishioners gather over coffee and donuts. The Mass readings are explained through videos from Dr. Brant Pitre, Distinguished Research Professor of Scripture at The Augustine Institute, providing outstanding background on the Sunday or Solemnity readings and bringing the Word of God further alive.
- Begins ~15 minutes after Sunday Mass in the Fellowship Hall
- Coffee and donuts fellowship
- Video study with Dr. Brant Pitre of the Augustine Institute
Mid-Week Faith Formation: The Heart of Prayer
This program is designed as an intimate and peaceful retreat with Bishop Andrew Cozzens as the retreat master. Through his down-to-earth guidance, participants learn to quiet their hearts and minds to hear the voice of God calling to them. It is offered as a spark for anyone looking to deepen their prayer life.
- Retreat study with Bishop Andrew Cozzens
- Contact: Luke Gilmer, (503) 342-2222
Catholic Media Studies
Parishioners are encouraged to join group studies based on popular Catholic podcasts and streaming programs. These resources are available on most podcast platforms and via web streaming, making formation accessible to those in the remote Eagle Valley.
- The Bible in a Year with Fr. Mike Schmitz (Ascension Press)
- The Catechism in a Year with Fr. Mike Schmitz (Ascension Press)
- The Rosary in a Year with Fr. Mark-Mary Ames, CFR (Ascension Press)
- FORMED.org — the Premier Catholic Streaming Service (subscription paid through the Diocese of Baker; register at FORMED.org/signup using parish name 'St. Francis de Sales Cathedral' or zip code 97814)
Parish Council & Community
The Parish Council guides the life and mission of St. Therese, supported by St. Francis de Sales Cathedral Parish and the Diocese of Baker. Members serve as officers and council members, helping to organize worship, formation, fellowship, and outreach for the small Eastern Oregon community.
- Eileen Monti — Parish Council
- Karen Endersby — Parish Council Secretary
- Louise Johnson — Parish Council
- Yvonne Riggs — Parish Council Treasurer
- Luke Gilmer — Parish Council
Contact and Getting in Touch
Parishioners and visitors are warmly invited to reach out with questions, prayer intentions, or sacramental needs. For an emergency requiring a priest, a separate emergency line is provided. Inquiries about faith formation may be directed to Claudia Strom.
- Email: [email protected]
- Parish phone: 541-377-2366
- Emergency priest line: 541-406-9104
- Faith Formation: Claudia Strom, 541-742-6891
- Address: 135 Bell Street, Halfway, OR 97834
Connection to the Diocese of Baker and St. Francis de Sales Cathedral
St. Therese is one of two mission churches served by St. Francis de Sales Cathedral Parish in Baker City, the other being St. Anthony in North Powder. The Diocese of Baker was established in 1903, with St. Francis de Sales — completed and dedicated in 1908 — serving as the Bishop's parish and the cathedral for Eastern Oregon. Though the diocesan chancery moved to central Oregon in 1987 with population growth around Bend, the Cathedral remains the mother church for the Eastern Oregon missions, including St. Therese of Halfway.
- Mission of St. Francis de Sales Cathedral Parish, Baker City
- Sister mission: St. Anthony, North Powder
- Diocese of Baker — established 1903
- St. Francis de Sales Cathedral — dedicated 1908, designed by local architect M.P. White