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History of St Helen Parish

The first Catholic Church in Junction City, Oregon was known as Saint Mel, dedicated in 1916, located at 9th and Ivy Street. From 1916 on, St Mel was a mission of Monroe St. Rose of Lima Parish.

St. Mel was remodeled and used until 1927, and the decision was made in 1927 to close Saint Mel Church. From 1927-1959, Catholics of Junction City attended church at Monroe or Harrisburg. In 1959, St. Helen Parish was established with 83 families. In 1960 construction was begun on the present seven-acre site. 

Since 1959 the Catholic Community at Saint Helen has grown and solidly placed its roots on West 6th Avenue.  The congregation now numbers nearly 300 families.  In 1985 a successful campaign raised $80,000 in pledges from our parish family.  A long-time dream was fulfilled in 1987, as a beautiful parish hall was built next to the church. St Helen embraces the future with a sense of thanks to all who have formed our past.

St. Helen, our Patron

St Helen was the daughter of an innkeeper in England, and despite her lowly station, was married to a Roman General, Constantius Chlorus.  Her husband was later named Caesar of Rome and when he died, their son, Constantine, became Caesar and Emperor of Rome.

            St Helen made a pilgrimage to the Holy Land, and was inspired to find the cross upon which Christ died for our sins.  The Romans took great pains to hide the site of Calvary; consider also, that St Helen began her quest at age eighty. St Helen, full of joy at having the treasure, which she and the world would highly esteem, built a church on the site of Calvary and a church in Rome. (The Church of the Holy Cross of Jerusalem) that has a part of the cross, which remains to this day.  St Helen also took part of the cross to her son, Constantine, in Constantinople, who received it with great veneration.  St Helen died in 328 AD and her feast day is August 18.

History of St Rose of Lima Parish

The present site of the church was purchased in 1882 from the Adam Wilhelms Family, and the St. Rose of Lima Church was dedicated in 1883. This church structure still stands and is used as the parish hall.

Our Lady of Victory Church in Harrisburg was dedicated in 1913. Services there ceased about 1987. Presently the Catholic population of Harrisburg attends either St. Rose of Lima or St. Helen.

The present St. Rose of Lima Church was built by Fr. Chester Wrzaszczak in 1965. Fr. Chester embraced the task of fundraising here and throughout the country.  The church was dedicated in 1966.

In 1980, St. Rose lost its resident priest. During the next 23 years, St. Rose has been served by pastoral administrators, until Fr. Charles was appointed pastor in 2003, with residence at Junction City.

St. Rose of Lima has been the mother church of the tri-county area, and celebrated 130 years in 2008.

St. Rose of Lima, our Patron

Virgin, patroness of America born in Lima, Peru April 20, 1586.  As a child she was remarkable for a great reverence, and pronounced love, for all things relating to God. She had an intense devotion to the Infant Jesus and His Blessed Mother. Many hours were spent before the Blessed Sacrament which she received daily.

In her twentieth year she received the habit of St. Dominic. Thereafter she redoubled (for fourteen years) the severity and variety of her penances to a heroic degree, wearing constantly a metal spiked crown, concealed by roses, and an iron chain about her waist.

 Our Lord revealed Himself to her in frequently, flooding her soul with such inexpressible peace and joy as to leave her in ecstasy for hours. At these times she offered to Him all her mortifications and penances in expiation for offenses against His Divine Majesty, for the idolatry of her country, for the conversion of sinners and for the souls in Purgatory. St. Rose of Lima died August 30, 1617.