UPbeat

News for and about University of Portland faculty and staff.

Congregation of Holy Cross

Fr. William E Wickham, C.S.C., 1938-2021

Fr. William (Bill) Wickham, C.S.C., died on January 6, 2021 at the Holy Cross House in Notre Dame. Fr. Wickham was a member of the Holy Cross Community in Portland from 1985 to 2020. During those years he served as Chaplain at both OHSU and the Veterans Administration Medical Center hospitals and was resident as Parochial Vicar at St. Elizabeth of Hungary Parish until 2000.

A Funeral Mass was held on January 12, 2021 in Notre Dame. A Memorial Mass in the Chapel of Christ the Teacher will be scheduled for Fr. Wickham at a later date. Click here to view his obituary. For more information contact Liz Cole, Holy Cross Office, at colee@up.edu.

2020 Spirit of Holy Cross Award for Brenda Greiner

Each year on September 15, the Holy Cross US Province of Priests and Brothers names recipients of the Spirit of Holy Cross Award. UP’s own Brenda Greiner was among the eleven people named for this award this year. The Spirit of Holy Cross Award acknowledges the critical importance lay collaborators play in living out the vision and mission of Holy Cross founder Blessed Basil Moreau to make God known, loved, and served through education, parish and mission settings. The annual announcement of the recipients of this award happens on the Feast Day of Our Lady of Sorrows – the patronal feast day for all members of the Congregation of Holy Cross.

The press release naming Brenda as an award recipient noted: “Woven through all that she has done is Brenda’s willingness to bring her wit, intensity and care to bear on helping students engage fully the opportunities that UP presents, and helping them to navigate the many challenges that come up along the way. Brenda cares deeply for the good of the students and the whole of the UP community and in this has become a key contributor to the mission of the University of Portland.”

Please congratulate Brenda on her most well-deserved award!

2019 Spirit of Holy Cross Awardee: Thomas Greene

The Congregation of Holy Cross, United States Province of Priests and Brothers, will award the Spirit of Holy Cross Award to retiring University of Portland provost Thomas Greene. Greene is among the five 2019 recipients announced by the Congregation’s United States Province Office. Greene, who has served UP as an instructor, administrator, professor, and leader for more than 35 years, recently announced his plans to retire at the end of the current 2019-2020 academic year.

The award is given annually to lay collaborators who faithfully serve the Province in the United States and abroad. The Spirit of Holy Cross Award acknowledges the critical importance lay collaborators play in living out the vision and mission of Holy Cross founder Blessed Basil Moreau to make God known, loved, and served through education, parish and mission settings.

For more information contact the Holy Cross office at x8203 or colee@up.edu.

St. Andre Bessette Feast Day Mass, Jan. 6

Please join the UP and Holy Cross communities in celebration of the feast day of St. Andre Bessette, C.S.C., at the 12:05 p.m. Mass in the Chapel of Christ the Teacher on Monday, January 6. St. Andre is a significant saint for the Congregation of Holy Cross as he was a Holy Cross brother and the first canonized saint for the Community. Learn more about St. Andre at this link.

For more information contact Campus Ministry at 7131 or ministry@up.edu.

Fr. John Wironen, C.S.C. Memorial Mass, Nov. 7

A memorial Mass will take place for Fr. John Wironen, C.S.C., on Thursday, November 7, at 5:15 p.m., in the Chapel of Christ the Teacher. All are welcome to attend and pay their respects to Fr. John, who passed away on Wednesday, October 16, at Holy Cross House in Notre Dame, Ind., at the age of 79.

John Wironen became a candidate for the Holy Cross Brothers in 1958 and made his final profession of vows in August 1964. After becoming a registered nurse in 1966 he was assigned as director of nursing at Holy Cross House. Brother Wironen taught nursing at UP from 1973 to 1976, when he returned to Notre Dame to join the priesthood. He was ordained on April 21, 1979, by Bishop Paul Waldschmidt, C.S.C.

Fr. Wironen’s long career in health care and the clergy took him to Oregon Health Sciences University, the UP Salzburg Program, Providence Portland Medical Center, and pastor positions at St. Elizabeth of Hungary, Francis Xavier in Burbank, Holy Cross Parish in North Portland, and more. He lived for many years at Holy Cross Court and as a result was a frequent campus visitor, spreading his signature warmth and good cheer and conversational skills with all he met. Fr. John moved to Holy Cross House in 2017.

For more information contact Elizabeth Cole, Holy Cross office, at colee@up.edu.

Fr. Mark Ghyselinck, C.S.C. Art Show, Oct. 17-Jan. 5

The Clark Library will host an art exhibit by Fr. Mark Ghyselinck, C.S.C., from October 17 to January 17, with a reception in the Covert Gallery on Friday, October 25. The show is called “Down Around the Corner” and is made up of a series of Fr. Ghyselinck’s landscape paintings. For more information contact the library at x7111 or library@up.edu.

Fr. Claude Pomerleau, C.S.C., At Rest

Beloved Holy Cross priest and University of Portland professor Fr. Claude Pomerleau, C.S.C., died on the morning of Sunday, July 21, after a long battle with cancer. Fr. Claude resided for the last month at the Holy Cross nursing home in Notre Dame, Indiana. He enjoyed many meaningful visits with family and friends that gave him deep peace as he passed from this life.

The wake and funeral for Fr. Claude will take place on Thursday and Friday, July 25 and 26, at the University of Notre Dame in Indiana. This Tuesday, July 23, the regular 12:05 p.m. Mass at the Chapel of Christ the Teacher will be offered for Fr. Claude’s eternal rest. After classes resume, when more faculty, students, and staff can participate, a larger memorial Mass will be celebrated in gratitude for the many blessings God gave our UP community through the presence and ministry of Fr. Claude.

Fr. Claude was a professor in political science, with specialties in both Latin America and Europe. In addition, he served as director of the Peace Studies Program (1994-2000) and the Social Justice Program (2000-2008), and he also helped establish an African School of Diplomacy at Uganda Martyrs University in Kampala. He also advised numerous clubs, served as the pastoral resident of Haggerty & Tyson Halls, ministered in Oregon prisons, and assisted faithfully at local parishes, especially by offering Mass in Spanish. Fr. Claude performed all of this sacred labor with joy in his spirit, a smile on his face, and a song in his heart. His love of music was, perhaps, Fr. Claude’s most defining feature, as evidenced both in his clarinet performances at Holy Cross community and UP Masses and in his frequent attendance at performances of the Oregon Symphony and Portland Baroque Orchestra.

In remembrance of Fr. Claude’s love of music, you may donate to the Fr. Claude Pomerleau, C.S.C., Excellence in Music Fund at the University of Portland. Gifts may be given online at: giving.up.edu/Pomerleau or mailed to: University of Portland, Office of Development, 5000 N. Willamette Blvd. Portland, OR 97203 with “Fr. Claude Pomerleau” in the memo field.

Memorial contributions in honor of Fr. Claude and in support of the mission and ministries of the Congregation of Holy Cross can be made to: United States Province of Priests and Brothers, Office of Development, P.O. Box 765, Notre Dame, IN 46556-0765 or online at donate.holycrossusa.org.

Fr. Claude, as a genuine Holy Cross priest, was an educator in the faith and a person with hope to bring.  We will miss him dearly, and we entrust him in confidence to God’s loving embrace.

Holy Cross Wine and Cheese Social, March 15

Save the date! The Holy Cross Community is again delighted to invite all staff to a Wine and Cheese Social on Friday, March 15, from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m., at the Holy Cross Court Lounge, located at the lower level of 5410 N. Strong Street. Come be our guest, and join us for a relaxing and enjoyable afternoon filled with fine wine, fine cheese, and fine conversation. Please contact Amy Potthast at x8024 with any questions. We look forward to seeing you there!

2018 Spirit of Holy Cross, Blessed Basil Moreau Feast Day, Jan. 20

All University of Portland community members are invited to celebrate the feast day of Blessed Basil Moreau, C.S.C., founder of the Congregation of Holy Cross, on Sunday, January 20, at the 4:30 p.m. Mass in the Chapel of Christ the Teacher. Madeline Doll is the recipient of the 2018 Spirit of Holy Cross Award, the highest honor bestowed by the Congregation upon its lay collaborators. Madeline worked for many years as an administrative assistant in the Congregation of Holy Cross office at Holy Cross Court and retired several years ago.

The award is given annually to lay collaborators of the Congregation of Holy Cross, United States Province of Priests and Brothers. The award recognizes lay collaborators who devotedly work to make Blessed Basil Moreau’s vision and mission to “make God known, loved, and served” a reality at the Congregation’s education, parish and mission apostolates. Honorees receive a proclamation of gratitude signed by Provincial Superior Fr. William M. Lies, C.S.C.  on behalf of the entire U.S. Province.

For more information, contact Campus Ministry at x7131 or ministry@up.edu.