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June 9, 2003

NEWS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
For More Information, Contact:
Bud Bunce (503) 233-8373
bbunce@archdpdx.org

Icon "Mary, Star of Evangelization" travels the Archdiocese

        The Archdiocese of Portland commissioned an icon "Mary, Star of Evangelization."
The icon celebrates the Disciples in Mission process that has been ongoing for
the past three years. Brother Claude Lane, OSB, of Mount Angel Abbey,
wrote the icon. The archdiocesan celebration of the Disciples in Mission process will
take place on Sunday, June 6, 2004 at the University of Portland's Chiles Center.

        An icon is written, because in the earliest days of the Church, the word used to
write and to create an image was the same. One used the pen and the brush to convey
an important message. Tradition says St. Luke, who wrote his Gospel and the Acts of
the Apostles, also wrote icons.

        In the icon of Mary, Star of Evangelization, we see three dominate images Mary,
the Star of Bethlehem and the almond shaped background. As one contemplates the
icon consider the image from three hills or three levels:
 

*  The image is rooted in scripture. In the Gospel of St. Luke, Mary, pregnant with
Our Lord "rises and goes to the hill country" (Luke 1:39) to visit her kinswoman
Elizabeth. This is the first evangelization journey. Mary brings the Word of God,
flesh incarnate, to her cousin. Elizabeth is pregnant with John the Baptist, the
one who goes before him.
*  Mary comes to the new world as Our Lady of Guadalupe and appears on the hill
at Tepejac to St. Juan Diego, a member of the indigenous people. This
appearance is truly a sign of evangelization in the Americas. It was one of the
most incredible conversions in the church. The conversion of the whole country
of Mexico began after her apparition in 1531.
*  Mary, daughter of Zion - out of Zion will come forth blessing and refreshment.
God's Word will come from the hill of Zion.
        Brother Claude Lane, OSB, the icon's writer, summarizes the image, "there are the
three apparitions of Mary – three visitations of Mary – this is a visitation icon. She visits
her cousin, she visits the people of America in an actual apparition, and now she is
visiting us. The daughter of Zion is made visible." Mary, Star of Evangelization,
becomes a visible model for us as the Archdiocese and other members of the Church
strive to become more complete Disciples in Mission.

        The icon will travel around the Archdiocese between now and the Disciples in
Mission event on June 6, 2004. The vicariate schedule for the icon is below.  Each
vicariate will develop its own schedule for displaying the icon within the parishes of that
area. The Southeast Portland vicariate hosted the icon through the month of May.

        Further information about the Mary, Star of Evangelization icon is available on the
Archdiocese of Portland web site: www.archdpdx.org/icon/icon.html.

Mary, Star of Evangelization

Schedule for Archdiocese of Portland

Vicariate / Date / Contact Parish


Vicariate
Date
Contact Person/Parish
Northeast Portland June 3 - June 20, 2003 Christine Coers-Mitchell / St. Mary Magdalene
East Portland, Suburban June 21 - July 8, 2003 Connie Ostlund / St. Henry, Gresham
North American Institute of Catholic Evangelization July 9 - July 12, 2003 Deacon Tom Gornick / Archdiocese of Portland
South Portland, Suburban July 14 - August 3, 2003 Sally Stone & Diane Orme / St. John, Oregon City
Tualatin Valley August 4 - August 24, 2003 Ann Marie Cowley / St. Matthew, Hillsboro
Yamhill County August 25 - Sept. 7, 2003 Ann Marie Cowley / St. Matthew, Hillsboro
Beaverton Suburban Sept. 8 - Sept. 28, 2003 Scott Kolbet / St. John Fisher, Portland
Columbia County Sept. 28 9 - Oct. 12, 2003 TBA
Marion County Oct. 13 - Nov. 2, 2003 Leo Seifer / St. Mary, Mt. Angel
West Portland Suburban Nov. 3 - Nov. 16, 2003 TBA
Archdiocesan Pastoral Assembly Nov. 17 - Nov. 22, 2003 Todd Cooper / Archdiocese of Portland
Metropolitan Salem Nov. 28 - Dec. 7, 2003 Karen Scharosch / St. Edward, Keizer
Southern Oregon  Dec. 8 - Dec. 28, 2003 Bud & Anita Smith / St. Joseph, Roseburg
South Coast Dec. 29 - Jan. 18, 2004 Ron Horbatiuk / Holy Redeemer, North Bend
Middle Coast Jan. 19 - Feb. 8, 2004 Tony Molina / Sacred Heart, Newport
Metropolitan Eugene Feb. 9 - Feb. 29, 2004 Deanna Valenzuela / St. Catherine of Siena
Albany Corvallis Mar. 1 - Mar. 21, 2004 Sr. Pauline Schwandt / St. Mary, Corvallis
Santiam Mar. 22 - Apr. 11, 2004 Sr. Pauline Schwandt / St. Mary, Corvallis
North Coast Apr. 12 - May 2, 2004 Toni Mitchum / St. Mary Star of the Sea, Astoria
Downtown Portland May 3 - May 28, 2004 Sr. Rita Rose Vistica / St. Mary Cathedral

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