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Fr.Bernard Sander OSB
Co-Founder
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Anthony Morris
Co-Founder
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Fr. Bernard Sander (1918-2008)
The Youth Center is named after Father Bernard Sander, a Benedictine monk at Mt. Angel Abbey for 70 years. Father Bernard's life was dedicated to serving the youth of the Church and encouraging people of all walks of life in their Catholic faith.
“The main mission of the Father Bernard Youth Center is to make it possible for young people to come and receive the help they need from the Sacrament... of Confession. And that’s something we hope to do by having a very comfortable place for them to come, a beautiful place where they can feel at home and feel welcome.” ~Father Bernard Sander
More about Father Bernard...
Father Bernard Sander, OSB
July 24, 1918 - June 3, 2008
Fr. Bernard Sander was born in July of 1918, the third of eleven children to the late Leo and Theresa Sander of Tillamook. He entered Mount Angel Seminary in 1935 and was ordained to the priesthood, on May 18, 1944. Fr. Bernard served 25 years as the Vice-Rector and later Rector of Mount Angel Seminary (1945-1970), followed by 23 years the Guest Master of the Abbey Guest House (1970-1993).
A guiding influence of Fr. Bernard’s life was promoting the vocation of lay people. In the 1950's he worked with the Christian Family Movement, Young Catholic Students, and the Young Christian Workers. Through Fr. Bernard’s help, these programs at Mount Angel developed into the Summer Conference, which welcomes religious, clergy, and lay people of all ages. Many types of retreats became annual events at the Abbey, including those for married people, mothers and daughters, fathers and sons, church artists, church musicians, and for several Ecumenical groups. As director of the Abbey Oblate Program, the number of oblates expanded to more than 600 laymen, women and clergy.
Throughout his over 60 years as a priest, Fr. Bernard was loved and respected among his monastic community and lay people alike. As long as his health permitted, he heard thousands of confessions and gave spiritual direction to hundreds of people each year. It is because of Fr. Bernard's continual example of undying faith, and his unconditional love and hope for those of all ages, that the vision for the Father Bernard Youth Center was born.
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Anthony (Tony) Morris
Anthony (Tony) Morris is a lay Catholic man, with many years in ministry in the Catholic Church. Married to Suzie, together they have 6 grown and married children and 19 grandchildren. Stemming from Molalla and now living in Mt Angel, Oregon, he has a deep connection with the spirituality of the Benediction Abbey. He also shares his skills as a carpenter making coffins as a last act of service for the monks.
Reflecting on his own involvement in youth ministry many years ago and realizing that it was somewhat lacking, Tony Morris came to dream of a place where young people could gather, be catechized and encounter Christ. Inspired by Pope John Paul II during the 1997 Denver World Youth Day he took this dream a step further with his spiritual director Fr Bernard Sander. Fr Bernard was an advocate for the laity and one who grasped well the spirit of Vatican II which among many things included empowering of the laity in ministry. He stood behind Tony's vision and gave him the support and momentum to get things moving.
A carpenter by profession, Tony with a deep love for catechesis, began to ask how could he build up the youth of the Church. He was a firm believer that if we have just 48 hours with young people, their lives would change for the better. Now the question was how do we create a space for this 48 hours and bring the experience of World Youth Day back to here to the Archdiocese of Portland. It was from that small idea that the youth retreat center was born.
Together with Fr Bernard and after many months of
searching that took them from Mt. Angel to Portland and back again, they settled on a property that Tony had stumbled across when out running one day. This is the current site of the Fr. Bernard Youth center, a property owned by the Benediction Sisters of Queen of Angels Monastery. Tony set to work, employing again his skills as a carpenter to renovate the main building which included the crowning glory of the center; the St. Anthony Chapel.
Tony served as director of the Center for the first 4 years. Living in the area where the center is located he still visits from time to time and is a source of inspiration and wisdom for all who work here as we try to continue the legacy that he and Fr Bernard began, nearly 15 years ago.
When we talked with Tony he shared so much more than what we are able to put in this short founders piece. To read the full interview click HERE.