About the Diocese

The Diocese of Baker City was officially estabished on June 19, 1903, by His Holiness, Pope Leo XIII. 
On February, 1952, in accordance with the policy of the Holy See to have the title of each diocese correspond to the civil title of the See City, the Sacred Consistorial Congregation, upon requeset of Bishop Francis P. Leipzig, officially changed the title of the Diocese of Baker City to the Diocese of Baker.

Our Diocese encompasses over 66,800 square miles of mountains, hills, valleys, rivers, lakes and plains. It has a population of approximately 13,084 registered Catholic households spread throughout 59 parishes and missions. Approximately 30 dedicated priests take care of both our parishes and missions.

As a mission territory, the Diocese of Baker has received assistance from the Catholic Home Missions to fund operating costs and the Catholic Extension Society to help fund some operations and build facilities, especially the mission churches. Through the dedicated leadership of six former bishops, hundreds of clergy and religious, and the increasing Catholic population, the diocese of Baker has flourished in its outreach to communities primarily serving agriculture, ranching, dairy farming, Native Americans, tourism, and growing urban areas. During the early 1900’s these challenges were first met from the See City of Baker. At that time it was the hub of transportation, commerce, lumber, and other economic activities for Easter Oregon.

During the second half of the Century, the population of Oregon continued to move westward, up against the eastern foot of the Cascades. It became increasingly apparent that the growing concentration of our Catholic population would be better served from Central Oregon. In 1987, the diocesan offices were moved to the City of Bend, while leaving the Cathedral Church of St. Francis de Sales in Baker City.

Comprises the Counties of:

Baker, Crook, Deschutes, Gilliam, Grant, Harney, Hood River, Jefferson, Klamath, Lake, Malheur, Morrow, Sherman, Umatilla, Union, Wallowa, Wasco and Wheeler

CENTRAL DEANERY:

Very Rev. Todd Unger, Dean

Bend, Christmas Valley, Gilchrist, La Pine, Madras, Warm Springs,Prineville, Redmond, Sisters, Sunriver

EASTERN DEANERY:

Very Rev. Stan Strzyz, Dean
Serving Adrian, Arock, Baker City, Burns, Crane, Dale, Drewsey, Halfway, John Day, Jordan Valley, Juntura, Monument, North Powder, Nyssa, Ontario, Unity, Vale

NORTHERN DEANERY:

Very Rev. Charles Nnabuife, Dean
Serving Boardman, Elgin, Enterprise, Heppner, Hermiston, Ione, La Grande, Milton-Freewater, Pendleton, Pilot Rock,  St. Andrew’s, Union

SOUTHERN DEANERY:

Very Rev. Rogatian Urassa, Dean
Serving Adel, Bly, Bonanza, Chiloquin, Klamath Falls (Sacred Heart and St. Pius X), Lakeview, Paisley, Plush, Merrill

WESTERN DEANERY:

Dean tbd
Serving Arlington, Condon, Dufur, Fossil, Grass Valley, Hood River, Maupin, The Dalles, Wasco