A letter from Ethan Salerno

March 5, 2026
Dear Parish Family,
First, thank you all for your continued prayers and support! My time in seminary would
not have been the same without you! This second semester has been fruitful. We started with a one week silent retreat led by the Auxiliary Bishop of Portland. It was hard to be silent for that long, but it gave me a beautiful opportunity to be free of distractions and listen to the Lord. Then classes began. In addition to Latin, I am taking classes in writing, Catechism of the Catholic Church, and US history with a focus on the history of the American Church. I have also joined the seminary’s choir. I enjoy all of my classes and have learned a lot in the past 3 months. I have also had opportunities to serve the local community here in Oregon at parishes and nursing homes. It truly is a joy to serve the people of God. I also had the great honor of serving at the ordination of Bishop Misko and at his first Mass as a bishop. After hearing him preach and witnessing his love for the Mass and the Church, I can say that we truly are in good hands.
Know that you are all in my prayers. I look forward to seeing you all during Easter!
Blessings,
Ethan Salerno