In 2002, Archbishop John G. Vlazney assigned Father John Kerns to establish a parish in the suburban area of Portland, OR.  It was dedicated to St Juan Diego and was to be the first Catholic Church established in the Portland Archdiocese since 1982.  The Archbishop could not have chosen a better Priest to establish a brand new community than Fr John Kerns.

I got involved in the music ministry at St Juan Diego in late 2003 and was a part of a growing and thriving Catholic Community.  One of the many social ministry programs St Juan Diego parishioners got involved in was a once a week, multi-faith Sunday evening meal for the hungry in Washington County.  It is a thriving ministry that provides a full meal menu each week in a restaurant setting complete with live music.  I volunteered to provide that music for many months and was deeply in love with the people who served and the people who ate. 

At some point in 2004 I was preparing for my upcoming music presentation which included folk songs, Gospel favorites, and a few Beatles songs and I began to hear a song in my head about the ministry, the people and the “love being served on a plain, white plate”.  It turned out to be “The Faith Cafe” and it’s one of my favorites.