Raymond Michael Hopp

Reverend Raymond Michael Hopp, retired pastor of St. Patrick Catholic Church in Lakeview died Monday, April 8th.

Services for Fr. Hopp will include a Vigil with Rosary on Wednesday, April 17th at 6:00 PM and the Mass of Christian burial on Thursday, April 18th at 11:00 with the Most Reverend Liam Cary, bishop of the Diocese of Baker presiding.  Services will be at St. Patrick Church with burial following Mass at Westside cemetery.

Father Hopp was born on September 7, 1939, in Los Angeles, CA to Jim and Helen Hopp (deceased). He was ordained a priest for the Archdiocese of Los Angeles on May 1, 1965.  He served at Our Lady of Lourdes parish in Northridge, CA. and at St. Joseph the Worker parish in Canoga Park, CA.

In October of 1973 Father Hopp moved to Eastern Oregon and became a priest for the Diocese of Baker. His desire to serve rural parishes was the determining factor for his move to the Diocese.

Fr. Hopp began his service in the Diocese of Baker as the associate pastor of St. Mary Church in Pendleton.  He then became the pastor of St. John Church in Condon.  Following this assignment, Fr. Hopp was appointed pastor of St. Katherine Church in Enterprise.  After serving in Enterprise for ten and a half years, he was appointed pastor of St. Patrick Church in Lakeview, where he served for eleven years until his retirement in 2006.

During his years of priesthood, Fr. Hopp served on numerous Diocesan committees such as the Clergy Personnel Board, the Priest’s Council, and the College of Consultors.  He was known by all his parishioners as being an excellent homilist, giving sermons from the heart.  His communication skills were also evident in his many cowboy poems, which are well known to his communities.

Fr. Hopp was an outstanding priest, serving both parishioners and non-parishioners.   His door was always open to anybody who would come.  He had a particular love for his ministry to the hospitals and nursing homes in his parishes.  He would regularly visit the patients and would spend time with the medical personnel, many times bringing them treats.

He served his parish communities as a volunteer firefighter and EMT. For many years, he held the office of Chaplain for the Oregon Volunteer Firefighter’s Association (OVFA). He was an accomplished horseman, and many times would be called upon to help the local ranchers, working the cattle.  He was a familiar face in his communities and rarely seen outside of Church without his cowboy hat.

He enjoyed his opportunities to spend vacation time, fishing with his sister Marie, and his long-time friends, Bishop Michael Driscoll (deceased) and Fr. Rick Fischer

Fr. Hopp was known for his exceptional photographic skills, eventually becoming an expert in digital photography.  He was more than willing to share this skill with anybody who would ask.

Fr. Hopp is survived by his two sisters, Helene Schnorr and Sister Marie Raymond Hopp, CSJ, and by a niece and three nephews.

In Lieu of flowers, donations may be made in memory of Fr. Hopp to St. Patrick Catholic Church.

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