Multnomah County OR Archives Biographies.....Hillebrand, Rev. Anthony  July 19, 1859 - 
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Ila Wakley iwakley@msn.com September 4, 2009, 4:26 am

Source: The S. J. Clarke Publishing Company
Author: The S. J. Clarke Publishing Company

     RIGHT REV. ANTHONY HILLEBRAND, V. G., P. A.  A distinguished prelate of 
the Catholic church, the Right Rev. Anthony Hillebrand has devoted much of his 
life to the work of extending its influence in this state and on July 4, 1928, 
celebrated the fortieth anniversary of his pastorate of St. John's parish in 
Oregon City. A native of Germany, he was born at Brilon, in the province of 
Westphalia, July 19, 1859, his parents being Anthony and Katharine (Weber) 
Hillebrand. His early instruction was acquired in the elementary schools of 
GerŽmany and in 1880-1881 he completed a course in a gymnasium. At the 
University of Munster he studied philosophy, philology and theology and later 
took a course at the American College in the University of Louvain, Belgium, 
in the chapel of which he was ordained to the priesthood, June 28, 1885, by 
the Right Rev. Aegidius Junger, bishop of Nisqually, Washington, who was at 
that time in Belgium.

     For some time Father Hillebrand had been desirous of working in the 
western part of the United States but his superiors considered the plan 
inadvisable, offering to send him to Brazil instead. At length his persistence 
and determination were rewarded and shortly after his ordination he came to 
this country in company with Bishop Junger, being at that time a young man of 
twenty-six. He was placed in charge of the missions in eastern Oregon and 
established his headquarters in Canyon City. The district was two hundred and 
fifty by three hundred miles in extent and included Grant, Crook, Lake, Harney 
and Malheur counties. His territory was situŽated in a wild and almost 
unexplored part of the country and there, amid the most strenuous 
circumstances, he ministered to the spiritual needs of his scattered flock. In 
the fall of 1885 he rode from Canyon City to Fox Valley to baptize a baby, 
meeting the father, Patrick Ryan, on the way. Father Hillebrand returned by 
way of the John Day valley, his first horseback ride, and covered the distance 
of fifty miles in two days, being in the saddle most of the time on a lame 
horse. Early in April, 1886, he decided to make a trip on horseback to Fox 
Valley, Long Creek, Mitchell, Fossil, Dayville, Prineville, Klamath, Paisley, 
Lakeview, Jordan Valley, Warner, Burns, Harney and Prairie City, a journey of 
sixteen hundred miles. Father HilleŽbrand was an inexperienced horseman and 
had been accustomed to large cities and settled communities. Soon after he 
started it began to snow and his horse strayed from the trail, coming to a 
little cabin after dark. There Father Hillebrand spent the night, proceeding 
on his way the next morning, and after traveling for some time arrived at a 
good-sized stream. Upon making inquiries he learned that the place was John 
Day, situated about a mile from his home, which he had left two days 
previously! Once more he started for Fox Valley but when darkness fell he 
again lost his bearings and fortunately encountered a German, who guided him 
to Fox Valley. When he arrived at the top of the mountain beyond Mitchell his 
horse sufŽfered an attack of colic and after spending the night in the 
mountains Father HilleŽbrand came to the home of a hospitable settler, with 
whom he remained for a few days. When his horse was able to travel he resumed 
his journey in company with two young men whom he had met at the ranch where 
he stayed, following the old Eldorado road from Prineville to Lakeview and 
finally completing the trip.

     For three years Father Hillebrand lived the life of a pioneer missionary 
priest and in recognition of his zeal and efficiency was made pastor of St. 
John's church at Oregon City, appointed July 4, 1888. Here for forty years he 
has toiled uninterruptedly, directing unaided, one of the largest parishes of 
the diocese. In the pursuit of his Godgiven task, he has completely merged his 
interests with those of his people and parish, expending not only his 
unbounded energy but also his patrimony upon St. John's congregation. On June 
28, 1910, he celebrated the silver jubilee of his ordination and the following 
is an excerpt from an article which appeared in one of the local papers at 
that time: "Rev. A. Hillebrand, pastor of St. John's church of Oregon City, on 
Tuesday of this week celebrated the twenty-fifth anniversary of his ordination 
to the priesthood.  Most Rev. Alexander Christie and a large number of the 
archdiocesan clergy were present at the jubilee service. Solemn high mass was 
celebrated at ten o'clock by the reverend jubilarian in the presence of a 
congregation which filled St. John's church to the doors. At one o'clock 
dinner was served to the visiting clergy and in the evening a public reception 
was held in McLoughlin hall at which a great throng gathered. It was a joyful 
occasion for the people of Oregon City, both Catholic and non-Catholic, who 
turned out in great numbers to present their felicitations to Father 
Hillebrand, who has earned their affection and gratitude by twenty-two years 
of zealous labors in their community."

     On November 6, 1919, Father Hillebrand was appointed vicar general of the 
archdiocese by Archbishop Christie, and after the latter's death was chosen 
adminŽistrator of the archdiocese, April 8, 1925, which office he held until 
August 26, 1926, when he was reappointed vicar general by the Most Rev. 
Archbishop Howard. His long experience had eminently fitted him for the 
position, which he filled with remarkŽable ability, attending at one and the 
same time to the spiritual and temporal interŽests of his parish and the 
details of the archdiocese. On April 7, 1920, by virtue of a brief from Pope 
Benedict XV, he was elevated to the dignity of prothonotary apostolic, and was 
invested June 28, 1920, the event coinciding with the thirty-fifth anniversary 
of his ordination to the priesthood.  A scholar of uncommon erudition, 
Monsignor Hillebrand is master of several languages and his personal library 
embraces over five thousand volumes. He possesses the simplicity and humility 
which ever mark real merit, and his has been a life of great usefulness and 
far-reaching influence.


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