About Holy Cross · Portland, Oregon
Holy Cross Catholic Church is a parish in the North Peninsula / St. Johns neighborhood of Portland, Oregon, established by the Congregation of Holy Cross at the invitation of Archbishop Alexander Christie in 1901 and formally dedicated in September 1904. The parish serves a vibrant, multicultural Catholic community — most notably a long-standing Hispanic/Latino ministry that has grown from 50 people at the first Spanish Mass in 1992 to hundreds of families today. Holy Cross is paired with its own Pre-K through 8th-grade Catholic school (founded 1912 by the Sisters of Saint Mary of Oregon) and remains one of the recognizable faith communities in North Portland under the Archdiocese of Portland in Oregon.
- Established
- 1901 (parish designated); 1904 (church dedicated)
- Patron
- Holy Cross (Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross — September 14)
- Rector
- Rev. Mark Bachmeier
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Portland in Oregon
Why belong here
Holy Cross is a long-standing North Portland Catholic community where Sunday Mass in both English and Spanish welcomes multi-generational families — many of whose grandparents were brought back to the faith by a 1991 parish-led door-to-door census. The parish pairs rich sacramental life (daily Mass, Thursday all-day Adoration, weekly Reconciliation, Anointing of the Sick) with strong programs for every age: a Pre-K–8 Catholic school, Religious Education for K–6, Confirmation preparation through L.I.F.T. for grades 7–12, OCIA (formerly RCIA), Vacation Bible School, a returning St. Vincent de Paul food pantry, a Senior Ministry with Communion to the homebound, God's Girls prayer group, and the St. Francis Cutting Garden that provides flowers for the church. With a new Community Center dedicated by Archbishop Sample in 2025 and a thriving Hispanic ministry of hundreds of families, Holy Cross offers both deep roots and active growth.
Mass times at Holy Cross
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Wednesday 7:00 PM
- Friday 9:00 AM (following the 8:30 AM Mass)
Adoration times
- Thursday 8:30 AM to 8:30 PM (in the Church) — no Adoration on Thanksgiving, Christmas, or New Year's Day
Welcome to Holy Cross Catholic Church
Holy Cross Catholic Church sits in the North Peninsula / St. Johns neighborhood of North Portland, Oregon, and has served Catholic families in the area since 1904. The parish community describes itself as 'eager to be a part of your life and have you as a part of our life,' committed to growing in the likeness of Jesus Christ through prayer, the sacraments, discipline and shared community life. Worship is offered in both English and Spanish, with a flourishing Hispanic ministry that began in 1992 and now includes hundreds of families.
- North Portland / St. Johns neighborhood
- Bilingual: English and Spanish
- Holy Cross Catholic School on the same campus
Parish History
The parish was designated in 1901 by Archbishop Alexander Christie when he invited the Congregation of Holy Cross to administer Columbia University (later the University of Portland) and carved out a new parish from Portland's North Peninsula. The first pastor, Rev. John Thillman, CSC, was appointed in 1902. Catholics initially worshipped at West Hall chapel on the University campus until, in 1904, Brother Joseph brought his team of horses to break ground for a small wooden-frame church seating 300 on the corner of Bowdoin and Stanford streets; Archbishop Christie dedicated it on September 4, 1904. The parish has grown continuously ever since, marked by key moments such as the 75th anniversary Mass celebrated by Archbishop Cornelius Michael Power in 1979 and the start of the Spanish Mass in 1992.
- 1901 — parish designated; CSC arrives at Columbia University
- 1902 — Rev. John Thillman, CSC, named first pastor
- 1904 — frame church dedicated Sept. 4 by Archbishop Christie
- 1979 — 75th anniversary Mass with Archbishop Power
- 1988 — Fr. Cathal Brennan installed Sept. 14 (Feast of the Holy Cross)
- 1991 — Legion of Mary door-to-door census of North Portland
- 1992 — first Spanish Mass with 50 attendees
- 1996 — Eucharistic Minister to the Homebound ministry founded
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Faith formation at Holy Cross is offered for every stage of life, from kindergarten through high school and into adulthood. The Religious Education program uses a hands-on, year-by-year approach for children in kindergarten through sixth grade, helping them encounter Catholic teaching in an engaging way. Sacramental preparation works with children and families for Baptism, First Reconciliation and First Communion — typically received in second grade, though older children are welcome. Teens in grades 7 through 12 continue their journey through Confirmation preparation, which the parish frames as the final Sacrament of Initiation, run through its L.I.F.T. (high-school youth) programs.
- Religious Education (K–6)
- Sacramental Preparation (Baptism, First Reconciliation, First Communion)
- Confirmation Preparation / L.I.F.T. (grades 7–12)
- OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults) — meetings Tuesday evenings
- Vacation Bible School — summer program
Holy Cross Catholic School
Holy Cross Catholic School is the parish's parochial school, serving students from Pre-Kindergarten through 8th grade in a close-knit, faith-filled learning community in the heart of North Portland. The school was founded in 1912 by the Sisters of Saint Mary of Oregon and became the area Catholic school for North Portland in 1986. Today the school emphasizes academic excellence, Catholic values, small class sizes and personalized attention, with innovative teaching and a strong sense of service. A weekly school Mass on Fridays during the school year is a cherished tradition in which older middle school students accompany and assist their younger peers.
- Pre-K through 8th grade
- Founded 1912 by the Sisters of Saint Mary of Oregon
- Became the North Portland area school in 1986
- Weekly Friday School Mass
- Address: 5202 N. Bowdoin Street, Portland, OR 97203
- School Phone: (503) 289-3010
- Currently enrolling
Liturgical Schedule Detail
The parish publishes the following weekly schedule: Saturday Vigil 5:00 PM (English); Sunday 9:00 AM (English) and 12:00 PM Noon (Spanish); Tuesday–Friday daily Mass at 8:30 AM with Rosary at 8:00 AM. Friday 8:30 AM is the School Mass during the academic year. Eucharistic Adoration runs Thursdays 8:30 AM to 8:30 PM in the Church (no Adoration on Thanksgiving, Christmas, or New Year's Day). Reconciliation (Confession) is offered Wednesdays at 7:00 PM and Fridays at 9:00 AM (following the 8:30 AM Mass). The Anointing of the Sick is celebrated on the 2nd Wednesday of each month following the 8:30 AM Mass.
- Saturday Vigil — 5:00 PM English
- Sunday — 9:00 AM English, 12:00 PM Spanish
- Tuesday–Friday — 8:30 AM daily Mass
- Rosary — Tue–Fri 8:00 AM
- Adoration — Thursday 8:30 AM to 8:30 PM
- Reconciliation — Wednesday 7:00 PM, Friday 9:00 AM
- Anointing of the Sick — 2nd Wednesday after 8:30 AM Mass
Ministries & Outreach
A wide range of lay ministries animate parish life at Holy Cross. The Hispanic Ministry, anchored since the first Spanish Mass in 1992, serves hundreds of Latino families and is coordinated through a Hispanic Ministry Coordinator. The St. Vincent de Paul conference is being re-established alongside the new Community Center and food pantry. The Senior Ministry supports elderly parishioners and takes Communion to the sick and homebound — a ministry first launched in 1996 as 'Eucharistic Minister to the Homebound.' Other active groups include the Legion of Mary, the Knights of Columbus, God's Girls (a community prayer group), and the St. Francis Cutting Garden, which supplies flowers for church decoration.
- Hispanic Ministry (since 1992)
- St. Vincent de Paul Food Pantry (relaunching 2025)
- Senior Ministry & Communion to the Sick/Homebound
- Eucharistic Minister to the Homebound
- Legion of Mary
- Knights of Columbus
- God's Girls (prayer group)
- St. Francis Cutting Garden (flowers for the church)
- Advent Giving Project
- Music Ministry
New Community Center & Facilities
On September 14, 2025, Archbishop Sample dedicated a new Community Center on the Holy Cross campus, expanding the parish's ability to host ministries, fellowship, and outreach — including the relocated St. Vincent de Paul food pantry and thrift-store partnership. The parish also maintains a school campus on N. Bowdoin Street, the church on the corner of N. Hodge Avenue and Bowdoin Street, and the cutting garden supported by parishioner volunteers.
- Community Center dedicated Sept. 14, 2025 by Archbishop Sample
- St. Vincent de Paul food pantry relocating to new center
- SVdP Thrift Store partnership on SE Powell
- Church at corner of Hodge Ave. and Bowdoin Street
Parish Staff & Clergy
Holy Cross is currently served by Rev. Mark Bachmeier as pastor, listed in the Archdiocese of Portland in Oregon clergy directory. The parish office can be reached at (503) 289-2834 or [email protected]. Over the years Holy Cross has been shaped by a long line of pastors, beginning with Rev. John Thillman, CSC, in 1902, including Fr. Cathal Brennan (installed 1988), Rev. John Wironen, CSC, and Fr. Dave Gutmann (nine years of service). Deacon Brett Edmonson also served the parish for 6½ years. The school is led by its own principal and supported by Sisters of Saint Mary of Oregon.
- Rev. Mark Bachmeier — current Pastor
- Rev. Dave Gutmann — former pastor (9 years)
- Rev. John Wironen, CSC — former pastor
- Rev. Cathal Brennan — installed Sept. 14, 1988
- Fr. Wayne Forbes — former pastor (7 years)
- Rev. John Thillman, CSC — first pastor, 1902
- Deacon Brett Edmonson — former deacon (6½ years)
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. John Thillman, CSC1902
First pastor, appointed by Archbishop Alexander Christie
- Fr. Valentine Moffenbe1979
Pastor around 75th anniversary
- Fr. Carl Wachter1967-1968
Pastor; associate Fr. Michael O'Brien
- Fr. Wayne Forbesearly 1980s – 1988
Served 7 years before departing in 1988
- Rev. Cathal BrennanSept. 14, 1988
Installed on the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, 1988
- Rev. John Wironen, CSC1990s/2000s
Residing at University of Portland, accepted assignment as Pastor of Holy Cross
- Rev. Dave Gutmannserved 9 years
Served the parish for nine years
- Rev. Mark Bachmeiercurrent
Current pastor per Archdiocese of Portland clergy directory