About Holy Family · Portland, Oregon
Holy Family Catholic Parish is a welcoming faith community in southeast Portland, Oregon, grounded in Gospel values and dedicated to making God known to its members and all who enter its doors. The parish fosters positive relationships with God and one another through stewardship and active participation in the ministries of worship, education, service, and community. It belongs to the Archdiocese of Portland in Oregon and shares its campus with Holy Family Catholic School, which has served local families since 1948. Holy Family celebrates Mass in English on weekends and weekdays, offers Eucharistic Adoration on Fridays, runs an active St. Vincent de Paul food pantry, and supports faith formation for children, youth, and adults.
- Established
- 1931
- Patron
- Holy Family of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph
- Rector
- Father Rodel de Mesa
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Portland in Oregon
Why belong here
Holy Family is a parish that welcomes everyone and asks its members to share their gifts through stewardship of time, talent, and treasure. It offers the core rhythms of Catholic life — weekend and weekday Mass in English, Friday Eucharistic Adoration, Saturday confession, and a Confirmation program for 7th–12th graders — alongside robust outreach (a St. Vincent de Paul food pantry that serves over 450 families a year) and parish traditions like the Rosary Makers group, whose handmade rosaries are shipped to communities around the world. With a parish school that has educated southeast Portland children since 1948 and ministries spanning children, youth, music, and service, it is a friendly place to put down roots and grow in faith.
Mass times at Holy Family
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 5:00 PM to 5:30 PM
- Or by appointment
Adoration times
- Friday 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM in the Parish Chapel
- First Fridays following Mass in the Church
About Holy Family Parish
Holy Family Catholic Parish is a welcoming faith community grounded in Gospel values, fostering positive relationships with God and one another through stewardship and active participation in the ministries of worship, education, service, and community. The parish belongs to the Archdiocese of Portland in Oregon and serves southeast Portland from its campus on SE Knapp Street, where it shares facilities with Holy Family Catholic School.
- Parish office: 3732 SE Knapp St, Portland, OR 97202
- Office hours: Monday–Thursday 9 AM–3 PM, Friday 9 AM–12 PM
- Phone: 503-774-1428
- Part of the Archdiocese of Portland in Oregon
History
Holy Family traces its origin to the 1917 division of St. Ignatius Parish in southeast Portland by Archbishop Alexander Christie. According to the St. Anthony Parish history, Holy Family formally became its own parish in 1931 under Fr. G. M. Sniderhon. The parish's Catholic school opened September 8, 1948, with 27 students and the Sisters of the Holy Child Jesus, and grew through eight grades by 1951. After the Holy Child Sisters planned to leave, Sister Esther Basatasch and parents kept the school open; the Holy Name Sisters took over in 1976, with Sister Sally Brown, SNJM, the last Holy Names nun to serve, starting in 1979. In 2000 the parish built the current church, which made possible a major school renovation. A 2024 Capital Campaign added a new HVAC system, with an elevator planned.
- 1917 — Archbishop Christie splits the St. Ignatius territory, planting the seeds for Holy Family
- 1931 — Holy Family becomes a parish under Fr. G. M. Sniderhon
- 1948 — Holy Family Catholic School opens (27 students, Sisters of the Holy Child Jesus)
- 1951 — School expands to all eight grades, first graduating class
- 1964 — Gym built; enrollment reaches 364 students
- 1976 — Holy Name Sisters join the school
- 2000 — Current church built; school gains library, science labs, learning support center, art and music rooms
- 2024 — Capital Campaign installs new HVAC; elevator planned
Parish Staff & Clergy
Holy Family is led by a Filipino-born pastor and a small staff of lay ministers, all working from the parish office on SE Knapp St. Father Rodel de Mesa, a Mount Angel Seminary graduate ordained in 2012, has served Holy Family since 2014 and was installed as Pastor in 2017. The staff page lists a Director of Pastoral Ministries, a Faith Formation (K-5) coordinator, a Youth Ministry contact, a Business Manager, a Bookkeeper, an Administrative Assistant, and a Director of Music Ministry.
- Father Rodel de Mesa — Pastor ([email protected], ext 106)
- Director of Pastoral Ministries
- Desi Dominguez — Faith Formation K-5 ([email protected])
- Krisi Christensen — Youth Ministry contact ([email protected])
- Lorenz Mallari — Business Manager
- Marivic Tupaz — Bookkeeper
- Sherry Brost — Administrative Assistant
- Director of Music Ministry
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Holy Family offers faith formation for children, youth, and families, with a particular emphasis on sacramental preparation. Religious Education K-5 is coordinated by Desi Dominguez and is actively recruiting volunteers to rebuild a regular program after years of low turnout. Annual Faith Formation Registration opens each fall for First Communion classes, and Confirmation preparation runs for 7th–12th graders.
- Religious Education K-5 — contact Desi Dominguez
- Faith Formation / First Communion preparation (2025/2026 registration open through October 31)
- Sacramental Preparation Registration form on parish site
- Children's Faith Formation Registration form available
- Confirmation Registration form available
Youth Ministry
The Youth Ministry program supports young people ages 12–18 with three regular groups: a Middle School Youth Group (6th–8th), a High School Youth Group (9th–12th), and Confirmation preparation (7th–12th). Each group meets regularly throughout the year for fellowship, prayer, and faith formation, integrating Catholic teaching into everyday life and the challenges teens face. Inquiries go to Krisi Christensen at [email protected].
- Middle School Youth Group (grades 6–8)
- High School Youth Group (grades 9–12)
- Confirmation preparation (grades 7–12)
- Contact: Krisi Christensen, [email protected]
Music Ministry
The Music Ministry fosters full participation of the assembly at every weekend Mass. Sunday choirs (8:30 & 10:30) are led by Chris Brunelle and blend Catholic classics with modern composers and a variety of instruments; the Holy Family Traditional Choir ministers at the Saturday 5:30 PM Mass under Tina Paradiso with an emphasis on classic four-part arrangements. No auditions are required, music-reading ability is helpful but not necessary, and all are welcome — singers can simply arrive 30 minutes before Mass.
- Sunday choirs (8:30 & 10:30 AM) — Chris Brunelle, [email protected], 503-975-7535
- Holy Family Traditional Choir (Saturday 5:30 PM) — Tina Paradiso, [email protected], 503-381-3331
- No auditions required; music-reading ability helpful but not necessary
St. Vincent de Paul Outreach
The Holy Family Conference of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul is one of the parish's largest outreach ministries. Its food pantry, located in the NW corner of the Parish Center, serves more than 450 families per year through weekly operations and another 100 families through the Christmas Food Box program. The conference also provides rent and utility assistance to 20–30 families in southeast Portland and contributes financially to neighboring parish conferences struggling to meet local demand. Anyone needing help should call the Portland Council's client line at 503-235-8431; donations and assistance requests can go to Dan Hoffa at [email protected].
- Food pantry: Parish Center, NW corner
- Serves 450+ families per year (weekly) plus 100+ Christmas Food Boxes
- Rent & utility assistance for 20–30 SE Portland families
- Financial support to neighboring SVdP conferences
- Assistance requests: Portland Council client line 503-235-8431
- Donations/inquiries: Dan Hoffa, [email protected]
Rosary Makers
The Rosary Makers ministry gathers on the second Tuesday of every month at 9:30 AM in the big meeting room of the Parish Center (3732 SE Knapp St) to craft rosaries that are sent around the world to communities without easy access to them — including the Philippines, Guatemala, Alaska, and Argentina. Inspired by Pope Leo XIII's praise of the rosary as 'the most excellent form of prayer,' the group welcomes any parishioner who wants to help. Adult makers can contact Dorothy Danna at 503-698-3578.
- When: Second Tuesday of every month, 9:30 AM
- Where: Parish Center meeting room, 3732 SE Knapp St
- Recipients: Philippines, Guatemala, Alaska, Argentina, and beyond
- Contact: Dorothy Danna, 503-698-3578 (adult makers)
Holy Family Catholic School
Holy Family Catholic School has educated southeast Portland children for more than 75 years, opening in 1948 with 27 students and the Sisters of the Holy Child Jesus. Generations of religious sisters — including the Holy Child Jesus sisters, the Holy Name Sisters, and a long line of lay teachers — have staffed the school as it grew to all eight grades. The 2000 construction of the current church enabled a major renovation adding a library, science labs, a learning support center, and art and music rooms, and a 2024 Capital Campaign added a new HVAC system with an elevator planned. The school is led today by a vibrant community of devoted parishioners, staff, students, and parents.
- Founded: September 8, 1948 (27 students)
- Founding religious community: Sisters of the Holy Child Jesus
- First school building blessed by Father Michael Fleming, December 1948
- All eight grades by 1951; gym built 1964 (enrollment 364)
- Current church built 2000; school gained library, labs, learning support, art & music rooms
- 2024 Capital Campaign: new HVAC, elevator planned
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. G. M. Sniderhon1931 (appointed pastor when Holy Family took on parish status)
Per the St. Anthony Parish history, Fr. Sniderhon (b. 1886, Cayuga, Ontario, Canada; ordained 1912) was made pastor of Holy Family Parish in 1931 when it took on Parish status; he also served as pastor of St. Anthony. After pastoring several parishes, he served as a chaplain at various hospitals until his death in 1969 at age 82.
- Father Michael Flemingmid-20th century
Blessed and dedicated the new Holy Family school building in December 1948.
- Father Rodel de MesaAssigned as administrator 2014; installed as Pastor 2017–present
Born in Bato, Catanduanes, Philippines in 1984; earned a bachelor's in classical philosophy at Mater Salutis College Seminary (Sipi, Daraga, Albay) in 2006, then completed a baccalaureate in Sacred Theology, an M.A. in Theology, and an M.Div. at Mount Angel Seminary. Ordained in 2012 by Archbishop Vlazny. Prior assignments: administrator at Holy Trinity in Bandon; associate at the Madeleine, Portland, and Resurrection, Tualatin; installed as Holy Family's Pastor in 2017.