About Holy Rosary Parish · Portland, Oregon
Holy Rosary Parish is a Catholic parish in Portland, Oregon, staffed by the Dominican Friars of the Province of the Most Holy Name of Jesus. Founded in 1893 and blessed on January 28, 1894, by Archbishop William H. Gross, C.Ss.R., it was the first Dominican parish and priory in the Pacific Northwest. The parish sits at 375 NE Clackamas Street in the Lloyd neighborhood and is known for its Palladian Italian Renaissance-style church, its celebrated Dominican Rite Latin Mass with Gregorian chant, and its broad roster of devotions centered on the Most Holy Rosary. Today Holy Rosary is a vibrant, ethnically and racially diverse faith community of roughly 900 registered families that draws many members who commute from across the Portland metro area.
- Established
- 1893
- Patron
- Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary (Queen of the Most Holy Rosary)
- Rector
- Fr. Peter Do, OP (Pastor & Prior)
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Portland in Oregon
Why belong here
Holy Rosary is a deeply Catholic, Dominican-run parish in Portland's Lloyd neighborhood that welcomes about 900 registered families into a vibrant, ethnically and age-diverse community. Visitors encounter the beauty of the Ordinary Form of the Roman Rite alongside a Dominican Rite Latin Mass with Gregorian chant and sacred polyphony, a full sacramental life including daily confessions, weekly Eucharistic Adoration, and rich Marian and Sacred Heart devotions. For those who want solid teaching, real formation (CCD for ages 3–18, OCIA for adults, homeschool support, study groups), and an active social and charitable life — Knights of Columbus, St. Vincent de Paul, food pantry, Bible and theology groups, and frequent parish gatherings — Holy Rosary is a rare combination of traditional Catholicism and warm community.
Mass times at Holy Rosary Parish
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Sundays: half hour before all Masses
- Weekdays: 11:00 AM to Noon
- First Fridays: 7:00 PM to 7:30 PM
- First Saturdays: 7:30 AM to 8:00 AM
- Saturdays: 4:00 PM to 5:30 PM
Adoration times
- Weekdays: 12:30 PM to 4:00 PM
- First Saturdays: 8:30 AM to 9:00 AM
- Third Saturdays: 7:00 PM to 8:30 PM
History of Holy Rosary Parish
Holy Rosary's story stretches from 1893, when the Dominican friars of the Province of the Most Holy Name of Jesus accepted Archbishop William H. Gross's invitation to come to Portland. Construction of the church and convent was nearly complete when a legal restriction on religious use of the original block forced an exchange of land; the buildings were moved nine blocks west by men and horses to the present location. Archbishop Gross blessed the Palladian Italian Renaissance-style church on January 28, 1894. Holy Rosary became a traditional territorial parish on February 15, 1908, and was raised to a Dominican priory the following year — the first Dominican parish and priory in the Pacific Northwest. The parish grew through the 20th century with the opening of Holy Rosary School (September 3, 1912), a 1923 school and parish hall, two annual Marian novenas, and a daily broadcast of the Rosary that began in 1951.
The 1993 Fire and Centennial Re-dedication
Under Father Anthony Patalano, O.P., the parish undertook a massive renovation for its centennial. With 95% complete, a fire on November 9, 1993, destroyed the 1924 organ and caused heavy smoke and water damage. A new baptistry mural, tabernacle, monstrance, stained glass windows, and tracker pipe organ were installed, and Archbishop Thomas Cajeton Kelly, O.P., of Louisville formally re-dedicated the church on January 28, 1996.
Dominican Rite and Liturgical Life
As a Dominican parish, Holy Rosary celebrates both the Ordinary Form of the Roman Rite and the Dominican Rite — the Latin Mass according to the Order of Preachers — with Gregorian chant and sacred polyphony. The parish draws heavily on the four Dominican pillars of prayer, study, preaching, and community. The Dominican Laity (Holy Rosary Chapter) meets monthly on the fourth Sunday for Mass, the Divine Office, Rosary, fellowship, and study, and hosts an annual retreat.
- Lauds + Office of Readings — Weekdays at 7:35 AM
- Solemn Vespers — First Saturdays at 4:30 PM, September–May
- Recitation of the Rosary — Weekdays 11:30 AM, Saturdays 7:30 AM, Sundays 10:30 AM
Faith Formation and Religious Education
Holy Rosary serves students of all ages through the CCD (Confraternity of Christian Doctrine) program on Wednesdays from 4:30 to 6:00 PM in Aquinas Hall. Classes use the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd, the Baltimore Catechism, and the Faith and Life Series and are open to any registered parishioner children ages 3–18. Older children needing First Communion (over age 9) or Confirmation (over 12) can contact the CCD Coordinator for placement. The parish also runs the Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary (OLMHR) Homeschool Ministry with monthly children's events, parent support meetings, and an active community of veteran and beginning homeschoolers.
OCIA (Adult Initiation)
The Order of Christian Initiation for Adults (OCIA) walks both unbaptized adults and already-baptized Catholics into full communion with the Church through stages of study, prayer, and liturgical rites. Holy Rosary's OCIA team welcomes sponsors and those willing to help with teaching and organizing.
Children's Clubs and Youth
The Little Flowers Girls Club and the Squires of St. Dominic Boys Club gather children ages 4.5–12 one Saturday morning a month to grow in virtue through Scripture, the lives of the saints, prayer, music, games, crafts, and Catholic traditions. All Catholic children are welcome.
Charitable Works and Outreach
Outreach is rooted in the Dominican tradition of preaching and mercy. The parish's Society of St. Vincent de Paul helps parishioners and neighbors with emergency food, rent, and utilities. The St. Martin de Porres Food Pantry works alongside SVDP to ensure all parish families have food on the table. Members & Friends of the Ordinariate in Portland are building an Ordinariate community in the greater Portland area with hopes of forming an Ordinariate parish.
Knights of Columbus, Councils, and Community Life
The Knights of Columbus — Holy Rosary Council 15605 — is the local council of the world's largest Catholic family fraternal service organization. The Dominican Laity – Holy Rosary Chapter (also called the Holy Family Chapter) and the Parish Council, Finance Council, and Property Steering Committee provide consultative leadership. Parish life also includes pastoral study groups on Scripture, theology, literature, and church history, plus social gatherings such as coffee and donuts, dinners, movies, and the popular monthly community potluck brunch after the 9:00 AM and 11:00 AM Sunday Masses in Siena Hall.
Rosary Center and Confraternity
The Rosary Center, located on the southwest corner of 3rd and Clackamas, is part of the Confraternity of the Most Holy Rosary — a worldwide prayer movement entrusted to the Dominican Order by the Holy See more than 500 years ago. Intentions of Confraternity members are united with hundreds of thousands around the world.
Music and Liturgical Arts
Music is led by Director of Music Blake Applegate. The parish's 1983 rebuild of the original Kilgen organ into a concert-quality pipe organ and the centennial-era tracker pipe organ continue a strong tradition of sacred music, including Gregorian chant and sacred polyphony for the Dominican Rite.
Parish Staff
The parish is served by the Dominican Friars of the Province of the Most Holy Name of Jesus, alongside a dedicated lay staff.
- Fr. Peter Do, OP — Pastor & Prior
- Fr. Paul Raftery, OP — Parochial Vicar
- Fr. Joseph Selinger, OP — Parochial Vicar
- Fr. Dismas Sayre, OP — Director of the Rosary Center
- Blake Applegate — Director of Music
- Katie Edson — Pastoral Associate
- Wendy McKnight — Business Manager
- Ken Jacks — Building Maintenance
- Can Nguyen — Maintenance Assistant
- Cary Schmidgall — CCD Coordinator
- Erin Straub — Head Sacristan
- Jessica Straub — Event Coordinator
- Brandon Stuvick — Office Assistant
Visiting, Contact, and Sacraments
The parish office is open weekdays 9:30 AM to Noon and 1:00 to 4:00 PM, and Sundays 8:00 AM to 1:00 PM. Phone: 503-235-3163. Email: [email protected]. Forms for parishioner registration, infant baptism, OCIA, weddings, and funerals are available through the contact page, and the weekly bulletin is delivered via Flocknote.
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father William Aquinas Norton, OP1958–
Energetic pastor who launched physical reconstruction of the church and grounds, built a parking lot, and moved the Our Lady of Lourdes shrine into a new grotto.
- Pastor Bernard Arnheim, OP1972 (and surrounding years)
Renewed solid Catholic teaching, preaching, and sacramental practice during a period of decline; wrote the famous 'Portland will rise again' letter to his Dominican Provincial.
- Father Anthony Patalano, OPpre-1993–1996
Led the massive centennial renovation; oversaw recovery from the November 9, 1993 fire and the church's re-dedication on January 28, 1996.
- Fr. Vincent M. Kelber, OPearly 2010s
Pastor at the time of the 2013 patronal feast, when Archbishop Alexander Sample presided at the Solemn High Dominican Rite Mass.
- Fr. Peter Do, OPpresent
Current Pastor and Prior of the Dominican community.