About Immaculate Conception · Stayton, Oregon
Immaculate Conception is a Roman Catholic parish in Stayton, Oregon, part of the Archdiocese of Portland in Oregon. The parish was founded in 1903 and dedicated in 1904 by a small group of laymen who built the first church themselves after Archbishop Alexander Christie initially refused permission. Today the parish serves the Santiam Vicariate with weekend Masses in English and Spanish, a Catholic school system (Regis High School and St. Mary Elementary), a parish cemetery, a thriving Hispanic ministry, and faith formation for all ages. It is pastored by Rev. Luan Nguyen with Rev. Fr. Arul Jegathesh serving as Parochial Vicar.
- Established
- 1903
- Patron
- Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary
- Rector
- Rev. Luan Nguyen
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Portland in Oregon
Why belong here
Immaculate Conception is a parish that grew out of lay initiative and still prizes the hands-on involvement of its members — from the families who built the first steeple in 1904 to today's Parish Center campaign committee. Worshippers can attend a Vigil Mass on Saturday, three Sunday Masses (including a Spanish-language Mass at noon), weekday Masses, Eucharistic Adoration on Thursdays, and reconciliation several times a week. The parish supports faith formation for every age — OCIA for adults and teens, OCIC for children, family catechesis, a middle-school youth group, a high-school youth group, and Confirmation preparation for grades 7–12 — and reaches out to the wider community through St. Mary's Cemetery and the St. Martha bereavement ministry.
Mass times at Immaculate Conception
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Thursday: 7:00 pm to finish
- Saturday: 11:00 am–11:30 am
- Saturday: 3:30 pm–4:00 pm
- Or by appointment
Adoration times
- Sunday: 2:30 pm to 3:30 pm
- Thursday: 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm
Parish History
Immaculate Conception traces its roots to 1903, when twelve Catholic laymen met at Stayton's Daisy Hall to plan a church. The first building was completed in 1904 and the parish operated as a dependent mission of St. Boniface, Sublimity for more than two decades. A larger church was built in 1951–52 and dedicated by Bishop Francis P. Leipzig. In 2017 Archbishop Alexander Sample dedicated the new Parish Center.
- 1903 — founding meeting at Daisy Hall, Streff Building
- 1904 — first church dedicated August 14 by Rev. E. O'Hara
- 1914 — cemetery land purchased from Lydia and O.J. Ruble
- 1922 — sanctuary addition to original church
- 1931 — first resident pastor assigned
- 1952 — new church dedicated June 22 by Bishop Leipzig
- 2001 — $4.5M tri-parish capital campaign launched
- 2017 — new Parish Center dedicated February 8 by Archbishop Sample
Clergy & Staff
The parish is pastored by Rev. Luan Nguyen with Fr. Arul Jegathesh as Parochial Vicar and Deacon Geoff Schmitt serving the faithful. The parish office is staffed by a Director of Religious Education, Youth Ministry and Confirmation coordinator, Business Manager, Hispanic Ministry Coordinator, Stewardship and Communications Coordinator, Secretary, and Maintenance lead.
- Rev. Luan Nguyen — Pastor ([email protected])
- Fr. Arul Jegathesh — Parochial Vicar ([email protected])
- Deacon Geoff Schmitt
- Sacha Etzel — Director of Religious Education ([email protected])
- Mary Sangster — Youth Ministry & Confirmation ([email protected])
- Janell Dickey — Business Manager ([email protected])
- Catalina Reyes — Hispanic Ministry Coordinator ([email protected])
- Clare Nielson — Stewardship & Communications ([email protected])
- Roberta Seibert — Secretary ([email protected])
- Jason — Maintenance ([email protected])
Mass & Sacrament Schedule
Immaculate Conception offers a full weekly schedule including a Saturday Vigil, three Sunday Masses (one in Spanish), weekday Masses Monday through Saturday morning, and Saturday morning Mass. Reconciliation is offered multiple times each week, and Eucharistic Adoration with Benediction is celebrated on Sunday afternoons and Thursday evenings.
- Saturday Vigil: 5:00 pm
- Sunday: 8:00 am, 10:00 am, 12:00 pm (Español)
- Monday–Friday: 8:15 am
- Saturday morning: 8:00 am
- Reconciliation: Thursday 7:00 pm; Saturday 11:00 am & 3:30 pm; by appointment
- Adoration & Benediction: Sunday 2:30–3:30 pm; Thursday 7:00–10:00 pm
Faith Formation & Sacramental Preparation
The parish runs a robust Family Faith Formation program for all ages, including the Jubilee program and sacramental prep for First Reconciliation, First Communion, Confirmation, and the OCIA process for adults and teens.
- Family Faith Formation classes — all ages welcome
- First Reconciliation & Communion preparation
- OCIA for adults and teens (15+) — Wednesdays 5:45–7:30 pm in St. Joseph Room
- OCIC for children ages 8–14 — Sundays
- Confirmation preparation for grades 7–12 (Santiam Vicariate)
- Adult Faith Formation events and vicariate programming
Youth Ministry
Immaculate Conception Youth Ministry works to bring youth to an encounter with Christ and empower each individual to live as a disciple. The parish publishes an annual youth ministry schedule and coordinates with the High School Group at Regis St. Mary's.
- Middle School Youth Group (MSYG)
- High School Youth Group (HSYG)
- Confirmation program for grades 7–12
- Annual Youth Ministry Schedule (PDF download)
- Contact: Mary Sangster, [email protected]
Hispanic Ministry
Hispanic Ministry at Immaculate Conception grew under early Spanish-speaking clergy like Fr. Raul Marquez and Fr. Henry Guillen-Vega. The parish celebrates a weekly Sunday Mass in Spanish at 12:00 pm and welcomes Spanish-speaking parishioners through outreach coordinated by Catalina Reyes.
- Sunday Mass in Español — 12:00 pm
- Hispanic Ministry Coordinator: Catalina Reyes ([email protected])
- Bilingual cemetery and sacramental resources
St. Martha Bereavement Ministry
The St. Martha Ministry assists grieving families with the planning and serving of funeral luncheons in the Parish Center. Individual parishioners contribute food dishes, and a volunteer team coordinates each reception.
- Funeral luncheon planning and service
- Volunteer team of parishioners
- Contact the Parish Office at 503-769-2656
St. Mary's Cemetery
St. Mary Cemetery, located between North Third and Sixth Avenues along Regis Street, serves the Catholic faithful of the Stayton area. The Cemetery Board, appointed by the pastor, oversees its financial and aesthetic care. Burial and cremation plots are available through the Parish Office.
- Located between N. 3rd and 6th Avenues along Regis Street
- Eight-member Cemetery Board appointed by the Pastor
- Board members: Joe Usselman, Mary Scott, Mike Walz, Jane Lulay, Glenn Hilton, Debbie Ketchum, Karen Kintz
- Burial and cremation plots available via the Parish Office
- Bilingual gravesite-decoration policy available for download
Visit & Contact
Parishioners and visitors can reach the parish office by phone or email during office hours. The church, parish office, and cemetery are all within walking distance of each other in north Stayton.
- Church: 1035 N. 6th Ave, Stayton, OR 97383
- Parish Office: 540 E. Elwood St., Stayton, OR 97383
- Mailing: 1077 N. 6th Ave, Stayton, OR 97383
- Phone: 503-769-2656
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: www.immacstayton.org
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Anthony Lainck1904–1927
Served Stayton from St. Boniface, Sublimity, driving his horse and buggy between the towns for 23 years; first to minister to the dependent parish.
- Rev. E. O'Hara1904
Dedicated the original church on August 14, 1904 under delegation by Archbishop Christie.
- Rev. Mathias Jonascirca 1950–1952
Led the building board that commissioned the 1952 church.
- Rev. John Goodrich1968
- Rev. Donald McHugh1972
Former Army chaplain.
- Rev. Alfred Williams1979
Introduced men as Eucharistic ministers and women as lectors; focused on social justice.
- Rev. Joseph Neuville1983
Introduced women as Eucharistic ministers; championed volunteerism.
- Rev. Robert Beltrami, OFM1986
First and only Franciscan (religious-order) pastor; known for home visits.
- Rev. Panneer Selvam1998
Native of India; launched $4.5M capital campaign with Regis and St. Mary.
- Rev. Steve Geer2008
Convert in 1997, ordained 2006; accounting background.
- Fr. Raul Marquezduring Geer tenure
Born in Abejorral, Colombia; helped build the Hispanic community.
- Rev. Ed Coleman2011
Born 1952, ordained 1986; Oregon native who bicycled to sick and elderly parishioners.
- Fr. Henry Guillen-Vega2012
Ordained 2010.
- Fr. Suresh Amalraj2017
From India; background in Inter-Faith Relations and Christian Unity.
- Rev. Luan Nguyen2017–present
Ordained June 7, 2008 at Mount Angel Seminary; also pastors St. Catherine (Mill City) and Our Lady of Lourdes (Jordan).