About Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary Catholic Parish · Rainier, Oregon
Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary Catholic Parish is a Roman Catholic parish serving the small city of Rainier, Oregon, and the surrounding Lower Columbia River region. It is a parish of the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Portland in Oregon and shares its ministry with the mission church of St. John the Baptist in nearby Clatskanie. The parish is currently served by Father Mark Gikenyi as pastor and Rev. Mr. (Deacon) Paul Cramer, and offers daily Mass, a Sunday Vigil, and traditional Catholic devotions such as Stations of the Cross in Lent. Addressed at 204 East C Street in Rainier, the parish operates as a close-knit, bilingual-friendly Catholic community for the rural northwest Oregon territory between Portland and the coast.
- Patron
- Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary
- Rector
- Father Mark Gikenyi
- Diocese
- Metropolitan Archdiocese of Portland in Oregon
Why belong here
Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary is a welcoming, small-town Catholic parish that offers daily Mass on Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays at 11:00 a.m., a Saturday Vigil at 5:00 p.m., and Sunday Mass at 10:00 a.m., with another Mass offered at 11:15 a.m. at its mission, St. John the Baptist in Clatskanie. The parish also observes traditional seasonal devotions including Stations of the Cross on Fridays in Lent and special Masses for holy days such as the Immaculate Conception, Christmas, and the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God. For Catholics in Rainier, Clatskanie, and the surrounding Lower Columbia area, it offers the full rhythm of weekly sacramental life — Mass, Reconciliation, and Advent/Christmas liturgies — under the pastoral care of Father Mark Gikenyi and Deacon Paul Cramer.
Mass times at Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary Catholic Parish
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday at 4:00 PM
- or by appointment
Welcome to Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary
The official website of the parish greets visitors with the names of its current pastoral team: Father Mark Gikenyi as Pastor and Rev. Mr. (Deacon) Paul Cramer. The parish is a Catholic community rooted in the small Lower Columbia town of Rainier, Oregon, and is united in ministry with St. John the Baptist Church in Clatskanie.
Liturgical Calendar & Special Masses
In addition to the weekly schedule, the parish observes several special Masses through the year. These include the Immaculate Conception on December 9, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, and the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God on January 1. Some of these liturgies alternate between Nativity in Rainier and St. John the Baptist in Clatskanie.
- December 9 — Immaculate Conception: Nativity 11:00 AM; St. John's, Clatskanie 6:00 PM
- December 24 — Christmas Eve: St. John the Baptist, Clatskanie 4:00 PM; Nativity 8:00 PM
- December 25 — Christmas Day: Nativity 10:00 AM
- January 1 — Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God: Nativity 9:00 AM; St. John's 11:15 AM
- Lent — Stations of the Cross, Fridays at 6:30 PM
Clergy & Pastoral Staff
The parish is led by Father Mark Gikenyi, Pastor, who is assisted by Deacon Paul Cramer (Rev. Mr. Paul Cramer). Together they serve the Catholic faithful of both Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Rainier and St. John the Baptist in Clatskanie.
- Father Mark Gikenyi — Pastor
- Rev. Mr. (Deacon) Paul Cramer
Mission Church: St. John the Baptist, Clatskanie
According to GCatholic, St. John the Baptist in Clatskanie is listed as a mission of Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary. The two communities share a pastor, a mailing address line, and a combined bulletin email ([email protected]). The Sunday Mass at St. John the Baptist is celebrated at 11:15 a.m.
- Sunday Mass: 11:15 AM at St. John the Baptist, Clatskanie
Contact & Visiting
Parishioners and visitors are warmly invited to join the parish for daily Mass. Inquiries are handled by phone at 503-556-5641, and the parish can also be reached by email through the shared bulletin inbox. The mailing address covers both Nativity and St. John the Baptist parishes.
- Address: 204 East C Street, Rainier, Oregon 97048
- Mailing: P.O. Box 340, Rainier, OR 97048
- Phone: 503-556-5641
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: https://nativityofbvm.org/
Diocese
Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary is a parish of the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Portland in Oregon, as listed by the Catholic directory GCatholic (Church ID 37217).
- Jurisdiction: Metropolitan Archdiocese of Portland in Oregon
- GCatholic Church ID: 37217