About Our Lady of La Vang Parish · Portland, Oregon
Our Lady of La Vang Parish (Giáo Xứ Đức Mẹ La Vang) is the Vietnamese Catholic parish of the Portland metro area, originally formed in Portland in the summer of 1975 by Vietnamese refugee families fleeing the fall of Saigon. Today it is one of the largest parishes in the Archdiocese of Portland in Oregon, serving more than 5,000 congregants across roughly 2,000 families from its current home in Happy Valley. The parish gathers Vietnamese-American Catholics for the sacraments, faith formation, cultural celebration, and a nationally known annual Marian pilgrimage that draws Vietnamese Catholics from across the United States.
- Established
- 1975
- Patron
- Our Lady of La Vang (Đức Mẹ La Vang)
- Rector
- Rev. Peter Đoàn Hoàng Khôi Anh, SDD
- Diocese
- Metropolitan Archdiocese of Portland in Oregon
Why belong here
Our Lady of La Vang is the spiritual home of Portland-area Vietnamese Catholics and one of the largest parishes in the Archdiocese of Portland, with daily Mass in Vietnamese, a robust sacramental life, and a vibrant calendar of devotions including Eucharistic Adoration and the Chaplet of Divine Mercy. A faithful community of more than 5,000 across about 2,000 families supports over 30 active groups and associations — choirs, Catholic Mothers, Sacred Heart League, family ministry, hospital visitation, Knights of Columbus, scouts, regional hometown associations, youth groups and more — along with a Catechism and Vietnamese Language School serving over 850 students. It is also a national gathering point for Vietnamese-American Catholics, hosting the annual Đại Hội Đức Mẹ La Vang pilgrimage near Independence Day.
Mass times at Our Lady of La Vang Parish
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Monday – Friday: After the 7:00 AM Mass until just before the 6:30 PM Mass
- Monday – Saturday: 5:30 PM – 6:15 PM
- During the annual pilgrimage: Saturday 10:00 AM – 11:45 AM and 3:00 PM – 5:00 PM
Adoration times
- Eucharistic Adoration: Monday – Saturday, 5:30 PM – 6:15 PM
- Chaplet of Divine Mercy: Monday – Saturday 6:00 PM; Sunday 3:00 PM
- Eucharistic Procession & Adoration during annual pilgrimage (Saturday evening)
Parish Identity & Mission
Our Lady of La Vang Parish (Giáo Xứ Đức Mẹ La Vang) is the Vietnamese Catholic parish of the Portland metro area, located today in Happy Valley, Oregon. Its stated mission is to live and proclaim the Word of God in a spirit of love of God and neighbor; to celebrate the liturgy and rites according to Catholic tradition and teaching; to serve the Church and parish with generosity, respect, and tolerance; and to preserve and promote Vietnamese language and culture (Bảo tồn – phát huy ngôn ngữ và văn hóa Việt Nam).
History of the Parish
The parish was formed in the summer of 1975, just months after the fall of Saigon, when Father Minh Cao gathered the city's Vietnamese Catholic refugees for Mass in Room 83 of the Halsey Square apartments in Northeast Portland. By 1977 the community had outgrown that space and shared St. Rose Church; in 1981 it purchased a nearby former Sisters of the Holy Child property with the help of Coadjutor Bishop Paul Waldschmidt, and the Southeast Asian Vicariate was established. A new church was begun in 1998 (first stone laid by Archbishop Francis George) and completed in October 1999; the parish was canonically erected by resolution of the 180th Section of the Presbyteral Council on January 25, 2001.
The 2018 Christmas Eve Attack and Move to Happy Valley
On Christmas Eve 2018, the church was extensively damaged when a vehicle was intentionally driven into the building. Hundreds of parishioners turned out to clean up so the Christmas Vigil Mass could proceed, and the moment accelerated the parish's search for a larger home. In 2020, in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic and under Archbishop Alexander K. Sample, the parish purchased the former New Hope church property on SE Stevens Road in Happy Valley — its present location, large enough for more than 2,000 families and 5,000 parishioners.
Clergy & Pastoral Staff
The parish is currently led by Rev. Peter Đoàn Hoàng Khôi Anh, SDD as Pastor, assisted by three parochial vicars, a deacon, a seminarian, and religious sisters from the Lovers of the Holy Cross (MTG) congregation. The Pastoral Council is chaired by Sr. Cecilia Đoàn T. Thanh Tú, MTG, and parish business operations are handled by Business Manager Phêrô Phan Xuân Ziên.
- Rev. Peter Đoàn Hoàng Khôi Anh, SDD — Pastor
- Rev. Đaminh Trần Văn Điều, SDD — Parochial Vicar
- Rev. Giuse Maria Nguyễn Văn Nam, SDD — Parochial Vicar
- Rev. Đaminh Nguyễn Xuân Mạnh, SDD — Deacon
- Thầy Sáu Giacôbê Nguyễn Nam Tiến — Seminarian
- Sr. Cecilia Đoàn T. Thanh Tú, MTG — Pastoral Council Chair
- Sr. Maria Hoàng Kim Nhung, MTG
- Phêrô Phan Xuân Ziên — Business Manager
- Theresa Nguyễn T. Mai — Secretary
Holy Days & Annual Liturgies
The parish's liturgical calendar includes Christmas (Dec 24: 6:00 PM and 9:00 PM Vigil; Dec 25: 7:00, 9:00, 11:00 AM), Ash Wednesday (7:00 AM, 10:00 AM with outdoor Rosary parade, 6:30 PM), Holy Week services, Easter Vigil and Easter Sunday Masses, the Solemnity of Mary, Saint Joseph, the Opening School Year Mass, and the Church Anniversary and Patron Feast Mass on the weekend of August 15.
Faith Formation & Vietnamese Language School
The Trường Giáo Lý Việt Ngữ La Vang is the parish's combined Catechism and Vietnamese Language School, serving more than 850 students each school year. First Communion (Rước Lễ Lần Đầu) is celebrated in early May, with the program administered by the Catechism School staff in cooperation with parents of the fourth-grade classes.
Choirs & Music Ministry
Music at the parish is supported by a remarkable roster of choirs — more than seven ensembles serving different Masses, devotions, age groups, and devotional themes.
- Ca Đoàn Hồng Ân
- Ca Đoàn Cecilia
- Ca Đoàn La Vang
- Ca Đoàn Lòng Chúa Thương Xót – GH Giuse
- Ca Đoàn Chúa Chiên Lành – GH Giuse
- Ca Đoàn Thánh Linh
- Ca Đoàn Thiếu Nhi (children's choir)
- Ca Đoàn Seraphim
- Ca Đoàn Lazarô
Parish Organizations & Ministries
More than 30 groups and associations serve and support the ministries of the parish, including liturgical, devotional, family, youth, charitable, cultural, scouting, and regional hometown organizations drawn from different parts of Vietnam.
- Liturgy: Ban Phụng Vụ, Eucharistic Ministers, Altar Servers, Lectors
- Devotional: Đoàn Liên Minh Thánh Tâm, Hội Hiệp Sĩ Fatima, Phong Trào Cursillo
- Family & Visitation: Ban Mục Vụ Gia Đình, Nhóm Thăm Viếng Bệnh Nhân, Hội Các Bà Mẹ Công Giáo
- Security: Ban An Ninh Trật Tự
- Service: Knights of Columbus, Hội Ái Hữu Vinh, Scouts (Liên Đoàn Hướng Đạo Tây Sơn)
- Regional hometown associations: Hội Đồng Hương Kênh Năm, Tam Tòa, Trà Cổ
- Youth: Đoàn Thiếu Nhi Thánh Thể, Đoàn Thánh Tâm, Ban Giúp Lễ (altar servers)
Annual Đại Hội Đức Mẹ La Vang Pilgrimage
Each year, near the Fourth of July in recognition of the freedom of worship enjoyed by refugees in the United States, the parish hosts a three-day Marian pilgrimage called Đại Hội Đức Mẹ La Vang. The 2025 celebration marked its 47th year under the theme "Mother Mary was a Refugee," inspired by Matthew 2:13 and remembering 50 years since the fall of Saigon. Friday honors the 117 Vietnamese Martyrs with an opening Mass; Saturday honors Our Lady of La Vang with seminars, youth programs, dramatization of the Vietnamese martyrs, and a procession and Marian dance before Mass; Sunday's "Great Mass" honors fallen soldiers who fought for freedom and is typically celebrated by the Archbishop of Portland — drawing attendees from across the nation.
Vietnamese Cultural Celebrations
Alongside the Marian pilgrimage, the parish marks Tết (Vietnamese New Year) with Masses and outdoor cultural celebrations, the Mid-Autumn (Trung Thu) Festival for children, the Freedom Celebration Mass for Vietnamese Independence Day, and the Church Anniversary and Patron Feast Mass on the weekend of August 15.
Mission: St. Andrew Dung-Lac
Our Lady of La Vang Parish also oversees the Mission of St. Andrew Dung-Lac, located at 7390 SW Grabhorn Rd, Aloha, OR 97007 (telephone 503-591-5302), extending the parish's pastoral reach into the western suburbs of Portland.
Visiting, Contact & Giving
The parish office is at 11731 SE Stevens Rd, Happy Valley, OR 97086, with telephone (503) 249-5892. The Mass live stream, online giving, and contact links are available through the parish website.
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Minh Cao1975
Celebrated the very first Mass for the Vietnamese Catholic refugee community in Room 83 of the Halsey Square apartment complex in NE Portland.