About Sacred Heart · Gervais, Oregon
Sacred Heart–St. Louis Parish is a historic Catholic community in the small town of Gervais, Oregon, formed in 1991 by the reunion of two of the oldest Catholic congregations in the Pacific Northwest: St. Louis (founded November 3, 1847, the third parish established in Oregon) and Sacred Heart in Gervais (separated from St. Louis in 1872 and renamed under the patronage of the Sacred Heart in 1895). Today the parish is served by Rev. James Herrera and operates from a campus that includes Sacred Heart Church, St. Louis Church, a parish school, a Perpetual Adoration Chapel, and an active network of ministries serving both English-speaking and Spanish-speaking (Hispanic) families of the Willamette Valley. It belongs to the Archdiocese of Portland in Oregon and is one of only two parishes in the Archdiocese whose history reaches back to the very first generation of Catholic mission work in Oregon.
- Established
- 1872 (Gervais parish separated from St. Louis); 1991 (reunited as Sacred Heart-St. Louis)
- Patron
- Sacred Heart of Jesus (parish name); co-titular St. Louis
- Rector
- Rev. James Herrera
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Portland in Oregon
Why belong here
Sacred Heart–St. Louis is one of the oldest Catholic parishes in Oregon, with deep family roots across Gervais, St. Louis, and the surrounding Willamette Valley, and it actively serves both English-speaking and Hispanic families with Spanish-language Masses. The parish offers daily and weekly Mass in two languages, a Perpetual Adoration Chapel that has run continuously since 1986, a parish school (Sacred Heart Catholic School), a Knights of Columbus council, Catholic Daughters of America, Altar Societies, food bank, cemetery, and a wide range of men's, women's, youth, and outreach ministries. For someone looking for a parish with strong Catholic tradition, vibrant Eucharistic devotion, and a warm small-town community, this is a remarkable place to put down roots.
Mass times at Sacred Heart
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Wednesday 5:00 PM (Sacred Heart Church, Gervais)
- Saturday 3:00 PM (Sacred Heart Church, Gervais)
Adoration times
- Perpetual Adoration Chapel — open 24 hours, continuously since September 2, 1986
Parish History
The parish's roots reach back to 1847, when St. Louis, Oregon became the third Catholic parish established in Oregon. Gervais separated from St. Louis in 1872, became Sacred Heart in 1895, and the two were reunited in 1991 under the name Sacred Heart–St. Louis. The present Sacred Heart Church is the fourth on the site, dedicated in 1996 after the 1993 Scotts Mills earthquake damaged its predecessor; its sanctuary was remodeled in 2024. The parish celebrated its 150th anniversary in 2025 with a Mass celebrated by Archbishop Alexander K. Sample.
- 1847: St. Louis parish founded (third in Oregon)
- 1872: Gervais separates from St. Louis under SS. Gervase and Protase
- 1875: First Gervais church dedicated
- 1895: First church burns; second dedicated to the Sacred Heart, April 21
- 1923: Third Sacred Heart Church dedicated
- 1986: Perpetual Adoration Chapel opens, September 2
- 1991: Sacred Heart and St. Louis formally reunited as Sacred Heart–St. Louis
- 1996: Current (fourth) Sacred Heart Church dedicated August 4
- 2022: St. Louis 175th anniversary
- 2024: Sanctuary remodel completed
- 2025: 150th anniversary Mass celebrated by Archbishop Sample
St. Louis Church
St. Louis Church, located at 14013 Manning Road NE in Gervais, is the older half of the combined parish. The Catholic community at St. Louis was founded November 3, 1847, making it the third parish established in Oregon. It celebrated its 175th anniversary in 2022, and one of its titular feast days is celebrated on August 25 (Feast of St. Louis). Sunday Mass is celebrated here in English at 8:00 a.m., and during renovation periods many Sacred Heart Masses also move here.
- Address: 14013 Manning Road NE, Gervais, OR 97026
- Sunday Mass (English): 8:00 a.m.
- Feast of St. Louis: August 25
- Co-titular church of the combined parish
Sacred Heart Church
Sacred Heart Church sits at 485 7th St. in Gervais and is the main worship site for the parish, hosting most daily Masses in English, the Saturday Vigil and Sunday 9:30 a.m. Masses, all Spanish-language Masses, and the Saturday 3:00 p.m. confessions. It is the fourth church built on this site, dedicated August 4, 1996 after earthquake damage to the 1923 church; the sanctuary was remodeled in the summer of 2024 (concrete flooring refinished, sanctuary wood flooring, interior repainted).
- Address: 485 7th St., Gervais, OR 97026
- Current church dedicated August 4, 1996
- Sanctuary remodeled summer 2024
- Host of Saturday Vigil, Sunday 9:30, daily English Masses, and all Spanish Masses
Parish Staff
The parish is led by Rev. James Herrera as pastor (since July 2018). Barbara Daniels serves as parish secretary. Sacred Heart Catholic School has its own principal, Mariana Hill, and administrative assistant Cindy Schnurbusch.
- Pastor: Rev. James Herrera ([email protected])
- Parish Secretary: Barbara Daniels ([email protected])
- School Principal: Mariana Hill ([email protected])
- School Administrative Assistant: Cindy Schnurbusch, 503-792-4541 ([email protected])
Parish Ministries & Councils
The parish offers a wide range of ministries, councils, and devotional groups. Quoting 1 Corinthians 12 ('There are different kinds of spiritual gifts but the same Spirit'), the parish frames its work as stewardship of God-given gifts of time and talent. Major councils and organizations include the Pastoral Council (chair: Brian Belleque), the Administrative Council (chair: Larry Schiedler), the Knights of Columbus (Grand Knight: John Eisenbacher), Catholic Daughters of America Court Gervais 2481 (Regent: Bobbie Rodriguez), St. Rita Altar Society, and St. Louis Altar Society (President: Anna Mahony). Men's and women's groups meet weekly, and outreach ministries include a Christmas Boxes program, a parish Food Bank, and cemetery boards for both Sacred Heart and St. Louis cemeteries.
- Pastoral Council — meets 2nd Tuesday, 6:30 p.m.
- Administrative Council — meets 3rd Tuesday, 6:30 p.m.
- Knights of Columbus — 1st Thursday (7:00 p.m. Rosary in church, then KC room)
- Catholic Daughters of America Court Gervais 2481 — 1st Tuesday (Sept–May)
- San Juan Diego Men's Group — Monday nights in Knights Room
- San Juan Diego Women's Group — Tuesday nights in Knights Room
- Senior Socials — monthly breakfast or lunch
- Christmas Boxes Program
- Food Bank — 1st & 3rd Wednesdays, 1:00–4:00 p.m.
- Sacred Heart Cemetery and St. Louis Cemetery boards
Outreach & Charitable Works
The parish carries out both the spiritual and corporal Works of Mercy. A parish Food Bank distributes on the first and third Wednesdays of each month from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. (coordinated by Stacy Kirk and Keith Gilland), the Christmas Boxes Program provides holiday gifts (coordinated by Brian Belleque), and the parish maintains two historic cemeteries — Sacred Heart Cemetery (chair: Don Ferschweiler) and St. Louis Cemetery (chair: Brian Belleque).
- Parish Food Bank — 1st & 3rd Wednesdays, 1:00–4:00 p.m.
- Christmas Boxes Program
- Sacred Heart Cemetery
- St. Louis Cemetery
Sacred Heart Catholic School
Sacred Heart Catholic School is the parish school, located on the Gervais campus and currently enrolling for preschool through elementary grades. The school is led by Principal Mariana Hill and Administrative Assistant Cindy Schnurbusch, with registration open and employment opportunities posted through the parish website.
- Principal: Mariana Hill ([email protected])
- Administrative Assistant: Cindy Schnurbusch, 503-792-4541
- Preschool through elementary grades
- Tuition information and tours available by contacting the school
- Donate via WeShare online giving (shstl.churchgiving.com)
Youth Ministry
The parish is actively hiring a Coordinator for Youth Ministry for Grades 6–12, signaling continued investment in its young people. Youth activities, including those tied to the school, take place on the parish campus (gym, Knights Room, and youth room in the parish office building).
- Open position: Coordinator of Youth Ministry, Grades 6–12
Contact, Location & Visiting
Parish office hours are Tuesday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., at 605 7th St., Gervais, OR 97026. The mailing address for both churches is PO Box 236, Gervais, OR 97026. Sacred Heart Catholic Church is at 485 7th St., and St. Louis Church is at 14013 Manning Road NE (neither accepts mail delivery at the church). The parish phone is (503) 792-4231; the fax is (503) 792-3749. Email contacts are [email protected] and [email protected].
- Parish office: 605 7th St., Gervais, OR 97026
- Phone: (503) 792-4231; Fax: (503) 792-3749
- Office hours: Tuesday–Friday, 9 a.m.–4 p.m.
- Mailing: PO Box 236, Gervais, OR 97026
- Sacred Heart Church: 485 7th St.
- St. Louis Church: 14013 Manning Road NE
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father Eugene Heidtmid-1980s
Then-pastor who in 1986 invited Father Martin Lucia of the Apostolate of Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration to give a parish mission, leading to the founding of the Perpetual Adoration Chapel on September 2, 1986.
- Rev. James HerreraJuly 2018 – present
Current pastor of Sacred Heart-St. Louis Parish and School per LinkedIn and Archdiocese of Portland clergy directory.