About St. Agatha · Portland, Oregon
St. Agatha Catholic Church is a parish in the Sellwood neighborhood of Southeast Portland, Oregon, founded in 1911 by Benedictine priests to serve the Catholic families of this small village across the Willamette River. The parish is closely tied to its parish school, St. Agatha Catholic School (Preschool through Grade 8), and the parish mission statement emphasizes Catholic education, faith formation, Eucharistic devotion, and a culture of life, peace, and justice. Today the parish is known for its traditional worship, including a Latin Mass in the Extraordinary Form every Sunday, daily Eucharistic Adoration, an active Knights of Columbus council, St. Vincent de Paul conference, and a Communion and Liberation School of Community.
- Established
- 1911
- Patron
- St. Agatha of Sicily
- Rector
- Rev. Luan Tran
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Portland in Oregon
Why belong here
St. Agatha is a community centered on the Eucharist, the Word of God, and Catholic education. Daily Mass, all-day weekday Eucharistic Adoration in the Adoration Chapel, a weekly Latin Mass in the Extraordinary Form, and a strong parish school (Preschool through Grade 8) make it a rich home for families who want both traditional liturgy and a close-knit parish. Active ministries — St. Vincent de Paul, Knights of Columbus, Respect Life, Altar Society, Communion and Liberation School of Community, Men's Bible Study, and a parish Prayer Line — give newcomers multiple ways to plug in and serve.
Mass times at St. Agatha
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 3:30 PM – 4:30 PM
Adoration times
- Monday – Friday, 6:30 AM – 8:00 PM (Adoration Chapel; code required, see parish office)
Parish History
St. Agatha traces its origin to April 1911, when Archbishop Alexander Christie established it as a mission to serve the small, mostly unpaved village of Sellwood. The founding story is rooted in the determination of three local Catholic mothers and their pastor, Father John Cummisky, OSB, who built a combined church and school that was dedicated on Thanksgiving Day 1911. For 80 years the parish was led by Benedictine priests; in 2000 pastoral care passed to the Archdiocese of Portland. The current Early Gothic Style tufa-stone church, dedicated October 3, 1920, anchors the parish identity together with its parish school.
- April 1911 — St. Agatha Mission established in Sellwood
- Thanksgiving Day 1911 — combined church and school dedicated by Archbishop Christie
- February 1912 — school opens with 38 pupils under the Benedictine Sisters
- 1915 — Sisters of St. Mary of Oregon take over the school for a 58-year tenure
- New Year's Day 1920 — cornerstone laid for the present church
- October 3, 1920 — Early Gothic Style tufa-stone church dedicated on Holy Rosary Sunday
- December 21, 1924 — marble high altar blessed; Esther Hult crucifix unveiled
- 2000 — Benedictine fathers turn pastoral care over to the Archdiocese of Portland
- January 2003–2004 — new school building, gym, and cafeteria completed in two phases
Worship & Liturgy
St. Agatha is centered on the Eucharist and the Word of God. The Sunday schedule includes an English Vigil Mass on Saturday evening and three Sunday Masses — two in English and one in the Extraordinary Form (Traditional Latin). Daily Mass is offered Monday through Saturday at 8:30 AM, with a 3:00 PM Mass/Devotions on the first Friday of the month. Holy Days of Obligation are celebrated at 8:30 AM and 7:00 PM, and Sunday Evening Vespers are prayed at 5:00 PM.
- Sunday Mass: 8:30 AM English, 10:30 AM English, 12:30 PM Latin (EF)
- Saturday Vigil: 5:00 PM English
- Daily Mass Mon–Sat: 8:30 AM
- 1st Friday: 3:00 PM Mass/Devotions
- Holy Days: 8:30 AM and 7:00 PM
- Sunday Evening Vespers at 5:00 PM
Latin Mass (Extraordinary Form)
St. Agatha is one of the few Portland parishes that offers the Traditional Latin Mass every Sunday at 12:30 PM. The 1st and 3rd Sundays are celebrated as a High Mass, with a Low Mass on the other Sundays. The parish is listed in the Latin Mass Directory under the Archdiocese of Portland in Oregon.
- Sunday 12:30 PM Latin Mass
- High Mass on the 1st and 3rd Sundays
- Low Mass on the 2nd, 4th, and 5th Sundays
St. Agatha Catholic School
St. Agatha Catholic School has shared the parish campus since 1912, making this one of the oldest parish schools in the Archdiocese of Portland. Today the school serves Preschool through Grade 8 and includes a Learning Support center to meet the needs of students with varied learning styles. It is a member of CYO athletics, and current tuition (as published on the school site) ranges roughly $8,580 to $11,850 per student per year. The school is led by Principal Trista Casey and shares the parish's mission of education in faith, virtue, and a lifetime of service.
- Founded 1912 inside the original combined church-school building
- Preschool through Grade 8
- Learning Support center for students with diverse learning needs
- CYO athletics member
- Principal: Trista Casey
- School address: 7960 SE 15th Ave., Portland, OR 97202
- School phone: (503) 234-5500; email: [email protected]
- New school building and gym completed 2003–2004
Parish Ministries & Organizations
St. Agatha's parish life is supported by a wide range of lay-led ministries. The St. Vincent de Paul Society serves neighbors in need (including a Christmas Food Box drive), the Knights of Columbus council is active in parish and civic life, and the Respect Life ministry prays a monthly Rosary for Life. Friends of St. Agatha exists specifically to ensure the long-term financial viability of the parish school.
- St. Vincent de Paul Society
- Knights of Columbus
- Respect Life (monthly Rosary for Life)
- Friends of St. Agatha (school endowment trust)
- Altar Society (church beautification, Mother & Child Education Center, Well Water Project)
- Parish Prayer Line
- Coffee and Donuts fellowship
Faith Formation & Spiritual Groups
Beyond the parish school, St. Agatha offers faith formation for children and adults. The OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults) walks inquirers through the four periods of inquiry, catechumenate, purification and enlightenment, and mystagogy, culminating in Baptism, Confirmation, and First Eucharist at the Easter Vigil. The Communion and Liberation 'School of Community' meets Wednesdays 7:00–8:00 PM in the parish office and is open to anyone.
- OCIA (RCIA) for adult initiation
- Sacramental preparation for children
- Communion and Liberation School of Community — Wednesdays 7:00 PM in the parish office
- Men's Bible Study — Thursday mornings with breakfast, focused on the upcoming Sunday readings
Clergy, Staff & Pastoral Leadership
St. Agatha is pastored by Rev. Luan Tran, who serves as pastor of both the parish and the school. The parish was historically led by Benedictine priests — most recently Father Cosmas White, OSB, who during a 21-year tenure supported the 'Our Children, Our Legacy' capital campaign that built the present school facilities. The school is led by Principal Trista Casey.
- Rev. Luan Tran — current pastor (parish and school)
- Trista Casey — School Principal
- Father Cosmas White, OSB — long-serving pastor; led 'Our Children, Our Legacy' campaign
- Father Nathan Zodrow, OSB — Benedictine priest who served the parish
Devotions & Devotional Life
Beyond the Mass schedule, the parish supports a robust devotional life, including daily Eucharistic Adoration, a monthly Rosary for Life led by the Respect Life ministry, a parish Prayer Line whose intentions are offered at the First Saturday Mass, and a Thursday morning Men's Bible Study that prepares men for the upcoming Sunday Mass.
- Daily Eucharistic Adoration (Mon–Fri, Adoration Chapel)
- Respect Life monthly Rosary
- Parish Prayer Line (First Saturday Mass for these intentions)
- Men's Bible Study with breakfast, Thursday mornings
Visit, Contact & Location
St. Agatha is located in the Sellwood neighborhood of Southeast Portland, on SE 15th Ave. between SE Nehalem and SE Reed College Place areas, with the parish church at 7983 SE 15th Ave. and the school next door at 7960 SE 15th Ave. Visitors are welcome at any Mass, and newcomers are encouraged to join the parish through the 'Join Our Parish' process described on the parish website.
- Parish address: 7983 SE 15th Ave., Portland, OR 97202
- School address: 7960 SE 15th Ave., Portland, OR 97202
- Parish phone: (503) 236-4747
- Parish email: [email protected]
- Parish website: www.stagathaportland.com
- Diocese: Archdiocese of Portland in Oregon
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. John Cummisky, OSB1911–
Founding pastor of St. Agatha Mission; led the 1911 dedication of the combined church-school building.
- Rev. Cosmas White, OSB1979–2000 (approx.)
21-year tenure as pastor; last Benedictine pastor and supporter of the 'Our Children, Our Legacy' school building campaign.
- Rev. Nathan Zodrow, OSB
Benedictine priest who served the parish during the long Benedictine pastorate.