About St. Alice · Springfield, Oregon
St. Alice Parish is the only Roman Catholic parish serving Springfield, Oregon, a multicultural community of more than 800 families drawn primarily from the city's growing Hispanic population as well as members of Filipino, Vietnamese, and Ukrainian descent. The parish is part of the Archdiocese of Portland in Oregon and is dedicated to St. Alice (St. Adelaide of Burgundy), Holy Roman Empress, whose feast is celebrated on December 16. Worship is offered in both English and Spanish, with a long-running Spanish Mass tradition and an equally strong English-language congregation, plus perpetual Eucharistic Adoration, an active homeless ministry, a St. Vincent de Paul conference, and a robust Catechesis of the Good Shepherd program for children.
- Established
- 1947
- Patron
- St. Alice (St. Adelaide of Burgundy), Holy Roman Empress (931–999)
- Rector
- Fr. Mark Bentz, S.T.L. (since 2016)
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Portland in Oregon
Why belong here
St. Alice is the only Catholic parish serving all of Springfield, a fast-growing and multicultural community where English and Spanish Masses are equally at home. It offers perpetual Eucharistic Adoration, daily and weekend Masses in both languages, a robust sacramental-preparation program built around the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd, and a thriving youth ministry. The parish's outreach — including the long-running St. Alice Homeless Ministry, the new St. Alice Restoration Outreach serving Springfield's unhoused neighbors with meals, hygiene items, and resources, and a St. Vincent de Paul conference that makes home visits and provides furniture — gives parishioners concrete, hands-on ways to live the corporal works of mercy. Add in the bilingual pastor, active healing ministry, women's fellowship groups, Millions of Monicas prayer group, and Knight of Columbus council, and St. Alice is a full parish life for young families, recent Catholic converts, and longtime Oregon Catholics alike.
Mass times at St. Alice
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Sunday: 7:30 AM – 8:30 AM (English & Español)
- Tuesday: 5:00 PM – 6:00 PM (English & Español)
- Wednesday: 10:30 AM – 11:30 AM (English & Español)
- Thursday: 10:30 AM – 11:30 AM (English & Español)
- Friday: 10:30 AM – 11:30 AM (English & Español)
- Saturday: 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM (English & Español)
- Also available by appointment
Adoration times
- Perpetual Adoration: either the Education Center Chapel or Main Church (signs are always posted at the current location); a key card is required for access
History & Heritage
St. Alice Parish traces its roots to November 22, 1920, when Father Edwin O'Hara established a Catholic mission in Springfield first meeting in a hall at 4th and Main Streets, then at 6th and "B" Streets, where the chapel was named St. Mel's and dedicated December 10, 1922, by Archbishop Alexander Christie. St. Mel's closed during the Depression in 1934; the Archdiocese later purchased the current property, and in 1947 Father Louis Sohler launched the parish, celebrated the first Mass at the American Legion Hall, and — with parishioners' hands and a flatbed truck — brought a former army chapel 190 miles from Camp White to become the first St. Alice chapel, dedicated July 18, 1948. The current church was dedicated May 12, 1965, and earned first place in the National Liturgical Commission's 1966 Merit Award.
- 1920 — first Catholic mission in Springfield (St. Mel's) by Fr. Edwin O'Hara
- 1922 — St. Mel's dedicated by Archbishop Christie
- 1934 — mission closed due to the Great Depression
- 1947 — Fr. Louis Sohler becomes first resident pastor
- July 18, 1948 — army chapel from Camp White re-erected and dedicated
- 1948 — St. Alice School founded with 167 registered students
- 1962 — library added to school; 1965 new church dedicated
- 1966 — National Liturgical Commission Merit Award, 'Church Completed' category
- 1978 — Fr. Sohler reassigned after 31 years as pastor
- 1987 — St. Alice School closes after 35 years
- 1990s — $285,000 debt to Archdiocese paid off three months early
- 2016 — Fr. Mark Bentz named pastor
- 2021 — new St. Joseph Kitchen opens
- Feb 2023 — relic statue of St. Alice arrives
- June 2025 — St. Alice Restoration Outreach launches
Pastor and Pastoral Succession
St. Alice has had five pastors across nearly 80 years. Fr. Louis Sohler (1947–1978) served 31 years as founding pastor, taking the parish from a hall to an award-winning church and school. He was followed by Fr. Brennan (1978–1988), who oversaw the closure of the school, then Fr. Dan Reynolds (1988–~1996), who led the debt-elimination effort, and Fr. Pat Walsh, who celebrated the parish being debt-free and the 50th anniversary remodeling. Fr. Mark Bentz, S.T.L., became pastor in 2016 and serves as a bilingual spiritual leader overseeing the parish's outreach programs and sacramental-preparation initiatives.
- Fr. Louis Sohler (1947–1978) — founding pastor
- Fr. Brennan (1978–1988)
- Fr. Dan Reynolds (1988–~1996)
- Fr. Pat Walsh (mid–1990s onward)
- Fr. Mark Bentz, S.T.L. (2016–present)
Worship & Liturgy
The parish celebrates Mass in both English and Spanish every week, with a First Saturday Traditional Latin Mass added in 2024. The main church seats the full English- and Spanish-speaking congregations, and an Education Center chapel hosts perpetual Eucharistic Adoration around the clock.
- Saturday Vigil 5:00 PM (English)
- Sunday 9:00 AM (English)
- Sunday 11:00 AM (Spanish)
- First Saturday 9:00 AM (Traditional Latin Mass)
- Tuesday 6:30 PM (Spanish)
- Wednesday & Friday 12:15 PM (English)
- Perpetual Adoration (signs indicate current location)
Meet Our Patron — St. Alice (St. Adelaide of Burgundy)
St. Alice was born in 931, the daughter of Rudolph of Burgundy. As a child she was betrothed to Lothair of Italy; widowed young, she refused the proposal of his successor Berengar and was imprisoned, escaping by divine Providence in 951. She then married the German Emperor Otto I and was crowned Holy Roman Empress. After Otto's death she lived in exile briefly when her daughter-in-law Theophano turned Otto II against her, but eventually they were reconciled at Pavia. She raised her grandson Otto III and in her later years retired to found and restore abbeys, becoming a great benefactress of Cluny. Her feast day is celebrated on December 16.
- Born 931; died 999
- Patronage: brides, widows, abuse victims, second marriages, step-parents, large families
- Five-foot, handmade Spanish statue arrived February 2023 as a third-class relic
- Feast day homily preached by Fr. Mark Bentz on December 16, 2024
Sacramental Preparation
St. Alice prepares parishioners for the sacraments through a family-focused program that includes a 'Rule of Life' plan for daily prayer, weekly Mass, monthly Confession, an annual retreat, and (for confirmation candidates) a holy hour. Families register through the parish and access supporting curriculum via the Archdiocese's Franciscan at Home platform. The parish uses Fr. Bentz's own 'Stages of the Spiritual Life' as a framework.
- Baptism
- First Reconciliation (Confession)
- First Holy Communion (includes Catechesis of the Good Shepherd)
- Confirmation (teen program & OCIA adult track)
- Matrimony preparation
- Annulment (Nullity) services coordinated on-site
Faith Formation & Religious Education
The parish runs the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd program for ages 3 through 8 (preschool–3rd grade) with sacramental preparation integrated. A Level III atrium for grades 4–6 is offered only to returning CGS children. Sacramental preparation, OCIA (formerly RCIA), teen Confirmation, and a young adult group meeting Sundays 3:00 PM – 5:00 PM round out the formation offerings.
- Catechesis of the Good Shepherd (ages 3–8)
- Level III CGS for returning children (grades 4–6)
- OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults)
- Teen Confirmation Prep
- Young Adult Ministry (Sundays 3–5 PM, parish hall)
- FORMED digital platform subscription
Outreach & Social Justice
St. Alice's outreach has become a centerpiece of parish identity. The St. Alice Homeless Ministry has been active for more than two years preparing sack lunches and driving them to Springfield's unhoused neighbors on the 1st and 3rd Saturdays, joined now by Restoration Outreach — a twice-monthly Friday presence at 117 14th Street offering a meal, donated clothing, hygiene items, prayer with St. Paul Street Evangelization, and resource referrals. The parish's St. Vincent de Paul conference also makes home visits and provides beds, kitchen tables, and small appliances to neighbors in need.
- St. Alice Homeless Ministry — 1st & 3rd Saturdays, 10:30 AM
- St. Alice Restoration Outreach — 2nd & 4th Fridays at 117 14th St.
- St. Vincent de Paul Conference — 1st Saturday, 3:30–4:30 PM
- Food Box program (continues on the former school-site legacy)
- Soup Kitchen (originated after school closure, 1988)
Parish Staff & Organization
The parish is led by Fr. Mark Bentz with Danielle Plantz as Pastoral Associate and a full operations team covering liturgy, music, youth ministry, communications, facilities, and sacramental preparation. The parish office is open Tuesday through Friday with hours posted on the contact page.
- Pastor: Fr. Mark Bentz, S.T.L.
- Pastoral Associate: Danielle Plantz
- Business Manager: Mary Fipps
- Director of Communications: Sean Marie Long
- Director of Liturgy, Music, & CGS: Sarah Zielinski
- Director of Youth Ministry & Confirmation: Lukian Efseaff
- Director of Sacramental Preparation & Nullity: Miguel Perez
- Facility Manager: Bernardino Torres
- Executive Secretary: Jessica Bedortha
Devotions, Prayer Groups & Adult Formation
Beyond Mass and Adoration, the parish hosts a monthly Healing Night with prayer teams trained through the Encounter School of Ministry, the Millions of Monicas prayer group for mothers of children who have left the faith, a Monday Women's Group walking through a 20-week video series on the Catechism, and the local Knights of Columbus council.
- Monthly Healing Night — Encounter School of Ministry
- Millions of Monicas Prayer Ministry (1st Monday, 7–8 PM)
- Monday Women's Group / Foundations of Faith (Mondays 4:00–5:50 PM)
- Knights of Columbus Council (1st Monday, Fireside Room)
- Arts and Environment Team
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Louis Sohler1947–1978
Founding pastor; came from Cottage Grove; celebrated first Sunday Mass at the American Legion Hall; shepherded acquisition and relocation of the Camp White army chapel (dedicated July 18, 1948), founding of St. Alice School, addition of the convent, gym, and current church (dedicated May 12, 1965). Served 31 years before reassignment to St. Anthony, Forest Grove.
- Fr. Brennan1978–1988
Second pastor; oversaw the 1987 closure of St. Alice School after 35 years following the withdrawal of the Sisters of Mercy in 1977 and the timber-economy downturn.
- Fr. Dan Reynolds1988–~1996
Third pastor; led debt-elimination campaign (eliminating a $285,000 Archdiocesan debt three months ahead of schedule) and negotiated with McKenzie-Willamette Hospital, which ultimately rescinded its offer to buy parish property. Later moved to St. Mark Parish in Eugene.
- Fr. Pat Walshmid–1990s
Came from Albany; celebrated St. Alice finally becoming debt-free, organized a parish BBQ and burned replicas of the mortgage documents; oversaw 'Master Plan' remodeling and refurbishing of the church in time for the parish's 50th anniversary.
- Fr. Mark Bentz, S.T.L.2016–present
Current pastor; bilingual; opened the new St. Joseph Kitchen in 2021; led the growth of ministries including St. Alice Restoration Outreach (launched 2025) and the commissioning of the relic statue of St. Alice.
