About St. Birgitta · Portland, Oregon
St. Birgitta Catholic Church is a small parish in the Linnton neighborhood of northwest Portland, Oregon, situated along NW St. Helens Road (Highway 30). Founded in 1916 as a mission parish served out of a Catholic Extension Society chapel car, it has grown into the home of the Traditional Latin Mass community of the greater Portland area, with permission from Archbishop Alexander Sample to celebrate Mass and the sacraments in the Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite. The parish is administered by Rev. Joshua Clifton, who is also assigned to St. Mary Church in Vernonia, and it serves both local Linnton-area families and Catholics who travel from across the region for its reverent liturgies. St. Birgitta is a young, family-oriented parish with a busy calendar of potlucks, faith formation, homeschool co-op, youth groups, and devotions.
- Established
- 1916
- Patron
- St. Bridget (Birgitta) of Sweden
- Rector
- Rev. Joshua Clifton (Administrator)
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Portland in Oregon
Why belong here
St. Birgitta is one of the few parishes in the Portland area with regular celebrations of the Traditional Latin Mass (Extraordinary Form) alongside the Ordinary Form — Archbishop Alexander Sample has given permission for Mass and the sacraments to be offered in the older Roman Rite — so it draws both neighborhood families and Catholics from across the region who are seeking a reverent liturgy. It is a young, growing parish with abundant family life: monthly potlucks, a children's catechism, youth confirmation classes, an American Heritage Girls troop, a Trail Life USA troop, a homeschool co-op, a Legion of Mary praesidium, and weekly Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament. With Father Joshua Clifton as administrator and a tight-knit community that welcomes newcomers warmly after Mass, it offers the chance to belong to a parish where both Tradition and modern family life flourish side by side.
Mass times at St. Birgitta
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Thirty minutes prior to each weekend Mass
Adoration times
- Every Friday after the 9:00 AM Mass until 10:30 AM in the chapel
Welcome to St. Birgitta Catholic Church
St. Birgitta is a Catholic parish in the Linnton neighborhood of northwest Portland, Oregon, located at 11820 NW St. Helens Rd. (Highway 30). The parish celebrates both the Ordinary Form and the Traditional Latin Mass (Extraordinary Form) of the Roman Rite, the latter in accordance with the 1962 Missal of Blessed John XXIII as expressed in Pope Benedict XVI's Motu Proprio Summorum Pontificum. Archbishop Alexander Sample of the Archdiocese of Portland has given permission for the Traditional Latin Mass and sacraments to be offered here, making St. Birgitta the spiritual home of the Traditional Mass community of the greater Portland area. The parish office can be reached at (503) 286-3929 or [email protected].
Our Pastor — Rev. Joshua Clifton
Rev. Joshua Clifton is the current Administrator of St. Birgitta Church, assigned by Archbishop Alexander Sample of the Archdiocese of Portland in Oregon. He is also assigned to St. Mary Church in Vernonia. Father Clifton was born and raised in San Luis Obispo, California. He graduated from the University of California at Berkeley and from Mount Angel Seminary, and was ordained a priest in 2012. Before coming to St. Birgitta he served at Madonna del Sasso Church in Salinas, Holy Trinity Parish in Greenfield, St. Patrick's Parish in Watsonville, Our Lady of Refuge Parish in Castroville, and Our Lady Star of the Sea Parish in Santa Cruz, all in California, and has taught at Catholic schools on both coasts.
History of the Parish
The Catholic community of Linnton, Oregon — officially absorbed into the City of Portland in 1915 — had no local church at the start of the 20th century; a priest would come once a month from St. Patrick Church to celebrate Mass in the private home of Anna Lembeck (later Engeldinger), and on other Sundays families traveled into Portland. In December 1915 and March 1916, Father Charles M. Smith, pastor of St. Clement's (now Assumption) Church in St. Johns, conducted parish missions in the Catholic Church Extension Society's 'St. Peter's Chapel Car,' a railroad car parked on a siding at the Linnton depot. Archbishop Christie then commissioned Father Smith to organize a mission parish.
Founding and the First Church (1916)
Before a permanent church was built, Mass was celebrated Sunday mornings in the Linnton town dance hall. Mrs. J.J. Wilson carried the vestments, chalice, and altar stone (14 pounds in a suitcase) for 14 Sundays to set up the space. The first Mass was offered March 19, 1916 — for many of the children it was the first time they had seen a priest. Because of the steep terrain and the scattered locations of local Catholic families, the church was built on two steep lots donated by Walter Guerin, on stilts, with three stories: the church on the top floor, a hall below, and a wooden bridge connecting the building to U.S. Highway 30. The church cost about $2,000, with $500 contributed by the Catholic Church Extension Society of Chicago, which requested the parish be named for St. Birgitta (Bridget) of Sweden. The first Mass in the new church was offered July 2, 1916, and Archbishop Christie dedicated it (with Confirmation) on July 16, 1916.
- Featured three times in Ripley's Believe It or Not for its unusual structure and bridge to Highway 30
- Mrs. J.J. Wilson set up the dance-hall Mass for 14 Sundays, carrying 14 lbs of liturgical goods one mile each way
- Catholic Extension Society contributed $500 of the $2,000 cost and chose the parish's name
The Mission Years and the 'Miracle Church' (1916–1969)
From its founding through the 1930s, St. Birgitta was cared for as a mission by visiting priests: Redemptorists and Servites from St. John's parishes, Father Smith from St. Patrick's in Northwest Portland (assisted by Fathers Bernards and Burkel), and the Holy Cross Fathers from the University of Portland (1929–1937). On September 16, 1954, Archbishop Edward D. Howard transferred Father Milan Mikulich, OFM, S.T.D., to St. Birgitta as resident administrator/pastor, also entrusting him with the spiritual care of the Croatian, Slovenian, Slovak, and Czech Catholics of Portland under the Apostolic Constitution Exsul Familia. Father Milan led the building of the present church, designed by architects Jacobberger and Stanton — a 'miracle church' that volunteer parishioners assembled largely in a single Saturday in September 1955 and that Archbishop Howard dedicated on December 18, 1955. On August 1, 1969, St. Birgitta was formally designated a parish (rather than a mission), and on August 29, 1969, Archbishop Robert J. Dwyer entrusted it to the Franciscan Fathers of the Most Holy Redeemer Province in Croatia.
- Father Milan Mikulich, OFM, served 1954–1993
- Present church built largely by volunteer labor in one Saturday in September 1955
- Formally constituted a parish August 1, 1969
Faith Formation and Catechesis
Faith formation for all ages is offered at St. Birgitta, reflecting the parish's family-oriented character. Children's Catechism meets on the second Sundays of the month after the 9:30 AM Mass (during the potluck). Adult Catechism is also offered. Youth Confirmation preparation meets on the fourth Sundays of the month after the 9:30 AM Mass. A homeschool co-op began in 2024.
- Children's Catechism — 2nd Sundays after the 9:30 AM Mass
- Adult Catechism
- Youth Confirmation — 4th Sundays after the 9:30 AM Mass
- Homeschool co-op (started 2024)
Parish Life and Youth Groups
St. Birgitta is a young, growing parish with a busy social calendar built around the Traditional Latin Mass community. Coffee and Donuts are served on the first Sunday of the month after the 8:00 AM Mass and every Sunday after the 9:30 AM Mass. Monthly potlucks are held on second Sundays after the 9:30 AM Mass, with the annual parish picnic in July near the feast of St. Bridget of Sweden (July 23). The parish hall also hosts contra dances. American Heritage Girls (girls, K–12) and Trail Life USA (boys, K–12) are active parish troops; the AHG recently hosted a baby shower for the many new mothers in the parish.
- American Heritage Girls — girls K–12
- Trail Life USA — boys K–12
- Coffee & Donuts — first Sunday after 8:00 AM and every Sunday after 9:30 AM
- Monthly potluck — second Sunday after 9:30 AM Mass
- Annual picnic in July near the feast of St. Bridget of Sweden
- Contra dances in the parish hall
Spiritual and Charitable Groups
Beyond faith formation, the parish supports a Legion of Mary praesidium (begun in 2024), the parish Schola that sings Gregorian Chant at the 9:30 AM Sung Mass on the 2nd and 4th Sundays, and a Catholic Friendship Group for single Catholics ages 40 to 60 from throughout the Archdiocese of Portland, which meets at St. Birgitta every other week. The Knights of Columbus have historically served as an honor guard at major parish celebrations, including the 1955 dedication.
- Legion of Mary praesidium (2024)
- Parish Schola — Gregorian Chant, 2nd & 4th Sundays at 9:30 AM
- Catholic Friendship Group — single Catholics ages 40–60, Archdiocese-wide
- Knights of Columbus honor guard at major events
Liturgy: Two Forms of the Roman Rite
St. Birgitta uniquely celebrates both the Ordinary Form of the Roman Rite (the Novus Ordo Mass) and the Traditional Latin Mass (the Extraordinary Form, in the 1962 Missal of Blessed John XXIII) under the Motu Proprio Summorum Pontificum of Pope Benedict XVI. The Traditional Mass has been an integral part of the parish for many years, and the parish also offers the other sacraments in the traditional Rite for those who desire them. The parish embraces a 'hermeneutic of continuity' with the Tradition of the Church, in keeping with the Second Vatican Council's call to open the treasures of the Divine Office and Mass to all the faithful.
Contact and Visiting
St. Birgitta Catholic Church is located at 11820 NW St. Helens Rd. (Highway 30), Portland, OR 97231. Telephone: (503) 286-3929. The parish secretary may be reached by email at [email protected]; Father Joshua Clifton may be contacted through the parish office. The church is in the Linnton area, off Highway 30 to the northwest, on St. Helens Road past the St. Johns Bridge. The parish serves local Linnton families and also attracts Catholics from across the region for its reverent liturgies and welcoming community.
- Address: 11820 NW St. Helens Rd., Portland, OR 97231
- Phone: (503) 286-3929
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: https://www.stbirgittapdx.com/
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Charles M. Smith1916–1927
Organized the mission parish; commissioned by Archbishop Christie; the parish was named St. Birgitta at the request of the Catholic Extension Society.
- Rev. B.V. Kelley1927–1929 (approx.)
Given care of the mission from Blessed Sacrament parish.
- Holy Cross Fathers (University of Portland)1929–1937
Served St. Birgitta's as a mission.
- Rev. Milan Mikulich, OFM, S.T.D.1954–1993
Appointed administrator then pastor on Sept. 16, 1954; built the present church (dedicated Dec. 18, 1955); oversaw the parish becoming a parish (Aug. 1, 1969); retired July 1, 1993.
- Rev. Joseph P. Browne, CSC1993–2005
Appointed pastor from the University of Portland.
- Rev. Joseph Barita, ALCP2005–2010
Appointed pastor July 1, 2005.
- Rev. Luan Tran2010–2018
Appointed pastor July 1, 2010.
- Rev. Joshua Clifton2018–present
Appointed administrator July 1, 2018; also assigned to St. Mary Church, Vernonia, by Archbishop Alexander Sample.