About St. Clare · Portland, Oregon
St. Clare Parish is a Roman Catholic community in southwest Portland, Oregon, established in 1913 and seated at 8535 SW 19th Avenue. The parish, which serves over 1,000 families, is guided by the Holy Spirit and dedicated to celebrating life-giving liturgies, providing a center for Christian formation, warmly welcoming all, and serving those most vulnerable. St. Clare anchors a broader Catholic ecosystem that includes a K-8 parish school, a preschool (ages 6 weeks to Pre-K), and a robust Outreach Commission serving the poor of Portland. It belongs to the Archdiocese of Portland in Oregon.
- Established
- 1913
- Patron
- St. Clare of Assisi
- Rector
- Fr. Don Gutmann
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Portland in Oregon
Why belong here
St. Clare is a century-old Catholic community that takes seriously the call to faith formation across every life stage — from infants in its renowned preschool, through K-8 parish school, Children's and Teen Faith Formation, RCIA, and ongoing adult faith formation and small-group study. Parishioners are warmly welcomed into a vibrant liturgical life with daily Mass, Saturday Vigil, and Sunday Masses, and active service through a robust Outreach Commission that runs a St. Vincent de Paul conference, monthly St. Andre Bessette meals for the homeless, the Knights of Columbus John Clare Council, Peace and Justice Ministry, Rebuilding Together, and the annual Giving Tree and Junque & Jewels rummage sale. It's a place to put faith into action as a disciple of Christ.
Mass times at St. Clare
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 4:00–4:30pm in the church, or by appointment with Fr. Don Gutmann (503.244.1037, x101)
Adoration times
- Monthly on the 1st Saturday, 2:00–4:00pm, with Benediction at 3:45pm
Welcome & Parish Identity
St. Clare Parish describes itself as a Catholic community guided by the Holy Spirit to proclaim Christ's love in worship, service, and life-long learning. The parish mission statement commits the community to celebrating life-giving liturgies, providing a center for Christian formation, warmly welcoming all brothers and sisters, and serving those most vulnerable. The Welcome page emphasizes that whether you are visiting, seeking a new parish home, returning to the practice of the faith, or investigating the Catholic Church for the first time, you are welcome at St. Clare.
- Parish Mission Statement published on every page
- Parish registration form available online for new parish families
History of St. Clare
St. Clare celebrated its first Holy Mass on Sunday, August 17, 1913, when Franciscan Father Capistran Damek, O.F.M., welcomed over thirty parishioners. Just over a year later, on September 10, 1914, Venerable Mother Willamine and Rev. Mother M. Pauline arrived; four days after that they opened St. Clare School to 31 children. The parish has grown to serve more than 1,000 families, with the school enrolling roughly 228 students in K-8 today.
- First Mass: August 17, 1913 — Father Capistran Damek, O.F.M.
- School opens: September 14, 1914 — Mother Willamine and Mother M. Pauline, 31 children
- Today: 1,000+ parish families and 228 K-8 students
Parish Patron — St. Clare of Assisi
The parish takes St. Clare of Assisi as its patroness, and her Franciscan spirituality shapes community life. The parish-staff page explains that Clare, through her lifestyle, embodied the evangelical counsels of poverty, chastity, and obedience — a life-changing attitude toward all of God's creatures, great and small. Parishioners are invited to find their spiritual center among others who have adopted her way.
- Patroness: Clare of Assisi
- Feast day: August 11
Parish Staff & Clergy
The parish is led by Fr. Don Gutmann, Pastor, alongside Deacon Bill McNamara and a lay staff team. Kim Zea serves as Pastoral Associate, Debbie Henkelman as Business Manager, Santo Graziano as Administrative Assistant, and Maria Clemente as Children's & Youth Faith Formation Coordinator. School and preschool leadership include Nancy Melzer (Preschool Director) and Chris Harris (School Principal).
- Fr. Don Gutmann — Pastor (ext. 101, [email protected])
- Dcn. Bill McNamara — Deacon (ext. 108, [email protected])
- Kim Zea — Pastoral Associate (ext. 104)
- Debbie Henkelman — Business Manager (ext. 103)
- Santo Graziano — Administrative Assistant (ext. 102)
- Maria Clemente — Children's & Youth Faith Formation Coordinator (ext. 100)
- Nancy Melzer — Preschool Director (503.244.5458)
- Chris Harris — School Principal (503.244.7600)
Education & Faith Formation
The Education Commission oversees a full catechetical life across all ages — children's faith formation (Infant–5th grade), teen faith formation (6th–12th grade) including Youth Ministry, Youth Mass, and Confirmation preparation, RCIA for adults, plus ongoing Adult Faith Formation with small faith-sharing groups, study groups, prayer groups, parish missions, workshops, and presentations. The Education Commission also includes St. Clare School and St. Clare Preschool. The parish participates in the Archdiocese's safe-environment program, requiring adult volunteers with minor contact to complete initial training, annual refresher courses, and a background check every three years.
- Children's Faith Formation (Infant–5th Grade)
- Teen Faith Formation (6th–12th Grade)
- Youth Ministry and Youth Mass
- Confirmation preparation
- Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA)
- Adult Faith Formation: Small Faith Sharing, Study Groups, Prayer Groups, Missions & Workshops
- Archdiocesan Child Protection training for all volunteers with minors
St. Clare School (K–8)
Founded in 1914 with the arrival of two Franciscan sisters, St. Clare School remains a Catholic parish-school community rooted in Gospel values and dedicated to the spiritual and educational development of the whole child. The school enrolls about 228 students in grades K-8 and serves families from 16 zip codes. St. Clare School also fields CYO sports teams in basketball, cross country, swimming, track & field, and volleyball, and holds an All-School Mass each Thursday.
- Founded 1914; first year taught by Franciscan sisters
- About 228 K-8 students from 16 zip codes
- Specialty classes: art, drama, library, music, PE, technology, Spanish
- All-School Mass every Thursday
- CYO sports: basketball, cross-country, swimming, track & field, volleyball
- Around 70% of school families are active parishioners
St. Clare Preschool (Infant–Pre-K)
Established in 1997, St. Clare Preschool is described as 'a Catholic, early childhood education program that fosters joy, curiosity, confidence and spiritual connection in a welcoming community.' It currently serves children ages six weeks through Pre-Kindergarten and is reported as the largest parish-based preschool in Oregon. The preschool also offers enrichments such as Spanish and sign language.
- Founded 1997 — largest parish-based preschool in Oregon
- Serves ages 6 weeks through Pre-K
- Enrichments include Spanish and sign language
- Director: Nancy Melzer — 503.244.5458
Outreach & Social Justice
The Outreach Commission is tasked to educate the parish on social-justice principles and to coordinate ministries that respond to the needs of the poor in the parish and the larger community. Ministries include a St. Vincent de Paul conference, monthly St. Andre Bessette meals served to persons who are homeless in the Burnside area of Portland, an annual Giving Tree during Advent, Fr. Jim Galluzzo's Toiletries for the Needy Project, the Knights of Columbus John Clare Council (joint with St. John Fisher parish), Rebuilding Together Portland (annual critical-home repairs for low-income homeowners), American Red Cross blood drives four times per year, and the Peace and Justice Ministry.
- Peace and Justice Ministry — monthly meetings
- St. Andre Bessette — meal served 3rd Friday of every other month, 6:30–7:30pm in Burnside
- Society of St. Vincent de Paul — St. Clare Conference (food, rent, utility assistance)
- Giving Tree — Advent gift cards, hygiene, turkeys, hams, produce for SVdP families
- Fr. Jim Galluzzo's Toiletries for the Needy Project
- Knights of Columbus — John Clare Council (joint with St. John Fisher)
- Rebuilding Together Portland — annual parish team, each April
- American Red Cross blood drives — four times per year at St. Clare
Parish Fundraising — Junque & Jewels Rummage Sale
St. Clare's signature annual fundraiser is its 3-day parish-wide garage sale, Junque & Jewels, held in the gym on the 3rd or 4th weekend of June. Families donate used goods and treasures that are sold to the public to raise money for the parish, with many volunteer roles available across the weekend. The 2025 sale was held June 27–29.
- Annual 3-day rummage sale in the school gym
- Held 3rd or 4th weekend of June
- 2025 dates: June 27–29
Our Faith & Sacramental Life
The parish 'Our Faith' resources introduce interested non-Catholics and returning Catholics to the basics of the Catholic faith: what Catholics believe and how those beliefs are lived, including an entry point into the seven sacraments. Inquiry into becoming Catholic (RCIA), baptism, confirmation, Eucharist, and marriage preparation are all coordinated through the parish's faith formation and sacramental preparation programs.
- What Catholics Believe — introductory page
- Seven Sacraments overview linked from Our Faith
- RCIA for adults seeking to enter the Church
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Capistran Damek, O.F.M.1913
Celebrated the first Holy Mass at St. Clare on August 17, 1913, welcoming over 30 founding parishioners.
- Fr. Don Gutmann2014–present (at time of source)
Reported as the longest-serving pastor in the parish's history, having served just over nine years as of the 2023 Mater Dei Radio profile.