About St. Edward · Keizer, Oregon
St. Edward Catholic Church is a bilingual (English and Spanish) parish serving the Keizer community north of Salem, Oregon, in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Portland. Founded in 1968 and named in honor of Archbishop Edward Howard (Archbishop of Portland 1926–1966), it is dedicated under the patronage of St. Edward the Confessor, the last Anglo-Saxon King of England. The parish community worships in a striking new church completed in 2014 — a wood-and-glass structure blending Gothic elements with natural light — and operates an active campus with ministries serving more than 300 youth in faith formation and ongoing outreach to local charities such as St. Vincent de Paul and the Keizer Food Bank.
- Established
- 1968
- Patron
- St. Edward the Confessor, King of England
- Rector
- Fr. Gary Zerr
- Diocese
- Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Portland in Oregon
Why belong here
St. Edward offers a true bilingual Catholic community in Keizer, with Mass celebrated in both English and Spanish every weekend and a mission centered on proclaiming the Gospel, building a prayerful community where all are welcome, and witnessing God's love through outreach. With 130+ ministries and events — including more than 300 youth in faith formation, OCIA, OCIA-equivalent Hispanic formation, a youth ministry attending Higher Calling Camp and SEEK, a vibrant Music and Choir program, parish nurse health ministry, and a long-standing tradition of supporting St. Vincent de Paul and the Keizer Food Bank — there is a place for every age, gift, and language to belong and serve.
Mass times at St. Edward
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Tuesday 6:30pm
- Wednesday 6:30pm
- Saturday 4:00pm - 5:00pm
Our History
The St. Edward Catholic faith community has been serving Keizer since 1968. The parish was named for Archbishop Edward Howard (Archbishop of Portland 1926–1966) and placed under the patronage of St. Edward the Confessor, King of England from 1042–1066. A key milestone was the commission of the icon 'St. Edward and the Heavenly Bridegroom' by Fr. Gary Zerr for the parish's 40th anniversary in 2008, and the completion of the new church in 2014 — an architecturally distinctive structure that received regional attention.
The Patron: St. Edward the Confessor
St. Edward, the last Anglo-Saxon King of England, was renowned in life for gentleness, humility, and chastity. As king after 1042, he sought to put Christian ideals for a ruler into practice with the help of God's grace. Tradition holds that one day the Beloved Disciple St. John appeared to him in the form of a beggar asking alms; when Edward had no money, he gave his ring. The ring was later returned with a message foretelling his death on January 5, 1066. The parish draws on his intercession and example in its ongoing work of proclaiming Christ.
Our Church and Campus
St. Edward's campus blends faith, community, and nature. The new church completed in 2014 provides a striking setting for worship, with Gothic-inspired pointed wooden arches and abundant natural light. Recent investments include an expanded parking lot, a picnic shelter for outdoor fellowship, and ongoing construction of a new parish community center with an open hall, meeting rooms, new offices, and future potential for a second floor and commercial kitchen. Gardens and grounds are maintained by parish volunteers.
Our Staff
Fr. Gary Zerr serves as Pastor, joined in July 2025 by Fr. Athanasius Ozioma Onyima as Associate Pastor (Parochial Vicar), a priest of the Archdiocese of Orlu, Nigeria previously serving St. Cecilia in Beaverton. The lay staff includes Brad Becker (Pastoral Associate), Cyndie Harris (Office Manager), Bonnie Henny (Business Manager), Joyce Sprouse (Children's Faith Formation Coordinator), Lupe Alvarez (Children Faith Formation – Hispanic), Christina Kosiewicz (Youth Coordinator), Jorge Navarro (Hispanic Ministry Coordinator), Jim Lyman (Facilities Manager), Jim Martsfield (Project/Facility Coordinator), Douglas Jones (Information Technology), Mary Ann Zielinski (Music Coordinator), Celia Macias (Office Assistant – Child Protection), Alejandra Navarro (Office Assistant – Hispanic), and Jerome Mannenbach (Facilities Help).
Councils and Committees
Parishioners can serve the parish through several consultative councils and committees that help govern and guide the community. These include the Pastoral Council (advising the pastor on the needs of the parish and visioning for the future), the Liturgy Committee (consisting of the chairs of each liturgical ministry), the Administrative Council (advising on administrative, budgetary, financial, legal, personnel, and fundraising matters), and the Facilities Committee (coordinating upkeep and improvement of buildings and grounds).
Liturgical Ministries
Liturgical life at St. Edward is supported by many lay ministries: Lectors and Readers (proclaim the Word of God at Mass), Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion (assist with distributing Holy Communion), Music and Choir (musicians, cantors, and choir members for the Sunday and weekday liturgies), Hospitality (greeters, ushers, offertory gift carriers, bulletin distributors), Coordinator of Ministries / Daily Mass Coordination, and Audio and Video (supporting live-streamed liturgy). The Parish Nurse and Health Ministry offers regular blood pressure checks, health education, hospital and home visits, referrals, and coordinates Red Cross Blood Drives.
Faith Formation and Youth
Children's Faith Formation classes are offered for preschool through 5th grade during the 10:30am Sunday Mass. Sacramental preparation for First Communion and Confirmation is integrated into those Sunday classes. The parish also supports a Youth Ministry for middle and high school students — the youth are currently raising funds to attend Higher Calling Camp and SEEK in 2026 — and a separate Hispanic Children's Faith Formation track. The Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (OCIA) and the Catholics Come Home Program walk inquiring adults into the Catholic faith; Monica's Prayer Box allows parishioners to write the names of family members or loved ones they are praying for to return to the Church.
Hispanic Ministry
Hispanic ministry is central to parish life. A weekly Sunday Mass is celebrated in Spanish at 12:30pm. Jorge Navarro serves as Hispanic Ministry Coordinator (and main contact for Spanish weddings), Lupe Alvarez coordinates Hispanic Children's Faith Formation, and Alejandra Navarro serves as Office Assistant – Hispanic. Active Spanish-language groups include the Hispanic Charismatic Group, Hispanic Family Support, and a robust community of ministries and outreach programs. The parish also live-streams the Mass in Spanish for those unable to attend in person.
Spiritual and Community Groups
Parishioners gather for spiritual growth through the Love the Holy Spirit Prayer Chain (a phone-tree prayer network for special intentions), a Women's Bible Group (recently studying the Book of Acts), a Mom's Group on Wednesday evenings, a Men's Group, a Quilting Group, Rosary Makers, a Neo-Catechumenate Group, and ongoing Bible Study. Community life is enriched by Coffee and Donuts hospitality, Community Dinners on the 4th Wednesday of each month, the annual Parish Auction, and the parish's beloved operation of the Berliner Sandwich booth at the Mt. Angel Oktoberfest, located right next to the Glockenspiel.
Outreach and Stewardship
St. Edward expresses its mission of witnessing to God's saving love through active outreach. The parish operates over 130 ministries and events supported by parish stewardship, with regular contributions to St. Vincent de Paul and the Keizer Food Bank, a Respect Life Group advocating for the dignity of human life, and parish nurses supporting parishioner health. Stewardship at St. Edward is described as the sharing of time, treasure, and talent; donations also help retire the mortgage on the new church building.
Sacraments and Becoming Catholic
Information about celebrating the sacraments at St. Edward is published on the parish website. Couples planning to marry should contact Brad Becker (English weddings) or Jorge Navarro (Spanish weddings); the parish requires a minimum of six months between the initial meeting and the wedding ceremony. Adults interested in becoming Catholic are invited to the OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults) process by contacting Brad Becker. Sacramental preparation for children (First Communion, Confirmation) is integrated into the Sunday Children's Faith Formation classes. Families with small children are welcome at Mass in the parish's family room.
Giving and Getting Involved
Parishioners are invited to share their gifts through the more than 130 ministries, events, and councils that make up parish life. Financial gifts and payments can be made through the parish's WeShare online giving page, where donors can also designate gifts toward the building fund to retire the mortgage on the new church. Volunteers can sign up online for programs such as Vacation Bible School (the parish's 'Saint Edward Rainforest' VBS), liturgical ministries, and the Berliner Sandwich booth at the Mt. Angel Oktoberfest.
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Gary Zerr21+ years as pastor (as of recent interview); commissioned the parish's 40th-anniversary icon in 2008
Long-tenured pastor who oversaw the completion of the new church in 2014 and the commission of the 'St. Edward and the Heavenly Bridegroom' icon.