About St. Francis of Assisi · Milton-Freewater, Oregon
St. Francis of Assisi is a Roman Catholic parish in the small agricultural community of Milton-Freewater, in northeastern Oregon's Walla Walla Valley. It is one of 57 parishes and missions that make up the Diocese of Baker and is part of the diocese's Northern Deanery. The parish serves a bilingual community, offering Mass in both English and Spanish every weekend, and is pastored by Very Rev. Charles Nnabuife, who also serves as Dean of the Northern Deanery.
- Patron
- St. Francis of Assisi
- Rector
- Very Rev. Charles Nnabuife
- Diocese
- Diocese of Baker (Northern Deanery)
Why belong here
St. Francis of Assisi is a welcoming bilingual Catholic parish that celebrates Mass in both English and Spanish every weekend and on weekdays, making it a natural spiritual home for the diverse farming and ranching families of the Walla Walla Valley. The parish offers Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament (including a 24-hour period from Friday through Saturday morning), regular Saturday confessions, and an active RCIA program in both English and Spanish. With a resident pastor who also serves as Dean of the Northern Deanery, the parish is a stable, faithful presence in a mission territory of the Diocese of Baker.
Mass times at St. Francis of Assisi
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 5:00 PM – 6:00 PM
- Weekdays by appointment
Adoration times
- Wednesday 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM
- Friday 8:30 AM through Saturday 8:30 AM (24 hours)
About St. Francis of Assisi Parish
St. Francis of Assisi is a Roman-Latin Catholic parish serving Milton-Freewater and the surrounding Walla Walla Valley in northeastern Oregon. It belongs to the Diocese of Baker and is one of the parishes of the Northern Deanery. The parish is bilingual, celebrating Mass in both English and Spanish every weekend and on weekdays, and welcomes visitors and newcomers to its faith community.
Parish Identity & Patron
The parish is named for St. Francis of Assisi, the beloved 13th-century Italian friar and founder of the Franciscan orders, known for his simplicity, love of creation, and devotion to the poor. His feast day is celebrated on October 4.
- Patron: St. Francis of Assisi
- Feast Day: October 4
Diocese of Baker
St. Francis of Assisi is a parish of the Diocese of Baker, which was officially established on June 19, 1903, by Pope Leo XIII as the Diocese of Baker City. The diocese covers over 66,800 square miles of mountains, valleys, and plains in central, eastern, and northeastern Oregon, serving approximately 12,500 registered Catholic households across 57 parishes and missions with about 38 priests. Its diocesan offices are now located in Bend (since 1987), while the cathedral church remains St. Francis de Sales in Baker City. St. Francis of Assisi is part of the Northern Deanery.
- Diocese: Diocese of Baker
- Deanery: Northern Deanery
- Established: June 19, 1903 by Pope Leo XIII
- Diocesan offices now in Bend, OR
Clergy & Parish Staff
The parish is pastored by Very Rev. Charles Nnabuife, who also serves as Dean of the Northern Deanery of the Diocese of Baker. Marcelino Guizar serves as parish secretary, and Isidra Gomez has served as the parish bookkeeper since February 2016.
- Pastor: Very Rev. Charles Nnabuife
- Dean of the Northern Deanery
- Parish Secretary: Marcelino Guizar
- Bookkeeper: Isidra Gomez (since Feb 2016)
Faith Formation & RCIA
The parish runs the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) for those preparing to enter the Catholic Church or seeking to complete their sacraments. Sessions are offered in both English and Spanish on different evenings of the week to accommodate the bilingual community.
- RCIA in English: Tuesdays 7:00 PM
- RCIA in Spanish: Wednesdays 7:00 PM
Languages & Community Life
Mass and faith formation are offered in both English and Spanish, reflecting the cultural makeup of Milton-Freewater's farm and ranch communities. Parish communications and contact take place in both languages, and the parish website is listed as bilingual under the Diocese of Baker parish listings.
- Liturgical languages: English and Spanish
- Pastoral contact via [email protected]
- Listed under Northern Deanery of the Diocese of Baker
Parish Organization
St. Francis of Assisi is incorporated in Oregon as a domestic nonprofit corporation under the name 'Saint Francis Catholic Church of Milton-Freewater, Inc.' The corporation was registered with the Oregon Secretary of State on October 8, 2002, and operates under the authority of the Roman Catholic Bishop of the Diocese of Baker. Day-to-day governance is led by Pastor Very Rev. Charles Nnabuife (President) with Marcelino Guizar serving as Secretary.
- Legal entity: Saint Francis Catholic Church of Milton-Freewater, Inc.
- Registered: October 8, 2002 (Oregon Domestic Nonprofit)
- Entity of record: Roman Catholic Bishop of the Diocese of Baker
- President: Very Rev. Charles Nnabuife
- Secretary: Marcelino Guizar
Visit, Contact & Location
Parishioners and visitors can reach St. Francis of Assisi by phone, email, or in person at the parish office on Vining Street in Milton-Freewater. The parish is part of the Diocese of Baker's online parish finder and welcomes new members to its bilingual faith community.
- Address: 925 Vining Street, Milton-Freewater, OR 97862
- Phone: (541) 938-5436
- Email: [email protected]
- Diocesan listing: dioceseofbaker.org/parishes.htm