About St. Francis of Assisi · Portland, Oregon
St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Parish is a welcoming Catholic faith community on Portland's vibrant Eastside, in the Buckman neighborhood. Rooted in their baptismal call to love God, be disciples of Jesus Christ, and love others, the parish keeps a preferential ministry of service to the poor and marginalized, in the spirit of their patron, St. Francis. The current pastor is Fr. George Kuforiji, and the parish is part of the Archdiocese of Portland in Oregon. Known historically as the 'Mother of Churches' of East Portland, today's parish lives out that legacy through the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, the legacy of the Saint Francis Dining Hall, and partnerships on two affordable-housing developments — St. Francis Park Apartments (opened 2017) and Francis + Clare Place (opened 2024).
- Established
- 1875
- Patron
- St. Francis of Assisi
- Rector
- Fr. George Kuforiji
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Portland in Oregon
Why belong here
St. Francis of Assisi is a small, intentional Catholic community in Portland's Buckman neighborhood where worship is paired with hands-on service to the unhoused and poor. Sunday Masses at 9:30am and 7:00pm are followed by weekday Mass Tuesday–Saturday, daily adoration and benediction, and a weekly Saturday confession. The parish lives out its mission through the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, the legacy of the Saint Francis Dining Hall (1971–2020), and its role as a faith partner in two affordable-housing developments — St. Francis Park Apartments and Francis + Clare Place. Newcomers, those returning to the faith, and people exploring Catholicism through RCIA all find a home here.
Mass times at St. Francis of Assisi
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 11:00 AM – 11:45 AM
- Sunday 8:30 AM – 9:00 AM
- By appointment with Fr. George
Adoration times
- Tuesday–Saturday after 12:05 PM Daily Mass for 30 minutes
- Friday evening 7:00 PM – 8:00 PM Adoration and Benediction
Parish History
St. Francis of Assisi is one of the oldest Catholic parishes in Portland and the first Catholic church on the east side of the Willamette River. Established in 1875 and nicknamed the 'Mother of Churches' because 29 later parishes grew out of its original territory, it has been housed in four successive churches. The current (third) church, dedicated in 1911 by Archbishop Christie, is the spiritual home of today's congregation; the parish marked its 100th anniversary in 1976.
- 1875 – Parish established
- 1876 – First Mass on Christmas Day in the original Gothic Revival church (30 x 50 ft), dedicated by Archbishop Blanchet
- 1880 – Sudden windstorm destroys the first church
- 1881 – Second church dedicated by Archbishop Seghers
- 1886 – Sisters of the Holy Names open Academy of the Holy Names (first parochial school in East Portland)
- 1911 – Third (current) church dedicated by Archbishop Christie
- 1945 – Parish purchases the school and convent from the Sisters
- 1976 – 100th anniversary Reunion Mass and open house
- 1987 – Parish school closes due to financial constraints
Architecture and Buildings
The current church was designed with two towers topped by gold crosses outlined in incandescent lights that could be seen across Portland on special occasions, and it covers half a block on the Pine Street side of the parish property. The parish has occupied four churches on essentially the same site between SE 11th and 12th Avenues.
- 1876 first church – Gothic Revival wooden, 30 x 50 ft
- 1881 second church – wooden, built facing south
- 1911 third (current) church – two-towered, designed under Liturgical Movement influences
- School and convent – purchased from the Sisters of the Holy Names in 1945; east wing added 1949, west wing renovated 1953
Liturgy and Sacraments
The parish celebrates all the usual sacraments and provides preparation programs for children and adults. Reconciliation is available weekly as listed, and First Communion preparation is offered for children in 2nd or 3rd grade. The RCIA process welcomes adults seeking to become Catholic through a year-long formation program.
- Baptism
- First Communion (children in 2nd/3rd grade)
- Reconciliation
- Marriage
- Funerals
- RCIA — Becoming Catholic
Liturgical Ministers
Parishioners are invited to fulfill their baptismal call of service to one another through liturgical ministries, using their talents and gifts to enhance the worship of the parish community.
Becoming Catholic — RCIA
The parish runs the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA), a year-long program of formation for adults exploring the Catholic faith or preparing to enter full communion with the Church at Easter.
Forming Disciples
The parish frames its formation work around the question of becoming 'an intentional disciple' — answering the call to become 'a new generation of saints through which God can do extraordinary things in our time.'
Society of St. Vincent de Paul
The parish hosts a conference of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, which assists those in need — especially the most vulnerable in the neighborhood, 'our brothers and sisters who are hungry, cold or at risk of losing shelter.' The local conference is part of the broader Portland SVdP network.
Saint Francis Dining Hall
The Saint Francis Dining Hall provided meals and other services to Portland's unhoused and vulnerable populations from 1971 to 2020 — a 49-year legacy of community service. It operated under the principle of 'radical hospitality,' emphasizing dignity and respect for everyone who walked through its doors. Although the dining hall itself has closed, this legacy of service to the poor and marginalized remains central to the parish's identity.
Affordable Housing Partnerships
St. Francis of Assisi has translated its preferential ministry to the poor into two major affordable-housing partnerships in the Buckman neighborhood, developed with Catholic Charities of Oregon / Caritas Housing.
- St. Francis Park Apartments – 106 apartments opened in 2017; developed with guiding principles of hospitality and respect, nature/environment, and social justice and equity.
- Francis + Clare Place – 61 units of Permanent Supportive Housing (54 studios and 7 one-bedrooms) for people who have experienced chronic homelessness; completed in August 2024, built on land donated by the parish after the old rectory and school were demolished.
Contact and Visit
Parishioners and visitors can reach the parish by phone at 503-232-5880 or by email at [email protected]. The pastor, Fr. George Kuforiji, can be reached directly at [email protected]. The parish office is at 305 SE 12th Avenue, Portland, Oregon 97214, in the Buckman neighborhood.
Staff and Clergy
The parish is led by Pastor Fr. George Kuforiji, who also serves the community by hearing confessions on request and presiding at the daily and Sunday liturgies. The parish website lists only Fr. George as clergy; no other priests, deacons, or parish staff are publicly named on the site.
- Fr. George Kuforiji – Pastor ([email protected])
Archdiocese of Portland in Oregon
St. Francis of Assisi is a parish of the Archdiocese of Portland in Oregon, listed in the Archdiocese's Parish Finder.
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father Verhaag
First pastor of St. Francis of Assisi; worked to meet parish debts and staged parish benefits to draw crowds from West Portland.