About St. Francis · Sherwood, Oregon
St. Francis of Assisi Parish is a Roman Catholic parish serving Sherwood, Oregon, in the southwest Portland metropolitan area, within the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Portland in Oregon. The parish celebrates ten Masses weekly — four on Sundays, one Saturday vigil, and weekday Masses Tuesday through Saturday — and offers a monthly Mass in Tamil. Alongside the church, St. Francis Catholic School (K-8) shares the campus on SW Oregon Street. The parish describes itself as a community that, through the celebration of the Sacraments, the fruitful sharing of the graces from God, and intentionally imparting Catholic values through Catholic education, strives to emulate its patron in practicing the virtues, reaching out to people in need, and making the Kingdom of God present.
- Established
- 2004
- Patron
- St. Francis of Assisi
- Rector
- Fr. Amal Irudayaraj
- Diocese
- Metropolitan Archdiocese of Portland in Oregon
Why belong here
St. Francis of Assisi offers a vibrant, multi-generational Catholic community centered on the Eucharist, with daily and Sunday Masses plus a monthly Tamil Mass, weekly Eucharistic Adoration on Fridays, and a full sacramental and formation life. Families are welcomed through St. Francis Catholic School (K-8, with full-day Pre-K), the Family of Faith catechesis program, Youth Ministry for 7th-12th graders, and RCIA. Active outreach ministries — a food pantry, clothes closet, Hope Garden, prison ministry, Stephen Ministry, St. Vincent de Paul-style giving, and Knights of Columbus — give parishioners concrete ways to live the corporal works of mercy in Sherwood.
Mass times at St. Francis
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Friday 7:00 PM – 8:00 PM
- Saturday 3:30 PM – 4:30 PM
Adoration times
- Friday 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM (Eucharistic Adoration in the church)
Parish Identity & Mission
St. Francis of Assisi Parish is named for the 13th-century Italian friar who is the patron saint of animals and ecology. Its parish mission statement reads: 'We, the faithful Catholic community of St. Francis Parish, through the celebration of the Sacraments, the fruitful sharing of the graces from God and intentionally imparting these values through Catholic education, earnestly strive to emulate our Patron in practicing the virtues, reaching out to people in need at large and making the Kingdom of God present.' The parish is part of the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Portland in Oregon and is the only Catholic parish located within the city of Sherwood.
Parish Staff & Clergy
The parish is led by Fr. Amal Irudayaraj, the pastor. Two deacons serve the community: Deacon Bill Bloudek, who also serves as Liturgy Coordinator, and Deacon David Hammes. Lay staff include Kurt Johnson (Business Manager and Social Action Coordinator), Alexis Mina (Faith Formation Coordinator), Jeananne Bloudek (Music Coordinator), Denise Gonzalez (School Principal), and Judy Eklund (Parish Office Receptionist). A sacramental after-hours emergency line is staffed at 503-922-1199.
- Fr. Amal Irudayaraj — Pastor
- Deacon Bill Bloudek — Deacon / Liturgy Coordinator
- Deacon David Hammes — Deacon
- Kurt Johnson — Business Manager / Social Action Coordinator
- Alexis Mina — Faith Formation Coordinator
- Jeananne Bloudek — Music Coordinator
- Denise Gonzalez — School Principal
- Judy Eklund — Parish Office Receptionist
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Faith Formation at St. Francis uses the 'Family of Faith Catechesis' model, an innovative approach that supports parents as the primary educators of their children in the Catholic faith. All Faith Formation classes meet on Sunday mornings from 9:15 AM to 10:15 AM during the formation calendar year. Parents gather once a month on the first Sunday for their own formation. Sacramental-year registration closes at the end of September each year.
- Family of Faith Catechesis (K through Confirmation)
- Children's Liturgy of the Word (ages 4–7)
- Adult Formation opportunities
- Registration deadlines end of September for sacramental years
- Coordinator: Alexis Mina, 503-625-6187
Youth Ministry
St. Francis Youth Ministry is open to all 7th through 12th grade youth and meets Sunday evenings from 6:00 PM to 7:30 PM in the parish Youth Ministry room. The program focuses on faith, fellowship, and fun, and is led by Father Amal and Faith Formation Coordinator Alexis Mina.
- Open to 7th–12th graders
- Sunday evenings 6:00 PM – 7:30 PM
- Contact Fr. Amal or Alexis Mina
RCIA & Sacramental Preparation
The parish runs an RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults) program for adults inquiring about or preparing to enter the Catholic Church. Sacramental preparation is also offered for Baptism, First Communion, Confirmation, Marriage, and Anointing of the Sick. Communion to the Homebound ministers bring the Eucharist to parishioners who cannot attend Mass.
- RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults)
- Baptism Preparation
- Marriage Preparation and Wedding Event Coordination
- Anointing of the Sick
- Communion to the Homebound
St. Francis Catholic School (K-8)
St. Francis Catholic School shares the parish campus at 15643 Oregon Street and opened in 2004 as the first newly constructed K-8 Catholic school in the Portland area in thirty years. It serves up to 245 students with a 20:1 student-to-teacher ratio. The school is WCEA accredited and offers full-day Pre-K with a half-day option, before- and after-school care, 1:1 Chromebooks K-8, and ancillary classes in PE, art, Spanish, music, and library. Weekly Mass is part of the rhythm of the school.
- Opened 2004 — first new K-8 Catholic school in Portland area in 30 years
- Grades K-8 plus full-day Pre-K with half-day option
- 20:1 student-to-teacher ratio
- WCEA accredited
- Weekly school Mass (Wednesday 1:00 PM)
- Extracurriculars: Student Council, Choir, CYO Sports, Drama, Chess Club
- Current expansion plans (2025): Pre-K, science, art, music, Spanish rooms
Liturgical Ministries
Liturgical ministry is at the heart of parish life. Volunteers serve at the altar, at the ambo, in the sanctuary, and in welcoming roles at every Mass.
- Altar Servers
- Readers (Lectors)
- Sacristans
- Eucharistic Ministers
- Ushers
- Greeters Ministry
- Communion to the Homebound Ministers
- Music / Choir
- Funeral Services
- Altar Society
- Altar Linen Care
Spiritual Growth & Small Groups
Adult formation at St. Francis includes several ongoing small groups and Bible studies designed to help parishioners deepen their prayer life and grow in fellowship.
- Mom's Group
- Men's Bible Study
- Women's Faith Sharing Group
- Women's Insight Group
- Senior Study
Spiritual Outreach & Pastoral Care
The parish offers pastoral care for those in difficult seasons of life, including caregivers, the homebound, and those in prison. Volunteer ministries extend the parish's presence beyond the church walls.
- Caregivers Support Group
- Stephen Ministry
- Rosary Makers
- St. Francis Quilters
- Red Cross
- Prison Ministry
Social Action & Charity
St. Francis lives out the corporal works of mercy through direct service to neighbors in need in the Sherwood community.
- Food Pantry
- St. Francis Clothes Closet
- Hope Garden
Parish Life & Hospitality
Parish Life ministries keep the community connected through hospitality, service to the parish grounds, and fraternal organizations.
- Parish Office Volunteers
- Hospitality (Coffee & Doughnuts, Wine & Cheese, Funeral Receptions)
- Grounds Volunteers
- Cub Scouts (SBA)
- Knights of Columbus
- Holy Rollers (Pie Makers)
Visiting & Contact
The parish office is open Monday through Friday from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM and is closed on weekends. For sacramental emergencies outside office hours, parishioners can call 503-922-1199. The parish publishes a weekly bulletin (also archived online) with announcements, the current week's readings, and ministry news.
- Parish Office: 15651 SW Oregon Street, Sherwood, OR 97140
- Phone: 503-625-6185
- Office Hours: Mon–Fri 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM (closed weekends)
- After-Hours Sacramental Emergency: 503-922-1199
- Website: stfrancissherwood.org
- Facebook: facebook.com/StFrancisSherwood