About St. Joseph · Salem, Oregon
St. Joseph Parish in Salem, Oregon is the oldest Catholic parish in the city, founded in 1853 — six years before Oregon became a state. Today it serves some 3,500 families from a multi-cultural community that worships in English, Spanish, Vietnamese, and Latin (it is one of only eight parishes in the Archdiocese of Portland that offers the Traditional Latin Mass). Its mission is to be 'A Center of Catholic Life in the Valley,' and it anchors downtown Salem from a block bounded by Chemeketa, Cottage, and Winter Streets, including a parish school, a 24-hour Adoration Chapel, and a parish center completed in 1999. The current church building, dedicated in 1953, was extensively damaged by an arson fire on August 31, 2023; the parish has continued its liturgical life and ministries through reconstruction.
- Established
- 1853
- Patron
- St. Joseph
- Rector
- Father Jeff Meeuwsen
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Portland in Oregon
Why belong here
St. Joseph offers something rare in the Willamette Valley: a 170-year-old parish that is simultaneously deeply traditional and vibrantly multicultural. Worshippers can attend the Traditional Latin Mass, two English Sunday Masses, three Spanish Masses, or a Vietnamese Mass each week, all in the heart of downtown Salem. The parish sustains a fully accredited K–8 Catholic school, a 24-hour Perpetual Adoration Chapel, an active Knights of Columbus council, and ministries for every age and language — making it a natural spiritual home for Catholic families in the Salem area.
Mass times at St. Joseph
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Monday–Friday: 11:30 AM to 12:00 PM
- Saturday: 3:30 PM to 4:30 PM
- Saturday: 6:30 PM to 7:00 PM
- Sunday: 9:00 AM to 9:30 AM
- Sunday: 11:00 AM to 11:30 AM
- Sunday: 1:00 PM to 1:30 PM
- Sunday: 5:00 PM to 5:30 PM
Adoration times
- Perpetual Adoration — Adoration Chapel (south side of the church off Chemeketa Street) is open 24 hours a day; contact Nahid Pecoroni at 971-301-2502 or [email protected] to arrange a regular hour.
History of St. Joseph Parish
From a rented Masonic hall in 1853 to a four-language parish of 3,500 families today, St. Joseph's story is intertwined with the growth of Salem itself. Father James Croke celebrated the first Masses in 1853; the Sisters of the Holy Names arrived in 1863 and founded Sacred Heart Academy; the first purpose-built church was dedicated to St. John the Evangelist in 1864 on 'Piety Hill.' A larger church at Chemeketa and Cottage Streets was dedicated in 1889 and renamed St. Joseph, becoming the spiritual home that has anchored downtown Salem ever since. The present church was dedicated on the Feast of St. Joseph, March 19, 1953.
- 1853 — Father James Croke rents a former Masonic hall at Church and Chemeketa Streets.
- 1863 — Sisters of the Holy Names of Jesus and Mary arrive; Sacred Heart Academy opens September 7 with 80 students.
- 1864 — St. John Evangelist Church dedicated April 10 on 'Piety Hill' (seating 300).
- 1873 — Sisters complete a new academy at Center and Cottage Streets.
- 1889 — Larger church built at Chemeketa and Cottage Streets; renamed St. Joseph.
- 1941 — Six-room classroom building added on Winter Street side.
- 1950 — Three additional classrooms added.
- 1953 — Present church dedicated March 19 (Feast of St. Joseph); 1889 structure razed.
- 1998–99 — School remodeling (new library, two classrooms) and parish center completed.
- August 31, 2023 — Arson fire severely damages the 1953 church; no injuries.
- 2025 — Parishioners tour the rebuilt sanctuary.
Parish Mission and Identity
The parish mission, as stated on its official site, is 'in service of Jesus Christ and the universal Church, to make our parish "A Center of Catholic Life in the Valley," thus bringing forth God's Love, Light, and Life, in order that all might be invited to know and to be known by Him.'
Parish Staff
The parish is led by pastor Father Jeff Meeuwsen, who has guided the community through the 2023 church fire and ongoing reconstruction. Father Efrain Razo serves as Parochial Vicar, and the parish is also served by two permanent deacons and a full lay staff.
- Father Jeff Meeuwsen — Pastor (ext. 106)
- Father Efrain Razo — Parochial Vicar (ext. 108)
- Deacon James Thurman
- Deacon Leo Rasca, PhD
- Jason Markowski — Business Manager
- Doug Schneider — Music Director
- Beatriz Gonzalez — Director of Sacred Liturgy
- Naomi Arreguin — Administrative Assistant
- Zuleima Lopez — Pastoral Associate for Hispanic Ministry
- Sr. Raquel De Leon Arias, HMRF — Pastoral Associate
- Maria Elena Ruiz — Faith Formation Coordinator
- Front Desk — ext. 107
St. Joseph Catholic School
St. Joseph Catholic School is a fully accredited preschool-through-eighth-grade Catholic school located in the heart of Salem, a ministry of St. Joseph Parish and a direct continuation of the Sacred Heart Academy opened by the Sisters of the Holy Names in 1863. The school 'strives to guide students in knowing, loving, and serving God and our neighbors' and 'seeks to form saints, one child at a time, through a life of daily prayer, intellectual development, sacramental encounters, and the exercise of personal virtue.' Weekly Mass, daily prayer, a 'Virtue of the Week,' buddy classes and family groups, and a rich sacramental life shape the school day.
- Preschool through Grade 8
- Fully accredited; small class sizes (max 25 students)
- Smithsonian hands-on science curriculum (K–8)
- UFLI phonemic awareness program
- Institute for Excellence in Writing curriculum
- Catholic History Textbook and literature-based reading program
- Flexible math placement
- Principal: Adam Librande
- Website: https://stjosephsalem.org/
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Faith Formation for parish children not enrolled in St. Joseph Catholic School is coordinated by Maria Elena Ruiz and runs alongside the parish's sacramental preparation programs for First Reconciliation, First Eucharist, and Confirmation. Inquiry classes for unbaptized adults and Christians seeking full communion (RCIA) are offered annually.
- Faith Formation Coordinator: Maria Elena Ruiz
- Sacramental preparation: First Reconciliation, First Eucharist, Confirmation
- RCIA for adults
Hispanic Ministry
Roughly 1,500 of the parish's 3,500 families identify as Hispanic, making the Hispanic Ministry one of the largest pastoral commitments at St. Joseph. Zuleima Lopez serves as Pastoral Associate for Hispanic Ministry. Spanish-language Masses are offered Saturday evening at 7:00 PM and twice on Sunday (1:30 PM and 5:30 PM), with Spanish Confessions before each.
- Spanish Mass: Sat 7:00 PM; Sun 1:30 PM and 5:30 PM
- Pastoral Associate for Hispanic Ministry: Zuleima Lopez
Vietnamese Ministry
The Vietnamese Catholic community at St. Joseph gathers for a weekly Vietnamese-language Mass each Sunday at 3:45 PM, with Vietnamese confessions offered before Mass.
- Vietnamese Mass: Sunday 3:45 PM
- Confession before Mass: 3:00–3:30 PM area (parish publishes Vietnamese confession slots)
Traditional Latin Mass
St. Joseph is one of eight parishes in the Archdiocese of Portland in Oregon authorized to celebrate the Traditional Latin Mass, offered each Sunday at 7:30 AM.
- Sunday 7:30 AM (Latin / Extraordinary Form)
Music and Liturgy
Liturgical music is led by Music Director Doug Schneider and Director of Sacred Liturgy Beatriz Gonzalez. The parish Children's Choir, conducted by Shaelyn Schneider, is open to school and parish children in grades 3–8, rehearsing Thursday afternoons from 3:05–4:05 PM during the school year, and singing at monthly school and parish Masses (audition required, limited to 35 students).
- Music Director: Doug Schneider
- Director of Sacred Liturgy: Beatriz Gonzalez
- Children's Choir (grades 3–8) — director Shaelyn Schneider
Parish Ministries and Organizations
Beyond the parish staff, St. Joseph supports a wide range of lay-led ministries, councils, and apostolates for men, women, youth, and the homebound.
- Knights of Columbus Council #1748 — tuition assistance for the parish school, seminarian support, pro-life programs (contact Ted Campbell, 503-551-6130).
- American Heritage Girls (Troop OR1536) — character and leadership for girls ages 5–18 (contact Amanda Helling).
- Trail Life USA (Troop OR-1536) — adventure and service for boys (contact David Wendell).
- Homebound Ministry — visits parishioners unable to attend Mass.
- Perpetual Adoration Chapel ministry.
Sacraments and Sacramental Life
The parish prepares Catholics of every age and language for the seven sacraments. Sacramental preparation for children is coordinated through the school and the Faith Formation program; adults seeking Baptism, Confirmation, or full communion enter through RCIA; couples preparing for marriage meet with the pastor; the Anointing of the Sick is available upon request.
- Baptism — infant and adult (through RCIA)
- First Reconciliation and First Eucharist
- Confirmation
- Marriage — preparation with the parish office
- Anointing of the Sick
- Confession — see schedule
Devotions and Holy Week
The parish observes an active devotional life throughout the liturgical year, with particular emphasis on Eucharistic adoration, the Sacred Heart, Lenten Stations, and bilingual Holy Week liturgies.
- Sacred Heart Novena (Archdiocesan, late May/early June)
- Lenten Stations of the Cross — Fridays in English and Spanish, with Exposition and Benediction
- Holy Week: Tenebrae (Wednesday), Multilingual Mass of the Lord's Supper (Holy Thursday), Good Friday services in English and Spanish, Bilingual Easter Vigil
- Blessing of the Throats (Feast of St. Blaise, February)
- Blessing of the Pets (Feast of St. Francis, October)
- May Crowning of Mary (May)
- St. Joseph Feast Day Procession and Mass (March 19)
The 2023 Fire and Rebuilding
In the early morning hours of August 31, 2023, an arson fire extensively damaged the 1953 church building, requiring about five alarms to extinguish. No one was injured. Archbishop Alexander Sample celebrated Mass in the parish parking lot that same morning and asked the faithful to pray a Memorare for the Salem Catholic community. Father Jeff Meeuwsen told local media that 'the church building is pretty much a loss' but added: 'the church also isn't just a building, it's a people. The people of St. Joseph will pull together.' Parishioners received a first tour of the rebuilt sanctuary in May 2025. Liturgical life and parish ministries have continued on the same downtown block throughout the reconstruction.
- August 31, 2023 — arson fire devastates the 1953 church
- Archbishop Alexander Sample celebrated a parking-lot Mass that day
- May 2025 — parishioners given first look at reconstruction progress
- Father Jeff Meeuwsen: 'the church also isn't just a building, it's a people'
Visit, Contact, and Getting Involved
Parishioners and visitors are welcomed at the parish office directly behind the church at the northeast corner of Chemeketa and Cottage Streets. Office hours are Monday–Friday 8:30 AM–12:00 PM and 1:00–4:30 PM (closed weekends). Inquiries about Baptism, marriage, RCIA, Faith Formation, school enrollment, the Adoration Chapel, or any of the ministries listed above may be directed to the front desk.
- Address: 721 Chemeketa St NE, Salem, OR 97301
- Phone: 503-581-1623
- Email: [email protected]
- Parish office hours: Mon–Fri 8:30 AM–12:00 PM and 1:00–4:30 PM
- Facebook: facebook.com/StJosephSalem
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father James Croke1853–
Irish priest, brother of Archbishop Thomas Croke; founded the parish by renting a former Masonic hall on Church and Chemeketa Streets.
- Father Leopold Dieleman
Quoted by a church historian as having 'threw enough holy water on the building to put out a fire' at the blessing of the 1864 St. John's Church.
- Father Gimpl
Pastor interviewed for the Willamette Heritage Center; emphasized the parish's blending of Anglo, Hispanic, and Vietnamese cultures.