About St. Mary · Mount Angel, Oregon
St. Mary Catholic Parish is a vibrant Roman Catholic community in Mount Angel, Oregon, in the Archdiocese of Portland, with 1,182 households and approximately 3,871 registered individuals drawn from across the Willamette Valley. Founded in 1881 by Benedictine missionaries from Switzerland, the parish is served today by the Benedictine monks of Mount Angel Abbey (originally from Engelberg Abbey, Switzerland) and is often called "Catholic Central" because, in a town of about 3,000 people, the parish coexists with two Benedictine religious communities (the monks and the Sisters of Queen of Angels Monastery, who arrived from Maria Reichenbach in 1886) along with Carmelite and Missionaries of the Holy Spirit formation houses nearby. The current pastor is Father Ralph Recker, OSB, and the Sacraments are celebrated in both English and Spanish, reflecting the parish's blend of German-Swiss pioneer heritage and its present-day Mexican-American and Latino families.
- Established
- 1881
- Patron
- Blessed Virgin Mary
- Rector
- Rev. Ralph Recker, OSB
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Portland in Oregon
Why belong here
St. Mary's welcomes all as Christ (citing the Rule of St. Benedict, chapter 53) and is a community where the Sacraments are celebrated with dignity, joy, and reverence in both English and Spanish. With more than 135 years of Benedictine heritage, the parish combines a historic 1912 Revival Gothic church with a vibrant, multigenerational congregation of nearly 4,000 registered individuals — and offers daily Mass, perpetual adoration, OCIA formation, a multi-choir music program, Catholic Daughters of the Americas, parish schools rooted in two Benedictine religious communities, and active faith formation for every age.
Mass times at St. Mary
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 3:00 PM – 5:00 PM (Bilingual)
- Sunday 11:30 AM – 12:20 PM (Español)
- By appointment (call the Parish Office at 503-845-2296)
Adoration times
- Monday 7:30 AM – 4:00 PM (Adoration Chapel — ask at the Office for the code)
- Tuesday 7:30 AM – 4:00 PM (Adoration Chapel — ask at the Office for the code)
- Wednesday 7:30 AM – 4:00 PM (Adoration Chapel — ask at the Office for the code)
- Thursday 9:00 AM – 9:00 PM (Adoration Chapel — ask at the Office for the code)
- Friday 7:30 AM – 4:00 PM (Adoration Chapel — ask at the Office for the code)
About St. Mary Parish
St. Mary Catholic Parish is a 1,182-household community of about 3,871 registered individuals in Mt. Angel, Oregon, served by the Benedictine monks of Mount Angel Abbey in the Archdiocese of Portland. The parish is often called "Catholic Central" because in a town of roughly 3,000 people it coexists with two Benedictine religious communities and Carmelite and Missionaries of the Holy Spirit formation houses. Sacraments are celebrated in both English and Spanish, and the parish welcomes all as Christ (Rule of St. Benedict, Ch. 53,1). The pastor is Fr. Ralph Recker, OSB, who is in his fifth year as pastor of the parish.
History of the Parish
Catholic life in Mt. Angel began with German Catholic settlers arriving in 1867 under the leadership of Mathias Butsch. In September 1881 Archbishop Charles J. Seghers dedicated a small church built by Catholic families — just months before Fr. Adelhelm Odermatt, OSB, arrived from Engelberg Abbey, Switzerland, with Fr. Nicholas Frei to found both the parish and the future Mount Angel Abbey. Fr. Adelhelm persuaded the railroad to rename the town from Fillmore to Mt. Angel in memory of the mother abbey. The Benedictine Sisters from Maria Reichenbach arrived on November 9, 1886, purchasing 23 acres and building the first brick building in town. By 1912 Archbishop Alexander Christie blessed the present, fourth church, which was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1976.
- 1867 – German Catholic settlers, led by Mathias Butsch, arrive in the area.
- 1881 – Parish founded; Fr. Adelhelm Odermatt, OSB, and Fr. Nicholas Frei arrive from Switzerland; Archbishop Charles J. Seghers dedicates the first chapel.
- 1882 – Town renamed from Fillmore to Mt. Angel.
- 1886 – Benedictine Sisters from Maria Reichenbach arrive (November 9).
- 1892 – Fire destroys the Abbey church and monastery; a third parish church is built across the street.
- 1910 – Cornerstone of the present (fourth) church laid June 12.
- 1912 – Archbishop Alexander Christie blesses the completed church June 30, with 26 stained-glass windows and a 200-foot bell tower.
- 1976 – Church listed on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places.
Music and Liturgy
St. Mary's music program, directed by Dr. Joyce Chen, is one of the parish's best-known ministries, with three choirs serving the parish — the 10 AM Mass Choir, the Schola, and the Children's Choir. The parish offers a rich calendar of liturgical and concert events throughout the year, including Tenebrae, Easter Vigil, Lessons and Carols, Christmas Night Mass, Oktoberfest Concerts, organ recitals, and the Christ the King Mass celebrated with the seminary choir. Masses are also livestreamed via the parish YouTube channel for the homebound and sick.
- 10 AM Mass Choir
- Schola
- Children's Choir
- Tenebrae, Easter Vigil, Lessons and Carols, Christmas Night Mass
- Oktoberfest Concerts and organ recitals
- Christ the King Mass with the seminary choir
- YouTube livestream of Mass and replays
Faith Formation and Sacraments
The parish offers a two-year Sacramental Preparation program for First Reconciliation and First Eucharist (using Sophia Institute's 'Spirit & Truth' curriculum, with monthly parent sessions and a January/April retreat), as well as the OCIA process (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults, formerly RCIA) for adults and older children. Classes meet Thursdays in the Parish Center basement.
- First Reconciliation & First Eucharist (2-year program, minimum age 7)
- OCIA — Order of Christian Initiation of Adults, year-round
- Inquiry and Catechumen classes: Thursdays 6:30–7:30 PM in the Parish Hall, lower level
- Contact: Matthew Helling, OCIA Coordinator, (503) 798-0353; Mark Dol, Parish Coordinator, (503) 845-2353
- Confirmation celebrated annually with the Bishop (e.g., March 24, 2024 with Bishop Peter Smith)
Ministries and Community Life
Beyond the Sacraments, St. Mary's hosts a network of lay ministries, religious communities, and parish organizations. Catholic Daughters of the Americas, Court Marion, is based at St. Mary's and meets the third Monday of each month; members come from across the area and support projects such as Mission Benedict, St. Joseph's Shelter, the Fr. Bernard Youth Center, Habitat for Humanity, Disaster Relief, and others.
- Care Ministries / Prayer Shawl Ministry (Sr. Dorothy Jean Beyer, OSB, since 2012)
- Catholic Daughters of the Americas, Court Marion (contact: Annie Schaefer, 503-798-5015)
- Knights of Columbus
- Respect Life Committee
- Music Ministry (Dr. Joyce Chen, Director)
- Faith Formation team
- School community (historically operated by the Benedictine Sisters of Queen of Angels Monastery)
Care Ministries
Coordinated since 2012 by Benedictine Sister Dorothy Jean Beyer, OSB, Care Ministries reaches out to the sick and homebound and oversees the parish's prayer shawl ministry. Sister Dorothy Jean brings 22 years of experience as a Catholic school teacher and principal, 16 years as prioress of her community, and four years as director of Shalom Prayer Center.
- Sick and homebound visits
- Prayer shawl ministry
- Spiritual direction referrals
- Contact: (503) 991-9299; [email protected]
Catholic Daughters of the Americas
Court Marion of the Catholic Daughters of the Americas (CDA) is one of the largest Catholic women's organizations in the world and is based at St. Mary Parish. Members gather the third Monday of each month at 7:00 PM in the meeting room downstairs in the Parish Center (September through June). Their motto is "Charity and Unity," and their work supports education contests for youth, JCDA, religious and charitable works through the Circle of Love, and outreach to Mission Benedict, St. Joseph's Shelter, the Fr. Bernard Youth Center, Habitat for Humanity, Disaster Relief, SOAR, the Grotto, the Veterans Fund, and the Father Taaffe Foundation.
- Meets 3rd Monday, 7:00 PM, Parish Center downstairs
- December Arts & Crafts/Bake Sale
- Weekly Quilting Group (Wednesdays)
- Project Handclasp toiletries collection
- Parish funeral luncheons
Benedictine Heritage and Catholic Central
St. Mary's ministry is rooted in more than 135 years of Benedictine presence in Mt. Angel, traced to the arrival of the monks from Engelberg Abbey, Switzerland, and the Sisters from Maria Reichenbach in 1886. Both religious communities have operated schools that educated generations of parishioners, and the parish shares the town with Carmelite and Missionaries of the Holy Spirit formation houses — the configuration that earned the area its "Catholic Central" nickname within the Archdiocese of Portland.
- Monks of Mount Angel Abbey (from Engelberg Abbey, Switzerland)
- Sisters of Queen of Angels Monastery (from Maria Reichenbach, Switzerland)
- Carmelite and Missionaries of the Holy Spirit formation houses
- Town population ~3,000; parish and four religious communities in one place
Visit, Contact, and Getting Involved
Parishioners and visitors can call the parish office at (503) 845-2296 (fax 503-845-2297) or email [email protected]. The parish encourages registration, faith formation at all age levels, and participation in its choirs, ministries, and community life. Donations and larger gifts/sponsorships can be directed to Michelle at the parish Accounts Office.
- Address: 575 East College Street, Mt. Angel, OR 97362
- Phone: (503) 845-2296 | Fax: (503) 845-2297
- Email: [email protected]
- Livestream Mass and replays: St. Mary's Church YouTube channel
- Ways to help: choirs, Care Ministries, Catholic Daughters, OCIA team, donations
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Adelhelm Odermatt, OSB1881–
Co-founder of the parish; commissioned by Engelberg Abbey, Switzerland, to establish the monastery in Mt. Angel. Persuaded the railroad to rename the station from Fillmore to Mt. Angel.
- Fr. Nicholas Frei1881–
Co-founder; assistant to Fr. Adelhelm at the parish's founding.