About St. Mary · Vernonia, Oregon
St. Mary's Catholic Church in Vernonia, Oregon, formally known as St. Mary of Immaculate Conception, is a small Roman Catholic parish serving the timber-town community of Vernonia in the northern Oregon Coast Range. The parish belongs to the Archdiocese of Portland in Oregon and is administered by Rev. Joshua Clifton, who also serves St. Birgitta's on Highway 30 in Portland, with retired Bishop Kenneth Steiner, Father Fred Nkwasibwe, and Msgr. Huneger lending a hand at Mass and for the sacraments. Weekly life centers on Sunday Mass at noon, Adult Religious Education and a monthly Bible Study led by Fr. Clifton, Children's Religious Education on 2nd and 4th Sundays, and the beloved annual Quilt and Crafts Fair that helped build the present church.
- Patron
- The Blessed Virgin Mary, under the title of the Immaculate Conception (official name: St. Mary of Immaculate Conception)
- Rector
- Rev. Joshua Clifton (Parish Administrator)
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Portland in Oregon
Why belong here
St. Mary's is a small, close-knit Catholic parish in the rural timber town of Vernonia, where visitors are warmly welcomed and parishioners of every age are invited into the life of the Church. Faith formation is built into the parish schedule: Fr. Clifton teaches Adult Catechesis after Sunday Mass throughout the school year and leads a monthly Bible Study, while Children's Religious Education meets before Mass on the 2nd and 4th Sundays from fall through spring. The parish's signature Quilt and Crafts Fair — together with a busy quilting circle that meets every Tuesday from January through July — has shaped the buildings the community worships in today, and there are many ways to pitch in, whether you are an experienced quilter, a lifelong Catholic, or simply curious about the faith.
Mass times at St. Mary
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- First Sundays after Mass
- Upon request
About St. Mary's Catholic Church, Vernonia
St. Mary's Catholic Church in Vernonia, Oregon, formally St. Mary of Immaculate Conception, is a small Roman Catholic parish in the Archdiocese of Portland in Oregon. It is located at 960 Missouri Avenue in the timber town of Vernonia, in the northern Coast Range of Columbia County. The parish is administered by Rev. Joshua Clifton, who also serves St. Birgitta's on Highway 30 in Portland, and is supported at Mass by Father Fred Nkwasibwe (Apostles of Jesus, Portland), Msgr. Huneger, and retired Bishop Kenneth Steiner when requested.
- Official name: St. Mary of Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, Vernonia, Oregon
- Sunday Mass at Noon
- Address: 960 Missouri Avenue, Vernonia, Oregon 97064
- Mailing: PO Box 312, Vernonia, OR 97064
- Phone: (503) 429-8841
- Archdiocese of Portland in Oregon
History of the Parish
St. Mary's has been a continuous Catholic presence in Vernonia since at least the early twentieth century. A 1924 notice in the Vernonia Eagle asked local Catholics for help paying off debt on the local Catholic church, and a 1959 Vernonia Eagle obituary notes a funeral Mass celebrated at St. Mary's with Rev. Father William Delplanche officiating. The current church and parish hall were built under the leadership of Rev. Kenneth Steiner, who became Pastor/Administrator in 1977 and was ordained Bishop in 1978; proceeds from the parish's annual Quilt and Crafts Fair, a scholarship from the Portland Archdiocese, and parishioner donations all funded construction.
- 1924 — Vernonia Eagle notice appealing for donations to pay off church debt.
- 1959 — Funeral Mass at St. Mary's with Rev. Father William Delplanche (per Vernonia Eagle obituary).
- 1977 — Rev. Kenneth Steiner appointed Pastor/Administrator while pastor of St. Francis in Roy.
- 1978 — Most Rev. Kenneth Steiner ordained Bishop and continued guiding St. Mary's.
- Late 1970s/early 1980s — Current church and parish hall built under Bishop Steiner's leadership, funded by the Quilt & Craft Fair, Archdiocese scholarship, and parishioner donations.
Our Clergy
St. Mary's is blessed with a small, collegial team of priests and a retired bishop who still actively help at Mass and for the sacraments. Parish Administrator Rev. Joshua Clifton is assisted by Father Fred Nkwasibwe of the Apostles of Jesus (who covers the Second Sunday Mass), Msgr. Huneger (a recent addition to the rotation of celebrants), and the parish's beloved retired Bishop Kenneth Steiner, who still returns to preside at baptisms, confirmations, weddings, funerals, and the occasional Mass when the two priests have scheduling conflicts.
- Rev. Joshua Clifton — Parish Administrator; (503) 286-3929; [email protected]
- Rev. Fred Nkwasibwe — covers Second Sunday Mass; serves with Apostles of Jesus in Portland
- Msgr. Huneger — celebrant when Fr. Clifton has scheduling conflicts
- Most Rev. Bishop Kenneth Steiner (retired) — still presides over sacraments and occasional Masses when requested
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Faith formation is integrated into the rhythm of parish life for every age. Fr. Joshua Clifton teaches Adult Religious Education (Catechism) in the church after Sunday Mass, Fall through Spring, and prospective Catholics and returning Catholics are warmly invited to come and learn. Children's Religious Education and activities run from Fall (after the Quilt & Crafts Fair cleanup) through Spring, 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 Noon, on the 2nd and 4th Sundays of the month, just before Mass. Fr. Clifton also leads a monthly Bible Study.
- Adult Religious Education (Catechesis) — after Sunday Mass, Fall–Spring, with Fr. Clifton
- Children's Religious Education — 11 a.m.–12 Noon, 2nd & 4th Sundays, before Mass
- Monthly Bible Study — led by Fr. Clifton
- Newcomers and inquirers always welcome
Parish Ministries & Volunteer Life
Volunteers are described on the parish's own website as the heart of the parish — from the greeters who welcome you on Sunday to those who teach the children, serve lunch, or help run the annual Quilt and Crafts Fair, and the many unseen hands that keep worship running smoothly. The parish quilting circle is a distinctive and beloved ministry: quilters gather every Tuesday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the Parish Hall from January through July, and all are welcome whether you are new to quilting or have years of experience — everything you need is provided, you just bring a lunch.
- Parish Quilters — every Tuesday, 10 a.m.–3 p.m., January through July, in the Parish Hall
- Annual Quilt and Crafts Fair — signature parish fundraiser (helped fund the church and parish hall)
- Liturgical & hospitality volunteers (greeters, ushers, etc.)
- Faith formation volunteers (Children's Religious Education helpers)
Getting Involved & Contact
Parishioners and visitors are encouraged to subscribe to the weekly bulletin by emailing [email protected]. News items, photos, and attachments for the bulletin or website can also be sent to that address. Those interested in learning more about the Catholic faith or joining the parish are warmly invited to reach out to Fr. Clifton directly.
- Bulletin & website submissions: [email protected]
- Parish office: [email protected]; (503) 429-8841
- Fr. Joshua Clifton: [email protected]; (503) 286-3929
- Mailing: PO Box 312, Vernonia, OR 97064
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Father William Delplanchemid-20th century (documented 1959)
Officiated a funeral Mass at St. Mary's per a 1959 Vernonia Eagle obituary notice.
- Rev. Kenneth Steiner1977 –
Appointed Pastor/Administrator of St. Mary's in 1977 while pastor of St. Francis in Roy; ordained Bishop in 1978 as Most Rev. Steiner. Instrumental in building the current church and parish hall; still returns to preside at sacraments when requested.
- Rev. Joshua Cliftoncurrent
Assigned by Archbishop Alexander Sample to administer St. Mary's Vernonia and St. Birgitta's on Highway 30 in Portland. Also teaches Adult Religious Education and leads the monthly Bible Study.
- Rev. Fred Nkwasibwecurrent (Sunday rotation)
Serves with Apostles of Jesus in Portland; covers Second Sunday Mass and occasional fill-ins.
- Msgr. Hunegercurrent (recently added)
Celebrant when Fr. Clifton has scheduling conflicts.