St. Michael the Archangel

About St. Michael the Archangel

Established in 1897 as a church for Portland's Italian community, St. Michael the Archangel is a parish of the Archdiocese of Portland in Oregon under the care of the Saint John Society. Centrally located at 424 SW Mill Street near the Willamette River and Portland State University, it is the territorial parish for the city's University and South Waterfront Districts and home to the PSU Newman Center. The parish describes its mission as becoming 'a center of New Life in Christ that calls, forms, and sends disciples into the city of Portland.'

• Founded in 1897 as an Italian national parish
• Parish of the Archdiocese of Portland in Oregon
• Under the care of the Saint John Society
• Territorial parish for the University and South Waterfront Districts
• Hosts the PSU Newman Center

Our History

St. Michael's was built by Portland's Italian immigrant community in 1901–1902 and quickly became the heart of Little Italy, known simply as 'La Chiesa.' The wooden rectory was destroyed by fire in 1905 and the founding priest, Father Cestelli, had to be rescued from the roof. Through the twentieth century the surrounding Italian neighborhood was largely displaced by urban renewal and the expansion of Portland State University, but the parish building survived as one of the only original landmarks of old South Portland.

• Italian immigrants crowdsourced $15,000 in under four months to build the church
• 1905 rectory fire and rescue of Father Cestelli
• Povey Brothers stained glass windows installed in the sanctuary
• 2013 capital campaign launched a $6.2 million seismic retrofit and expansion of the kitchen, pantry, and community room

Our Parish Crest

The arms of the parish reflect its patron, its congregation, and its location. The red field alludes to St. Michael the Archangel; the cross patonce and flaming sword are his traditional heraldic emblems. The silver crescent and three six-pointed stars come from the coat of arms of the Archdiocese of Portland in Oregon (the stars from Pope Gregory XVI, who established the archdiocese, and the crescent from Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception). The tinctures — gold, red, green, and white — combine a symbol of divinity with the Italian national colors, honoring the parish's heritage.

Clergy & Parish Staff

St. Michael's is pastored by Father Ignacio Llorente (a member of the Saint John Society, born in Seville, Spain, and raised in Buenos Aires, Argentina; ordained June 13, 2009; pastor since October 2018). He is assisted by Father Aaron Stettler, Vicar and Newman Director. The lay staff team includes coordinators for OCIA, the Works of Mercy food and outreach program, infant baptisms, ARK young adult ministry, liturgy and spirituality, and Alpha.

• Father Ignacio Llorente — Pastor
• Father Aaron Stettler — Vicar / Newman Director
• Sr. Teresa Harrell, SdM — Liturgy and Spirituality Coordinator
• Holly Butler — Pastoral Administrator & OCIA Coordinator
• Danielle Cooper — Works of Mercy Coordinator
• Lexie Lane — ARK Young Adult Ministry
• Greg Sherwood — OCIA Catechist / Alpha Rector
• Maggie Mitzel (Saldivar) — Infant Baptisms Coordinator

Sacraments

The parish celebrates and prepares parishioners for all seven sacraments. Infant Baptisms are coordinated through the parish office, while adults seeking Baptism, Confirmation, or full reception into the Catholic Church are journeyed through OCIA. Couples preparing for Marriage, candidates for Confirmation, and regular Reconciliation times are all listed on the parish website.

• Baptism (infant) — [email protected]
• Confirmation
• Eucharistic Adoration
• Confession (Reconciliation)
• Marriage preparation
• OCIA — [email protected]

Newman Center at Portland State University

The Newman Center is the Catholic campus ministry at Portland State University, housed at St. Michael's across the street from the PSU bookstore on SW 5th Avenue. All its energies are dedicated to the evangelization of students — reaching out on campus, forming at the Newman Center, and sending graduates off into the world. Father Aaron Stettler serves as Vicar and Newman Director.

• Catholic campus ministry at Portland State University
• Located across from the PSU bookstore on 5th Ave
• Directed by Father Aaron Stettler

Faith Formation & Discipleship Programs

St. Michael's runs a full slate of evangelization and formation programs for seekers, returning Catholics, young adults, and students. Alpha is an 11-week introduction to the Christian faith with food, a talk, and small-group discussion, offered January through April. OCIA (the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults) meets weekly on Thursday evenings starting in September and culminates at the Easter Vigil. The ARK young adult ministry, the Certificate in Evangelization, and the Theological Academy round out the parish's formation offerings.

• Alpha — 11-week course, January–April ([email protected])
• OCIA / Exploring Catholicism — weekly Thursday evenings from September
• ARK Young Adult Ministry — [email protected]
• Certificate in Evangelization
• Theological Academy

Works of Mercy & Outreach

The Works of Mercy program is one of the parish's best-known ministries. St. Michael's serves lunch five days a week and distributes food boxes three days a week through its downtown food pantry, feeding hundreds of Portlanders each week. A 2013 expansion project added a larger commercial kitchen, more pantry storage, and meeting space for social workers and medical providers so that guests can be served with hot meals, groceries, and case management under one roof.

• Daily lunch program (five days a week)
• Food pantry distributing boxes three days a week
• Partnership with Portland State students and faculty volunteers
• 2013 expansion added a commercial kitchen and case-management space
• Coordinator: Danielle Cooper — [email protected]

Visit, Register & Contact

Newcomers are warmly invited to register as parishioners, introduce themselves to the priest after Mass, and join one of the parish's many ministries. The parish office is open Tuesday through Friday from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., and the church is open for personal prayer during those office hours as well.

• Address: 424 SW Mill Street, Portland, OR 97201
• Phone: 503.228.8629
• Fax: 503.827.7689
• Office Hours: Tuesday–Friday, 9:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.
• Free Sunday parking at 1660 SW 5th Ave during the 10 a.m. and 7 p.m. Masses