About St. Michael the Archangel · Sandy, Oregon
St. Michael the Archangel Catholic Church is a Roman Catholic parish in Sandy, Oregon, belonging to the Archdiocese of Portland in Oregon. It is the largest of the three parishes that make up the East Clackamas Parishes Cluster — together with St. John the Evangelist Mission in Welches and St. Aloysius in Estacada — sharing one pastor across the Mount Hood corridor. The parish offers Mass in both English and Spanish, a Saturday Healing Mass, weekly Eucharistic Adoration, and a wide range of lay ministries including St. Vincent de Paul, Prayer Shawl, Rosary Makers, and a youth group.
- Established
- 1898
- Patron
- St. Michael the Archangel
- Rector
- Rev. Gregg (Greggory) Bronsema
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Portland in Oregon
Why belong here
St. Michael the Archangel offers a warm, growing parish home in the heart of Sandy where the whole family can worship together — daily Mass in English on Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday mornings, a Saturday Vigil in English and a Sunday afternoon Mass in Spanish, plus a monthly Saturday Healing Mass. Parishioners deepen prayer life through all-day Thursday Eucharistic Adoration, the Prayer Chain, Bible study, the Rosary Makers, and a Prayer Shawl Ministry that brings comfort to the homebound. Outreach runs deep through the St. Vincent de Paul Society, Sacramental Preparation and Faith Formation for all ages, a youth group, Vacation Bible School, and the annual Fiesta Fest that draws the wider Sandy community together.
Mass times at St. Michael the Archangel
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 3:30 PM – 4:30 PM at St. Michael (or by appointment)
Adoration times
- Thursday 9:00 AM – 9:00 PM at St. Michael
St. Michael the Archangel — Parish Overview
St. Michael the Archangel Catholic Church in Sandy, Oregon, is a parish of the Archdiocese of Portland in Oregon and the principal Catholic worshiping community for the city of Sandy and the villages climbing toward Mount Hood. It is part of the East Clackamas Parishes Cluster, sharing one pastor with St. John the Evangelist in Welches and St. Aloysius in Estacada. The parish describes itself as 'a part of the Sandy Area' and welcomes all to join in worship and fellowship, celebrating Mass in both English and Spanish and offering active ministries for every age and stage of life.
- Archdiocese of Portland in Oregon
- East Clackamas Parishes Cluster (St. Michael, St. John, St. Aloysius)
- Address: 18090 SE Langensand Road, Sandy, OR 97055
- Office phone: (503) 668-4446
- Office email: [email protected]
- Office hours: Monday–Thursday 9 AM–4 PM (closed 1–2 PM); Friday closed
Parish History
Catholic life in Sandy is older than the parish itself: the first Mass was offered in 1878 by Fr. Louis Verhaag in the home of pioneer Paul Dunn. The community grew through the 1880s and 1890s, with early Masses in a log schoolhouse and private homes, the gift of land from Mr. Meinig in 1886, and the purchase of lots on Main Street in 1894 and 1908. The parish was formally established in 1898 when Fr. Anselm Wachter, OSB, erected a small 46-by-26-foot wooden church, dedicated by diocesan administrator Fr. J.J. O'Riordan. Fr. Anselm, based at Sacred Heart in Portland, served the missions of Milwaukie, Kronenberg, Sandy, Estacada, and Troutdale on foot for thirteen years until his death in 1907.
- 1878 — Fr. Louis Verhaag celebrates the first Mass in Sandy at the home of Paul Dunn
- 1886 — Mr. Meinig donates an acre for a frame church
- 1894 and 1908 — land purchased on Main Street in Sandy
- 1898 — first St. Michael church built by Fr. Anselm Wachter, OSB; dedicated by Fr. J.J. O'Riordan
- 1917 — original church destroyed by fire
- Replacement church built on Main Street by a local carpenter; parish served by Benedictine priests from Mount Angel Abbey
Cluster History: St. Aloysius and St. John
The two sister parishes that today share a pastor with St. Michael grew up alongside it on either side of the Mount Hood corridor. St. Aloysius in Estacada was blessed on July 13, 1924 by Archbishop Christie; in 1937 Archbishop Howard dedicated the Church of St. John the Evangelist, a rustic peeled-log chapel in the Rhododendron area built to serve vacationists. After a 1933 reorganization Sandy was attached to Estacada, which later became its mission. The present St. Michael church opened in 1972.
- 1924 — St. Aloysius blessed in Estacada by Archbishop Christie
- 1933 — Sandy attached to the Estacada parish
- 1937 — St. John the Evangelist, a peeled-log chapel in Rhododendron, dedicated by Archbishop Howard
- 1972 — current St. Michael church opens in Sandy
Architecture and Notable Features
The current St. Michael church, dedicated in 1972, was designed to honor the timber heritage of the Sandy area: its pews are made from cut logs, an echo of the peeled-log rustic chapel of St. John the Evangelist in the Rhododendron area. Among its most treasured furnishings are three stained-glass windows in the choir loft donated by a young parishioner, Helen Milan, who purchased them with her very first paycheck of $35.
- 1972 church built with cut-log pews
- Stained-glass windows in choir loft donated by Helen Milan with her first paycheck ($35)
Pastoral Team
St. Michael is led by one pastor who oversees the entire East Clackamas Parishes Cluster, traveling between the three worship sites. The parish office is staffed Monday through Thursday and can be reached by phone or email.
- Rev. Gregg Bronsema — Pastor, St. Michael the Archangel Sandy (also listed by the Archdiocese as Pastor of St. Patrick in Independence)
- A former evangelical Christian who entered the Catholic Church and later seminary
- Parish office: [email protected], (503) 668-4446
Parish Ministries and Groups
St. Michael runs a wide range of lay ministries that touch every corner of parish life — from contemplative prayer to hands-on outreach. Devotional groups include the Prayer Chain, Prayer Shawl Ministry, Rosary Makers, and all-day Thursday Eucharistic Adoration. Outreach and service are anchored by the St. Vincent de Paul Society, a Homebound Ministry that visits the sick and elderly, and Senior Group Outings. Faith formation for children and teens runs through Religious Education classes, Sacramental Preparation, a Youth Group, and Vacation Bible School (held most recently in late June). Community life is celebrated through the Sandy Community Choir and the annual Fiesta Fest, a parish festival with a car show, food, and vendors that draws the wider Sandy community together.
- Adoration (Thursday 9 AM – 9 PM)
- Prayer Chain
- Prayer Shawl Ministry
- St. Vincent de Paul Society
- Rosary Makers
- Homebound Ministry
- Bible Study
- Youth Group
- Senior Group Outings
- Faith Formation / Sacramental Preparation
- Vacation Bible School (VBS)
- Sandy Community Choir
- Annual Fiesta Fest (parish festival & car show)
Faith Formation and Sacramental Preparation
Faith Formation at St. Michael serves children, youth, and adults preparing for the sacraments of the Church. The program is offered through the East Clackamas Parishes Cluster and uses the Formed.org Catholic media library as a free family resource. Sacramental preparation is required for First Communion and Confirmation, and the parish also prepares adults for the sacraments through the RCIA-style process.
- Faith Formation Programs (cluster-wide)
- Religious Education (children)
- Youth Group (teens)
- Sacramental Prep (First Communion, Confirmation)
- Family Faith resources via Formed.org
Devotions and Seasonal Liturgies
Beyond the regular Mass and confession schedule, St. Michael cultivates a rich devotional life. All-day Eucharistic Adoration runs every Thursday from 9:00 AM to 9:00 PM. On the first Saturday of each month, the parish celebrates a Healing Mass at 8:30 AM preceded by the Rosary at 8:00 AM. During Lent, Stations of the Cross are prayed on Fridays at St. Michael in both English and Spanish, and contemplative prayer is offered on the 2nd and 4th Saturdays at St. John in Welches.
- Thursday Eucharistic Adoration, all day
- 1st Saturday Healing Mass (8:30 AM) preceded by Rosary (8:00 AM)
- Lenten Stations of the Cross on Fridays (English and Spanish) at St. Michael
- Contemplative prayer on 2nd and 4th Saturdays at St. John
Sacraments
St. Michael prepares parishioners for and celebrates the seven sacraments of the Catholic Church. Baptism and Matrimony have published preparation requirements; First Communion and Confirmation are received through the parish Sacramental Preparation program; the Anointing of the Sick is offered communally at the monthly Saturday Healing Mass and individually by appointment. Confession is heard Saturday afternoons at St. Michael or by appointment.
- Baptism (preparation required)
- First Holy Communion & Confirmation (Sacramental Preparation)
- Matrimony (Sacrament Requirements apply — contact parish office)
- Anointing of the Sick (Healing Mass, 1st Saturday, 8:30 AM)
- Reconciliation (Saturday 3:30–4:30 PM or by appointment)
Getting Involved and Parish Life
The parish invites newcomers to register and to get involved. The annual Fiesta Fest — a day of family fun, a car show, food, and vendors — is the parish's signature community gathering, and the parish also hosts a Holy Land pilgrimage, Vacation Bible School, parish concerts, and parish-wide mission and fellowship events. Visitors can register online or at the parish office during weekday office hours.
- Register at Saint Michael (form on cluster site)
- Fiesta Fest — annual parish festival and car show
- Holy Land Pilgrimage (with Fr. Bronsema)
- Parish concerts (e.g., KBVM / Catholic music events)
- Parish bulletins and news posted on the cluster site
Visit, Contact, and Directions
St. Michael the Archangel is located at 18090 SE Langensand Road in Sandy, Oregon. The parish office is open Monday through Thursday from 9 AM to 4 PM (closed for lunch 1–2 PM) and closed on Fridays. Phone (503) 668-4446 and email [email protected] reach the parish office, which also serves St. John and St. Aloysius. Parking is described as ample around the church.
- Address: 18090 SE Langensand Road, Sandy, OR 97055
- Phone: (503) 668-4446
- Email: [email protected]
- Office hours: Mon–Thu 9 AM–4 PM (closed 1–2 PM); Friday closed
- Parking: ample around the church