About St. Peter · Portland, Oregon
St. Peter Parish is a Roman Catholic parish in the Lents neighborhood of southeast Portland, Oregon, within the Archdiocese of Portland in Oregon (formerly the Archdiocese of Oregon City). Founded in December 1910 by Archbishop Christie with Rev. Peter Beutgen as its first pastor, the parish has served the Portland metro area for more than a century. Today it is a bilingual, multicultural community of worshippers from Southeast Asia, the Philippines, the South Pacific Islands, Central and South America, Mexico, and many other heritages, gathered around the Eucharist in the church built in 1957 at the corner of SE Foster Road and SE 87th Avenue. Six weekly Masses are offered in English and Spanish, alongside a robust faith formation program, outreach ministries, and Eucharistic Adoration.
- Established
- 1910
- Patron
- Saint Peter the Apostle
- Rector
- Fr. Stephen Kenyon
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Portland in Oregon
Why belong here
St. Peter is a centrally located, multicultural Catholic family where Sunday worship is offered in both English and Spanish and where new arrivals are folded into a parish with more than a century of history in Lents. Worshippers find the Eucharist at the heart of parish life, supported by faith formation programs for children, youth, and adults, liturgical and outreach ministries (including the St. Vincent de Paul Society), youth and family ministry, and Eucharistic Adoration. The welcoming community values its diversity — members from Southeast Asia, the Philippines, the Pacific Islands, Central and South America, and Mexico worship side by side — and its deep roots in southeast Portland.
Mass times at St. Peter
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Sunday 9:30–9:45 AM
- Sunday 11:15–11:45 AM
- Thursday 6:15–6:45 PM
- 1st Saturday 9:45–10:30 AM
- By appointment (call office Wed/Fri/Sat)
Adoration times
- Thursday 7:30–8:30 PM
- 1st Sunday of the month 3:00–4:00 PM
About St. Peter Parish
St. Peter Parish is a Roman Catholic community of faith in southeast Portland's Lents neighborhood, part of the Archdiocese of Portland in Oregon. Its worship and parish life are deeply multicultural, drawing members from Southeast Asia, the Philippines, the South Pacific Islands, Central America, South America, and Mexico, along with people of many other backgrounds from across the Portland metro area. The parish gathers for Mass in both English and Spanish, anchors its identity in the Eucharist, and is committed to faith formation, sacramental life, and outreach to those in need.
- Parish type: Roman Catholic (Latin Rite) parish
- Diocese: Archdiocese of Portland in Oregon
- Languages: English and Spanish
- Patron: Saint Peter the Apostle
History
St. Peter Parish was established in Lents in December 1910 by Archbishop Christie of the Archdiocese of Oregon City, with Rev. Peter Beutgen as its founding pastor and the first Mass celebrated in January 1911 in a rented hall above Duke's Market on Main Street. After outgrowing the original 1911 wood-frame church on SE 91st Avenue, the parish moved in the early 1920s to its present campus at the corner of SE Foster Road and SE 87th Avenue, where successive pastors built a basement church, then a Foster Road church-and-school building, and finally the present sanctuary dedicated in December 1957. St. Peter School ran from 1936 to 1972, and after its closure the parish launched an extensive religious education program and an archdiocesan ministry to the deaf headquartered at St. Peter's.
- 1910: Parish established in Lents
- 1911: First Mass celebrated in a rented hall on Main Street
- 1911: Original wooden church dedicated by Archbishop Christie
- 1923: Land purchased at SE Foster Rd & 87th Ave
- 1936: St. Peter School opened with Holy Names Sisters
- 1957: Present church designed by Elmer Zeller, completed by N.A. Minden Company
- Dec. 9, 1957: Solemn dedication by Archbishop Howard
- 1972: Parish school closes; faith formation program launched
- 1994: Spanish-speaking community welcomed; Spanish Mass and bilingual liturgical seasons begin
- 2016–17: Major interior renovation funded by Joyce Miller Owens Charitable Foundation
Pastor and Parish Leadership
The parish is currently led by Fr. Stephen Kenyon, who became pastor in 2023 and brings experience from pastoral assignments across the Archdiocese and a year of study in Mexico City. Office support is provided by Cynde Clark, who serves as the parish bookkeeper. The contact page lists office hours on Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday from noon to 6:00 PM.
- Current Pastor: Fr. Stephen Kenyon (since 2023)
- Bookkeeper: Cynde Clark
- Office Hours: Wednesday, Friday & Saturday, 12:00–6:00 PM
Pastoral Succession
The parish website publishes a complete list of pastors from its founding to today, beginning with Fr. Peter Beutgen in 1910 and continuing through sixteen pastors to the present. Several pastors stand out in the parish's story — Fr. Cregan opened the school in 1936, Fr. (Pat) Dooley oversaw the 1950s expansion and the construction and dedication of the present church, Fr. Pat Walsh initiated the deaf ministry, and Fr. Dale Waddill welcomed the Spanish-speaking community in 1994.
- Fr. Peter Beutgen (1910–)
- Fr. James O'Flynn (1922–)
- Fr. O'Keefe (1930–)
- Fr. George Sniderhon (1932–)
- Fr. Cregan (1936–)
- Fr. Dooley (1946–)
- Fr. John Berger (1966–)
- Fr. Stephen Breitenstein (1968–)
- Fr. John Brouillard (1971–)
- Fr. J.J. Linehan (1978–)
- Fr. Rock Sassano (1988–)
- Fr. Martin Senko (1992–)
- Fr. Dale Waddill (1993–)
- Fr. Dave Zegar (2008–)
- Fr. Raul Marquez (2012–)
- Fr. Stephen Kenyon (2023–)
Faith Formation and Religious Education
Faith formation is a central ministry of the parish and is offered to children, youth, and adults on Saturdays from 11:00 AM to 12:30 PM. Children's formation uses the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd (CGS), with children meeting in specially prepared atrium spaces, while youth in 6th through 12th grade gather in the parish hall for their weekly sessions. Adult formation welcomes those preparing to enter the Catholic Church, those completing any remaining sacraments, and adults who simply want to keep growing in their faith.
- Children's Faith Formation (Pre-K through 5th grade) using Catechesis of the Good Shepherd
- Youth Faith Formation (6th–12th grade)
- Adult Faith Formation (including RCIA-style inquiry and ongoing formation)
- Classes held Saturdays, 11:00 AM–12:30 PM
- Registration opens in May; classes begin in September
- Tuition $100/child, $200 max per family; financial aid available
Sacraments
The parish prepares the faithful for all the sacraments of initiation and offers Reconciliation weekly. Infant baptisms for children under the age of 7 are scheduled once a month; older children enter a two-year catechetical program. First Communion preparation begins in 1st grade and Confirmation preparation in 6th grade. Couples preparing for marriage, and families in need of Anointing of the Sick, are encouraged to contact the parish office.
- Baptism — infants under 7, monthly; 2-year program for older children
- First Holy Communion — preparation from 1st grade
- Confirmation — preparation from 6th grade
- Reconciliation — weekly (see schedule)
- Matrimony — contact the parish office
- Anointing of the Sick — contact the parish office
Parish Ministries and Outreach
Beyond the sacraments, St. Peter's life is sustained by many lay-led ministries. Liturgical roles include lector, altar server, and Extraordinary Minister of the Eucharist; outreach ministries include visiting the homebound, serving at food pantries, and the St. Vincent de Paul Society; community-building groups include youth ministry, men's and women's groups, and the annual parish bazaar. The parish welcomes new ideas for ministries that meet the needs of the community.
- Lector
- Altar Server
- Extraordinary Minister of the Eucharist
- Visiting the Homebound
- St. Vincent de Paul Society
- Food Pantry Volunteers
- Youth Ministry
- Men's and Women's Parish Groups
- Annual Parish Bazaar
Peter, Our Patron Saint
Saint Peter the Apostle, also known as Simon Peter or Cephas, is the patron of the parish. He is venerated as the first pope, the Prince of the Apostles, and, together with St. Paul, the founder of the See of Rome. The parish is named after this chief apostle, whose confession of faith in Christ is the rock on which the Church is built.
- Patron: Saint Peter the Apostle
- Also known as: Simon Peter, Cephas
- Title: First Pope, Prince of the Apostles
- Co-founder of the See of Rome with St. Paul
Visit Us — Address and Office
Parishioners and visitors are welcome to worship, confess, or stop by the office during posted hours. The church building is located at 5905 SE 87th Avenue in Portland, with the parish mailing address at 8623 SE Woodstock Blvd, Portland, OR 97266.
- Church: 5905 SE 87th Ave, Portland, OR 97266
- Mailing Address: 8623 SE Woodstock Blvd, Portland, OR 97266
- Phone: 503-777-3321
- Office Hours: Wednesday, Friday & Saturday, 12:00–6:00 PM
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Peter Beutgen1910–
First pastor; celebrated inaugural Mass in January 1911.
- Fr. James O'Flynn1922–
Acquired Foster Rd & 87th Ave property; began new church basement.
- Fr. O'Keefe1930–1932
Completed upper structure of the Foster Rd church/school building in 1931.
- Fr. George Sniderhon1932–1936
- Fr. Cregan1936–1946
Opened St. Peter School with the Holy Names Sisters in September 1936.
- Fr. (Pat) Dooley1946–1966
Oversaw rapid school growth and the 1957 construction and dedication of the current church.
- Fr. John Berger1966–1968
- Fr. Stephen Breitenstein1968–1971
- Fr. John Brouillard1971–1978
- Fr. J.J. Linehan1978–1988
- Fr. Rock Sassano1988–1992
- Fr. Martin Senko1992–1993
- Fr. Dale Waddill1993–2008
Welcomed the Spanish-speaking community in 1994, added a Spanish Sunday Mass and bilingual Holy Week/Christmas liturgies.
- Fr. Dave Zegar2008–2012
- Fr. Raul Marquez2012–2023
- Fr. Stephen Kenyon2023–
Current pastor; previously ordained a transitional deacon in 2018 (Mt. Angel Seminary) and served in pastoral assignments at parishes around the Archdiocese.