About St. Peter's Catholic church · The Dalles, Oregon
St. Peter Catholic Church is a Roman Catholic parish located at 1222 W 10th Street in The Dalles, Oregon, serving the Columbia River Gorge community as part of the Diocese of Baker. The parish traces its roots back to 1848, when the first Catholic mission in The Dalles was established, and has continued worshiping in the area for more than 175 years through multiple church buildings. Today St. Peter's runs St. Mary's Academy as its parish school, celebrates Mass in both English and Spanish each week, and offers perpetual adoration, a weekly Confession schedule, and a broad Hispanic ministry program in addition to its many lay-led ministries.
- Established
- 1848
- Patron
- Saint Peter (the Apostle)
- Rector
- Rev. Fr. Michael Imperial
- Diocese
- Diocese of Baker (Roman Catholic)
Why belong here
St. Peter's is a bilingual English/Spanish Catholic community that takes seriously both the Eucharist and the corporal works of mercy — it is one of the few parishes in the Gorge with a daily Mass schedule, perpetual First-Friday adoration, weekly Confession times, and a vibrant Migrant Ministry and Justice and Peace outreach alongside its parish school, St. Mary's Academy. Whether you are a longtime Catholic, a newcomer, or Spanish-speaking, the parish offers RCIA for adults, religious education for children, a Knights of Columbus council, a Ladies Auxiliary, charismatic and Emmaus groups, and more than twenty lay-led ministries that make it easy to find a place to belong.
Mass times at St. Peter's Catholic church
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Wednesday: 5:30 PM – 7:00 PM
- Saturday: 3:00 PM – 5:00 PM
- 1st Saturday: 9:00 AM – 10:00 AM
- Or by appointment
Adoration times
- First Friday: Perpetual adoration begins at 9:00 AM Friday and ends at 7:45 AM Saturday
- Wednesday: 5:30 PM – 7:00 PM
Welcome and Mission
St. Peter Catholic Church states its mission as walking the path of love in the Body of Christ, which is the Eucharist. The parish community of The Dalles welcomes newcomers, returning Catholics, and visitors, and describes itself as a bilingual (English/Spanish) faith family worshiping together at 1222 W 10th Street. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM, with phone (541-296-2026) and fax (541-296-5835).
- Address: 1222 W 10th St, The Dalles, OR 97058
- Phone: 541-296-2026
- Fax: 541-296-5835
- Email: [email protected]
- Office hours: Monday–Friday, 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM
- Diocese: Baker (www.dioceseofbaker.org)
Parish History
The Catholic mission at The Dalles was founded May 16, 1848, by Rev. L. Rosseau. The first small church (1855) and all its records were destroyed by fire; a replacement chapel was built by Father I. Mesplie (pastor 1851–1863). In 1861 a larger Carpenters Gothic–style church was built on land donated by town promoter Victor Trevitt at 3rd and Lincoln Streets. By 1890 it had deteriorated, and a parish committee (Max Vogt, Henry Herbring, E.P. Fitzgerald, Jacob Fritz) planned a new church, delayed by the 1891 fire, the 1894 Columbia River flood, and economic depression. The cornerstone was blessed July 25, 1897, by Archbishop William Hickley Gross; the church was dedicated March 17, 1898; designed by Otto Kleeman from plans obtained by Henry Herbring from Herr Rinklage of Münster, Westphalia.
- 1848 – Mission founded by Rev. L. Rosseau
- 1855 – First church built; destroyed by fire, records lost
- 1861 – New church on land donated by Victor Trevitt (3rd & Lincoln)
- 1897 – Cornerstone laid by Archbishop William Hickley Gross
- 1898 – Present historic church dedicated on March 17, 1898
- 1968 – Congregation moves to the current church on W 10th Street
- 1971 – Old St. Peter's saved from demolition
- 1974 – Placed on the National Register of Historic Places
Old St. Peter's Landmark
After the parish moved out in 1968, the 1898 church was saved from demolition in 1971 by Old St. Peter's Landmark Preservation, Inc. The organization placed the building on the National Register of Historic Places in 1974 and now maintains it as a museum and as a venue for weddings and cultural events, using event income for preservation and repair. Its tall steeple long served as a navigational benchmark for Columbia River steamboat captains and surveyors.
- Operated by Old St. Peter's Landmark Preservation, Inc.
- Museum and wedding/cultural-events venue
- Listed on the National Register of Historic Places (1974)
Clergy and Staff
The parish is currently served by Fr. Michael Imperial as Pastor and Fr. Stephen Ofori Acheampong as Parochial Vicar. Office staff includes Consuelo Gonzalez (Office Manager), Giselle Reyes Hernandez (Office Secretary), and Lucila Parker (Bookkeeper). A Director of Religious Education & High School Youth Minister also serves the parish. Ministry coordinators for the English-speaking community and a full slate of coordinators for the Hispanic Ministry are listed on the parish website.
- Pastor: Rev. Fr. Michael Imperial
- Parochial Vicar: Rev. Fr. Stephen Ofori Acheampong
- Office Manager: Consuelo Gonzalez
- Office Secretary: Giselle Reyes Hernandez
- Bookkeeper: Lucila Parker
- DRE & High School Youth Minister: Jamie Bailey
Parish School – St. Mary's Academy
St. Mary's Academy is the parish school of St. Peter's, operating in cooperation with the Diocese of Baker under the parish's mission to worship, serve God as a Catholic community, and share His message of love, forgiveness and hope. The school educates children ages 3 to 14 (Pre-K through 8th grade). It became the parish school in 1972, added Kindergarten in 1975, Pre-K in 1978, After-School Care in 1987, and reopened a middle school (grades 6–8) in 1994–95. Students in grades K–8 attend weekly Mass, and sacramental preparation is coordinated with the parish: First Reconciliation/First Communion is preferred in 2nd grade and Confirmation in 6th or 7th grade.
- Address: 1112 Cherry Heights, The Dalles, OR 97058
- Phone: 541-296-6004; Fax: 541-296-7858
- Email: [email protected]; Website: www.smatd.org
- Sponsoring parish: St. Peter's, The Dalles (Diocese of Baker)
- Grades: Pre-K through 8
- Weekly Mass for students; religion graded
- Sacraments prepared with the parish
Faith Formation and RCIA
Faith formation at St. Peter's includes ongoing Religious Education for children (coordinated by Amber Fisher), Adult Faith Formation (Trish Harmon), and the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA). RCIA is offered in English by Jane and Peter Regan and in Spanish by Rudy Lopez and Angel Velasquez, walking unbaptized adults and catechumens through the sacraments of initiation.
- Religious Education: Amber Fisher
- Adult Faith Formation: Trish Harmon
- RCIA (English): Jane & Peter Regan
- RCIA (Spanish): Rudy Lopez & Angel Velasquez
- Youth ministry (English & Hispanic)
Hispanic Ministry
Hispanic Ministry at St. Peter's is coordinated by Vinicio Diaz and is one of the most extensive in the Diocese of Baker, with Spanish-language Masses on Tuesday morning, Sunday noon, and Saturday vigil, plus dedicated coordinators for Baptism prep, RCIA, Charismatic prayer, Emmaus retreats, lectors, hospitality, youth, family, quinceañera, the Marian group, and preachers (predicadores).
- General Coordinator: Vinicio Diaz
- Baptism: Walter & Lilian Perez; Ozael Perez & Icenia Roblero
- RCIA: Rudy Lopez & Angel Velasquez
- Renovación Carismática: Irene Ambrocio
- Men's Emmaus: Josue Lopez & Elfido Escalante
- Women's Emmaus: Rosa Sanchez
- Holy Hour: Angelica De Leon
- Eucharist Ministers: Milania Gabriel & Arturo Morales
- Prayer Group: Eliza Soto & Juana Jose
- Hospitality: Vilma Mejia & Rigoberto Ventura
- Chorus: Fidel Chaves
- Lectors: Yuri Simon
- Youth: Yesenia Vazquez & Rudy Gomez
- Quinceañera: Juana Juarez & Ernestina Tinoco
- Family: Fidel & Basilia Martinez
- Marian: Estela Escalante
- Predicadores: Jose Berduo & Rosendo Ventura
Liturgical Ministries and Outreach
Lay liturgical ministries include Lectors (Joanne Boyko), Ushers (Irene Hlib), Eucharistic Ministers (Colleen Daley), and Altar Servers (Lou Hinds & Ben Gutierrez). Outreach is led by the Justice and Peace committee (Christine Waldenmaier) and the Migrant Ministry (Kathy Bredimus), reflecting the parish's commitment to serving farmworkers and the wider Wasco County community. Parish Community Life (Mary Wagner) and the Bereavement Committee (Elaine Brehm) accompany families through life's milestones.
- Lectors: Joanne Boyko
- Ushers: Irene Hlib
- Eucharistic Ministers: Colleen Daley
- Altar Servers: Lou Hinds & Ben Gutierrez
- Justice and Peace: Christine Waldenmaier
- Migrant Ministry: Kathy Bredimus
- Parish Community Life: Mary Wagner
- Bereavement: Elaine Brehm
- Decoration: Josephine Nardone
Parish Organizations
St. Peter's is home to a Knights of Columbus council and a Ladies Auxiliary, both of which support the parish through fellowship, fundraising, and service projects. Adult Faith Formation gathers parishioners for ongoing catechesis, while the Pastoral Council (Teri Scharf) and Finance Council (Teri Daley) provide governance and stewardship.
- Knights of Columbus: Henry Glowiak
- Ladies Auxiliary: Teri Scharf
- Pastoral Council: Teri Scharf
- Finance Council: Teri Daley
- Adult Faith Formation: Trish Harmon
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. L. Rosseau1848–c.1850
Founded the Catholic mission at The Dalles on May 16, 1848.
- Rev. I. Mesplie1851–1863
Appointed parish priest; built a small chapel and oversaw early growth.
- Rev. Fathers Vermeesh, Dielman, Thibau, Mackin, Demers, Gaudon (in succession)1863–1881
Served St. Peter's in turn after Father Mesplie.
- Rev. A. Brongeestfrom 1881
Built a new brick sisters' convent and an addition to the priest's residence.