About St. Philip Benizi · Oregon City, Oregon
St. Philip Benizi Catholic Church is a parish of the Archdiocese of Portland in Oregon, located in the Redland area of Oregon City at 18211 S. Henrici Rd. The parish was founded in the mid-1960s as a mission of St. John the Apostle in Oregon City and built the first church in the archdiocese designed around the liturgical reforms of the Second Vatican Council. Today it is served by Fr. Peter O. Okola, AJ, alongside a small lay staff, offering daily Mass, Adoration on Thursdays, Saturday confessions, RCIA, Religious Education, and Vacation Bible School.
- Established
- 1965
- Patron
- St. Philip Benizi (Philip Benizi, Servite friar and saint; named by donor Frank Lewis)
- Rector
- Fr. Peter O. Okola, AJ
- Diocese
- Metropolitan Archdiocese of Portland in Oregon
Why belong here
St. Philip Benizi is a faithful country-style parish rooted in the Redland community south of Oregon City, with a long history of priestly service dating to the 1960s and a small, hands-on staff who know their parishioners. The parish makes Catholic life accessible with daily Mass Monday through Friday, a Saturday Vigil, two Sunday Masses, weekly Adoration and Benediction on Thursdays, Saturday confessions, and Sacramental Preparation, RCIA, and a Religious Education program for children — including an annual Vacation Bible School. With a Pastoral Council, Helping Hands ministry, Justice & Peace outreach, youth ministry, and a Liturgy team that welcomes volunteers as lectors, ushers, extraordinary ministers, and altar servers, St. Philip Benizi is a place where a new parishioner can quickly find a way to serve.
Mass times at St. Philip Benizi
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 4:30–5:20 PM (or by appointment)
Adoration times
- Every Thursday 8:30 AM–7:00 PM (ending with Benediction)
Parish History & Founding Story
St. Philip Benizi traces its origins to 1962 CCD classes in the Redland Grange Hall, with the first Mass offered there on January 5, 1963 by Fr. James Spink at the direction of Monsignor Theodore Bernards of St. John the Apostle, Oregon City. Four acres at the junction of Redland and Linn's Mill Road were purchased in May 1963 for $5,050, and a new 300-seat church with a full basement was completed in December 1965 at a total cost of $68,137.74. The donor of the first $10,000 through the Catholic Extension Society, Frank Lewis, named the parish. Archbishop Howard dedicated the completed church on March 6, 1966. The rectory was added in 1974, a social hall in 1984, and major remodels followed in 1991 (church and basement) and 2002 (hall kitchen and Fireside Room). The parish was the first in the Archdiocese of Portland to be built implementing the liturgical changes of Vatican II.
- First Mass at Redland Grange Hall: January 5, 1963
- Four acres purchased May 1963 from Albert Newman for $5,050
- Catholic Extension Society donor Frank Lewis named the parish
- New church completed December 1965; dedicated by Archbishop Howard on March 6, 1966
- First resident pastor: Fr. Ed Borkowski, SVD (November 1969)
- Rectory built 1974; social hall completed 1984
- 1991 church/basement remodel; 2002 hall kitchen & Fireside Room update
Sacraments
The parish prepares the faithful for and celebrates all the usual Catholic sacraments. Infant baptism is normally celebrated within weekend Masses; older children (age 7+) enter the RCIC process (Rite of Initiation for Children) and are baptized at the Easter Vigil. Sacramental Preparation classes lead children to First Communion. Adults seeking full Communion enter through the parish's RCIA process. Anointing of the Sick is offered at the First Saturday 8:00 AM Mass. Couples planning a wedding should call the parish office at least 6 months in advance.
- Baptism (Infant) and Baptism Inquiry Form
- RCIC for children age 7+ — baptized at the Easter Vigil
- First Communion Sacramental Preparation Classes
- Confirmation via RCIA at Easter Vigil
- RCIA / Becoming Catholic — adults
- Marriage — 6-month advance notice
- Anointing of the Sick — First Saturday 8:00 AM Mass
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Religious Education at St. Philip Benizi is structured as a family-based, parish-supported program: parents are the primary educators of their children, and the parish supplies the materials (the Word of Life series by the Augustine Institute) and organizes a once-a-month gathering between the Sunday Masses on the first Sunday of the month. Registration is $25 for one child, $40 for two, or $60 for three or more, with hardship assistance available.
- Word of Life series by the Augustine Institute
- Monthly parent/child meeting between Masses on 1st Sunday of the month
- Registration fee: $25 / $40 / $60 (1 / 2 / 3+ children)
- DRE / Faith Formation & Youth Minister: Katy Schnoor (503-314-8907)
Youth Ministry & VBS
The parish's Youth Minister, Katy Schnoor, coordinates formation for the parish's young people. The annual Vacation Bible School — with VBS 2026 currently being registered — is a highlight of the parish's summer outreach to children in the Redland/Oregon City community.
- Youth Minister: Katy Schnoor (503-314-8907)
- Annual Vacation Bible School (VBS 2026 registration open)
- Children's Ministry and After-School Program offerings
Becoming Catholic (RCIA)
St. Philip Benizi offers RCIA — the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults — for both unbaptized catechumens and already-baptized candidates seeking full Communion. Classes meet Tuesdays at 7 PM in the parish Hall and run about eight months, concluding with the reception of the Sacraments of Initiation at the Easter Vigil. The process follows the four traditional stages (Precatechumenate, Catechumenate, Period of Purification & Enlightenment, Mystagogy). Those interested can contact the parish office (503-631-2882) or RCIA coordinator Ed Schneider (971-563-3893).
- RCIA classes meet Tuesdays at 7 PM in the Hall
- Contact: parish office 503-631-2882 or Ed Schneider 971-563-3893
- Approximately eight-month journey
- Easter Vigil reception of Baptism, Confirmation, and Eucharist
Parish Ministries & Volunteer Life
A Parish Pastoral Council coordinates the ministry of the parish across commissions for Liturgy, Communications, Evangelization, Religious Education, Youth Ministry, Helping Hands, Justice & Peace, and Parish/Family Life. Liturgical ministries are led by Fr. Peter Okola, AJ, and include Lectors/Commentators (Nancy Carnahan), Ushers (Larry Carnahan), Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion (currently vacant — recruiting), Altar Servers (Ed Schneider), Adoration volunteers (Janet Tankersley), and an Email Prayer Chain (Heather Hannam).
- Pastoral Council — President and Vice President roles currently open
- Liturgy team: Fr. Peter Okola, AJ
- Helping Hands: Bill & Jeannine Bres
- Justice & Peace: Danielle
- Communications: Abby Williams
- Lector/Commentators: Nancy Carnahan
- Ushers: Larry Carnahan
- Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion: currently vacant
- Altar Servers: Ed Schneider
- Adoration: Janet Tankersley
- Email Prayer Chain: Heather Hannam ([email protected])
Parish Staff
The parish is staffed by a small team supporting Fr. Peter O. Okola, AJ. Parish office hours are Tuesday–Thursday 9 AM–5 PM and Friday 9 AM–12 PM (closed Mondays). The main parish number is 503-631-2882.
- Fr. Peter O. Okola, AJ — Pastor — 503-631-2882
- Karen Henry & Linda Tarrago — Business Managers — 503-631-2882
- Katy Schnoor — Faith Formation & Youth Minister — 503-314-8907
- Gail Williams — Administrative Secretary — 503-631-2882
- Debbie Schaffer — Music Director — 503-631-2882
- Parish Email: [email protected]
Mission Statement
St. Philip Benizi Catholic Church, being part of the universal Church, shares in its mission: to proclaim Jesus Christ who came into the world to fulfill His Father's will, by proclaiming the kingdom of God, building up the parish community as a witness to God's love and care for the world, and helping one another to become what God has called us to be. The parish is therefore encouraged to work toward God's purpose of 'wanting all men to be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth' (1 Timothy 2:4).
Visiting & Joining the Parish
Prospective parishioners are welcomed and invited to fill out a parish intake/registration form. The parish is located at 18211 S. Henrici Rd., Oregon City, OR 97045 (the Redland community south of Oregon City proper), and is served by the parish office at 503-631-2882 / [email protected].
- Parish intake / joining form available on the website
- Office hours: Tue–Thu 9 AM–5 PM; Fri 9 AM–12 PM (closed Mon)
- Parish is part of the Archdiocese of Portland in Oregon
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Ed Borkowski, SVDNovember 1969–1985
First resident pastor of the new parish; assisted by Society of the Divine Word priests and Fr. Donald Happe.
- Fr. Lawrence Saalfeld1985–1994
- Fr. John Engel (assisted by John Brouillard)1994–1995
- Fr. J Pat Moore1995–1996
- Fr. Ted Weber1996–1999
- Fr. Dennis O'Donovan1999–2000
- Fr. Carl Flach2000–2004
- Fr. Michael Patrick2004–2010
- Fr. Paschal Ezurike2010–2023
- Fr. Joseph Nguyen2023–2024
- Fr. Peter Okola, AJ2024–present
Current pastor.