St. Philip Neri

Parish History

St. Philip Neri was founded in 1912 to serve the Italian immigrant community on Portland's industrial east side. After a year celebrating Mass on the second floor of the Graziano family home on Division Street, the parish built its first church and grade school on Hickory Street; the cornerstone was blessed by Archbishop Alexander Christie on June 1, 1913, and the first Mass was celebrated on Christmas Day 1913. The parish was manned continuously by the Paulist Fathers for 104 years, and pastoral care passed to the Archdiocese of Portland in 2016 when the Paulists consolidated their ministries. Fr. Andrew Thomas was appointed pastor in July 2020.

• 1912 — Parish founded at Archbishop Christie's request by the Paulist Fathers.
• 1913 — Cornerstone of original church and school blessed June 1; first Mass Christmas Day 1913.
• 1928 — Holy Child Sisters turn the school over to the Holy Names Sisters.
• 1949 — Ground broken on current church, designed by Pietro Belluschi.
• 1950 — Belluschi-designed church consecrated a year after groundbreaking.
• 1960 — Oregon Centennial carillon bells mounted in the bell tower.
• 1973 — Parish elementary school closes amid national declines in parochial schooling.
• 1979 — Former school building remodeled for parish offices and the Paulist Evangelization Center.
• 2013 — 100th anniversary celebrated.
• 2016 — Paulist Fathers withdraw; Archdiocese of Portland assumes pastoral care.
• 2020 — Archbishop Sample appoints Fr. Andrew Thomas pastor (July).

Mission & Identity

St. Philip Neri describes itself today as a multiethnic and welcoming community shaped by its Italian-American origins, dedicated to reconciliation and to care for all of God's creation. The parish publishes two related mission statements: a longer statement committing the community to worship, education, and service toward the common good, and a shorter welcome statement that frames the parish as empowered by the compassion of Jesus Christ and supported by the Eucharist and the Word.

• "Committed to the mission of Jesus and dedicated to be welcoming to all, we the community of St. Philip Neri, strive to reach out to reconcile, and to promote unity for all of God's creation through worship, education, and service toward the common good."
• "We, the welcoming community of St. Philip Neri, empowered by the compassion of Jesus Christ and supported by the Eucharist and the Word, dedicate ourselves to engage with and enrich the lives of those we touch."
• Recognized by the Paulist Fathers on their departure as a community known for advocacy of social justice and care for the environment.

Faith Formation & Sacramental Prep

The parish runs formation programs for children and adults. Children's Faith Formation and Children's Sacraments prepare the parish's young members for the sacraments, while OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults) walks adults and older inquirers through the Christian initiation process.

• Children's Faith Formation
• Children's Sacraments (Sacramental Prep — First Communion and Confirmation)
• OCIA — Order of Christian Initiation of Adults

Parish Ministries & Councils

St. Philip Neri organizes parish life around liturgical, pastoral, finance, and leadership councils and a number of active lay ministries. The Altar & Rosary Society is a long-running devotional organization, and the parish also operates a Food Pantry serving the surrounding neighborhood.

• Altar & Rosary Society
• Liturgical Ministers
• Building & Grounds Committee
• SPN Pastoral Council
• SPN Finance Council
• SPN Leadership Council
• Food Pantry

Architecture & Buildings

The current church building was designed by the celebrated Portland architect Pietro Belluschi and dedicated on the Feast of Christ the King in 1950, a year after groundbreaking. The building was modeled after early Christian brick basilicas of Roman Italy, with a simple exterior and a light-filled interior organized around a rose window over the narthex and a pale stained-glass wall above the chancel. The plain exterior was later finished in Willamina brick, bells from the 1959 Oregon Centennial were added to the tower in 1960, and the sanctuary was redecorated in the early 1960s with geometric designs, a red-and-gold baldacchino, and a Pietà carving in the Memorial Chapel. The former parish school now houses the parish offices and the Paulist Evangelization Center.

Studio Lingua: Italian Heritage School

Attached to the parish is Studio Lingua, a non-profit Italian language school offering an Italian-immersion preschool program as well as adult Italian classes. The school is open to all students, including those who do not speak Italian at home, and reflects the parish's continuing commitment to its Italian-American roots. The parish also supports community events including the Italian Festival of Portland and an Italian radio show hosted by Tony LaStella.

• Studio Lingua Italian Immersion Preschool (currently enrolling).
• Studio Lingua Adult Italian Classes (next session begins January 6).
• Italian Festival of Portland — annual ticketed event hosted by/with the parish.
• Italian Radio Show hosted by Tony LaStella — broadcasts highlighted on the parish site.

Clergy & Staff

Pastoral care is led by pastor Rev. Andrew Thomas, who was appointed by Archbishop Sample in July 2020 as his first pastorate. Music, communications, and IT are led by Kit Taylor, with office support from Debbie Guthrie. The parish was previously led by Monsignor Richard Paperini under the Archdiocese, and before him by administrator Rev. Nazario Atukunda; for 104 years before 2016, the parish was staffed by the Paulist Fathers.

• Rev. Andrew Thomas — Pastor (appointed July 2020).
• Kit Taylor — Music & IT Director.
• Debbie Guthrie — Parish staff.

Visit & Contact

St. Philip Neri is located on SE 16th Avenue in Portland's Hosford-Abernethy neighborhood, just south of SE Division Street. The parish office hours are listed in the website footer; the building is also home to Studio Lingua's preschool and to community events throughout the year.

• Address: 2408 SE 16th Ave., Portland, OR 97214.
• Phone: 503.231.4955.
• Hours: see website footer for current parish office hours.