About St. Stephen · Portland, Oregon
St. Stephen Catholic Church is a Roman Catholic parish in Portland, Oregon's Southeast neighborhood, established in 1924 and now part of the Archdiocese of Portland in Oregon. It is one of Oregon's prominent Traditional Latin Mass communities, offering nearly all of its liturgies in Latin according to the 1962 Roman Missal (with one Saturday anticipatory Mass in Latin/English using the Missal of Paul VI). The parish is known for its richly traditional liturgical life, including sung Vespers, Gregorian chant, a Holy League men's conference, a Mothers Group, philosophy and theology nights, and an Italian Renaissance-style church building with a five-story bell tower.
- Established
- 1924
- Patron
- St. Stephen (the first Christian martyr)
- Rector
- Fr. Eric Andersen
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Portland in Oregon
Why belong here
St. Stephen offers a uniquely rich traditional-Catholic liturgical life in southeast Portland: a full weekly schedule of Traditional Latin Masses, sung Vespers and Lauds according to the 1960 Antiphonale Romanum, and ample confession times several days a week. The parish nurtures Catholic formation for all ages through a Holy League for men, a Mothers Group, philosophy and theology nights, RCIA, a Boy Scout troop, a homeschool community, and CCD/sacramental preparation. It is a good fit for families and individuals seeking the Mass and sacraments in the older Roman form, with a pastor and community deeply committed to that tradition.
Mass times at St. Stephen
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Wednesday 5:30–6:30 PM
- Thursday 5:30–6:30 PM
- Friday 11:00–11:45 AM
- Saturday 10:00–11:00 AM
Adoration times
- Saturday 7:00 AM — Adoration with Sung Lauds and Prime
Sung Divine Office (Lauds, Vespers, Prime, Terce)
St. Stephen maintains a robust sung Divine Office from the 1960 Antiphonale Romanum. Sunday begins with Sung Prime and Terce at 7 AM and closes with Sung Latin Vespers at 4 PM. Sung Latin Vespers are also sung at 5 PM on weekdays Tuesday through Friday, with Sung First Vespers of Sunday on Saturdays at 4 PM.
- Sunday 7 AM — Sung Prime and Terce
- Sunday 4 PM — Sung Latin Vespers
- Saturday 4 PM — Sung First Vespers of Sunday
- Weekday 5 PM — Sung Latin Vespers (Tue–Fri)
- Saturday 7 AM — Sung Lauds and Prime (during Adoration)
Clergy & Staff
The parish is led by Fr. Eric Andersen, pastor, and is served in residence by Fr. John Boyle. The lay staff includes the Director of Religious Education, the Music Director, and an Administrative Assistant. The parish office is open Tuesday through Thursday and Friday morning.
- Fr. Eric Andersen — Pastor
- Fr. John Boyle — Priest in residence
- Mr. Joseph Salazar — Director of Religious Education
- Mr. Nicolai Bajanov — Music Director
- Miss Erin Sumner — Administrative Assistant
Fr. Eric Andersen, Pastor
Fr. Andersen is a native of Aloha, Oregon, ordained in 2009 from Mount Angel Seminary. He is known for celebrating both the Traditional Latin Mass and the Divine Office, and for insightful homilies. He is passionate about Church history, Gregorian chant, the liturgical year, and novenas to various saints throughout the year. He has also been a featured speaker at the parish's Holy League Catholic Men's Conference.
Fr. John Boyle (in residence)
Fr. Boyle is a traditional priest originally from the Archdiocese of Southwark (greater London area). He previously served in upper peninsula Michigan and came to Portland in 2013, where he also directs the Archdiocese's marriage tribunal. He is active in leading 40 Days for Life and celebrates a reverent liturgy. He was previously the pastor of St. Stephen.
Sacraments
St. Stephen offers the seven sacraments in keeping with the traditional Roman rite. Couples are asked to contact the Director of Religious Education six months in advance of a wedding. Baptisms and Confirmations — for infants, children, youth, and adults — are coordinated through the parish office. Those needing Anointing of the Sick are asked to call the parish office.
- Confession — Wed/Thu/Fri/Sat (see confession times)
- Marriage — contact Joseph Salazar six months in advance
- Baptism (infants, children, adults) — contact Joseph Salazar
- Confirmation (youth and adults) — contact Joseph Salazar
- Anointing of the Sick — call the parish office
Parish Ministries & Groups
St. Stephen nurtures a wide array of parish groups for men, women, youth, and families. The Holy League is the parish's flagship men's formation and conference ministry; the Mothers Group meets twice monthly for Mass and fellowship. Scouting, homeschooling, and adult philosophy/theology nights round out parish life. CCD and sacramental preparation are directed by Joseph Salazar.
- Holy League — Catholic men's group & annual conference
- St. Stephen's Mothers Group (1st & 3rd Fridays, 8 AM Mass, 9 AM meeting)
- Boy Scout Troop 1846
- Homeschool group
- RCIA — taught by Fr. Andersen on Thursday evenings
- Philosophy Night & Theology Night
- CCD & Sacramental Preparation
Holy League Catholic Men's Conference
The Holy League Catholic Men's Conference calls men to unite in prayer and spiritual combat, held under the patronage of Our Lady of Fatima, St. Joseph, and St. Michael the Archangel. It equips men with the spiritual tools to protect their souls and the souls of their families. The 2026 conference is scheduled for Saturday, February 21, 2026, 7:30 AM–4:00 PM at St. Stephen, with featured speakers including Fr. Joshua Stengel (exorcist, Archdiocese of Denver), Fr. Eric Andersen, Fr. Joshua Clifton (pastor of St. Birgitta and St. Mary, Vernonia), and Deacon James Thurman.
- 2026 Holy League Conference: Saturday, Feb 21, 7:30 AM–4:00 PM at St. Stephen
- Emphasis on the Eucharist, confession, and the Rosary
- Speakers: Fr. Joshua Stengel, Fr. Eric Andersen, Fr. Joshua Clifton, Deacon James Thurman
Mothers Group
United in Jesus through Our Mother Mary, the Mothers Group gathers to spend time together and with their children. As the children play and snack, mothers rotate in and out of informal discussion: encouraging one another, problem solving, laughing, and appreciating the ups and downs of motherhood. Visiting guests occasionally offer talks tailored to the group's needs. From expecting and new mamas to experienced mothers and grandmothers, the group meets the first and third Friday of each month for the 8 AM Mass followed by a 9 AM meeting in Carmody Hall (the gymnasium).
- 1st & 3rd Fridays — 8 AM Mass, 9 AM meeting in Carmody Hall
Music, Chant & Sacred Polyphony
Music at St. Stephen centers on Gregorian chant and sacred polyphony in the Latin liturgy. From the First Sunday of Advent 2007 through 2016, the acclaimed Portland choir Cantores in Ecclesia was in residence at the parish, providing plainsong, polyphonic Masses, and motets each week. Founded in 1983 and now an independent nonprofit, Cantores in Ecclesia has toured widely, recorded three albums, and hosts the annual William Byrd Festival each August in Portland.
- Lauds and Vespers sung from the 1960 Antiphonale Romanum
- 10:30 AM Sunday Mass — Sung Latin Mass (Missa Cantata)
- Cantores in Ecclesia in residence 2007–2016
The Church Building & Sanctuary Restoration
St. Stephen's Italian Renaissance-style church features a five-story bell tower, a rose window, terra cotta trim, and large bronze entry doors. A current sanctuary restoration project — led by Fr. Eric Andersen and funded by parish benefactors — is replicating the original 1924 blueprints, including a communion rail matching the surviving original side sections and sanctuary gates carved from poplar wood and coated in brass leaf, with 'windows' echoing the exterior windows along the north and south walls. The gates symbolically represent the gates of heaven, opening only at the moment of Holy Communion.
- Italian Renaissance style
- Five-story bell tower
- Rose window, terra cotta trim, large bronze entry doors
- Sanctuary restoration referencing 1924 original blueprints
- Brass-leaf poplar sanctuary gates and communion rail
Visit & Contact
Parishioners and visitors can reach St. Stephen Catholic Church at 1112 SE 41st Avenue, Portland, OR 97214, by phone at (503) 234-5019, or via the parish website at www.saintstephenpdx.com. The weekly bulletin and the 'Schedule Updates' sidebar on the liturgy page carry the latest week-to-week Mass times and special services.
- Address: 1112 SE 41st Avenue, Portland, OR 97214
- Phone: (503) 234-5019
- Website: www.saintstephenpdx.com
- Parish office: Tue–Thu 9:30 AM–4:00 PM; Fri 9:30 AM–12:00 noon
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. John Boyle
Previously pastor; now in residence. A traditional priest originally from the Archdiocese of Southwark (greater London area), he also served in upper peninsula Michigan before coming to Portland in 2013, where he also serves as director of the Archdiocesan marriage tribunal.
- Fr. Eric Andersen
Current pastor. A native of Aloha, Oregon, ordained in 2009 from Mt. Angel Seminary. Celebrates both the Traditional Latin Mass and the Divine Office; known for insightful homilies, Gregorian chant, the liturgical year, and devotion to saintly novenas.