About St. Thomas More · Portland, Oregon
St. Thomas More Catholic Church and School is a parish in the West Hills / Bridlemile neighborhood of Portland, Oregon, part of the Archdiocese of Portland in Oregon. Founded in 1936 as a mission of the Cathedral parish, it grew from an abandoned Congregational chapel on Patton Road into a thriving parish and Catholic elementary school. For nearly 90 years the community has gathered on the hill for daily and Sunday Mass, religious education, and outreach. The current church building, designed by renowned Pacific Northwest Modernist architect Pietro Belluschi in 1939-1940, is considered his first full-fledged church commission and a notable example of regional ecclesiastical architecture.
- Established
- 1936
- Patron
- St. Thomas More (patron of lawyers, students, and professionals)
- Rector
- Rev. Martin L. King
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Portland in Oregon
Why belong here
St. Thomas More offers a tight-knit parish family in the West Hills of Portland with a deeply rooted Catholic tradition reaching back to 1936. Parishioners find daily and weekend Mass in a building designed by one of Oregon's most celebrated architects, plus a vibrant Catholic elementary school (PreK through 8th grade) and 'More Care' after-school program. The parish actively serves the wider community through partnerships with Blanchet House, St. Andrew Nativity School, and St. Mary's Home for Boys, and supports lifelong faith formation through RCIA, Bible Study, Lenten Small Groups, youth ministry, and adult enrichment — making St. Thomas More a place to worship, serve, and grow together.
Mass times at St. Thomas More
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 4:00 PM
- Or by appointment
Parish History
Founded in 1936 as a mission of the Cathedral under Archbishop Howard, St. Thomas More began in an abandoned Congregational chapel on Patton Road. Father Francis K. Schaefers was the first pastor, and within two years a second Mass was added as plans for a permanent church took shape. The current church building, designed by Pietro Belluschi, was blessed on September 29, 1940, and the parish school opened in 1948. By the early 1950s the church held 320 people and the school enrollment pushed past 460, leading to the creation of St. John Fisher Parish in 1958 to ease overcrowding in Southwest Portland.
- First Mass offered June 21, 1936 by Father Francis K. Schaefers
- Current church blessed September 29, 1940 (architect Pietro Belluschi)
- School opened September 9, 1948 with 71 students
- Sanctuary, choir loft, and south transept added December 21, 1952
- St. John Fisher Parish established 1958 to relieve overflow
Architecture & Belluschi's Design
The church is Pietro Belluschi's first full-fledged church commission and an important early example of Pacific Northwest Regional Modernism. Built 1939-1940 on a limited budget in a rural setting just over the crest of Portland Heights, the structure uses natural materials — a red cedar double-sloped pitched roof with shallow extended eaves, an unfinished knotty-pine exterior, and a tall wooden steeple rising above an octagonal base. The interior is finished in Douglas fir and sanded-and-rubbed cedar, with a dimly lit nave and natural light flowing into the chancel from a high ceiling and overhead lantern. Belluschi returned to design the 1948 sanctuary expansion and a small side chapel in 1992.
- Architect: Pietro Belluschi
- Built 1939-1940; blessed September 29, 1940
- Materials: red cedar roof, knotty-pine exterior, Douglas fir and cedar interior
- Continuous glass-block clerestory and circular window over the apse
- Subsequent modifications: 1952 south transept and choir loft, 1969 altar realignment, 1992 side chapel (all later touched by Belluschi)
Pastoral Leadership
St. Thomas More is led today by Rev. Martin L. King, pastor and spiritual leader, who also oversees St. Thomas More Catholic School. The pastor is supported by a parish staff including a Director of Religious Education, Development Director, Business Manager, Bookkeeper, and administrative assistants.
- Rev. Martin L. King — Pastor
- Margaret Schuster — Director of Religious Education
- Amy Dice — Development Director
- Joe Prats — Business Manager
- Beth Johnson — Bookkeeper
- Sr. Maria Nhu Dang — Administrative Assistant
- Joyce del Rosario — Administrative Assistant
Faith Formation & Religious Education
St. Thomas More offers lifelong faith formation for children, youth, and adults through the Director of Religious Education. Programs include weekly sessions, sacramental preparation, retreats, and small-group studies throughout the year.
- Children's Faith Formation (PreK-5th Grade) with First Reconciliation & First Eucharist preparation
- RCIA for adults seeking full communion
- Bible Study Groups meeting throughout the year
- Lenten Small Group Study meeting weekly during Lent
- Speakers, Retreats & Presentations
Youth & Young Adult Ministry
The parish supports middle school, high school, and young adult faith formation. The high school youth group is a joint ministry shared with Holy Rosary Parish (Edmonds campus), meeting Sunday evenings with prayer, dinner, discussion, retreats, and outreach.
- Middle School Youth Group (6th-8th grade)
- High School Youth Group (9th-12th grade) — Sundays 5:30-7:30 PM at Holy Rosary Edmonds
- Confirmation Sacramental Preparation
- Young Adults (18-22 and 23-35)
- Annual retreats, conventions, and service/mission opportunities
Liturgical Ministries & Fellowship
Parishioners of all ages are invited to serve in liturgical roles and to gather for fellowship after Mass. During Lent a simple soup supper is served Friday evenings in the Parish Hall; outside of Lent, wine and cheese are offered after the Saturday 5:00 PM Vigil one weekend a month, and coffee and doughnuts are often available after the 10:00 AM Sunday Mass.
- Lectors, Ushers, Sacristans
- Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion (Mass and homebound)
- Music Team
- Altar Servers (grade 4 and older)
- Lenten Soup Supper (Friday evenings)
- Wine & Cheese after Saturday Vigil (one weekend/month)
- Coffee & Doughnuts after 10:00 AM Sunday Mass
Outreach & Charity
St. Thomas More maintains regular and seasonal outreach partnerships with several Portland-area Catholic and charitable organizations, inviting parishioners to serve in their wider community.
- Blanchet House
- St. Andrew Nativity School
- St. Mary's Home for Boys
- Additional seasonal service opportunities through the parish office
St. Thomas More Catholic School
Founded in 1948 as part of the parish community, St. Thomas More Catholic School serves students from PreK through 8th grade and is a centerpiece of parish life. The pastor, Fr. Martin King, also oversees the school and provides spiritual leadership, with a principal, faculty, and parent organizations (PTO and School Advisory Council) supporting its mission of spiritual, academic, and personal growth.
- PreK through 8th Grade
- Principal: Katy Smith
- Pastor & Director of Faith Formation: Fr. Martin King
- Religious Education Coordinator: Margaret Schuster
- More Care after-school program (Director: Louise Carruth)
- Hot Lunch Program, Learning Resource Program, CYO athletics
Sacraments
St. Thomas More celebrates the seven Catholic sacraments as 'special occasions for experiencing God's saving presence.' The Latin word sacramentum means 'a sign of the sacred,' and the parish treats these ancient rituals as central to parish life.
- Anointing of the Sick
- Baptism
- Confirmation
- Eucharist (First Communion)
- Reconciliation (Confession)
- Matrimony
Visit, Contact & Getting Involved
Parishioners and visitors can reach the parish office by phone or email, and a Parish Registration / Contact Update Form is available for download from the website. The parish community welcomes new members and active involvement in worship, formation, service, and fellowship.
- Address: 3525 SW Patton Rd, Portland, OR 97221
- Phone: 503-222-2055
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: www.stmpdx.org
- Downloadable Parish Registration / Contact Update Form
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Francis K. Schaefers1936-
First pastor of St. Thomas More; blessed the original Mount Zion chapel and offered its first Mass on June 21, 1936.
- Rev. John R. Laidlaw1935-
Appointed by Archbishop Howard in late 1935 to scout the West Hills for a church site; helped negotiate use of the abandoned Mount Zion Congregational chapel.