St. Vincent de Paul

Parish Identity and Mission

St. Vincent de Paul Parish (Iglesia San Vicente de Paúl) frames its life around a bilingual, sacramental identity rooted in the Eucharist. Its published mission statement reads: 'In the spirit of Saint Vincent de Paul, we, the faith community, believe and proclaim among us, through the celebrations of the Holy Eucharist, Jesus Christ the risen Lord.' Its vision is 'to continue to aspire to be a faith-welcoming community for all through discipleship.' The 'Welcome / ¡Bienvenido!' on the parish website immediately invites visitors into 'our parish family,' and the parish buildings, ministry slate, and bilingual signage are designed to make English- and Spanish-speaking Catholics feel at home.

History of St. Vincent de Paul Church

Founded in 1925 in northeast Salem after Archbishop Alexander Christie responded to a long-felt need for a second Catholic parish, St. Vincent de Paul grew from 80 founding families into a large, multicultural congregation over the following century. Its origins are closely tied to the old Brooks parish (destroyed by fire in 1915) and to the northern reaches of St. Joseph's parish territory.

• 1925: Parish established by Archbishop Alexander Christie; Rev. Thomas Vincent Keenan named first pastor; cornerstone laid July 1925; first Mass celebrated September 27, 1925.
• 1925–1999: Sisters of the Holy Names of Jesus and Mary operate the parish school.
• 1940: New rectory constructed.
• 1948–1960: Parish gymnasium serves as temporary sanctuary.
• 1949: Living quarters established for the Sisters on campus.
• 1953: Convent built for the Sisters.
• February 1, 1960: Present permanent church completed and dedicated by Archbishop Edward D. Howard.
• Early 1960s: School enrollment peaks at approximately 800.
• 1967: St. Edward parish in Keizer created from the northern portion of the parish.
• Early 1990s: Separate pastor's residence purchased.
• 2001: Former convent sold and repurposed as a neighborhood resource center.
• Early 2003: Major renovation completed — church alterations plus attached office building with meeting rooms, youth center, and storage.
• Subsequent archbishops of Portland in Oregon: Dwyer, Power, Levada, George, Vlazny, and the current Archbishop Alexander Sample.

St. Vincent de Paul School

The parish school, located on the same Highland campus as the church, has educated local children continuously since 1925 and was operated by the Sisters of the Holy Names of Jesus and Mary for 74 years. It serves preschool through Grade 6 and shares the parish's bilingual, faith-centered identity.

• Address: 1015 Columbia St NE, Salem, OR 97301 (mailing: 1010 Columbia St NE).
• Phone: (503) 363-1516.
• Email: [email protected].
• Office hours: Monday–Friday 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM.
• Grades served: Preschool through Grade 6.

Faith Formation / Formación en la Fe

Faith Formation at St. Vincent de Paul complements the parish school by serving children and youth whose primary education happens outside the parish school. Registration is organized online with separate tracks for Religious Education (Grades K–8) and Youth Ministry (Grades 9–12), and includes preparation for First Reconciliation and First Communion in cooperation with the Archdiocese of Portland.

• Religious Education (K–8): registration fee $50/child.
• Youth Ministry (Grades 9–12): Saturdays 10:00 AM – 12:00 noon (hybrid), registration fee $60/youth.
• Early-bird discount available until September 17.
• First Reconciliation and First Communion preparation for children in Grade 2 and up who are baptized and attending Religious Education classes — one year of formation is required before beginning sacramental preparation, with parents invited to participate as the first and best teachers of the faith.
• Contact: parish office 503-363-4589.

Music Ministry

Music at St. Vincent de Paul's is coordinated as its own ministry and supports the parish's multilingual worship life — English, Spanish, and the monthly Tagalog Mass.

• Music Ministry Coordinator: Hector Jacobo.
• Supports weekly Sunday English and Spanish Masses and the monthly Tagalog Mass.

Parish Staff / Personal

The parish is served by a small, bilingual staff that supports both English- and Spanish-speaking parishioners day-to-day, under the leadership of the pastor.

• Rev. Manuel Becerra — Pastor / Sacerdote.
• Gilbert Gaviola — Business Manager / Bookkeeper / Gerente de Negocios.
• Hector Jacobo — Music Ministry Coordinator.
• Jacqueline Najera — Pastoral Assistant / Asistente Pastoral.
• Graciela Rivera — Receptionist / Recepcionista.
• Faith Formation Coordinator / Coordinadora de Formación en la Fe.

Contact, Office Hours, and Visit

Parishioners and visitors can reach the parish office by phone, email, or in person Tuesday through Friday.

• Parish Office — 1010 Columbia St NE, Salem, OR 97301.
• Phone: 503-363-4589.
• Email: [email protected].
• Office Hours: Tuesday–Friday 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM (closed 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM for lunch). / Martes a Viernes 9am–4pm, cerrado 12pm–1pm para la hora del almuerzo.
• Spanish Mass live-stream available via the parish website and Facebook.