About St. Wenceslaus · Scappoose, Oregon
St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church is a small, rural Roman Catholic parish in Scappoose, Oregon, located along Old Portland Road in Columbia County and part of the Archdiocese of Portland in Oregon. Founded in 1911 by Czech immigrant families, the parish carries the motto 'Worshipping God, Nurturing Faith, Serving Our Neighbors since 1911.' Under long-time pastor Father Dave Gutmann, it offers weekend and daily Mass in English, a faith formation program for children through seniors, the St. Vincent de Paul Food Bank, the Knights of Columbus, a youth group, and a thriving Prayer Chain — all in the close-knit tradition of a country parish.
- Established
- 1911
- Patron
- St. Wenceslaus (Duke of Bohemia, patron of the Czech people)
- Rector
- Rev. Dave (David) Gutmann
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Portland in Oregon
Why belong here
St. Wenceslaus is a small, warm rural parish where almost everyone knows your name. Its ministries span every age and stage — Religious Education for preschool through 5th grade, a Youth Ministry for grades 6–12, a Youth Choir, Rockin' Seniors, Knights of Columbus, the St. Vincent de Paul Food Bank & Financial Assistance, a Prayer Chain, Coffee & Donuts on Sundays, and Tuesday morning socials after daily Mass. Add in Introduction to Catholicism classes (RCIA), a parish cemetery plot where Fr. Dave says he plans to stay, and a church with a one-of-a-kind story, and you have a community that takes both faith and fellowship seriously.
Mass times at St. Wenceslaus
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Thursday: 9:25 AM – 10:15 AM
- Saturday: 3:30 PM – 4:30 PM
- By appointment — call the parish office
Adoration times
- Thursday: 9:25 AM – 10:15 AM (following the 9:00 AM daily Mass)
Parish History
St. Wenceslaus was formed in 1911 by the local Catholic Czech community, encouraged by the Havlik family, the first Catholic family to settle south of Scappoose. It began as a mission church served monthly by the pastor of Rainier with the help of Benedictine priests. Fr. Urban Fischer, OSB, became the first resident pastor in 1914, followed after his death by his brother Fr. Francis Zalud. Beloved parish traditions grew up around the Czech heritage, including the Corpus Christi procession, strawberry shortcake, and home-cooked parish dinners featuring prune and poppy seed kolaches.
- Founded 1911 by Czech Catholic families
- First resident pastor: Fr. Urban Fischer, OSB (1914)
- Second pastor: Fr. Francis Zalud, from Nebraska
- Czech-language Masses were a top priority in early decades
- Corpus Christi procession with parish-built outdoor altars
- Czech kolaches and strawberry shortcake at parish dinners
The Church Building
The current church has a one-of-a-kind origin story. With funds saved for a new building falling short, the parish successfully applied for a surplus World War II chapel at Fort Stevens in Astoria. The U.S. Army cut the chapel in half, moved it to the Columbia River, barged it roughly 70 miles upriver to Scappoose, and the community hauled it on skids three miles across the fields. It was set on a full basement and faced with bricks donated by parishioners — and it continues to serve as the parish church today.
- Original WWII chapel from Fort Stevens, Astoria
- Cut in half and barged ~70 miles up the Columbia River
- Pulled three miles on skids across fields to its site
- Set on a full basement and covered with parishioner-donated bricks
Parish Staff & Pastoral Team
St. Wenceslaus is led by Fr. Dave (David) Gutmann, pastor. Parish staff and ministry coordinators include Wanda Van Ortwick (parish staff, ext. 207) and Janell Greisen (Music Coordinator, ext. 201). Fr. Dave has expressed his intention to remain at St. Wenceslaus long-term — telling parishioners he 'has a plot on the cemetery.'
- Fr. Dave (David) Gutmann — Pastor (ext. 202)
- Wanda Van Ortwick — Parish Staff (ext. 207)
- Janell Greisen — Music Coordinator (ext. 201)
- Roz Granger — Prayer Chain (ext. 203)
- Mike Bradley — St. Vincent de Paul Food Bank (503-543-7495)
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Faith formation at St. Wenceslaus spans every age. Religious Education is offered for preschool through 5th grade, while the Youth Ministry serves grades 6–12 with a youth group and youth choir. Adult Education includes Introduction to Catholicism (RCIA) classes for those exploring the faith. There is also a Rockin' Seniors group for the older members of the parish family.
Liturgical & Music Ministries
Liturgical life is supported by scheduled, trained liturgical ministers and altar servers, with music coordinated by staff member Janell Greisen, including the parish's Youth Choir. Scheduling and training for liturgical ministers is led by Chris Anderson.
- Altar Servers — coordinated by Gwynn Klobes and Joe Louie
- Liturgical Ministry scheduling & training — Chris Anderson
- Music Coordinator — Janell Greisen
- Youth Choir — open to parish youth
Outreach & Community Life
Outreach and fellowship are central to parish life. The Knights of Columbus council is active locally, and the St. Vincent de Paul Food Bank & Financial Assistance program — run with Mike Bradley — distributes food Tuesdays and Thursdays from 1:00 to 3:00 PM. Fellowship moments include Coffee & Donuts after Sunday Masses (Dodie Mills), Funeral Receptions (Elizabeth Millager), and Tuesday morning socials after daily Mass.
- St. Vincent de Paul Food Bank — Tue/Thu 1:00–3:00 PM
- Knights of Columbus
- Prayer Chain — Roz Granger (ext. 203)
- Coffee & Donuts — Dodie Mills
- Funeral Receptions — Elizabeth Millager
- Tuesday morning socials after daily Mass
Sacraments
St. Wenceslaus prepares parishioners for the sacraments of Christian initiation and continues to walk with them through life's milestones. Children prepare for First Reconciliation and First Holy Communion through Religious Education, adults enter the Church through RCIA, and the parish office coordinates Baptism, Marriage, and Anointing of the Sick.
- Baptism — contact the parish office
- First Reconciliation & First Holy Communion (Religious Ed)
- Marriage — contact the parish office
- RCIA / Introduction to Catholicism for adults
- Anointing of the Sick — by appointment
Parish Council & Parishioner Involvement
The website lists parish councils and resources documents, indicating formal lay-leadership structures alongside the priest. The parish welcomes new parishioners by sending a welcome packet from Fr. Dave that includes a brief history of the parish — a long-standing tradition that has produced surprising connections, such as the new parishioner who once told Fr. Dave he was the one who had towed the church to Scappoose.
- Welcome packets sent to new parishioners by Fr. Dave
- Parish Councils listed on the parish website
- Resources and Documents section on the parish website
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Urban Fischer, OSB1914–circa 1927
First resident pastor; Czech-born scholar with a PhD who had taught languages and other college subjects at Mount Angel.
- Fr. Francis Zaludcirca 1927–
Brother of Fr. Urban Fischer; came from Nebraska within a month of his brother's death to pastor the Czech-speaking community.