About The Madeleine Church · Portland, Oregon
The Madeleine Church (St. Mary Magdalene Catholic Parish) is a century-old Roman Catholic parish in the historic Irvington neighborhood of Northeast Portland, Oregon, part of the Archdiocese of Portland in Oregon. Founded in 1911–1912 and serving about 70 families at its start, the parish grew into a thriving community that includes The Madeleine School, a K–8 Catholic elementary school, and a recently restored Old Madeleine Church used for events, liturgies, and ministries. The parish offers daily and Sunday Mass, Eucharistic Adoration on Tuesdays, Saturday confessions, OCIA (formerly RCIA), sacramental preparation, youth and adult faith formation, and a wide array of outreach ministries including St. Vincent de Paul and Knights of Columbus Council 11682. Its mission statement — "Furthering the Reign of God, Where All are Welcome" — reflects the welcoming spirit that has defined the parish across seven pastors and more than a hundred years.
- Established
- 1912
- Patron
- St. Mary Magdalene
- Rector
- Rev. Bonaventure Rummell (Priest Administrator)
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Portland in Oregon
Why belong here
The Madeleine offers the full rhythm of Catholic life — daily and Sunday Mass, Saturday confessions, Tuesday Eucharistic Adoration, OCIA and sacramental preparation, youth group, and an active adult faith formation series ('Foundations of Faith' and 'The Upper Room'). Outreach runs deep through St. Vincent de Paul, Knights of Columbus Council 11682, the Peace and Justice Committee, ministry to the homebound, Blanchet House, a sister school in Haiti, and the Field of Dreams community space. With its K–8 parish school, a beautifully restored 1911 Old Church now used for parish life, and a mission of 'Where All are Welcome,' The Madeleine is both a rooted neighborhood parish and a community committed to serving beyond its doors.
Mass times at The Madeleine Church
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 4:00–4:40 pm (Main Church)
- Also by appointment — call the Parish Office at 503-281-5777
Adoration times
- Tuesdays 9:00 am–2:00 pm (in the church)
History of The Madeleine
Founded by Father George F. Thompson under Archbishop Christie in 1911 and blessed on February 22, 1912, The Madeleine grew from a parish of about 70 families into a cornerstone Catholic community of Northeast Portland's Irvington neighborhood. The current 'New Church' was dedicated in 1955, the school was opened by the Sisters of the Holy Names in 1912, and the original 1911 church was fully restored in 2019 and now serves as a multi-use event space. The parish marked its centennial on February 21, 2012, and has been served by seven pastors in its first hundred years.
- Parish blessed February 22, 1912
- School opened September 1912 by the Sisters of the Holy Names of Jesus and Mary
- New Church dedicated May 26, 1955 (architects Jacobberger & Stanton)
- Centennial celebrated February 21, 2012
- Old Church restored 2019 — Oregon's highest historic preservation award
Pastoral Leadership
Seven pastors have led The Madeleine across its first century, each overseeing growth and significant building projects. The current priest administrator is Rev. Bonaventure Rummell. He is joined in residence by Msgr. Timothy Murphy and Rev. Nazario Atukunda, and the parish is also served by Permanent Deacon Mike O'Mahoney.
- Rev. George F. Thompson (1911–1939)
- Rev. George Campbell (1939–1964)
- Msgr. Edmund Van der Zanden (1964–1980)
- Rev. Frank Campbell (1980–)
- Rev. Richard Sirianni
- Rev. E.B. Painter, S.J. (1998–2008)
- Rev. Michael Biewend (2008–)
- Rev. Bonaventure Rummell — current Priest Administrator
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Faith Formation at The Madeleine spans cradle to adult. Programs include Middle School Youth Group, the new Upper Room adult formation on Tuesday evenings, and the Foundations of Faith series on Fridays. Sacramental preparation covers Baptism, First Reconciliation and First Communion, Confirmation (using Ascension Press's Chosen), and OCIA for adults and children. Contact for faith formation is Lauren Craig at [email protected].
- Youth Group — Wednesdays at 2:45 pm (monthly) for middle schoolers
- The Upper Room — Tuesday evenings at 6 pm (potluck + faith sharing in the Old Church)
- Foundations of Faith — Fridays in Ordinary Time
- OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation for Adults)
- Baptism, First Reconciliation, First Eucharist, and Confirmation preparation
- OCIA for Children (children beyond second grade seeking baptism)
Sacraments
The Madeleine celebrates all seven Catholic sacraments on a regular schedule, with dedicated coordinators for each. Infant Baptism classes meet once a month for parents and godparents; First Reconciliation and First Communion classes are held between Sunday Masses; Confirmation uses the Chosen program. Marriage preparation is handled by Fr. Bonaventure; Anointing of the Sick is available in emergencies; and funeral coordination is handled by Therese Fenzl.
- Baptism — infant classes monthly; OCIA for older children
- First Reconciliation & First Communion — 9:15–9:45 am between Sunday Masses
- Confirmation — Chosen by Ascension Press (youth and adult tracks)
- Marriage — Fr. Bonaventure, ext. 111
- Anointing — emergency line 971-301-4421
- Funerals — Therese Fenzl, [email protected]
The Madeleine School (K–8)
The Madeleine School has educated students in Irvington since 1912. Currently serving PreK through 8th grade, it integrates Catholic faith with a rigorous academic curriculum including art, music, P.E., library, and a specialist Science & Learning Support teacher. Tuition assistance is available. The school office is reachable at 503-288-9197 and [email protected]; visit www.themadeleine.school for tours and enrollment.
- PreK through Grade 8
- Founded 1912 by the Sisters of the Holy Names of Jesus and Mary
- Specialist teachers for Science & Learning Support
- Art, Music, P.E., and Library programs
- Tuition assistance available
- School phone: 503-288-9197
Outreach & Social Justice
Outreach is central to the Madeleine mission. The parish actively supports ministry to the homebound, Blanchet House, Janus Greenhouse, the St. Vincent de Paul Society (which serves dozens of clients monthly with food and financial assistance), a sister school in Haiti, the Peace and Justice Committee, Sanctity of Life work, and arts and environment stewardship. The Field of Dreams recreational space is shared with neighbors beyond the parish.
- St. Vincent de Paul Society — conference within the parish
- Knights of Columbus Council 11682 (charity, fraternity, parish support)
- Ministry to the Homebound
- Blanchet House
- Janus Greenhouse
- Sister school in Haiti
- Peace and Justice Committee
- Sanctity of Life ministry
- Field of Dreams (community recreation/gathering space)
- Cub Scouts of America
Knights of Columbus Council 11682
The Madeleine's Knights of Columbus council invites Catholic men, single or married, to serve alongside their pastor through charity and fraternity. The council provides scholarships for Madeleine students and altar servers, supports young women raising children alone, hosts pancake breakfasts, an annual Oktoberfest picnic, the St. Patrick's Day dinner, a Coats for Kids drive, a Wool Sock Drive, and a Men's Bible Study called 'The Men of the Word.'
- Charity-Unity-Fraternity motto
- Scholarships for students and altar servers
- Coats for Kids program (Supreme matching program)
- Annual Oktoberfest picnic, pancake breakfasts, St. Patrick's Day dinner
- Men's Bible Study: 'The Men of the Word' (Saturday mornings)
- Contacts: Dan Evans 503-701-5581, Jim Laubenthal 503-701-9980, Dan O'Donnell 503-440-9415
Old Madeleine Church & Campus
The 1911 Old Madeleine Church was fully restored in 2019 after an eight-year planning and fundraising effort that began during the parish centennial. Recipient of Oregon's highest award for historic preservation, it now hosts liturgies, faith formation events, and is available as a multi-use event space seating 20–200 people. The wider campus includes the Main Church (1955), the parish school, convent (blessed 1967), parish hall (1984), the renovated gymnasium (1995), and the Field of Dreams.
- Old Church built 1911, fully restored 2019
- Available for events from 20 to 200 people
- Oregon's highest historic preservation award recipient
- Main Church dedicated 1955 — Willamina brick, 600-seat capacity
- Parish hall added 1984 (6,500 sq ft)
- Gymnasium renovated 1995 (Meyer Memorial Trust funded)
Parish Staff & Contacts
Parish staff includes clergy, a school principal, and a deep team of administrative, formation, music, communications, and facilities leaders. The Priest Administrator is Rev. Bonaventure Rummell (ext. 111). The Director of Music is Maria Manzo; Faith Formation & Sacramental Prep is led by Lauren Craig; Business Manager is My Schoning; Director of Communications is Rich Hammons; and Special Events is Julie Kupers.
- Rev. Bonaventure Rummell — Administrator, ext. 111
- Msgr. Timothy Murphy — In Residence
- Rev. Nazario Atukunda — In Residence
- Deacon Mike O'Mahoney — Permanent Deacon / Facilities Supervisor
- Jenn Langhus — Interim School Principal (most recent bulletin)
- My Schoning — Business Manager, ext. 114
- Linda Scheurman — Bookkeeper, ext. 119
- Maria Manzo — Director of Music, ext. 113
- Lauren Craig — Faith Formation / Sacramental Prep, ext. 116
- Minh-Ha Nguyen — Parish Admin Assistant, ext. 112
- Julie Kupers — Special Events, 720-936-5635
- Rich Hammons — Director of Communications, ext. 129
- Rose Horton — First Reconciliation / First Eucharist prep
- Donna Mason — OCIA coordinator
- Therese Fenzl — Funerals
- Parish Council: Dan O'Brien, 503-206-2843
- Finance Council: John Garrow, 503-803-5693
Getting Involved
Newcomers are warmly welcomed at The Madeleine. Ways to plug in include joining the Knights of Columbus, volunteering with St. Vincent de Paul, helping at the Upper Room potluck, signing up for liturgical ministry (lector, Eucharistic minister, altar server, music), enrolling children in Faith Formation or the parish school, or attending one of the many parish events — Oktoberfest, pancake breakfasts, the Parish Mission, or seasonal celebrations in the Old Madeleine Church.
- Knights of Columbus — Dan Evans 503-701-5581
- St. Vincent de Paul — Mary Clare O'Brien 503-309-7639
- Faith Formation — Lauren Craig [email protected]
- Music Ministry — Maria Manzo [email protected]
- School tours — 503-288-9197 or [email protected]
- Online minister schedule at themadeleine.edu/minister-schedule
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. George F. Thompson1911–1939
Appointed by Archbishop Christie to found the parish; oversaw construction of original church and school; attributed the nickname 'The Madeleine' to a church in France.
- Rev. George Campbell1939–1964
Second pastor.
- Msgr. Edmund Van der Zanden1964–1980
Third pastor.
- Rev. Frank Campbell1980–~early 1990s
Fourth pastor; oversaw construction of new parish center.
- Rev. Richard Sirianni1990s
Fifth pastor.
- Rev. E.B. Painter, S.J.1998–2008
Sixth pastor; died suddenly in office; oversaw creation of the Field of Dreams.
- Rev. Michael Biewend ('Fr. Mike')2008–
Seventh pastor; led Old Madeleine Church restoration project.