The Mother Parish on Center Street
St. John the Apostle Catholic Church stands at 410 Center Street in Oregon City, with parish offices a block away at 417 Washington Street. It is one of the oldest Catholic parishes in the Pacific Northwest and was the mother parish of what became the Archdiocese of Portland in Oregon. The first Mass on the site was offered on March 3, 1844, after Archbishop Blanchet paid $225 for the land and welcomed Father Modeste Demers as the first pastor. The parish describes itself today as a family-focused community where disciples seek union with Christ and His Church through the sacraments, prayer, faith, education, fellowship, and service.
Mass and the Sacraments
Daily Mass anchors parish life. Weekday Mass is offered Monday through Friday at 8:00 AM. On Sunday, Mass is celebrated at 8:30 AM and 10:30 AM in English (with the 10:30 AM Mass livestreamed on YouTube), and at 1:30 PM in Spanish. The Saturday anticipated Mass is at 5:00 PM. On Holy Days of Obligation, Mass is offered at 8:00 AM and 6:00 PM.
Sacramental preparation begins with the parish office. Father Maxy D'Costa, the pastor, meets with families and individuals who register through online inquiry forms. The parish prepares children and adults for Baptism, First Communion, Confirmation, and Matrimony, and offers Anointing of the Sick and Reconciliation. Confession is heard Saturday afternoons from 3:00 to 4:30 PM, Sunday from 11:30 AM to 12:15 PM in English and 1:15 to 2:00 PM in Spanish, or by appointment. Marriage preparation typically begins nine months before a proposed wedding date, with six months the standard preparation window required by the Archdiocese.
Adoration and Prayer
Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament is held every Friday from 8:30 AM to 4:00 PM, and on the second Monday of each month from 8:45 AM to 8:00 PM. A parish prayer chain lifts up intentions sent to sjachurch.prayerchain@gmail.com.
Children and Family Faith Formation
Little Lambs offers free drop-off childcare for children from three months to three years during the 10:30 AM Sunday Mass, in the Preschool Room of the Parish Center. No registration is required, and volunteers (teens and adults with background checks) are always welcome.
Family of Faith is the parish religious education program for families with children in kindergarten through fifth grade (and their siblings). The program includes a yearly family retreat, monthly parent workshops, an Advent festival, a Mardi Gras celebration, a Pentecost gathering, a Teen Café hosted with seminarians, and monthly take-home crates with activities.
The Children's Choir sings at the 10:30 AM Mass on the first Sunday of each month under coordinator Tecie Astorga.
Youth Group
Middle and high schoolers in grades 6 through 12 gather for Youth Group on Tuesday evenings from 6:30 to 8:00 PM in the Parish Center, September through June. Evenings begin with snacks, then move into small groups, and end with prayer in the church, with families invited to join for the closing prayer. Youth Confirmation is a two-year formation; the second year focuses on Confirmation preparation and meets on Tuesday evenings as well. Annual registration costs $100 per teen and helps cover materials, snacks, and the fall retreat.
Becoming Catholic and Adult Faith Formation
Adults interested in full communion with the Catholic Church enter through the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (OCIA). Father Maxy follows up with each inquirer after they complete the registration and sacrament interest forms. The parish also hosts a parish-wide Bible study using Jeff Cavins' "Acts: The Spread of the Kingdom," a 21-week program with multiple weekly meeting times in the Parish Center and on Zoom, and a parish subscription to Formed, which the parish describes as Catholic Faith on Demand.
Music, Lectors, and Hospitality
The English-language parish choir sings at the 10:30 AM Sunday Mass, and a Spanish choir serves the 1:30 PM Mass. Lectors proclaim the readings in both English and Spanish, and the Hospitality Ministry greets parishioners and visitors at the doors. Young parishioners who have received First Communion are invited to become altar servers, with regular training offered throughout the year.
Food Ministries and Outreach
Food is at the heart of the parish's outreach to Oregon City. Welcome Café serves a hot meal and supplies to neighbors experiencing homelessness on the third Sunday of each month in the Parish Center. The St. Vincent de Paul food pantry distributes donated food every Thursday afternoon from 3:15 to 5:15 PM. Coffee Social gathers parishioners in the Parish Center after the 8:30 and 10:30 AM Sunday Masses for coffee, donuts, and fellowship. Stork Club brings meals to families with new babies, and Feed Our Pastor provides nourishing meals to Father Maxy during the week. Funeral Reception volunteers provide a comforting luncheon for families after a funeral Mass.
The Cemetery
St. John the Apostle Catholic Cemetery, at 451 Warner Street, was blessed in 1877 by Monsignor Hillebrand and remains an active burial ground for parishioners and their families. The parish walks families through the Christian funeral liturgy and the burial process, and offers a funeral reception in the Parish Center for larger gatherings or on-site at the cemetery for smaller ones.
The Parish School
St. John the Apostle Catholic School, known as the Eagles, shares the parish grounds and serves students under Principal Mary Haluska. The school is part of the broader Catholic educational mission of the parish and is a regular presence at Sunday liturgies.
Parish Organizations
Knights of Columbus Council #2325 and Catholic Daughters of the Americas Court St. Anne #1089 both meet at the parish. The Knights, founded nationally in 1882 by Father Michael J. McGivney, support the sick, disabled, and needy through works of charity, unity, and fraternity. The Catholic Daughters embrace the faith working through love in the promotion of justice, equality, and the advancement of human dignity for all.
Giving and Parish Communication
Parishioners can give online through ParishSOFT Giving (an upgrade from Faith Direct), which supports automatic weekly deductions from a checking account or credit card, as well as PayPal, Venmo, Apple Pay, and Google Pay. Flocknote keeps parishioners connected with parish news and announcements.
Visiting and Getting Connected
The parish welcomes new visitors and offers two online interest forms: one for parish registration and another for sacramental preparation. The church is open for quiet prayer weekdays from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM through the door on 4th Street, on the chapel side. Mass is celebrated every day, and Father Maxy and the parish staff are available to talk through next steps in getting involved.