The Mother Church of the Archdiocese on NW Davis Street
At 1716 NW Davis Street in Portland's Northwest District, St. Mary's Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception serves as the mother church of the Archdiocese of Portland in Oregon. From its first service on February 19, 1926, the cathedral has stood as the spiritual center for the 400,000 Catholics of the archdiocese, even while remaining an active parish for those who call it home.
The Romanesque and Byzantine inspired building sits three blocks from Providence Park, the soccer stadium where the Portland Timbers and Portland Thorns play. On weekends the Mass schedule multiplies - three Sunday Masses, a Saturday vigil, a Tuesday through Saturday morning Mass, and a Monday through Friday evening Mass - and so do the cars, with the cathedral's NW Davis lots serving fans alongside the faithful through a long partnership with the Knights of Columbus.
The cathedral carries more than a century of Oregon Catholic memory. It houses art salvaged from three earlier cathedrals, an early eighteenth-century Russian Orthodox icon of Jerusalem, and nine apse murals. It anchors a parish grade school and a livestream that reaches beyond Portland to shut-ins and travelers. And in the centennial year that began on February 14, 2026, the Apostolic Penitentiary granted a plenary indulgence for pilgrims who come through the doors and pray for peace.
From a Forest Clearing to a 1926 Dedication
The cathedral's story begins far from its present home. In 1851, a small group of Catholics built a modest church near the present intersection of NW Fifth and NW Couch Streets, then a forested tract some distance from the center of Portland. Three years later the parish moved to SW Third and Stark Streets and grew along with the city. Archbishop Norbert Blanchet established his residence in Portland in 1862, making that church the first cathedral. A replacement cathedral on the same SW Third Street site was dedicated on August 15, 1885, but the catastrophic flood of 1894 forced the building of a procathedral and school at NW 15th and NW Davis Streets.
Two decades later Archbishop Alexander Christie authorized the construction of a new cathedral at NW 18th and NW Couch Streets. With the support of Catholics around the archdiocese, the cathedral opened on February 14, 1926, and the first service was held five days later. Designed in 1925 by the firm of Jacobberger and Smith and constructed by Daniel F. Campbell, the new cathedral was a Romanesque and Byzantine inspired building covering an area of 12,000 square feet.
In the years that followed, Oregon's Catholic population outgrew its setting. With the 150th anniversary of the Archdiocese of Portland, Archbishop William J. Levada determined that one of the principal activities of the anniversary would be the restoration and renewal of the cathedral. The work included liturgical and artistic modifications as well as seismic strengthening and updates to the electrical, heating, and lighting systems. Again, Catholics from around the archdiocese supported the project, and the rededication of the newly restored cathedral was celebrated on February 14, 1996.
A Romanesque Sanctuary Filled with Sacred Art
The sanctuary holds centuries of devotional art layered into one Romanesque and Byzantine inspired space. The stained glass windows in the transept date from one of the earlier cathedrals. Statues of the Sacred Heart and the Blessed Mother were brought in by the Benedictine monks of Mount Angel. The Stations of the Cross and the Povey Brothers dome above the altar date from 1926. Other works - the paintings in the apse, the lights, more stained glass, the etched windows in the vestibule, and the icons - were installed either at the time of the 1996 restoration or in the years since.
A detailed illustrated brochure, Religious Artworks in St. Mary's Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, catalogs each figure and symbol. Visitors can study nine apse murals, the icons, the organs, the stained glass windows, the sanctuary apse panels, the candle chapel, the stations of the cross, the statuary, and the building exteriors and interiors, each documented in a photo gallery within the building.
One unusual work on display is an eighteenth-century Russian Orthodox icon of the Holy City of Jerusalem, donated to the cathedral from the private collection of Dr. Thomas and Darlene Dunham. Called a Proskynetaria, the panel was painted with egg tempera and natural earth pigments on wood for Russian pilgrims, inscribed in Church Slavonic. It depicts Old Testament scenes, events of Christ's ministry, and sacred Paschal events at their geographic locations in and around Jerusalem, with a cross section of the Church of the Holy Sepulcher at the center. Scholars in Jerusalem continue to study scenes on the icon to decode their meaning.
Masses, Confession, and Eucharistic Adoration
The cathedral runs an unusually rich weekly schedule. Vigil and Sunday Masses are celebrated Saturday at 5:30 p.m. and Sunday at 7:30, 9:00, and 11:00 a.m. Weekday Masses are celebrated Monday through Friday at 5:30 p.m. and Tuesday through Saturday at 7:30 a.m.
The sacrament of Reconciliation is offered Monday through Saturday from 4:00 to 5:15 p.m., with an additional Saturday morning hour from 8:00 to 9:00 a.m. During Lent, confessions are also heard after the 7:00 p.m. Stations of the Cross.
Eucharistic Adoration is practiced twice a week. On Monday the Blessed Sacrament is exposed after the 5:30 p.m. Mass, with Benediction at 6:30 p.m. On Thursday the Blessed Sacrament is exposed at 8:00 a.m., with simple reposition at 5:15 p.m. followed by the 5:30 p.m. Mass. Parishioners are invited to sign up to be regular Adorers, and visitors are welcome to drop in for a quiet Holy Hour.
Sunday Masses are livestreamed with Archbishop Alexander K. Sample and Monsignor Gerard O'Connor, and a livestream archive remains available for those who cannot attend in person. The parish office is open Monday through Thursday from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. and Friday from 9:00 a.m. to noon. The main phone number is (503) 228-4397, and the parish office email is parishoffice@cathedralpdx.org.
The Centennial Year and a Plenary Indulgence
The 2026 calendar marks the centennial of the cathedral's 1926 dedication, and the Apostolic Penitentiary has granted a plenary indulgence for pilgrims throughout the jubilee. The indulgence, issued on February 14, 2026, runs through February 13, 2027.
To obtain the indulgence, the faithful make a pilgrimage to St. Mary's Cathedral and offer prayers to God for peace and concord in the world, against the errors of the present day. The prayers conclude with the Lord's Prayer, the Creed, and invocations to the Blessed Virgin Mary under the titles of Queen of Peace and Mother of Mercy. The usual conditions for a plenary indulgence also apply: sacramental confession within twenty days, reception of the Holy Eucharist within twenty days, prayer for the intentions of the Holy Father, a state of grace, and interior detachment from sin.
The faithful may also apply the indulgence to the souls of the faithful departed. Those unable to leave their homes for serious reasons may obtain it by spiritually joining the jubilee and offering their own prayers, sufferings, or hardships. Archbishop Sample has also been given the faculty to impart the Papal Blessing with the attached plenary indulgence on a day chosen for the benefit of the faithful, and those following the rites through electronic media may receive the same blessing.
The centennial has also focused attention on the cathedral grounds. The Centennial Project, a separate initiative, raised $500,000 to landscape the cathedral block and rework the sidewalks on NW 18th Avenue and NW Couch Street.
The Clergy and Cathedral Staff
The cathedral is served by the Archbishop of Portland in Oregon, Most Reverend Alexander K. Sample, who has held the post since his installation on April 2, 2013. Born in Kalispell, Montana, Archbishop Sample studied metallurgical engineering at Michigan Technological University and completed his priestly formation at the Pontifical College Josephinum in Columbus, Ohio, before being ordained a priest in Marquette, Michigan, in 1990. He was appointed Bishop of Marquette in 2005 and the eleventh Archbishop of Portland in 2013.
The pastor of the cathedral is Monsignor Gerard O'Connor, who became Rector on January 1, 2021, while continuing to serve as Director of the Office of Worship. Born in Hull, Yorkshire, in 1964, Monsignor O'Connor first worked in marketing for the personal computer industry before discerning a vocation. He was ordained in 2000 for the Diocese of Fall River, served at the Congregation of the Clergy in Rome, and held pastorates in Massachusetts before being loaned to the Archdiocese of Portland in 2017. He holds a doctorate in Sacred Liturgy from the Pontifical Liturgical Institute in Rome and serves as Vicar Forane for the Downtown Portland Vicariate.
The cathedral's parochial vicar is Father Nicholas Martell, a former attorney who practiced law in Southern California for six years before entering seminary. He completed his theological studies at the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas in Rome and was ordained by Archbishop Sample on June 20, 2026. He was assigned to the cathedral on July 1, 2026.
Deacon Greg Pashley assists the parish. A retired captain with more than thirty years in law enforcement, Deacon Greg was ordained in 2019, served at St. Agatha and St. Francis of Assisi parishes in southeast Portland, and serves on the board of regents of John Paul the Great Catholic University.
Lay staff include Andreas Loeffler, Director of Pastoral Services, who maintains the cathedral boilers and keeps the office in order; Jenna Wier, Pastoral Associate, who coordinates sacramental preparation and outreach to young adults after two years as a campus missionary; Angela Westhoff-Johnson, Director of Sacred Music and a senior music editor at Oregon Catholic Press; and Seung Min Oh, Organist, who studied at Yonsei University in Seoul, the Cleveland Institute of Music, and Indiana University, and has served at the cathedral since 2013.
Sacramental Life at the Cathedral
As both a parish and the mother church of an archdiocese, the cathedral celebrates all seven sacraments. Baptisms are typically scheduled on Sundays after the 11:00 a.m. Mass for the children of registered parishioners who have attended Mass regularly for at least six months and are personally known to Monsignor O'Connor. Parents meet with Deacon Greg for about ninety minutes before scheduling a date, and at least one godparent must be a practicing Catholic in good standing.
First Holy Communion and First Reconciliation are prepared together using the Ascension Press Renewed and Received curriculum. Children of registered parishioners who attend Mass weekly and are known to the rector may join the program after age seven. Confirmation is offered to parishioners in seventh or eighth grade, with sacramental preparation beginning in September of each year. Sponsor letters of good standing are required for both sacraments.
Weddings at the cathedral require either the bride or the groom to be a registered parishioner known to the rector and active at Mass for at least six months. Non-parishioners may also marry at the cathedral with a letter of good standing from their own pastor and a priest or deacon to preside who has permission from the rector. Full wedding policies cover musicians, decorations, photography, and rehearsals.
Catholic funerals follow the Order of Christian Funerals with the Vigil Service, the Funeral Liturgy, and the Rite of Committal. The parish assists with planning each station, and the rector presides when his schedule permits.
Becoming Catholic Through OCIA
For adults exploring the Catholic faith, the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults runs year-round. The program serves the unbaptized, baptized Christians from other traditions, Catholics who have received neither First Communion nor Confirmation, fully initiated Catholics seeking deeper catechetical knowledge, and anyone curious about Christianity.
The OCIA year opens with an Information Night each fall in the Cathedral School Library. The process moves through inquiry, catechumenate, and the Easter Vigil sacraments of initiation, with parishioner sponsors walking alongside each catechumen. Inquirers are invited to reach the pastoral associate through the parish office.
Music and the Cathedral Choir
Music holds a central place at the cathedral. Angela Westhoff-Johnson leads the music ministry and also serves as a senior music editor at Oregon Catholic Press, the largest English-language music and missal publisher for the Catholic market. She holds degrees from Simpson College and the University of Oregon and is pursuing a Doctorate of Musical Arts.
Seung Min Oh has served as the cathedral's organist since 2013. A native of South Korea, she earned bachelor's and master's degrees at Yonsei University in Seoul, a second master's at the Cleveland Institute of Music, and a doctorate at Indiana University. She has performed as a soloist and collaborative artist throughout the United States and Korea and is a recipient of multiple university awards.
The Cathedral Choir rehearses on Thursday evenings and sings at the 11:00 a.m. Mass from September through May. Singers interested in joining can reach the director through the parish office. The music library reflects the cathedral's commitment to the rich musical tradition of the Roman liturgy, drawing on chants, hymns, and choral works from across the centuries.
Lay Ministries: Knights of Columbus, Legion of Mary, and More
Dozens of lay ministries and apostolates find a home at the cathedral. The largest is the Knights of Columbus Council #15295, founded in 2011 with help from the St. Cecilia Council of Beaverton and now grown to roughly sixty members. Led by Grand Knight Tom McDougal, the council meets on the first Tuesday of each month at 6:30 p.m. in St. Joseph's Hall. Knights support the Cathedral Pastor Fund, seminarian stipends, the cathedral school, scout troops, the Mother and Child Center, the Wheelchair Mission, Father Taaffe Homes, Coats for Kids, the CYO, and Our Lady of Peace Retreat House.
The Legion of Mary also maintains an active praesidium at the cathedral. Legion members promote Catholic devotions such as the Brown Scapular, the Enthronement of the Sacred Heart in family homes, and First Saturday Devotions. They visit the sick, new parishioners, and shut-ins to pray the rosary, and they facilitate a junior branch for youth under the age of eighteen.
Seven Sisters Apostolate brings together women who commit to one Holy Hour of prayer each week before the Blessed Sacrament for a specific priest or bishop.
For young adults aged 18 to 39, the parish hosts a Young Adults Ministry that meets on the third Wednesday of each month. The gatherings are designed to foster faith, interior life, and friendships among the cathedral's young adult parishioners.
Bible studies are scheduled periodically throughout the year. The parish also organizes monthly socials, with past events including ice cream socials, barbecues, a chili cook-off, a cheesecake social, and a bacon-themed evening.
Pastoral Care, Respect Life, and Outreach
The cathedral takes seriously its call to accompany the vulnerable. Respect Life Resources point parishioners to the Mother and Child Education Center in Portland, which offers maternity clothing, baby clothes, diapers, and classes, and to Project Aurora, which sponsors Rachel's Vineyard healing weekends for those suffering after abortion.
The Healing Resources collection gathers additional apostolates: the John Paul II Healing Center, Catholic Therapists, Integrity Restored for those affected by pornography, Life-Giving Wounds for adult children of divorce, and Courage for those experiencing same-sex attractions, along with its sister apostolate Encourage for family and friends.
The parish also partners with several Portland outreach organizations. St. Mary's parishioners volunteer with Lift Urban Portland, the Blanchet House, the Urban Missionaries of Portland, the Union Gospel Mission, St. Andre Bessette Parish, St. Michael's Works of Mercy, and Rose Haven. The parish identifies Lift Urban Portland as a particularly long-term partner in addressing the needs of the poor in the Northwest neighborhood, and the council has long supported Potluck in the Park and quarterly food collections for those in need.
Cathedral School and the Campus
Cathedral School shares the cathedral block and is the parish's contribution to Catholic education. The school principal, Amy Biggs, leads a faculty whose mission is to integrate faith and learning in the heart of Portland.
The cathedral block itself is being transformed by the Centennial Project, which finished its fundraising and redesigned the landscape and the sidewalks on NW 18th Avenue and NW Couch Street.
Beyond Mass and the sacraments, the cathedral grounds support the wider community in a unique way. On home game days the Knights of Columbus manage paid parking in two lots on NW Davis between 16th and 18th Avenues, with up to 120 spaces between them. Parking starts two to three hours before kickoff, costs $25 cash or check, and the proceeds support both the cathedral and the Knights' charitable giving. The lots close at 6:30 a.m. the next day, with cordoned-off Mass spaces released after the Sunday services end.
Self-guided tour materials, a 100-Years in St. Mary's Cathedral Church orientation booklet, the Apse Murals Brochure, and the 1939 Centenary publication are available to help newcomers explore the cathedral's art and history. Whether visitors come for a Sunday Mass, a weekday Holy Hour, a wedding, a funeral, or a pilgrimage in the centennial year, the doors at 1716 NW Davis Street stay open.