St. Edward Parish

Church doors will be locked till further notice and Wednesday Eucharistic Adoration will be postponed until further notice.

My dear brothers and sisters in Christ,

Praised be Jesus Christ!

This is by far one of the most difficult communications I have ever written because of the impact it will have on the spiritual and faith lives of so many of us.

Today, March 16, 2020, Governor Kate Brown announced new directives governing the social gathering of people in the State of Oregon. Beginning tomorrow gatherings are not to exceed 25 people for the next four weeks. At the same time, although she did not make it the law, she urged that such gatherings be kept under 10 people. Earlier today, President Trump made a similar recommendation that gatherings not exceed 10 people. I suspect that at some point 10 people will become the law.

In light of this, it becomes impossible for us to manage a schedule of Masses in the parishes and missions of the Archdiocese observing this 10 to 25 limit. With a very heavy heart, I am therefore announcing the cancellation of all public Masses in the Archdiocese of Portland beginning tomorrow through April 14, 2020. At the same time, I am dispensing all of the faithful from the obligation to attend Mass on Sundays and Holy Days of Obligation for the same period of time.

This will be particularly hard because this will take us through Holy Week and Easter.

Further information, direction, suggestions, pastoral guidance etc. will be forthcoming as we navigate together these uncharted waters. For now, I felt it urgent to let you know of this necessary decision. I will be reminding the priests of the importance for them to still offer daily Mass, though not publicly, for the good of the faithful and for an end to this crisis.

I am sorry beyond words to have to make this decision. It is very painful for me to do so. In the midst of this we must remember that the Holy Eucharist remains the source and summit of the Christian life.

May our hunger for the Mass and the Body of Christ be a source of grace for us.

Archbishop Alexander K. Sample

NOTE: The Decree and Dispensation can be found on the Archdiocese of Portland website.

Archdiocese's Coronavirus Resources Page
Parish and School Information

Sacraments and Devotions - POSTPONED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE.

RCIA - Completed March 15

High School Youth Group-March 15 meeting cancelled, April 5 Breakfast Fundraiser at North Plains will be rescheduled, April 26 Paint Afternoon Fundraiser ticket sales postponed.  Please contact Emmy Kennedy with questions: at youthgroupemmy@gmail.com

Middle School Youth Group-March 13 Soup and Stations at St. Edward church and parish hall canceled, April 5 meeting at Visitation cancelled. Please contact Laura Nevis with questions lnevis@farthing.com

HS Confirmation-April 4 Service Project with Habitat for Humanity cancelled.  Confirmation scheduled for Saturday, April 18, has been cancelled.  Please contact Laura Nevis with questions: lnevis@farthing.com

Religious Education Classes - March 18 and April 1 classes are cancelled. Please contact Nancy Vandehey with questions: n.vandehey@stedwardnp.net

Men of Conviction - Program has been suspended until further notice. Please contact Chris Wahlberg with questions: 503-806-0322.

Trail Life - Meetings have been suspended until April 7.  Will reschedule March 14 Navigators/Adventurer Woodcarving, March 27-29 Navigators/Adventurer Brigittine Monastery Lenten Campout, March 28 Woodland Trails Archery Event.  Please contact Jose Salmo with questions: jose@joyslifephotography.com

Neighborhood Meeting - Has been postponed until further notice.

St. Edward is a welcoming Catholic Parish embracing God our Father, Jesus Christ his Son, and the Holy Spirit.  We gather in Faith to give glory and praise to God as a worshipping community.  We gather in Hope to educate, form, and nurture spiritual growth of our individual parishioners, families, and community through the administration of the sacraments, catechesis, prayer and devotion, and fellowship.  We gather in Charity to provide social outreach in our works of mercy.

The Archdiocese of Portland will continue to live stream the 11:00 AM Sunday Mass from The Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception every week until the gathering restrictions have been lifted. 

To View, Click HERE

DC Kids 2020 Postponement - There will be a meeting of the DC Kids 2020 group, parents on Monday, March 16 at 6:00pm will meet in the school cafeteria.  Please contact Scott Stewart with questions: 503-705-1999.

CYO Track and Field - All CYO Track & Field practices and meets have been suspended until further notice.  Please contact Tom Pelster with questions: 971-219-2076.

CYO Fighting Dutch Fish Fry - April 3 at Visitation Parish Center has been postponed and will be rescheduled.  Please contact Courtney Schaefer with questions: 503-314-7074.