1919 - 1920 The first location of the present day St. Andre Bessette Catholic Church was opened in 1919 on NW 2nd & Couch St. It was called St. Vincent De Paul Parish at the time and it was established to serve sailors and soldiers that had participated in WWI and only lasted for two years.
1935 - 1939 After a lapse of 15 years, a second location was opened at SW 3rd & Ankeny to assist with the growing number of men out of work during the Depression. Lay and clergy worked together to provide employment opportunities and to provide basic needs to families struggling with extreme poverty and homelessness.
1939 - 1943 For a brief time there was a third location at NW 4th & Burnside serving those reluctant to cross Burnside for Mass.
1943 - 1971 A fourth location at SW 5th & Burnside was dedicated in 1943 serving Catholic living and working in downtown Portland.
1971 - Present In 1971 an offer to purchase the fourth location in order to build the U.S. Bancorp building was made and so the church was once again moved, this time to its current location at 6th & Burnisde. In 2012 the parish was reconsecrated St. Andre Bessette Catholic Church.
Parish Pastors
2024 - Present Fr. Randy Rentner, CSC
2018 - 2024 Fr. Tom Gaughan, CSC
2012 - 2018 Fr. John Patrick Riley, CSC
2010 - 2012 Fr. Stephen Newton, CSC
2001 - 2010 Fr. Bob Loughery, CSC
1989 - 2010 Fr. Richard Berg, CSC
1986 - 1989 Fr. George Purdy, S.J.
1982 - 1986 Fr. Peter Byrne, S.J.
1981 - 1982 Fr. Thomas Williams, S.J.
1968 - 1981 Fr. Luis Weis
1954 - 1968 Fr. Merlin Hamsmith
1943 - 1954 Fr. J. M. Schmitz
Previous Building Photos
See the different buildings in use from 1919 to the present.