St. Paul, French Prarie, Oregon — First Mass, January 6, 1839

January 6, 1839

Location	St. Paul, French Prarie
State/Territory	Oregon
County	Marion County
Modern Diocese	Archdiocese of Portland in Oregon
Historical Diocese	Unorganized
Date	January 6, 1839
Priest	Fr. François Norbert Blanchet
Religious Order	Diocesan / Secular clergy
Rite	Roman (Latin) Rite
Expedition	Blanchet-Demers Catholic mission to the Oregon Country — see the full route, The Blanchet–Demers Mission to Oregon Country (1838–1839) →
Confidence	confirmed

Photos

St Paul's Parish in 1939 - Oregon Historical Society

Documentation

Oregon History Project - St. Paul Catholic Church, Marion County

Notes

Fr Blanchet and Fr. Modeste Demers arrived at Fort Vancouver in late November 1838. About six weeks later, on January 6, 1839 (the Feast of the Epiphany), Blanchet traveled to the French-Canadian settlement at French Prairie, celebrated the first Catholic Mass in Oregon, blessed the log church built by settlers around 1836, and dedicated it to St. Paul - giving the town of St. Paul, Oregon its name. Companion entry: the Nov. 1838 Mass at Fort Vancouver (submitted separately) is the first Mass in present-day Washington, from the same missionary journey.

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