First Mass

Cowlitz Prairie (Saint Francis Xavier Mission), Washington

December 16, 1838

LocationCowlitz Prairie (Saint Francis Xavier Mission)
State/TerritoryWashington
CountyLewis County
Modern DioceseArchdiocese of Seattle
Historical DioceseUnorganized
DateDecember 16, 1838
PriestFr. François Norbert Blanchet
Religious OrderDiocesan / Secular clergy
RiteRoman (Latin) Rite
ExpeditionBlanchet-Demers Catholic mission to the Oregon Country — see the full route, The Blanchet–Demers Mission to Oregon Country (1838–1839) →
Confidenceconfirmed

Photos

Saint Francis Xavier Mission, 2019, Joe Mabel, Wikipedia
Saint Francis Xavier Mission, 2019, Joe Mabel, Wikipedia

Documentation

Notes

Blanchet traveled from Fort Vancouver to the Cowlitz Prairie, arriving Dec 13, 1838 (welcomed by settler Simon Plamondon), and said the first recorded Mass there on Dec 16, 1838, in Plamondon cabin - the founding of St. Francis Xavier Mission, described by Wikipedia (citing published sources) as the first Catholic mission in Washington and the oldest Catholic church still active in the state today. Demers remained at Fort Vancouver initially; Blanchet left his servant Augustine Rochon to begin building a permanent chapel (the Wolf Head Chapel). Companion entry: Blanchet's Jan. 6, 1839 Mass at St. Paul (submitted separately) is the first Mass in present-day Oregon, from the same missionary journey.

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