The St. Mary Roman Catholic Church (full name: St. Mary, Our Lady of the Presentation, Catholic Church) in Eugene, Oregon, United States, was established in 1887. It is part of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Portland in Oregon.
Background and history
Although Catholic missionaries first came to the upper Willamette Valley in the 1850s, St. Mary Parish was officially established in 1887, when Fr. Francis Beck became the first resident pastor. The first regularly scheduled Masses were said in a church bought from the Methodists and moved to 11th & Willamette. The Church's official title was "Church of the Purification of the Blessed Virgin Mary." A four-room school was established and built alongside the church in 1889.
The second St. Mary church building was built specifically for the parish at 11th & Willamette during the pastorship of Fr. James O'Farrell. It was dedicated on March 24, 1907.
Around 1920, the bulk of St. Mary's present city block was purchased, the old church was moved from 11th & Willamette to the 11th & Lincoln corner of the block, and the old four-room school was moved to the Lincoln Street side of the block and expanded. Fr. Edwin O'Hara was pastor during this time.
Current building
On February 2, 1927 (the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord also known as Candlemas day), ground was broken for the present St. Mary Catholic Church. It was completed and dedicated on October 12 of that same year. The church was "built in modified Gothic style so prevalent in American Catholic churches of the time, this Church was designed by Joseph Jacobberger, a Portland Architect." Windows from the old church building were incorporated into the walls of the new north and south transepts. The main altar was built in Italy "using Botticini marble and reredos of red Verona marble." Originally, a large crucifix was mounted above the altar and backed by a dark blue and gold brocade drape. Since then the main altar was moved to the right side of the Church, and the wall behind the altar was painted gold. The original altar rail and baptismal gates had been crafted by hand; however, these were removed. The 1,398-pipe organ still in use today, was built and installed by the Reuter Organ Company.
The building and grounds of St. Mary Church have undergone many changes throughout the years. During recent building, renovation, and restoration on the block, special attention has been given to recognizing and working within the style and tradition of the main church. In addition to the sanctuary, the block now houses an Adoration Chapel, Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe, Parish Hall, Teen Center (formerly the Auxiliary Hall), offices, conference rooms, library, classrooms, nursery, and courtyards.
Parish boundaries
A decree establishing the boundaries of the parish of St. Mary in the city of Eugene from the Most Reverend William Levada, Archbishop of Portland in Oregon, on July 1, 1994, states:
Beginning at the northeast corner of the parish where the I-5 bridge crosses the Willamette River, south on I-5 to 30th Avenue, west on 30th Avenue to Amazon Parkway, north to 29th Avenue continuing west to Lorane Highway, southwest on Lorane Highway to the section line one section north of the line between Township 18 & 19, west to range line between 5 & 4 west, north to Highway 126, east on Highway 126 to Seneca Road, north on Seneca Road to the Coos Bay line of the Southern Pacific Railroad, east on the Coos Bay southern Pacific Railroad line to its junction with the mainline of the Southern Pacific Railroad, east on Cross Street to North Polk to the Willamette River and east on the Willamette River to the I-5 bridge.
These boundaries exclude St. Thomas More Parish (University of Oregon campus).