ABOUT US

Our Mission

At St. Therese Parish, we strive to live and express our faith according to the true teachings of the Catholic Church, and to have everything that we do be inspired by the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, in accordance with God’s Holy Will. Through reverent worship and faithful understanding, we live the message and teachings of Jesus Christ. We help each other belong to the Kingdom of God by sharing our faith through liturgy, prayer, sacraments, fellowship, education, service and outreach.

We believe that only through a true understanding of our faith, we will be able to encourage each other in wisdom, humility and true compassion.

Our Pastor

Born and raised in Denver, Colorado I am the third of four boys, the oldest of whom is also a priest. We are members of an international missionary community called Work of Jesus the High Priest – Family of Mary. After having several missionary experiences in Russia with this community in the 1990s, I joined following my high school graduation. I spent three years in the idyllic Abruzzo region followed by five years of philosophical and theological studies at the Jesuit’s Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome. For the first four years as a priest, I was in charge of the formation of our new vocations. In 2007, I was appointed rector of our seminary where  I  remained  until  my  transfer  to  our mission in the  Archdiocese of Portland in July of 2023. After  a brief tenure at St. Joseph the Worker Parish, I started here at St. Therese Church and School on December 1, 2023.For those who have never heard of or are unfamiliar with my community, we are currently five priests and three sisters present in the parishes of St. Therese, St. Jospeh the Worker and St. Henry. The Work of Jesus the High Priest is a Clerical Association that grew out of and is still one with the Association of the Faithful Family of Mary, whose initial approval was granted by the Vatican in 1995. As priests, brothers, and apostolic sisters, we share a common spirituality, shaped by love of Mary, a Eucharistic-priestly spirit and fidelity to the Holy Father. We have a missionary orientation and strive for true ecumenism so that Jesus’ promise of one flock under one shepherd (Jn. 10:16) might be realized. The community’s particular charism is praying and offering our lives to God in a special way for the sanctification of priests and priestly formation. Depending on the need of the mission, the exterior form of our apostolate varies greatly, ranging from parish work; teaching in schools; pastoral care of children, teenagers, families and elderly, as well as other charitable efforts, especially in the missionary territories. The community is currently working around the world in Italy, Ireland, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, France, the Netherlands, in the Slovak and Czech Republics, as well as in Uruguay, Kazakhstan, and Russia.

Parish Staff

Rev. Gabriele M. White

PASTOR

503-256-5850
gmwhite@archdpdx.org

James Wurzer

BUSINESS MANAGER

503-256-5850
jwurzer@archdpdx.org

Carmel Delaney

HEAD SACRISTAN

Tammy Caito

ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT

503-256-5850
tammy@stthereseor.org

Emily Bavaro

MUSIC DIRECTOR

Adrian Tapia

FACILITIES MAINTENANCE

Parish Councils

St. Therese Parish Council greatly appreciates the volunteers who serve on the council for three year terms. If you are interested in serving on the Parish Council you may volunteer your name to be considered for future vacancies. Please call the parish office to notify us of your interest.

In American Roman Catholic parishes, the parish council arose after Vatican II in the new era of lay participation in parish decision making. It was a response to the Vatican II Decree on the Apostolate of Lay People (Apostolicam actuositatem, par. 26).

This decree, published in 1965, recommended the establishment of councils at all levels of the Catholic Church (including the parish) with one purpose, namely, to assist in the Church’s “apostolate” or mission. The decree also said that such apostolic councils “may coordinate” lay initiatives, so long as they do not interfere with the autonomy of such initiatives. Many Catholics throughout the world interpreted the decree as calling for parish councils that would coordinate parish committees or commissions. This was the genesis of the “Parish Council”.

The Pastoral Council is an advisory council that discusses and provides input to the Pastor on topics such as Mass times, parish events, evangelization and school topics. For questions or issues pertaining to the Pastoral Council, reach out to Greg Buhr.

Fr. Gabriele White
Joined: 2023

Chair
Greg Buhr
Joined: 2011

Secretary
Melanie Reyna
Joined: 2022

Member
Thang Nguyen
Joined: 2018

Member
Teresa Nguyen
Joined: 2025

Member
Carmel Delaney
Joined: 2016

Member
Titay Schommer
Joined: 2010

Member
Kurt Hudson
Joined: 2025

Ex-Officio
1. Business Manager
2. School Principal

The Finance Council is an advisory council that reviews the financial performance of the parish, provides advice on capital projects, assists with the parish and school budgets, and reviews stewardship. For questions or issues pertaining to the Finance Council, reach out to Chuck Dhulst.

Fr. Gabriele White
Joined: 2023

Chair
Charles Dhulst
Joined: 1999

Member
Steve Schommer
Joined: 1989

Member
Sue Buhr
Joined:1983 – 2010,
rejoined 2012

Member
Bob Cornell
Joined: 2010

Ex-Officio
1. Business Manager
2. School Principal

Contact Us