History & Architecture

Although the city of Hillsboro, incorporated in 1876, was one of the first to be established in Oregon, by the end of the 19th century, there was still no Catholic church within its limits.
The first Masses in Hillsboro were held in private homes. Later, the old Hillsboro Opera House was converted into a church. Not much longer later, the Catholic community rented a larger room on 2nd and Washington as the congregation grew. 

Finally, in 1901, the construction of a church within the city limits began on a lot donated by banker J. W. Shute. Archbishop Christie dedicated the completed church in 1902. 1904, it became a parish, and Rev. Joseph Bucholzer was appointed the first pastor. Since Hillsboro was the county seat where taxes were paid, the Archbishop named the new parish after St. Matthew, the apostle who had been a tax collector. As most parishioners were of German or Swiss descent, Mass was celebrated in English and German.

Saint Matthew Catholic School
The original St. Matthew School opened in 1914. Two sisters from St. Mary’s in Beaverton taught 45 pupils. The Rev. John T. Costelloe was appointed pastor of St. Matthew in January 1919 and served for 35 years until 1954, when he became pastor emeritus. In 1939, the first Fall Festival was held, an annual tradition ever since.
The convent (now the Pastoral Center) was built in 1960, followed by the new church, which was dedicated in 1965. Both were completed during the pastorate of the Rev. Armand Gelinas, who died in April 1973. His successor, the Rev. Robert Cieslinksi, oversaw significant additions to the parish, constructing the Costelloe Center and gymnasium.
The Rev. Carl Flach became pastor of St. Matthew in 1986. At this time, St. Matthew recognized the growing needs of the Spanish-speaking community it serves, hiring its first Hispanic Minister in 1989 and instituting a regular 5:30 pm Mass in July of 1991.  

The Missionaries of the Holy Spirit
The dawn of a new century held more changes for St. Matthew. In 2000, the Cieslinski Center was dedicated, and an additional Spanish Mass was added at 7:00 am. That same year, the Missionaries of the Holy Spirit began serving our community, with Fr. José Ortega, MSpS appointed pastor, and Fr. Gerardo Alberto, MSpS, as associate pastor. Not long after, the Hertel Center was dedicated in 2001. After serving only three years at St. Matthew, Father José was elected Provincial of the US Province of the Missionaries of the Holy Spirit, followed by Fr. Juan José González, MSpS, Fr. Peter Arteaga, MSpS, Fr. Hugo Maese, MSpS, Fr. Lucio Villalobos, MSpS. and Fr. Juan Jose Gonzalez, MSpS, for a second term.

For more information on our parish's history, PLEASE download a copy of the Diamond Jubilee Issue.