Contact Info
Saint Mary By The Sea
Fr. Macdonald Akuti
275 S PACIFIC ST
Rockaway Beach, OR 97136
Phone: 503-355-2661
Fax: 503-355-9611
Email: stmarys1927@gmail.com
Website: www.stmarybythesea.com/
Services
- Roman Catholic Church
- Holiday Gatherings
- Morning Mass
Hours of Operation
Office Hours : Monday-Friday 8:00 am - 3:00 pmClosed Tuesday
Before & After Weekend Masses
Mass times are:
Saturday 5:30 PM
Sunday 8:30 and 10:30 AM
Tuesday 5:30 PM and
Wednesday through Friday 9:00 AM
About Us
Mass times are: Saturday 5:30 PM Sunday 8:30 and 10:30 AM
Tuesday 5:30 PM and Wednesday through Friday 9:00 AM
Father Victor Rassier was the first pastor after Rockaway Mission was established as a parish on March 17. 1948. Father Victor came in September of 1947, and remained until August 19, 1961. From an article in the, Catholic Sentinel dated January 13, 1949, some facts reported from St. Mary's By-The-Sea are interesting because they indicate the large number of parishioners at that time. Up until the end of 1948 Father Victor had performed twelve marriages and thirty four baptisms. There were thirty nine in attendance at religious summer school, eleven of whom received first Holy Communion. There were seventy five children at the Christmas party.
The C.C.D. had its beginnings in the Parish during Father Victor's early years here. When
classes began, he did most of the teaching of grade school classes himself, picking the children up and teaching them in his car.
The Ladies of St. Mary's Altar Society was organized in 1948, with a membership of between thirty and thirty five. These ladies have undertaken many projects over the years, and carried them through successfully. Money making has always been necessary in order to carry out their plans. Rummage sales, two a year, have proved good money makers. The Ladies have purchased dishes and tableware, tables and chairs for the hall, have been responsible for the electric bills for years, have donated to various charities and so on. They also manage the care and regular cleaning of church and hall. Since April of 1978, the Society is affiliated with the Archdiocesan Council of Catholic Women, Astoria Council.
It must be mentioned that the C.C.D. program has been conducted continuously during the school years, from 1948 to the present, with the teaching being done by the pastor and a few other dedicated persons. The parish owes these teachers a great debt of gratitude.
When there were only two Sunday Masses, the ever increasing numbers of summer people and vacationers helped to fill the church to overflowing, especially on holiday weekends. Folding chairs were placed on each side of the center aisle, and people stood along the side aisles, and outside. Some consideration was given to building on to the church at this time.
In the early 1970's, changes in church regulations allowed the saying of Vigil Masses. One Mass at 5:30 p.m., and eventually an other one at 7:30 p.m., relieved the crowding conditions satisfactorily.
