It is a Blessing to Serve with Love

Sr. Marcella Parrish Jubilee 2025

For Sister Marcella Parrish, the journey to religious life began with a pair of shoes.

Born in 1938, Sister Marcella spent her early childhood in a logging camp on the Little North Fork of the Santiam River, where her father worked as the head sawyer at her uncle’s lumber mill. Without electricity and with only an outdoor restroom, her earliest years were shaped by self-sufficiency and the rugged joys of rural life. When her brother became school-aged, the family moved into town so he could attend Catholic school — a decision that shaped the rest of Sister Marcella’s life.

At just four years old, after the family moved from the logging camp, Sr. Marcella went with her mother and brother to register for school at St. Mary’s in Stayton. When Sister Theresa Margaret welcomed them, young Marcella looked up and was captivated — not by the habit, but by the shoes. “Whatever she is,” she told her mother on the walk home, “that’s what I want to be.” Marcella’s resolve to be a Sister continued to grow the more she was around the Sisters of St. Mary of Oregon. Sister Marcella and her brothers routinely stayed after school to help clean the classrooms and get to know the Sisters better.

Sister Marcella enrolled in St. Mary’s in Stayton and later joined the Aspirancy at St. Mary of the Valley High School, a program for young women who were discerning religious life. She entered the Sisters of St. Mary of Oregon during her junior year of high school. During her religious formation years, she completed high school and attended Marylhurst University, earning a degree in education. 

The years at Marylhurst went by quickly. Sr. Marcella returned to the Sisters of St. Mary of Oregon campus in January of 1960 and began teaching in the high school and core education classes to seventh and eighth graders. That fall, she was assigned to St. Andrew’s in Portland where getting across busy Alberta Street was a big challenge for a country kid. The next two years were spent at St. Michael’s School in Grande Ronde where she appreciated the peace and quiet as well as the Saturday trips to Lincoln City with Sr. Agnes Coussens to teach religious education and go grocery shopping.

Sr. Marcella sitting on a bench with her parents
Sr. Marcella graduation photo

After Sr. Marcella completed her master’s degree in mathematics at Gonzaga University in Spokane, Wash. She began teaching at Regis High School in Stayton. Primarily focusing on math, chemistry, and religion. But, since Sister loves a good challenge, she also taught electronics, photography, mechanics and coached volleyball on the side. 

What followed was a fulfilling career in Catholic education. Sister Marcella taught at elementary and high schools across Oregon. During her high school teaching years, she taught everything. Literally from religion and chemistry to photography and electronics — even auto mechanics. “I had 17 boys in that class,” she recalled, “I grew up with four brothers so I just taught them the things my brothers did. We figured it out together.” While the boys skills in auto mechanics grew, their choice to use more respectful language increased as well.

Sr. Marcella, always striving to learn and grow says, “I was afforded wonderful opportunities to expand my knowledge of math and science through five National Science Foundation grants. I thrived during those five summers I spent studying biochemistry, micro-biology, electronics, optics, and earth science at St. Lawrence University in New York, Holy Cross University in Mass., and Portland State University in Ore.”

Interspersed throughout 40 years of education, Sr. Marcells enjoyed years of leadership and administration.

Later, Sr. Marcella served as principal of St. Mary of the Valley (now Valley Catholic) for 10 years and was Assistant Superintendent of Archdiocesan Catholic Schools for six years. She served as a high school dean of students at Regis, vice principal and high school principal at St. Mary of the Valley, three 5-year terms on the Sisters of St. Mary of Oregon Leadership Team and six years as Assistant Superintendent of the Department of Catholic Schools for the Archdiocese of Portland.

“I have never had a job I didn’t love,” Sr. Marcella said. “Each role was a chance to learn and serve in new ways.”

Sr. Marcella working at Regis
Sr. Marcella serving meals

For nearly two decades, Sr. Marcella taught religious education classes in rural parishes around Oregon and Washington during the summers. Her final 20 years of active ministry were spent at St. Joseph Shelter in Mt. Angel. “The shelter will always be a special place to me,” she says. “It allowed me to grow in compassionate service with the homeless.”

Sr. Marcella answered this special call to serve while still teaching full time. Sr. Adele Mansfield, OSB asked her to volunteer as night duty supervisor at the shelter. What followed was a whole new adventure in ministry to the homeless.

In seeking permission to serve full time at St. Joseph Shelter, Sr. Marcella was challenged by SSMO Superior General Sr. Barbara Jean Laughlin as to how this fit with the SSMO Charism. “I responded that Preferential Option for the Poor and Vulnerable is a consistent priority in the Constitutions and Statutes of the Sisters of St. Mary of Oregon,” she said. That was enough for Sr. Barbara Jean — she agreed.

Sr. Terry Hall, OSB would challenge and support Sr. Marcella during the next 20 years. They engaged in direct service to hundreds of shelter families, to the 70 migrant farm workers and to the 100 local families accessing the Mission Benedict Food and Clothing Pantry. A needed support for the farm workers was reliable housing which led them to the remodel one of the workers’ dorm buildings into Casa Adele — a 10-unit apartment complex for farm workers and families. This project expanded Sr. Marcella’s knowledge and work with architects, general contractors, state and county permit officers and experienced grant writers. With their regular support and advice. Srs. Marcella and Terry acquired $2.5 million in grants to finance Casa Adele. 

As St. Joseph Shelter directors, the two Sisters work to support families in finding stability was evident through long-term housing and jobs, through life skills classes and weekly support meetings with each family. Not to be overlooked, one of the Sisters points of pride was the recognition of Excellent Attendance by shelter students at the local schools. 

Sr. Marcella holding a bronze statue of Jesus asleep on a bench. A gift from the St. Joseph shelter.

A life-long learner and artist, Sister Marcella has expressed her creativity through pottery, painting, photography, stained glass, and handmade cards. She also has a great appreciation for the artistic work of others. One of her most valued treasures is a sculpture by Timothy P. Schmalz of Jesus as a homeless man on asleep on a bench. Sr. Marcella received the sculpture in recognition of her amazing work at St. Joseph Shelter.

Each role in Sr. Marcella’s remarkable life has been a chance to learn and serve in new ways. After a serious accident limited her mobility, she transitioned from active ministry to a quieter life of prayer and presence, continuing to serve by supporting the retired Sisters and offering companionship to people with memory loss.

Now marking 70 years of vowed life, Sister Marcella remains grateful for the challenges and blessings of her vocation. Always an optimist, she says, “I can honestly say that I have loved and found joy in every ministry in which I have served. I learned early on that it is important to pray — always. I learned the Morning Offering as a child and it has been my daily companion. It has connected me with the Sacrifice of the Mass throughout the world. I have had opportunities to make many varieties of retreats and to learn many different types of prayer. I know that I am strengthened by the prayers of my family, friends, and Sisters in community.”

Religious life can be demanding, but Sr. Marcella states that it is joyful and fulfilling. “I have been blessed with good health, deep friendships, and the chance to serve in many ways.”

Her Jubilee celebration will be especially meaningful this year. Her godson and nephew, a Holy Cross priest, will preside over the Mass. “That is a real gift,” she said. “We have been close his whole life, and I could not imagine a better way to mark this milestone.”

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