Dedication of Holy Trinity Church

On October 10, 2026, Holy Trinity Parish in Bandon celebrated the dedication of its new church. Pastor Fr. Anthony Ahamefule and about 200 members of the close-knit parish welcomed Archbishop Alexander Sample, Bishop Peter Smith and visiting clergy from across Oregon for the Mass.
Nearly 250 miles south of Portland, Holy Trinity is the second-oldest parish on the Oregon Coast. Its history dates to 1883, when its first church, St. Mary, Refuge of Sinners, was dedicated. The parish took the name Holy Trinity in 1909. The original church was destroyed in the 1936 Bandon Fire and rebuilt the following year.

Decades later, concerns about the building’s condition and accessibility prompted the parish to launch a capital campaign in 2023. Construction began in July 2025, and the church now overlooks Bandon and the Pacific Ocean. At the reception after Mass, Fr. Ahamefule thanked parishioners and community members whose generosity and committment helped make the project possible. Additional speakers also recognized the service of former pastors Fr. George Kuforiji and Fr. Eric Andersen. A regional Filipino dance group performed traditional dances, while a professional pianist and cellist provided classical music for the celebration.