MEET OUR STAFF
Fr. Timothy Furlow
Pastor
Fr. Timothy Furlow was born in 1982 in Portland, Oregon. He attended elementary school at Holy Trinity Catholic School in Beaverton, Oregon and graduated from the A Beka Homeschool program in 2000. He attended the University of Portland from 2000-2002 before moving to Baku, Azerbaijan to teach English. In 2004, he began studies at the Franciscan University of Steubenville and graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Theology and Philosophy in 2007. That same year he began work as the Director of Youth and Young Adult Music Ministry at St. Cecilia’s Parish in Beaverton, OR, where he worked until entering Seminary in 2010.
Fr. Furlow entered Mount Angel Seminary in 2010 where he completed one year of theology courses before transferring in 2011 to the Pontifical North American College in Rome. There he completed a Baccalaureate in Sacred Theology at the Pontifical Gregorian University in 2013 and a Licentiate in Moral Theology at the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas in 2016. His pastoral ministry training has included assignments at St. John the Baptist Church in Milwaukie, Salvator Mundi Hospital in Rome, Saint Mary’s College (Rome), The Madeleine Parish in Portland, Tacoma General Hospital and Marymount International School (Rome). He was the Parochial Vicar at St. Mary's Cathedral in Portland, OR until July 2018 when he was made administrator of Portland’s oldest parish, St. Patrick Church.
James Ruiz
Pastoral Associate | 503.222.4086 | james.ruiz@stpatrickpdx.org
Originally from Southern California, James moved to Oregon during his early Childhood, where he truly embraced his new community and his faith journey. He was baptized and fully received into the Catholic Church in 2016 at St. Cecilia's Parish in Beaverton, where his passion for lay ministry began through volunteer service. He graduated from Arizona State University in 2024 with a Bachelor’s degree in Religious Studies, supplemented by certifications in Theology, Sacred Scripture, and Apologetics, from the Augustine Institute, Catholic Distance University, and the Catechetical Institute at the Franciscan University of Steubenville. He is honored to serve the community of St. Patrick Catholic Church with a dedication to foster spiritual growth and to cultivate community enrichment.
Cenolina Abarca
Administrative Assistant | 503.222.4086 | cenolina.abarca@stpatrickpdx.org
Cenolina, a true Oregonian, born and raised amidst the captivating landscapes of Oregon, where her deep-rooted sense of community and family has flourished. With a natural knack for organization, she thrives on keeping things in order, both at home and within her various endeavors. Beyond her commitments, she cherishes the simple joys of life, from attending church to savoring moments with her children and exploring the wonders of the Northwest every weekend with her family. Engaged in her community. At St. Pat’s, she has found a home and eagerly gives back by serving in the front office, where she embodies the generosity and warmth that define her character.
Melissa Hart
Coordinator of Sacred Music | melissa.hart@stpatrickpdx.org
Melissa Hart is a singer and multi-instrumentalist musician from San Francisco, California. She received a Bachelors of Music degree from Berklee College of Music, where she studied songwriting, music production, and vocal performance. She had a long journey to make to find her home in the Catholic Church after a secular upbringing. She is now full of the zeal of a fresh convert, and could not imagine a better way to use her 25+ years of musical training than to sing God’s praise for the rest of her life. In addition to serving as the Coordinator of Sacred Music at St. Patricks, she is the choir director at Portland's Chesterton Academy and a member of Cantores in Ecclesia.
Helen Heller
Wedding Coordinator | Helen.heller@stpatrickpdx.org
Helen Rey Heller is a skilled wedding coordinator whose life reflects a deep dedication to family, community, and faith. Originally from Indonesia, she immigrated to the United States in 1990 and worked in property management before becoming a stay-at-home mom to her three children. During their school years, Helen was actively involved at Cathedral School, where she chaired auctions and the financial aid luncheon, served on the CYO board, coached volleyball, and participated in the Parent Association and School Advisory Council. She also lent her talents to Jesuit High School as a volunteer.
In 2006, Helen was instrumental in the founding of Rose Haven as an independent nonprofit from Catholic Charities, serving on its first board of directors. Her commitment extended to St. Mary’s Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, where she contributed to the pastoral council, capital campaign committee, and bell restoration committee. Now, with her children grown, Helen serves as the wedding coordinator for St. Patrick’s and St. Mary’s Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception. She is also a current member of the Archbishop’s Seminary Tea Committee and proudly acts as an Ambassador for the Indonesian Catholic Community of Oregon, blending her heritage with her passion for service.
