Saint Edward Catholic Church

Our Staff

Fr. David Jaspers

Pastor (x301)

Fr. David Jaspers comes to Saint Edward as our pastor effective July 1, 2026, appointed by Archbishop Alexander K. Sample. A priest of the Archdiocese of Portland in Oregon, he has served parish communities across the Willamette Valley for more than fifteen years.

Fr. Jaspers studied Spanish-language literature and history at Pacific Lutheran University, graduating in 2000, before entering priestly formation at Mount Angel Seminary, just a few miles from Keizer. At Mount Angel he earned a Master of Divinity, a Bachelor of Sacred Theology, and a Master of Arts in Scripture, graduating with the class of 2009. His love of Scripture has remained at the heart of his ministry ever since, including years of leading parish Bible studies.

From 2011 to 2016, Fr. Jaspers served St. Alice Catholic Church in Springfield, first as administrator and then as pastor. He then became pastor of Ascension Catholic Church in Southeast Portland, a vibrant, multicultural parish where English- and Spanish-speaking families worship side by side — a community well matched to his background in Spanish-language studies. During his years at Ascension he celebrated hundreds of baptisms, First Communions, weddings, and funerals, and in the spring of 2022 he completed his Doctorate in Pastoral Ministry while continuing to serve as pastor.

Fr. Jaspers succeeds Fr. Gary Zerr, who entered senior status in 2026 after more than two decades of ministry at Saint Edward. We warmly welcome Fr. Jaspers to Keizer and look forward to the years of ministry ahead.

Father Gary (Retired)

Assisting the Church

My vocation has had many twists and turns. I felt called to be a priest in High School, and after attending Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles, where I was very active in the Charismatic Renewal and worked for the City of Los Angeles Libraries as a clerk, I felt called to try the Benedictines at St Andrew's Priory (now Abbey) at Valyermo. After this the Lord led me to a career with American Airlines. I entered Mount Angel Seminary in 1991, being ordained for the Archdiocese of Portland in 1997. I am grateful to the Lord for the grace of being a priest for the people of God and Saint Edward for over twenty years before retiring. I look forward to helping around the church and continuing my frgary.com website.