L'Italo-Americano

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2016 www.italoamericano.org 11 L'Italo-Americano PORTLAND ITALIAN COMMUNITY I n 1910, American architect Daniel Burnham famously said, "Make no small plans; they have no magic to stir men's souls and probably themselves will not be realized. Make big plans; aim high in hope and work, remembering that a noble, logical diagram once recorded will not die, but long after we are gone be a living thing, asserting itself with ever-growing insistence." St. Michael the Archangel Catholic Church stands at the cor- ner of SW 4 th and Mill Street in downtown Portland. Built in 1901, it seems small and insignifi- cant compared to the high-rise buildings that now surround it, but the little brick church has become a living thing with deep roots in the Italian community. It is the only remnant of Little Italy that survives with its original identity intact. La Chiesa Italiana holds a place of high honor in many hearts. The story of St. Michael's Parish actually starts in 1894 when the Archdiocese of Portland turned over a small wooden chapel to Father Titus Piacentini and the growing community of Italian immigrants. Upon arriving in Portland, the Italians settled in the neighborhoods of South Portland that surrounded the chapel's location. The Italians renovated the chapel and began holding regular Masses. St. Michael's became the beat- ing heart of Portland's Little Italy. Newly arriving Italians con- nected with family and friends from their home regions, and received assistance as they navi- gated the American way of life. It was a place of security and famil- iarity, of shared language, cus- toms and worship. As a result of a Catholic Church edict issued in 1899, St. Michael's was officially designated an Italian National Parish (a title it still proudly car- ries today). When Father Alexander Cestelli arrived at St. Michael's in May 1901 to pastor the rapidly growing parish, he quickly real- ized they needed a larger building and a push to raise funds began. A committee formed and in just six weeks they raised $7,000. In fact, it took the Italian community only four and a half months to raise the $15,000 esti- mated cost of construction. This is remarkable considering that the average Italian immigrant at that time earned approximately $25 to $30 per month. Designed by Joseph Jacobberger, church construction began in November 1901. The Romanesque design, complete with steep roof and bell tower, was built with three layers of brick from bricks the Italians made onsite. The superstructure was constructed of brick and stone and dressed in grey sandstone. The parish was poor but families proudly donated funds for the beautiful stained glass windows that illuminated the sanctuary. Created by the famous Povey Brothers of Portland, five of the windows were presented by Archbishop Christie and the remaining 28 by various members of the congregation. When St. Michael's was dedi- cated in June 1902, both the Catholic Sentinel and the Oregonian newspapers recorded the event. The finished church stood 90 feet long and 45 feet wide, with an interior vault 35 feet tall. It was constructed with a basement hall large enough to accommodate Italian organization meetings and parish events. Although St. Michael's served a predominately Italian parish, the passing years found that ethnic base dwindling as Italian families moved east and west of Portland in search of farmland or to move into expanding suburban neigh- borhoods. In the late 1950's, the South Auditorium Urban Renewal project literally wiped Little Italy off the face of the Portland map. This project, coupled with highway and bridge construction, forced the remaining Italian fami- lies and businesses to relocate. The parish began to reflect a more diverse population, which includ- ed a growing homeless and low- income population. To care for the less fortunate, St. Michael's created a successful social services program. It began with Father Frank Kennard mak- ing sandwiches in the parish recto- ry and distributing them in the South Park Blocks using a re-pur- posed mailbag cart. The outreach grew into twice-weekly soup and sandwich lunches, and monthly preparation and distribution of emergency food boxes. Over 33 years later, this ministry contin- ues. In 2014, more than 3,400 people received emergency food boxes; 4,500 gift bags of toiletries, socks, and hats were distributed; and almost 15,000 sack lunches were given away. After 114 years and numerous upgrades and remodels, St. Michael's is feeling the weight of time quite literally. The unrein- forced brick and mortar walls are bowing out under the weight of the roof, necessitating the use of KERRY-LYNNE DEMARINIS BROWN sixth floor. Father Mayo's win- dow looks out over the St. Michael's campus. "Every day, I look out at St. Michael's, at the bell tower," he smiles as he looks out the win- dow. "I can't wait to move back in and get back to work. It's a wonderful little parish. I really consider myself the luckiest man." Construction will begin early this year and will continue into 2017. The church, a historic land- mark since 1971, sits quietly and eerily empty. It is impossible to measure the worth of the little Italian church. It is a physical reminder of friends and family long passed away, a reminder to the Italian community of who they are and where they came from. Even the new generations of Italians settling in Portland feel the draw of the place. At the dedication ceremony in 1901, Father Cestelli shared his admiration for the Italian communi- ty when he said he hoped "that for generations to come, the Catholics of Portland should point with pride to the Italian Colony of 1901." To contribute to St. Michael's building program, visit www. stmichaelportland.org steel cables across the sanctuary to hold them in place. Over the years, water has found its way into the building and caused irrepara- ble damage. The mortar in the brick walls is crumbling and bricks have actually fallen from the bell tower. The modern mechanics of 1901 are no match for the present day needs of tech- nology, electricity, water and gas utilities, and the original kitchen is woefully inadequate for the church's social service ministries. Father James Mayo has been pastoring St. Michael's since arriving in 2004. A multi-million dollar expansion project had been in the works for over a decade and his predecessors had begun fundraising for the construction. It was apparent to Father Mayo that time was of the essence. "I fell in love with this parish," says Father Mayo. "God has blessed me with the most gener- ous people possible. We want to provide for those around us and offer expanded services like health screenings, foot care, and dental care. We want to open our doors to groups offering support to those with addictions." In addition to restoration, the building must undergo a substan- tial seismic retrofit. St. Michael's Building Committee chose Di Loreto Architecture to design the project and oversee the construc- tion. Although fundraising has surpassed $5 million, there is still need for further donations. As with any large-scale construction project, hiccups have been encountered throughout the process. "The latest concern is for the additional weight that the seismic work will add to the building," explains Father Mayo. "The origi- nal footings have to be able to carry that extra weight. Each design change means more funds have to be redirected. We have already cancelled several interior projects to fund needed structural changes." The congregation moved out of St. Michael's in July and emptied the building. Moving day was dif- ficult, logistically and emotional- ly. St. Mary's Academy, located just across the street, has opened their doors to St. Michael's for regular Masses. The church offices relocated to an office building down the street on the St. Michael the Archangel Catholic Church, the Italian National Parish of Portland

• Cover