St. Michael the Archangel

http://www.stmichaelportland.org/

St. Michael the Archangel is located in downtown Portland on the southwest side, not too far from Portland State University. It is kitty-corner from St. Mary's Academy. It's location is important to its character. Before Urban Renewal changed the face of this part of Portland in the 1960's, southwest Portland was home to large Italian and Jewish populations. That St. Michael's was predominantly an Italian parish can be seen from the names of Italian families that sponsored the stain-glass windows of the church.

Although tucked into downtown Portland onto a crowded half-block, the church contains a special surprise for garden-lovers. Someone has planted and maintained fruit trees, bushes and plants of all sorts along the edges of the property. There are many types of fruits: espaliered pears and apples, kiwis, raspberries and more. On a early summer day, the garden is a delight and it alone is worth a visit.

Father James Mayo is the current pastor of St. Michael's. Fr. Mayo is a friendly and caring pastor and his sermons reflect his love of learning.

St. Michael's ministries include reaching out to the poor by providing sack lunches from 10 to 11 am each weekday. Confessions are heard six days a week.

St. Ignatius

St. Ignatius Catholic Church

St. Ignatius is run by the Society of Jesus (the "Jesuits") and is located on SE Powell Blvd., just east of SE 39th Avenue.

The St. Ignatius church building is fairly plain on the outside and even more humble on the inside. However, I found the service (10:30 am) to be warm and family-friendly. Perhaps because the priest conducted three baptisms today, there were many families with young children.

The parishioners are ethnically mixed, interestingly with a some African parishioners.

St. Birgitta

St. Birgitta Catholic Church
11820 NW Saint Helens Rd
Portland, OR 97231

 
St. Birgitta is probably best known for its Latin Mass. It is at 8 am on Sunday. There is also a Latin Mass at St. Birgitta's on first Fridays, first Saturdays and on holy days. There is a website dedicated to this Mass.

I attended the English Mass, which is at 10 am. The church is located on St. Helens Road just past the town of Linnton. It looks like a plain country church on the outside. The inside is quite beautiful though: unpainted wooden pews, walls and ceiling lend it warmth, charm and beauty as only wood can. The inside is very much like St. Thomas More's and I would not be surprised if the same architect and construction company built both churches. (St. Thomas More's website indicates it church as built in 1940 by Pietro Belluschi. I do not know who built St. Birgitta's, however.) The most remarkable thing about the service was the singing. Most Catholic churches do not do a good job of singing. In fact, a book on the subject has been written: Why Catholics Can't Sing. But this church sang pretty darn well. The key was a four-person choir accompanied by an electric piano. That choir sang loudly, clearly and beautifully and, most amazingly, most of the rest of the church joined in. If only more Catholics in Portland would actually sing instead of just listening to others sing.