St. André Bessette church is named after a French-Canadian lay Brother of the Congregation of Holy Cross who had a strong devotion to St. Joseph and through whom God healed many sick and infirm.
Founded in 1919 to assist sailors returning from World War I, this church used to be known as the Downtown Chapel (although its formal name was St. Vincent De Paul Church) and for many years was run by the Society of Jesus (Jesuits). After the Congregation of Holy Cross took responsibility for the chapel and after St. André's canonization, the name was changed to honor Brother André.
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St. André Bessette Catholic Church is located on 6th and West Burnside St., convenient for both those work work downtown to catch a noon Mass and to minister to the street people of that area. Indeed, its outreach to the poor is a big part of its raison d'être.
On weekdays the worshipers are a mix of the above: downtown workers and the downtrodden. On Sundays the congregation more closely resembles any other west side congregation.
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I
did note one difference though; on the Sunday I attended the
congregation actually sang in such a way as could be heard and felt --
totally unlike the average Catholic congregation which sings so low and
pitifully that one wonders if it qualifies as praise. (See Why Catholics Can't Sing, by Thomas Day.)
