St. André Bessette

St. André Bessette Catholic Church

601 West Burnside Street

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. 

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.  

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.)

St. Therese of the Child Jesus

St. Therese Catholic Community
1260 NE 132nd Avenue

St. Therese is located near Glendoveer Golf Course not too far from the Gateway Shopping Center.  It is a physically large facility with an adjoining school.  It is named after St. Therese of Lisieux, the french nun who died of tuberculosis in 1897 at the age of 24.  

The current pastor, Fr. Steve Geer, was a late convert to Catholicism.  He speaks openly about -- prior to entering the priesthood -- having adopted and raised his nephew, who sadly became addicted to drugs and died at a young age.  Fr. Geer has a grandson. 

The church building appears to be another mid-century modern construction.  It is a large building, only a portion of which is the worship space.  But the church was far from full at either of the services I attended.  The remaining third of the church building appears to be devoted to offices or meeting rooms.

The parishioners at the 11:30 service were a mixture of White, Latino, Asian and Pacific Islanders.  Because the first time I went I took pictures not realizing my camera had no film, I attended services twice, both times being very pleasant experiences.

St. Peter

St. Peter Catholic Church
5905 SE 87th Avenue
http://portlandcatholics.com/indiv/stpetrp/stpetrp.htm 
(unofficial website)

St. Peter is located just off Highway 205 and about two blocks south of Foster Road.  It does not appear to have a website, but if the information on the City of Portland's PortlandMaps website is correct, it was built in 1962.  (But this website describes the church as "pre-Vatican 2.)  The inside of the church is very large and today's 9 a.m. Mass was sparsely attended.  The interior could use some remodeling.  Those who are fans of Mid-Century Modern architecture will love the long cylindrical light fixtures hung from the ceiling.  (For more on that style of architecture in Portland, see this site:  http://mcmleague.org/.) 

The parishioners were predominately White and those in attendance were mostly grey-haired.  There were a fair number of Asians and Hispanics rounding out the attendance, who appeared to be relative newcomers to the neighborhood.  The church bulletin is in English and Spanish and there is a Spanish Mass at noon on Sundays.

Fr. Dave Zegar is mustachioed and about 50.  The most remarkable thing about Fr. Zegar was his startling deep voice.  Rather impressive.

St. Joseph the Worker

St. Joseph the Worker
2310 SE 148th Ave.           

St. Joseph the Worker is located far out on SE Division Street, almost to Gresham.  The building that houses it looks very much like it used to be a public grade school.  Although the parishioners at the 10:30 am Mass were mostly White, there were also lots of Asians, Hispanics and a few Pacific Islanders. 

It was a nice Mass with quite a friendly congregation.  Father John Amsberry looked familiar.  Finally I realized that he used to be at Holy Redeemer Parish in N. Portland.  Father Amsberry is a good looking, relatively young priest who possesses both an MBA and a Law degree.  He has a habit of getting the congregation to say "we are loved," all in unison.  He even has a web site by that name:  http://www.uareloved.com/.  Getting the congregation to say things in unison, on top of the many things we already say in unison during Mass, is not my cup of tea.  But most of the parishioners seem to like it. 

St. Joseph's web site is as good as any I have seen yet in the Archdiocese.  I liked the feel and the multi-ethnicity of the parish and would like to visit again.

St. Pius X

St. Pius X
1280 NW Saltzman Road

St. Pius is located on the western edge of Portland.  Actually, according to my map of Portland, it is in Cedar Mill, but it has a Portland mailing address and is part of the Portland Archdiocese. 

The most impression formed duuring my visit to St. Pius X was the size of the "campus."  It has a very large parking lot, a good-sized church building, a parish community building, school buildings, an "old church" (former chapel) and a St. Vincent de Paul building.  (I may have left out a building or two.)

The 10:30 am Mass was nearly full.  The pews form a large semi-circle around the alter.  The choir has the most professional appearing microphones I have seen in a church.  They looked ready to record an album.  The priest that said Mass was African and is not listed on the website as "staff."  He did not seem like a visiting priest, so I imagine he says Mass there on a regular basis.

The parishioners were mostly White with a small number of Latinos and Asians.  The church interior is modern with large exposed beams made of laminated 2 by 8 boards, stained dark.  The beams were arranged like wheel spokes, meeting in the middle. 

Judging by the website this is a big and active church.  However, there is nothing terribly interesting about the church to recommend visiting it if you do not live in the area.  It does not compare to other churches I have visited in Portland in terms of interest:  no interesting racial make-up, cultural heritage, unique architecture or distinctive rite.  However, I am sure it is a wonderful church to belong to if your family lives in the Bethany or Cedar Mill residential areas.

St. Thomas More

St. Thomas More 

3525 SW Patton Road

It's difficult for me to say much about St. Thomas More Parish because it is not making a first impression on me; it's where I went to church as a child.  St. Thomas More is located in the Portland Heights neighborhood of southwest Portland.  It is located where SW Patton Road reaches the ridge and starts heading down the opposite side.  It is close to Council Crest Park.

Pietro Belluschi, a Portland architect with a national reputation, built the church in 1940.  The inside is entirely of unpainted wood, even the crucifix.  The wooden interior is only lightly stained and retains a feel that is rustic and modern at the same time. 

The parishioners at the 10 am Palm Sunday Mass were 100% White.  Even in the 21st Century there do not appear to be many non-whites in Portland Heights. 

Although not the acme of racial diversity, St. Thomas More is a beautiful structure, the Mass was well-attended and the natives were friendly. 

St. Rita

St. Rita's Catholic Church
10029 NE Prescott St.

St. Rita's is the friendliest church I have visited to date.  I received several heartfelt smiles from  parishioners.  Here I was treated as part of the parish rather than a stranger to be feared.  Perhaps the church is large enough that I was not recognized as a stranger.  Perhaps others' friendliness was more of a reflection of my mood than theirs.  Perhaps, but I want to go on record as saying in my whistle stop tour of Portland parishes, this one was the friendliest to-date -- and with only a few more to go!  (If my word is not good enough, here is an article about St. Rita's saying the same thing.) 

St. Rita's is located just a few block southeast of where NE Sandy Boulevard crosses over I-205.  It is near the Maywood Park residential area .  At the Mass I attended the parishioners were mostly White but there were good numbers of Asian and Hispanic attendees as well.  There were plenty of families with young children but all ages were represented at the service.

Built in 1956, the exterior of the building is red brick and the appearance is modern.  There are alternating colored glass skylights in the interior and the ceiling lights have shades shaped like hourglasses made from thin metal sheets, painted green.  I initially thought they were from the 1970s but more likely they date from the building's mid-century (modern) construction period.  

The church bulletin says "St. Rita Catholic Community" at the top and inside is an announcement of a Parish Retreat in May "focusing on creating and engaging community at St. Rita Parish."  The retreat is to be centered "around the theme of belonging -- truly being part of our parish."  It would seem that the friendliness I experienced at St. Rita's was not just by happenstance.  Who wouldn't want to belong to such a Parish?