St Michael The Archangel Roman Catholic Church

Elite '09

38

105

Catherine K.

Portland, OR

4/11/2008

This church is a historical landmark and has been around since 1894. It's the Italian National Parish of the Portland Archdiocese.

I'm not sure about all the different ministries, but I do know that they offer religious education courses, have campus ministry in conjunction with Portland State University (Newman Club/Center- which is open to all students~ not just PSU), and a lunch box program that serves the homeless daily (located in the basement level).

You can't miss it because it's located right behind the PSU bookstore~ beautiful red brick building w/ bell tower; currently undergoing renovations.

It's nice because they have daily mass (M-Sat) at 12:05 PM, so I just walk over there when I don't have class. I do see some students, but majority are the elderly, and people who work downtown that come during their lunch break. Mass is beautiful... and quick~ 28 minutes! Daily masses are usually shorter than Sunday's b/c there is no singing and homilies are like 5 minutes.. Sometimes the priest will skip the homily altogether. Everything else is the same though.

But it's the best 28 minutes... moment when heaven and earth meet, constructs of time/space are broken... i come as i am... received with all my imperfections, weaknesses, failures, fears. walls come down... not the kid from the bronx.. just a kid. no thoughts required... Just feel and... Be.
Everything passes, but one thing will always remain constant and unchanging.... He is who He is.

of course, no words can express the fullness of what I'm trying to say.. simply put, it's just special. personal.

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when i come here...
my hunger is satisfied (when a Snickers just aint enough)...
my thirst is quenched (you lie, Gatorade).

I'm lovin it -more than Mc. D's.
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