St Mary's Italian Church, Frescoes/Memories

An excerpt from a video created for the Salem Italian American community in 2003 when St Mary's Italian Church - the neighborhood church they founded, funded and built - was closed on them by the Catholic Archdiocese of Boston. The story of this closing was also featured in the documentary "Hand of God" (http://www.handofgodfilm.com/ ). The church and two neighboring properties (rectory, youth center, apartment building) were purchased by the Salem Mission - an agency that houses the homeless. The three other properties have been developed into a shelter and apartments but the church itself has served as a thrift shop run by the Mission. Recently (May 2009) The Salem Mission announced plans to gut the church and convert it into 20 housing units. A grass-roots movement is under way to buy the church from the Mission and resurrect it as a community arts center. This would save the church's interior features and art, while allowing former parishioners, residents and visitors to once again attend the church - this time for performances and exhibits. The Salem Community Arts Center would employ Mission clients and engage them in educational opportunities.

Category:

Nonprofits & Activism

Tags:

• Catholic
• church
• closing
• hand of god
• Salem
• Mission
• homeless
• art
• community. Cultrera
• Italian
• culture
• Camarda
• Salvo
• Della Monica
• Franceschi