A Picture of Community...
When you walk through the doors of the Fish Fry at Porkland, the first thing you are greeted by is a picture. It grabs everyone's attention. It is nothing flashy, it doesn’t pop out from colors but it always gets attention. It is a panoramic picture of the First Solemn Mass in the new Saint Cecilia Church. It was taken in 1927 on the steps of the church building with everyone from infants to elders, altar children to priests. Old cars and buildings that no longer exist surround the perimeter. It is a picture of community, and it continues to serve its purpose of building community to this day.
Picture of the First Solemn Mass at the new St. Cecilia Church in 1927
Dozens of people who have walked into the Fish Fry have stopped to look at that old photograph, and many of them have stories to go with it. They’ll stop, call me over and say look, that there was my grandparent, or great aunt, or one of my old teachers. It is a picture that preserves memories of the community that at one time was so prevalent in that building. It is a picture that reminds people of community, excites their spirit and makes them want to share it in order to bring remnants of that community back to life. It is a natural and unpreventable reaction.
The picture reminds them of Church. Not the Sunday services that they used to attend, but true Church, functioning in its fullness. It reminds them of the education that they got at the Saint Cecilia School, reminds them of the fun kickball games they had in the parking lot, of the marriages they witnessed at that altar. It reminds them of life and love, and helps us in painting the vision of restoring it.
We get to tell people of the school that we now have that serves just this neighborhood. We get to show them videos of the kickball games that we have in the same parking lot, tell them about how Porkland is once again a school cafeteria that feeds students of Portland. We get to share the hope of bringing more small businesses back to the corners of our streets, in the buildings that sit vacant or have been gone for some time.
To some it is just an old picture. Nothing special or extraordinary. It is just an image taken of people at another point in time. People who are not from Portland may not even notice it. But to many of us, it is much more than that. It is a picture of community, transcending time to bridge the communities of past, present, and future.
Ethan
NEW PORTLAND Map Shirts Available Now!!!
Our Newest shirt design is out now!!! It features a map of prominent streets with historical and significant buildings in our community. Stop by Porkland to pick yours up today. Or order online HERE
Design features St Cecilia Church, Shaheens, Jane Bros Hardware, The Portland Museum, the old Marine Hospital, and the Portland Community Center.
The Boys Kick off Season with First Game!!!
The Mighty Oak Lions Boys Basketball team kicked off their season yesterday with a school wide pep rally and an away game versus Landmark Academy. The boys put up a great fight but ultimately came up short on the road. We look forward to seeing them continue to grow throughout the year.
The boys put in a good game versus Landmark Academy
Send Off Chalk
If you are interested in volunteering or to find out more information about supplies needed please email: info@lovecityinc.org or call (502) 272-078.