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" (www.handofgodfi... ). 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.