PAGE SIX The Italian Tribune - La Tribuna del Popolo Friday, March 6-March 19, 2009

100 Years of Italian American HistoryA Historical Perspective on the Italian American Community in Metro Detroit

A year-long serieshighlighting businesses

and community membersfrom 1909 to today.

San Francesco:The Italian ChurchFor more than 110 years, San Francesco Church has been a constant

in Detroit for many Italian Americans. At the time of its inception, thechurch served only around 60 families. In November 1898, San FrancescoChurch was dedicated by the Apostolic Delegate for the United States,Archbishop Sebastian Martinelli. This was an important day for the Italiancommunity, who turned out for the blessing off there new church. At thehelm of San Francesco was Father Francis Beccherini. Two years later,Fr. Beccherini built a rectory, which adjoined the church.

For Fr. Beccherini, the care and future of the Italian immigrantswas very important, which prompted him to return to Italy to seek outmissionaries to serve various parts of the United States. In 1904,Beccherini was honored for all of his hard work and scarifice when theQueen of Italy presented him with a chalice, along with many othervestments. Pope Pius X gave him a silver censer of recognition of hispriestly seal, and in 1908 he was knighted with the crown of Italy. Fr.Beccherini was well loved by his parish for his sense of humor and wit.Fr. Beccherini served his parish for 46 years and stood tall with themthrough the Great Depression and two world wars before his death inJune of 1949.

Following Beccherini’s death Reverend Emil A. Capano took overas pastor and began to revive the spirit of the parish after the loss of theirbeloved leader. But Fr. Capano and the church were not without trials andtribulations, and like anything that has served a community for as long asSan Francesco has, there have been ups and downs. In April 1944, adisasterous fire nearly claimed the church. However with the support andhelp of the parish and Fr. Capano, San Francesco Church was restored inless than a year’s time. Fr. Capano continued to serve San Francesco Churchfor three years.

In 1948, while continuing to serve as a parish, San FrancescoChurch became the U.S. base for the Italian Missionary Order, and Fr.Guido Margutti came on as pastor. In 1963, the church celebrated its 65th

anniversary under the leadership of Fr. Cancelli; however, it was soondetermined that in order for San Francesco to continue as a stable parish,it was necessary to have a priest interested in a more long term assignment.In 1966, Dominic Rossi became the new pastor. However Rossi wassurprised to learn that in late 1966 the church was sold by the archdiocese.

In 1995, Father Giulio Schiavi joined San Francesco Church asassistant pastor. He was the Honorary Chairman of the San FrancescoCentennial Celebration. Following Fr. Rossi’s death in 1997, Fr. Schiavitook over as pastor.

For several years the Church operated out of St. Joseph parish,and then the chapel of the monastery of the blessed sacrament, until 1978when the archdiocese gave San Francesco Church permission to operateunder its own church building. There was much work to be done to thenew building now located near Gratiot, but once again having a permanentchurch for its parishioners served to bring back many Italian parishionersto the same church many parishioner grew up in. Faithful parishionersdonated to their beloved church to help pay the previous debt, to helpwith the upkeep and to revitalize the building with a marble altar, stainedglass windows and a lighted Marian Grotto with a cascading water fall.San Francesco Church also continued to use the baptismal font from theoriginal building.

For over 100 plus years the San Francesco Church has served itsItalian community. More than a century after it opened its doors thechurch’s congregation is still an active part of the Italian community andwill no doubt continue to serve the community for many more years tocome.

Rev. Francis J. BeccheriniPastor of San Francesco

1897-1943

Fr. Dominic RossiPastor of SanFrancesco

1950-1997

Fr. Giulio SchiaviPastor of SanFrancesco

1997-Present

A HISTORIC SITE: (Above from top to bottom) The old San Francesco Church, Theold San Francesco Church altar; statues that came from Italy; members of the 100thAnniversary commitee who worked tirelessly in 1996 to commemorate the church’scentennial (First row, from left): Rose Serdoz, Geri Calderone, Lucy Raciti, FatherRossi, Emily Asni, Emily Conforti, (Second row, from left): John Sternicki, Mary Merlo,Edward Baker, Gemma Cima, Tom Catenacci, Marlene Baker, Albert Asni, CathyCatenacci, Ernie Conforti and Anthony Merlo. Not Pictured were Chairperson PaulCalcaterra and Dominic Licavoli.

Photos by PAM WHITE and from SAN FRANCESCO CHURCH

Editor’s note: If you have a business, club or individual that you believe deserves historicalrecognition in a future edition, call (586) 783-3260 or email Italiantribune@yahoo.com