► The Beginning
► Fr. Gus Memorial
► Port Ministries Today
► Board of Directors and Staff
The Beginning
(An excerpt from an interview with Fr. Gus in the early years)
Port Ministries simply started because of a dream, idea and a word from the Lord. There were no elongated and entrenching plans and there still isn't. People are poor and hungry, so, we feed them and help them. I guess we just want to love others and try to extend that love to as many as possible. In this simple way, we started in 1984 – it was in July that a few of us started to meet on Justine Street to pray and seek the Lord's guidance. We soon found ourselves praying on the streets… isn't that where the church belongs? We would go two by two and simply stroll along with prayer and believe me, it was an eye opener!
 Then we started to look for a place to begin. Someone compiled a list of all the available buildings in the area and off we went. The last place we looked at, in the 2nd week of December in 1984, was 5058 South Ashland. It was last on the list and 1st on the Lord's list. We named it “The Port” after that small portion of a church called the Portiuncula in Assisi, Italy, where St. Francis started his Gospel response with his brothers and sisters.
We opened our Soup Kitchen doors on Pentecost Sunday, May 26, 1985. We fed 37 people that day and I couldn't believe that we could continue to manage 37 each day, but in time numbers grew to 300+ daily. “Where will we get the food” was a constant question, but as we prayed, begged and trusted, it just kept coming from all over the place! Our ministry is based on TRUST… the Lord will provide, He loves His poor!
~Fr. Gus
Over these past 20 years, “The Port” has grown into “Port Ministries”: a multi-faceted ministry to the poor, homeless, families and children (currently housed in 5 buildings) that still continues its mission in the simple ways of our beginnings. As we pray and trust, we vividly see and experience the Lord's presence, care and love daily… in the people we serve and in the many benefactors and volunteers that respond and give from their hearts to serve those in need. We see the secondary mission of Port Ministries fulfilled: giving others the opportunity to touch and serve Jesus in His “distressing disguise”.
Fr. Augustin "Gus" Milon, O.F.M.
Feb. 18, 1944 to April 11, 2008
“I will raise up for myself faithful priests; they will do
what is in my heart and in my mind, says the Lord”.
~1 Samuel 2:35
Port Ministries Today
Port Ministries, founded in 1985 by Fr. Augustin Milon O.F.M., began as a soup kitchen and in subsequent years, has expanded in response to the many critical needs of area residents and now serves the poor and homeless through the following ministry areas...
St Mary of the Angels: (began in 1985) Secular Franciscan Fraternity
Home Visiting: (began 1986) Ministry to our neighborhood shut-ins.
Madonna Queen of Peace: (began as H.O.P.E. Community in 1987) Staff & guest residence.
The Mantle: (began 1991) Family and Children Center: Family enrichment and supplemental education for adults and children.
The Bread Truck: (began 1994): “Soup Kitchen on Wheels”.
Pio House: (began 1995) Administration Facility
Tony's Gym: (began 1998) Recreational Facility for Children
The Port Free Clinic: (began 1999) Basic medical services to neighborhood poor and un-insured
Food Donations: pickups and food handling
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Board of Directors and Staff
Port Ministries' leadership is a dedicated group of individuals willing to embrace the vision and en-flesh it through Gospel centered directives and decisions. Our focus is to fulfill the goals of basic human services to the poor, and giving others the opportunity to minister to our guests - the poor, homeless, families and children.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Richard Guzior, S.F.O. - President
Dr. Kevin Dolehide - Vice presidemt
Paul Dubuque - Treasurer
Brother Craig Wilkings, O.F.M - Assumption BVM Province representative
Martha Gilbert, S.F.O. - Secretary
Keith Armato - Member at large
FOUNDER
Rev. Augustin Milon, O.F.M. (Deceased)
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
David Krug, S.F.O.
ASSISTANT TO THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR & COMMUNICATIONS
John Biegel, S.F.O.
COORDINATORS
THE BREAD TRUCK & PICKUPS - Various volunteers
PIO HOUSE & THE PORT FREE CLINIC - David Krug, SFO
HOME VISITING - Walter Koszut
THE MANTLE - Kris Openshaw, SFO: Child Development, Pat Coti, SFO: Adult Ed.
VOLUNTEERS - John Biegel, SFO
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