Nativity of Our Lord Detroit

A Year of Faith Journey to Detroit's places of Catholic worship.
Nativity of Our Lord Church.

We Are Here to Stay! proclaims a sign at the front of Nativity church. Recalling the East side neighborhood I just drove through, the sign has a powerful meaning.

Our Christian faith, the universal church, has endured for over 2,000 years. Neighborhoods may crumble, membership may dwindle, wars may destroy and yet the church endures.  The church is more than just a sum of the earthly parts. Ours is a church that exists here on earth and in Heaven. While cities rise and fall, and loved ones pass from the face of the earth our Church and God's love endures. With tears of lamentation or with shouts of joy the Body of Christ continues to proclaim the Good News. Our church continues, ever ancient, ever new.

The sign at Nativity church sums up the whole of Church history, we are here to stay

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Saints Peter and Paul West Side Detroit

A Year of Faith Journey to the Catholic worship sites of Detroit


Near the end of the homily the priest at Saints Peter and Paul began the first of his "Things we forgot about the Catholic faith" lessons. Using a copy of the Baltimore Catechism, an updated version he assured us, he began with the first of the Ten Commandments.  You Shall Worship the Lord Your God and Him Only Shall You Serve

So often, the priest instructed, we let the gods of our disposable culture come between us and loving God or come between us and loving our neighbor. The priest rattled off a familiar list of false gods; mindless consumption, the drive to buy more and more. Loss of value and worth for all we consume and discard. When was the last time you repaired something? Obsessions with gossip, celebrity or personal power. And then a jolt as the priest mentioned one final obstacle, one final false god. Are we too busy comparing ourselves to others, he asked.

Are we too busy comparing ourselves to others? Are we too concerned how others perceive us. Could this really prevent us from having a relationship with God? We paused to reflect on our own disruptions.

It has been many years since the catechism classes of my youth and a refresher course is certainly needed.  Perhaps I should mention these weekly lessons at Sts. Peter and Paul to my parish priest. Maybe we could organize a weeknight class for adult Catholics to learn anew what makes our faith so rich and beautiful. A Catholic should reflect on what we believe and why, for it will certainly bring us closer to God. The priest at Sts. Peter and Paul understands this and with a few minutes taken at the end of each homily to teach our faith he is strengthening that love.

When was the last time you read a book about Catholicism? Perhaps this is a good week to select one from your library or bookstore. A beautiful feature of our faith is the wealth of writing available to us. From the ancient Christians writers to those of the present, we are a religion that loves to write!

Suggestions

The Mass: The Glory, The Mystery, The Tradition

Consuming the Word: The New Testament and The Eucharist in the Early Church

The Bad Catholics Guide to Good Living

Fearing the Stigmata (very funny and touching)

The Bible

Confessions- Saint Augustine

Sacred Heart Chapel at Marygrove College Detroit

-A Year of Faith Journey- A pilgrimage to the Catholic worship spaces of Detroit

Sing to the Lord a new song

Sing to the Lord, praise his name

It is good to praise the Lord and make music to your name, O Most High

Praise Him with trumpet sound

Praise Him with string and pipe

From the Psalms to the Acts of Apostles where Paul and Silas sing hymns of praise, the bible is filled with references to joyous song.
Acts of the Apostles
But about midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns of praise to God, and the prisoners were listening to them

At Sacred Heart Chapel, the organ filled the worship space with layer upon layer of sound. It was music with no beginning or end, like the angels singing continuous praise around God's throne. Voices lifted praise towards heaven and mixed with sounds of the organ. It was a moment that plays out at Catholic churches the world over. And here in the Gothic style chapel it felt medieval, for a brief moment I closed my eyes and was transported to a soaring cathedral in old Europe. 

Catholicism is filled with song and music. The ancient church sang in times of happiness and in times of sorrow, just as we sing today and we bible mentions the angels singing praise to God.

Song is both heavenly and earthly and ties both places together. We join with the voices of Heaven and sing praise to God.

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My Year of Faith journey will continue!

SS. Andrew and Benedict Detroit

Living Votive

All eyes were upon me as I entered SS. Andrew and Benedict on a Monday morning. It's easy to spot the newcomer at weekday Mass since those attending are usually a tight knit group. Greeted by smiles from the parishioners, I was looking for a place to sit when  I spotted St. Dominic smiling at me from a church window. Then, a certain brightness filled the church as our prayers and smiles blazed like candles.


And then during Mass, as we prayed for parishioners and loved ones, the priest said that we are all "living votive candles". And now days later I keep reflecting on those words; living votive candles. The priest explained that we light votive candles so our prayers continue to be offered up as the candle burns. As a living votive our prayers never cease since we are like candles burning before the alter of God.  And like the flame of a votive candle our prayer brings light to the world.

I realized why it was so bright inside SS Andrew and Benedict. The church was blazing with the light of living votive flames. And here lies the challenge I have pondered in the days following Mass. How do we as Christians become living votive candles that light the world?

Saint Aloysius Detroit

Prayer Break.
During my Year of Faith journey I developed the habit of scheduling prayer breaks into my day. On my quest to visit the Catholic churches in Detroit I have come to know the locations and Mass times of churches near and far. So whether I am working or just running errands prayer breaks have become an important part of my day.

Some days I need of a prayer break because work doesn't want to stop. I relish the silence of  the church and then head back to work refreshed and calm. Prayer breaks give us perspective and a moment free from worry.

Some days I need a prayer break because I need to talk to a stranger. At Mass there is always the stranger ready to say "hello" or eager to chat for a minute or two. The gentleman standing outside who says a greeting as you enter. The parishioner eager to greet a new face and explain a bit of the church history. These interactions connect me to the world and I relish every one I have.

Some days I need a prayer break because I want to tell God "thank-you". Often, I take a prayer break just out of habit and find myself in the quiet of church suddenly thanking God for creation.

Take a prayer break. A prayer break doesn't have to be in a church. A quiet corner at work is perfect for a prayer break. Even taking that moment to say a silent prayer before eating lunch is a perfect prayer break. Taking a walk around the block can be a prayer break. I particularly like reciting the Glory Be as I walk.

Glory be to the Father,
And to the Son,
And to the Holy Spirit.
As it was in the beginning, is now,
and ever shall be,
World without end. Amen.

I took a prayer break at St. Aloysius in downtown Detroit.  Their lunchtime Mass is something I really look forward to, especially when I have the time to walk along Washington Blvd. afterwards and reflect on the Graces of life. 

Our Lady of the Rosary - Detroit

 I have become used to seeing familiar faces on the church circuit in Detroit. There are many Christians that feel drawn to the sacred spaces of our faith. At Mass at Our Lady of the Rosary it was the priest that was the familiar face. He has been at three of the churches I visited and I know I will see him at others.

When we read about the priest shortage in a magazine or hear our pastor mention it during the homily we often just nod our heads and murmur that it's a real shame. Not until I kept meeting this priest at Mass did I realize that the shortage is real.

 We are all called to serve Jesus, though we are not all called to serve as priests.Christ called us to be active in our faith and Christ is very clear about this. Forgiving, helping, healing, housing, loving, listening; these are but a few of the actions that define us as Christians and these actions are how we serve Jesus and live the Kingdom.

It's up to us and God to decide just how we can best serve the church and serve the world. So ask God! Take a moment and pray. Take a moment and ask questions. Take a moment and listen. For the Holy Spirit will guide you.

Saint Gregory the Great - Detroit

During the sermon at Saint Gregory the priest took a moment to describe the worship service of the early church. Many of the practices of the early church are still done today though often in a more symbolic and ritualized form. One example given is when the priest washes his hands and dries them after receiving the holy gifts at the alter. In the ancient church the priest received not only bread and wine that the parishioners brought but also foodstuffs and clothes for the needy and perhaps even livestock such as ducks and geese. All these things were brought to the priest so they could be shared among the church. (there is a bible passage about the early followers of Jesus pooling what they had and each receiving what he or she needed) It was natural then after receiving all these varied gifts that the priest would need to wash his hands. In our modern church the priest continues this practice by washing his hands with water after the gifts are brought to the alter. 

Our faith is both ancient and new. The Mass we celebrate today is truly rooted in the ancient practices of those first followers of Jesus. The next time you celebrate Mass, look around and watch every movement that happens at the alter and then afterwards ask the priest about it.  

Assumption Grotto-Detroit

My Year of Faith journey continued with an evening Latin Mass at Assumption Grotto on Detroit's East side. Did I mention that this was the Tridentine Mass? Attending (I am reluctant to use the word participate) the Tridentine Mass made me suddenly understand Vatican II.

In today's Catholic church the Body of Christ, the congregation, participates in Mass. We recite prayers aloud as one body, we lift our souls to God as one body, we interact with each other as one body. During the Tridentine Mass, one is merely an observer, watching the priest inaudibly say the prayers and consecrate the host. As an observer of Mass I realized how important it is to be a participant. The holy Mass is just too important to just watch and God really does call us to participate. The next time you attend Mass be sure to seek out your neighbors hand during the Lords Prayer and perhaps sing just a little bit louder because we are all in this together.

Saint Thomas Aquinas- Detroit

My father recently mentioned that he instinctively nods his head each time the name of Jesus is recited during a Mass service. This instinctive nodding he told me is from attending Catholic school where the nuns and priests ensured that each child new the importance of nodding their head at the name of Jesus.

Tucked away at the far corner of Detroit on the Dearborn border, Saint Thomas church stands at the busy intersection of a major thoroughfare and a highway. I almost missed finding the church, the building is severely plain and tucked back from the road. Inside I found a church as plain inside as outside and a priest wearing the most beautiful vestments I have seen in a long time. I came to Saint Thomas for the rosary and stayed for the Mass dedicated to Our Lady Of Perpetual Help followed by Eucharistic adoration. That week I had need of help and found solace as I recited the prayers with those around me. During the Mass as the priest knelt to add incense to the burner I glimpsed cowboy boots beneath those ornate vestments. And all through Mass and the adoration I watched as he nodded his head when the name of Jesus was recited. I couldn't help but to think of my dad.

Corpus Christi- Detroit

Corpus Cristi solicits "God sightings" on its website. After attending Mass there I am certainly responding to their solicitation. Lately, I have been anxious about the merging of the parish I attend with a nearby church and then the possibility of another merger and loss of the parish that is just around the corner from where I live.

 Corpus Cristi is a recent faith community resulting from the merger of two parishes. They are a new creation, a theme of Lent 2013. What I saw was indeed a new creation, and when I spoke with the parishioners I saw immediately that the Holy Spirit is at work in this place of worship. It wasn't just the beautiful renovation that incorporated elements of both churches. The baptismal font that reused marble from the original communion rail or the reorientation of the alter to draw the community together around the table of the Lord. What struck me was that God is always renewing and God is renewing the Church. Corpus Cristi is a great example of this renewal.

Saint Joseph - Detroit

Saint Joseph is a testament to the history of the City of Detroit. A masterpiece of German Gothic architecture, this church is recognized internationally by historians and architects alike. If you have never toured Detroit's architectural masterworks, you must begin here. The church is listed on the National Register of Historic Places as a building "of national importance".
Maybe someday tourists will flock to Detroit to tour the grand cathedrals as many do in other countries. Saint Joseph is filled with precision craftsmanship unrivaled anywhere in the world. Filled with sacred art and ancient religious relics.

 

I attended the celebration of the Feast of Saint Joseph at this namesake church. Inside I prayed before relics of the saint and a relic of the true cross. My parents were with me and after touring the church we participated in the holy rosary. As the three of us kneeled in the pew and prayed the rosary together I wondered when the last time was that we did this and why we don't do this more often.                                     

Gesu- Detroit

Gesu is located across from the University of Detroit and both the church and university are part of the Jesuit community. Recently the Church's first Jesuit pope was elected ( and the first Latin American pope, and the first pope to take the name Francis. This is a pope of firsts which many see as a renewal of the church). The church is universal and our first Latin American pope is a sure sign of this. An even bigger sign of the universality of the Church and the universal message of God's love for the world is found inside the churches I visit. Inside the church are the parishoners, the body of Christ. When time comes to pray the Lord's Prayer and we all hold hands I always take a moment to glance around and appreciate the people from many nations together as the one body of Christ.

Gesu church has a strong mission for social justice. This parish lives the universality of the church with outreach and service to the city around them.

 

Mass at Gesu is joyful and filled with songs of praise. The choir wasn't just lifting their voices, the whole congregation was lifting up songs to the Lord.