Saint Cunegunda - Detroit

The Year of Faith journey continues with a visit to Saint Cunegunda on Detroit's Westside.

I knew I was at a historically Polish parish when the Christmas songs being sung in what I thought was Latin were in fact being sung in Polish. Even as a Catholic, a command of Latin has never been one of my strengths. 

We were gathered to celebrate the Feast of the Holy Family. I was only half listening to the homily, I was distracted by the interior of the church, when the priest asked what we were doing to protect families. Oh great!, I thought to myself, a lecture on same sex marriage was in store. My ears perked up as I suspected I may have been the only LGBT Catholic in the church and thought all eyes would soon be upon me. 

Instead, the priest asked what are we doing to help the hungry family, the homeless family, the refugee family, the shattered family. What are we doing to help the human family. The Holy Family on a night in Bethlehem had no one to help them. Joseph and Mary wandered from inn to inn looking for a place to stay as she was in labor. The Family found no help and settled into a lowly stable to deliver our Savior into this world. 

We reflected on the uncertainty the Family must have felt that night alone in a stable. How many families in our world face uncertainty and hunger and war? and what are we doing to help? 

Church of the Most Holy Trinity - Detroit

The Year of Faith journey continues with a visit to Most Holy Trinity in Corktown, Detroit.

The homily that day encompassed the history of the cholera outbreaks that plagued early Detroit and the role that Trinity church played in tending to the sick. Fast forward to 2013 and Trinity church is still tending to the medical needs of Detroiters. This parish walks in the footsteps of Christ. 

After Mass I was taken on a tour of the historic organ. The organ, dating from 1867, is a tracker organ. Concealed behind the console of keys and peddles are dozens of tiny wood strips and levers that connect to each pipe. Up close I saw that some pipes were only an inch or two in height and others several feet. 

If you attend Mass here, introduce yourself and ask for a tour of the organ. The organ is a piece of Detroit history that shouldn't be missed. Trinity's organ is thought to be the oldest in the city and possible the oldest in the state. 

Trinity continues to fulfill the mission of Christ by offering medical care and schooling as well as drug and alcohol treatment. 

Many know Trinity as the church of Father Kern. His dedication to the people of Detroit will never be forgotten. 

Saint Jude Detroit

Visiting Catholic houses of worship during the Year of Faith

The Year of Faith is winding down and I have yet to accomplish my goal of visiting each Catholic church in Detroit. Accomplishing goals takes time and I am beginning to realize that the Year of Faith is more than just dates on a calendar. 

Behind the alter at Saint Jude church is a piece of art with depictions of modern day saints. Reflecting on this after Mass I have come to realize that the Spirit continues to move among our modern world. God is a living God and His graces continue to touch our lives in many ways. 

Modern day saints. The Holy Spirit continues to fill our lives with the graces of God.

Can you identify each of the persons depicted in the stained glass window?

Soul Psalms - Celebrating Black Catholic History

Year of Faith Detour-
Cathedral of the Most Blessed Sacrament
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Our church is truly universal and we must celebrate this! Catholics come from all races and walks of life and together as one body we bring gifts that strengthen our faith. Soul Psalms was a joyous celebration of Black Catholic history complete with Afrocentric music and a full choir. But it was so much more than just singing and psalms. That evening the Body of Christ lifted its voice to heaven like incense before the alter of God and amidst shouts of joy the Spirit was present among us.

Some links:

Mi Catholic

AOD- Black Catholics

National Black Catholic Congress

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

Presentation - Our Lady of Victory Detroit

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

The homily, at Presentation-Our Lady of Victory, was about thanksgiving.

The Eucharist is a sacrifice, and yet the word means thanksgiving. Oh, I know I had learned about this in Catechism class and yet somehow I had forgotten it. I was startled when the priest asked some routine questions during the homily. How often, he asked, do we thank God? Is it only after receiving grace that we express gratitude? Shouldn't we, said father,  be thanking God before asking for favor?

Being a Christian is being thankful no matter the adversity because there is always something to be thankful for. Go ahead said father, write a list of what your thankful for, except never stop adding to the list.

After Mass I started my list. I constantly add to it, especially when I am sitting in a quiet church silently praying. I have found that thankfulness certainly is a different way at looking at the world.

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