Church of the Madonna- Detroit

The Church of the Madonna holds a special place in Detroit's recent history. It was in the basement of this church that Focus: Hope was started.  Focus: Hope, though not affiliated with the Catholic church, now occupies a large campus across the street from Church of the Madonna and continues the work of solving hunger, economic inequality and racial injustice.

This beautiful church has a quiet dignity about it. Founded to serve those in the Italian and Maltese communities it now serves a mostly African-American congregation, reminding us that the good news is universal.

During the weekday Mass I attended, the congregation gathered around the alter table and joined hands during the consecration of the Blessed Sacrament. I felt then and there that we are all called to God's table. We held hands and recited the Lord's prayer and took communion as one family around our family table.