St. John Paul II- Transfiguration Detroit

On Friday, I attended the celebration of the Feast of St. Anthony of Padua at Transfiguration church. 

St. Anthony Bread was handed out, songs were sung, a lesson on St. Anthony was given and we took time to write our requests on slips of paper that were brought before a shrine. 

And the homily from the Mass has stayed with me

"Never be afraid to ask for help."

Saint Patrick's - Detroit

Before Mass even started the parishoners of St. Patrick's came over one by one and greeted me. There was a feeling of being at a very gregarious family reunion and indeed once I thought about it that's exactly the right feeling. Mass (church) is a family reunion of sorts. We gather as members of the human family, as coheirs and members of the one body to offer up praise to The Lord, our God. Indeed, Mass often feels like a family reunion because we are one family. For over two thousand years we have called to one another as Brothers and Sisters in Christ. 

Being part of the family requires more than just showing up at the reunion and we must be ready to help. At St. Patrick's when the musician couldn't make it to Mass several parishoners stepped up to lead us in song. Other parishoners were ready to help set up th chairs for Mass. And afterwards, we all pitched in to put the chairs away. What a family! 

With great shock I learned that St. Patrick's faces closure. 

Sacred Heart - Detroit

The Year of Faith journey continues with a visit to Sacred Heart church in Detroit. 

Let your Yes mean Yes and your No mean No. 

As Christians we are called to live a life of sincerity. The homily this Sunday at Sacred Heart was based on the day's Gospel reading that provides us with the first step in living a truly sincere life. Like most teachings of The Lord the words are simple. And like most teachings of our Lord, the practice of the words is difficult. 

The Lord said:

Let your Yes mean Yes and your No mean No 

Perhaps sincerity starts with being honest in what we say and being honest in how we feel. What does Jesus's saying mean to you? 

 I'm thinking about taking these words with me on my upcoming Lenten journey. 

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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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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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 Peter Claver Detroit

No Such Thing as a Quick Goodbye

A visiting friend chose Saint Peter Claver as the next parish to visit on my Year of Faith journey. Nestled on the West-side of Detroit, the parish was called Precious Blood Catholic Church until merging with St. Francis de Sales a few years back.

Upon entering the church, we were greeted and hugged by those already gathered for Mass. Later, during  the Sign of Peace the entire congregation made sure no one person was left out of the peaceful tidings. And what amazed us more was after Mass there was no quick goodbye. You couldn't just get up and leave, rushing to the closest exit. Outstretched hands and embracing arms where all around ready to draw you into conversation. There was no quick goodbye as the entire congregation was eager to converse and inquire. I felt as though I was at a family reunion. Or like those childhood times when my mother would pick me up from a friend's house and announce "let me just say 'goodbye' and then we will be on our way". We knew then that we had at least thirty more precious minutes of play time because there were no such thing as a quick goodbye.

Here is a congregation gathered in the House of the Lord that desires to participate in Mass. Church is not an obligation to the congregation of St. Peter Claver. And yet so often church services are treated as just one more obligation in our week. Mass is often reduced to a time frame, a block of time in our schedules. Mass should feel more like those relished moments of childhood when your mother says goodbye and you know deep down it won't be a quick. It will be a goodbye where you can savor and love each and every extra minute.

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. 

Saint Anne Detroit - Something to Celebrate

My Year of Faith pilgrimage

 I have celebrated Mass in the dining room of a rectory, volunteered at a soup kitchen and even sang Happy Birthday in Polish. Catholic Detroit is full of surprises and full of graces. My Year of Faith pilgrimage has done more than just teach me about our faith, the pilgrimage has brought me closer to God.

St. Anne Church is the mother church for Detroit. Established in 1701 just after the city was founded along a strip of water connecting the Great Lakes. The building has changed over the years as fires and the trials of human life have necessitated it being rebuilt. But the parish endures and thrives welcoming the surrounding neighborhood and Catholics from all over Metro Detroit.

The Feast of Saint Anne is just days after the birthday of Detroit and this is why Saint Anne is the patroness of the city. For 312 years St. Anne has watched over Detroit, interceding on our behalf.  The city has survived catastrophic fire, disease outbreaks, riots, economic decline and now a looming bankruptcy. Through all this Detroit has survived and our faith has never been stronger. 

A strong and faithful Detroit was gathered on this Feast of St. Anne. The pews were full with the diversity of God's children. Our voices erupted as one singing praise to God in union with the angels and saints above. We joyfully processed with the statue of St. Anne after Mass gathering outside to pray the rosary. Outside as dusk fell candles twinkled around us like the stars of the heavens. Our voices echoed as we prayed the Glory Be and the Hail Mary.

 For 312 years, Detroiters have celebrated the feast day of our patroness St. Anne. For 312 years Catholic Detroiters have gathered to pray and worship. For 312 years Detroit has endured under the patronage of St. Anne and the grace of God. And 312 years from now, God's children in Detroit will gather and pray together.

God sustains all creation. This tenant of faith is beautifully expressed in the prayer Glory Be. This is a prayer that I recite throughout the day. When I am happy, thankful and full of joy I recite this prayer. Also, when I am sad or confused I will recite this prayer. This is a prayer that espouses our Faith in God, our Love of God and our Hope in God. This is a prayer that had a special glow when we prayed it aloud outside St. Anne's church in Detroit. That evening I know, despite looming bankruptcy and decades of decline, Detroit had still had three things.
Faith in God
Love of God
Hope in God