Journey to the Catholic Churches of Detroit.: June 2013

Our Lady Star of the Sea Catholic Church is located in Grosse Pointe Woods. When we approached the church we were inspired by the beautiful facilities and grounds. We were also drawn to the prayer garden which we found to be an uplifting place for personal prayers and reflection.

We entered Our Lady Star of the Sea through double glass doors that had a large cross imprinted on them. The entrance area wraps around the entire church allowing for easy access to the church from various points. The church is mostly made up of pews with cushioned seats and kneelers. In the back of the church there a few rows of regular seats.

The altar is large and expands up 2 stories. The wall behind the altar is made up of a cream colored marble complete with a large statute of Jesus. On the left side of the altar is a large wooden cross with a white cloth draped over it.

Monsignor Gary Smetanka is the pastor at Our Lady Star of the Sea church. We attended mass on Pentecost Sunday, during the mass Msgr. Smetanka spoke of the importance of allowing the Holy Spirit to work in our lives to strengthen us as Christians and bring us closer to God.

The congregation at Our Lady Star of the Sea is made up of a mix of young families, single adults and seniors. The come together as a community of believers to share the good news of Jesus Christ through words, actions and deeds. These include collecting food and supplies for the less fortunate and offering a variety of services to those in need.

We were impressed with our visit to Our Lady Star of the Sea, the people and staff were warm and friendly and they helped make our visit feel extra special.

UP NEXT: ST. Damien-Westland.

Our Lady Star of the Sea in Grosse Pointe Woods