Journey to the Catholic Churches of Detroit.: October 2015

Our Lady Queen of Heaven Catholic Church is located near Outer Drive and Van Dyke in the mostly African-American community in North East Detroit. The church was founded in 1929 and, at that time, served a mostly Polish community. A school that is now closed is still attached to the church.

When you walk into the church you first enter a small gathering area. This area leads into the church with 2 rows of pews on either side of the center aisle. The main altar is large and made of marble with a white cloth covering it. A large crucifix hangs over the altar with a green cloth background. The lectern and priest seating area are made of matching oak. The church is also filled with various statues including, the usual, Joseph and Mary with Baby Jesus. Over the years the neighborhood surrounding Our Lady Queen of Heaven has declined and crime in the area has become a major concern however this church continues to shine like a beacon and the Parishioners and staff do a great job of maintaining the beauty and elegance of the church and the surrounding grounds.

Fr. Michael Nkachukwu was recently appointed the new pastor at Our Lady Queen of Heaven and the mass we attended was his first mass at his new church. In his homily, Fr. Mike reflected on the day’s readings and told those in attendance that we should shout Jesus name and always give him praise and reverence. The mass was sparsely attended with a mix of the neighborhood faithful and few that continue to come to Our Lady Queen of Heaven from the nearby suburbs.

As with most inner-city churches, the people in attendance were very open, warm and friendly and they welcomed us with open arms. We were very happy to join them in celebrating mass and we enjoyed our visit very much.

Up Next: St. Vincent Ferrer-Madison Heights