Corpus Christi-Detroit

Corpus Christi Catholic Church came into being in 2006 with the merger of St. Gerard and Immaculate Heart of Mary parishes in Northwest Detroit.  We attended a mass at the old St. Gerard’s church building.

The first thing that impressed us about Corpus Christi was the overwhelming friendliness of the parishioners and staff. Many of them came up to us and gave us a hearty welcome and thanked us for visiting their church. It said that the people make the church and the people of Corpus Christi have made their church a truly blessed place to worship and give praise in God’s name!

Corpus Christi is a small church. When you enter at the side doors you come into the gathering area which then leads directly into the church. In the church the altar is the main focus of the room. It is simply decorated which gives it an aura of beauty and elegance.  On either side of the church there are a series of stained glass windows which depict various bible verses with Love and Courage themes.  They are interspersed with pictures of the Stations of the Cross.

Corpus Christi is a multi-cultural parish that has opened its heart and soul to persons of all races and nationalities. This was most evident by the African-American art work that is prevalent around the church. It can be truly said that everyone can feel welcome at Corpus Christi.

We thoroughly enjoyed our visit to Corpus Christi. Fr. Don Archambault came up to us personally to thank us for visiting as did many of the parishioners. It is quite gratifying to know that so many people of all races and ages come together each week to make  Corpus Christi a viable church community and to show that the Catholic church is alive and well in the city of Detroit.

Up Next: St. Veronica-Eastpointe.

Baptismal Fountain at Corpus Christi

Statute of Jesus giving aide to the less fortunate

 Artwork inside Corpus Christi.

Artwork inside Corpus Christi

Corpus Christi Catholic Church in Detroit

The altar at Corpus Christi Parish

Entrance to Corpus Christi Catholic Church

St. Anne Warren

St. Anne’s parish, located on Mound Road in Warren, was founded in 1945. It was named for the mother of the Virgin Mary and grandmother of Jesus. In addition to being the mother of the Virgin Mary, St. Anne recently became the patron saint of Detroit, MI. She is also known as the patron saint of grandmothers, housewives and cabinet makers among others.

St. Anne’s looms large over Mound Road at the front (main entrance) to the church there are 3 large double doors. Each of the doors has a large cross on it and over the doors there are 3 “sayings” etched in stone. The first one states “My Soul Magnifies the Lord”. This is from the Magnificat or “Prayer of Mary” which is found in Luke 1:46-55. My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my savior…The second saying is “I will go on to the altar of God”. This is from Psalm 43:4-There I will go to the altar of God, to God the source of all my joy. I will praise you with my harp my O God, my God. The third saying is “Was a just man”. This refers to Joseph (husband of Mary) from Matthew 1:19-And her husband, Joseph, being a just man and not willing to make her a public example decided to put her away quietly.

Inside St. Anne’s the altar can be seen from the front and from both sides. On one side of the altar there is a statute of Jesus with his hands out stretched as if welcoming everyone to his home.  A portrait of St. Anne adorns the wall on the opposite of the altar. She appears to be looking out on the congregation in the protective way mothers often do.

The church is adorned with many works of religious art including statutes and portraits of Jesus, Mary and St. Anne. The music ministry is located in a loft at the back of the church and music of the service flows down on among the congregation right up to the altar filling the church with the Lord’s hymns and prayers.

We thoroughly enjoyed our visit to St. Anne’s in Warren.  We found it to be a most welcoming and friendly church and the people to be polite and filled with the Holy Spirit.

Up Next: Corpus Christi-Detroit

Cross on top of St. Anne in Warren

View of Cross from the side  

Front of church looking out on Mound Road 

Another view from the front of the church 

Saying etched over the first set of double doors 

Saying etched over the middle doors 

Saying over the 3rd set of doors

Some of the art work that adorns St. Anne's

The altar at St Annes

The welcoming arms of Jesus

St. Anne, patron saint of this church

View of the altar from the side pews 

Statute of Mary

Touring St. Anne's in Warren

Carmen and me at St. Anne in Warren

Our Lady of Refuge Orchard Lake

In November, we continued our journey to the Catholic Churches of the Archdiocese of Detroit with a visit to Our Lady of Refuge in Orchard Lake. Our Lady of Refuge was founded in 1940.

As you approach the church off Commerce Road you will see the unique design of a bell tower with 3 bells stacked one on top of the other.  The bells get larger as you look at them from top to bottom. Off to the side of the church is a beautiful garden that has an area for outdoor prayer and reflection. It is made of brick pavers with 2 large marble benches and a statue of Mary.

We entered the church through glass front door into a large gathering area. The thing that most stood out in this area was the large tapestries of Jesus and Mary. From the gathering area we entered into the church.

The church has an auditorium look and feel to it. You actually walk down the aisles to your pew. The pews surround the altar on 3 sides giving you an excellent view of the altar no matter where you sat.

There is a large statute of Jesus that hangs over the altar and looks out over the church. The statute is flanked on either sided by stained glass pictures in wooden frame boxes. The pictures represent Gabriel, the archangel, the life of Jesus and the fight against evil.

When we attended mass at Our Lady of Refuge, the church was mostly filled with young families. This was most evident when the pastor (Fr. Gerald McEnhill) invited the young people in the church to bring their contributions to the altar. Fr. McEnhill gave a concise and meaningful homily that really helped bring the weekly readings to life.

We thoroughly enjoyed our visit to Our Lady of Refuge as well as to the City of Orchard Lake which we found to be a beautiful place. We especially enjoyed a short drive alongside the lake and the natural small town beauty of the area.

Up Next:  St. Anne’s-Warren

The bell tower at Our Lady of Refuge 

Prayer Garden at Our Lady of Refuge 

 Statue of Mary with baby Jesus

Our Lady of Refuge Church  

Tapestry of Jesus 

Mary, mother of Jesus 

Altar at Our Lady of Refuge 

 Stained Glass pictures at Our Lady of Refuge

St. Francis Xavier-Ecorse

In October, our family journeyed to St. Francis Xavier parish in Ecorse. St Francis church was founded in 1858 and was named for St. Francis Xavier (1506-1552) a pioneering Roman Catholic missionary and co-founder of the Society of Jesus (Jesuits). He was influential in the spreading and upkeep of Catholicism most notably in India. He became a saint March 12, 1622 when he was canonized by Pope Gregory XV. He is considered to be the patron saint of Roman Catholic missionaries in foreign lands. His feast day is December 3^rd.

When you approach the front of St. Francis Xavier, on Jefferson Avenue, you will see the bells of St Francis Xavier looming large over the church grounds. On the front lawn of the church is an old cross which is purported to be part of the original church that was built in 1858.

We entered the church through large wooden doors and were met by a friendly usher in a small vestibule area. The small rectangular area contained information about the church including pictures of some of the past priests and some beautiful artwork.

From the vestibule we entered the church. It appeared to be small but with a modern feel to it. There were 6 stained glass windows on either side of the church. Each of the stained glass windows depicted one of the 12 Apostles. The pews had a modern feel to them and were made of a light oak finish. They surrounded the altar in a circular motion.

The altar at St. Francis Xavier is made of brick and marble. To the right of the altar is a statute of the Mother Mary holding baby Jesus and to the left of the altar is a statute of St. Francis. There is wood and brass statute of Jesus on the cross mounted on a marble background that looks out over the altar and congregation.

The pastor at St. Francis Xavier is Fr. Jim Wieging. When we entered the church Fr. Wieging was sitting in his chair at the altar much like a Sheppard watching over his flock. He gave his homily while sitting on a stool at the altar rather than standing at the pulpit. The result was a homily that seemed more like someone giving a talk about a subject he was very dedicated to and knowledgeable about. His voice rose and fail as he made his points and emphasized different parts of his “talk”.

The congregation at St. Francis Xavier was mixture of seniors and young families along with a prominent Hispanic presence.  Our journey to St. Francis Xavier was an enjoyable occasion that will remain in our hearts and souls forever.

Up Next: Our Lady of Refuge-Orchard Lake

Entrance to St. Francis Xavier

 St. Francis Xavier

Church bells at St. Francis Xavier

Our visit to St. Francis Xavier in Ecorse

A statute of Mother Mary in the vestibule at St. Francis Xavier

St. Francis Xavier

Cross above the altar at St. Francis Xavier

Mother Mary with baby Jesus statue at St. Francis Xavier

In the vestibule at St. Francis Xavier

The old church cross on the front lawn of St. Francis Xavier

St. Lawrence Parish-Utica

St. Lawrence Parish is currently located in the historic city of Utica, MI. which is located in Northern Macomb County. St. Lawrence began in 1866 as a mission of Sacred Heart by 40 Irish families of Utica Junction (present day Roseville). On August 15, 1874 Bishop CH Borgess dedicated St. Lawrence’s first church. The church was destroyed in 1904 when fire swept through Utica.

The present day Neo-Romanesque church was designed by Detroit architect Arthur DesRosters  and was erected in 1951. The brick outer façade transcends into the inter-sanctum of the church which is brick with a wooden beamed ceiling. At the altar is a large painting depicting Mary and Joseph at the cross of Jesus. It is framed in a Romanesque setting that overlooks the altar. On either side of the church there are 6 stained glass windows; together they represent the 12 Stations of the Cross.

St. Lawrence Church has a very open layout. When you enter the church there is a large gathering area that flows right into the church itself. In the church, the pews are wooden with cushioned seats and kneelers. They wrap around the altar on the front and on both sides so you can get a great view of the altar no matter where you sit. A statute of the churches patron saint, St. Lawrence sits off to the side of the church.

The pastor of St. Lawrence is Fr. Bob Fisher. The celebrant at the mass we attended was Associate Pastor Phillip Ching who was assisted by Deacon Anthony Morici. We found St. Lawrence to be a very warm and charming place to worship. It was a large church that had a small town feel to it. Some of the parishioners spoke to us as a Christian gesture that impressed us and made us feel welcome during our time at St. Lawrence.

Up Next: St. Francis Xavier-Ecorse

                                                     Some of the stained glass windows at St. Lawrence

Sign in front of St. Lawrence

                                             Statute of St. Joseph

                                              Statute of Mary

                                             The altar at St. Lawrence

                                                Church Bells at St. Lawrence

                                           Historical Marker describing St. Lawrence

                                           Plaque located on current church.