Thanks to a $45,000 grant from the U.S. bishops' Black and Indian Mission Office, which is supported by the Archdiocese of Detroit's Catholic Services Appeal, St. Charles Lwanga Parish in Detroit will be able to make much-needed repairs to its boiler, which has been unable to consistently heat the 102-year-old church building through the cold winter months. The grant will also support roof repairs at Christ the King Catholic School in northwest Detroit. (Archdiocese of Detroit file photo) St. C

Archbishop Allen H. Vigneron imposes ashes on the foreheads of the faithful on Ash Wednesday, Feb. 22, at St. Aloysius Church in downtown Detroit. During his homily given on the first day of the Lenten season, Archbishop Vigneron said he hoped to help the faithful to look at their Lenten resolutions and observations through the lens of a covenant with God. (Photos by Daniel Meloy | Detroit Catholic) Through Lenten observances of prayer, self-denial and works of mercy, the faithful show that 'we

At the first Dinner for Life hosted by the seminarians at Sacred Heart Major Seminary since 2020, on Feb. 3, emphasis was placed on what is next for the pro-life movement following the overturning of Roe v. Wade and the passing of Proposal 3 in the state of Michigan. (Photos by Valaurian Waller | Detroit Catholic) First in-person dinner since 2020 addresses changing pro-life landscape: 'It's important to keep having these conversations' DETROIT — The 13th annual Dinner for Life, hosted by the s

Catherine Zardus, center, started the Magic Carpet Theatre in 1991 as a way to promote literacy and reading, but after a dramatic conversion, she transformed the theater company in 2008 with the addition of new shows and performances focused on Scripture. Along with Barbie Wiesserman, left, Lise Lacasse, right, and Amy Susan Heard (not pictured), the Magic Carpet Theatre Drama Ministry frequently performs shows such as "The Parable Project" and "At His Feet" for schools, parishes and faith group

TOLEDO – Matthew, Mark, Luke and John refer to the Gospels and to a flight of beer that you can order at Patron Saints Brewery in Toledo, Ohio. Founded in 2019 by co-owners Aaron Grizaniuk and Eric Pfohl, the brewery features saintly brews of Grizaniuk and Pfohl’s own design. Grizaniuk, father of three boys, got into home brewing 15 years ago. Prior to making the brewery his full-time gig, he worked for the Diocese of Toledo in the Office of Catholic Schools.

DEARBORN HEIGHTS — Socorro Truchan is all about familia. When you walk into her family home of more than 30 years near St. Maria Goretti Parish in Dearborn Heights, you notice an abundance of two things: family and her Catholic faith. The walls, tables, and even her refrigerator are covered with pictures of her four adult children and her husband, whom she always refers to as her “beloved husband, Tony.” Pictures of her parents and siblings, who hail from Mexico, and of in-laws from Ukraine are everywhere. Where there isn’t an image of her earthly family, there is of her heavenly one: "Mama Mary," Jesus, the saints and angels.

EASTPOINTE — In the early hours of Dec. 26, Joella Bush, executive director at Gianna House, received a call from a fire alarm company: several areas of the building had been compromised by water. Bush ascertained there was no fire. However, as residents slept, water was coming out of the walls and ceilings. The staffer on duty said “there was water everywhere.” When Bush arrived at Gianna House, a residential home to help teenagers in crisis pregnancies, she was met by the Eastpointe Fire Department. “There were hundreds of gallons of water that were pouring into our building, and upon further inspection, the fire department found that our fire suppression system had burst,” Bush explained to Detroit Catholic.

WARREN — Most knights wear shining armor and ride into battle on a mighty steed. In the Archdiocese of Detroit, however, some knights prefer leather and ride for the service of others on a Harley. Knights on Bikes is a fraternal organization of Knights of Columbus members with a passion for riding motorcycles. The group was founded in Texas in 2015, and as of 2023, multiple Knights on Bikes councils exist across the United States and Canada. Their motto: “In God We Trust and Ride.”

DETROIT — As the body of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI lay in state inside St. Peter's Basilica for a period of mourning following his Dec. 31 passing, 4,599 miles away in the Archdiocese of Detroit, priests and lay leaders reflected upon how the Holy Father impacted their own faith, and how his leadership, writings and example will resound in the Catholic Church for many years to come. While Pope Benedict will be remembered as a theologian, prolific scholar and writer, there is so much more the late pope left the faith, said Fr. J.J. Mech, rector of the Cathedral of the Most Blessed Sacrament in Detroit.

DETROIT — Throughout Advent 2022, the faithful in the Archdiocese of Detroit can rely on something constant: that on every night of the Advent season, a holy hour before the Blessed Sacrament will begin at 7 p.m. The holy hours, hosted at a different parish each night, are an extension of the I AM HERE campaign, launched in June as a partnership between the Archdiocese of Detroit and the Hallow app, as part of the U.S. bishops' three-year National Eucharistic Revival meant to inspire people to encounter Jesus in the Eucharist.

An altar server kneels before the Blessed Sacrament during a special holy hour Dec. 8, the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception, at Old St. Mary's Parish in downtown Detroit's Greektown. Throughout Advent 2022, the faithful in the Archdiocese of Detroit have an opportunity to attend a special I AM HERE holy hour to spend time with Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament before Christmas. (Photos by Valaurian Waller | Detroit Catholic) Each night of Advent, a different parish throughout the archdiocese

DETROIT — Since its inception in 1701, Detroit has been home to hundreds of churches and spiritual congregations. Throughout Detroit’s history, these churches have remained stalwart reminders and players in the Motor City’s strength and long, rich history. Veteran filmmaker Keith Famie set out to tell the story of Detroit’s history through 17 different churches in a 90-minute documentary special, "Detroit: The City of Churches." After months of production, the film will debut during a special event Dec. 10 at the Filmore Theatre in Detroit (which is currently sold out) and Monday, Dec. 12, at 8 p.m. on Detroit Public Television (PBS).

DETROIT — In his 2016 pastoral letter, Unleash the Gospel, Archbishop Allen H. Vigneron encouraged “all Catholics who use social media to recognize it as a powerful platform to engage others in conversation about the faith” (Marker 6.4). That same year, a short-form video-hosting service launched, and over the next several years, rose in popularity and use worldwide. The app — you may have heard of it — TikTok, created a new brand of influencer and offers nearly limitless potential to reach audiences worldwide. For Detroit native Jason A. Smith, it's also a powerful tool for evangelization.

PLYMOUTH — Church leaders and staff from across the Archdiocese of Detroit came together Friday, Nov. 18, at Our Lady of Good Counsel Parish in Plymouth to refuel their dedication to the mission started in the archdiocese six years ago during Synod 16. The annual Unleash the Gospel Conference, formerly called the Parish Day of Renewal, was a chance for "joyful missionary disciples" to gather together not only to revisit Archbishop Allen H. Vigneron’s pastoral letter of the same name, but also to refuel their resolve to stay on mission through the charisms of the National Eucharistic Revival. The three-year grassroots revival of devotion and faith in the Real Presence of Jesus in the Eucharist, spearheaded by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops in response to a waning belief among Catholics, will culminate in the 10th ever National Eucharistic Congress from July 17-21, 2024, in Indianapolis, the first such congress since 1941.

LIVONIA — Nearly 50 years ago, Deacon Robert Delbeke became one of the first permanent deacons in the Archdiocese of Detroit's history when he was ordained Jan. 21, 1973, at St. Michael the Archangel Church in Livonia. Deacon Delbeke was among the third class of permanent deacons in the archdiocese, which introduced the ministry in 1971 after it was re-established following the Second Vatican Council. At 85 years old, Deacon Delbeke is estimated to be one of the longest-serving Catholic deacons in U.S. history and the longest-serving deacon in the history of the Archdiocese of Detroit. Deacon Delbeke will be honored for his unprecedented milestone during this year's Diaconate Jubilee Mass, which will be celebrated by Archbishop Allen H. Vigneron on Sunday, Oct. 30, at Sacred Heart Major Seminary.

DEARBORN HEIGHTS — In 1883, five Sisters of the Good Shepherd made their way into the city of Detroit to establish a home in Ward Mansion on Fort Street for young women and girls who had fallen on desperate times. Armed with the mission set out by their foundress, Sr. Mary Euphrasia, over the next several decades, the sisters housed hundreds of young women and girls in what they named Good Shepherd House. The sisters outgrew their facilities and prayed a novena asking God to help them find a new, bigger home for their girls. In an answer to their prayers, the Ford family generously stepped in to provide a solution — 50 acres of land in Dearborn Heights. The sisters purchased the land for one dollar and, in 1942, opened their new facilities, complete with residence halls, schools, a powerhouse and an auditorium. They maintained open land, trees and the river that runs on the property, and they named it Vista Maria.

In the month since Russia invaded the sovereign country of Ukraine, the world has watched in horror as Ukrainian cities have been destroyed, civilians have been caught in the crossfire, and millions have been displaced. As of March 27, the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights reported that there have been 1,119 civilians killed, including men, women and children, although they believe the actual number to be much higher. This number does not include military casualties. To date, more than 3.7 million Ukrainians have fled to surrounding countries as refugees, the sixth-largest refugee outflow over the past 60 years. Most Ukrainian men ages 18 to 60 have been banned from leaving the country.

OXFORD — At 12:50 p.m., Nov. 30, 2021, LeeAnn Johnson was walking to her biochemistry class at Oxford High School. It was a normal school day, except Johnson, who was always early for her classes, was running late. The oldest of five children, Johnson is an impossibly responsible and mature 17-year-old. A senior captain of the Wildcats' varsity lacrosse team, she also runs cross-country, manages the school's wrestling team and serves in student leadership. She's active in her faith, regularly participating in the J-Walkers youth group at her parish, St. Joseph in Lake Orion, where group leader Kathy Galbraith says Johnson is the type of person one can always rely on — so much so, in fact, it's often easy to forget she's just a teenager. Running late was out of character.

DETROIT –– When Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan announced Jan. 20 that the city would extend eligibility for the COVID-19 vaccine to clergy and funeral workers, Fr. Joshua Peters, SJ, excitedly called the Detroit Health Department to schedule his appointment. For Fr. Peters, associate pastor of St. Suzanne/Our Lady Gate of Heaven Parish and nearby Christ the King Parish on the city’s northwest side, getting inoculated is part of his duty in keeping the people of God safe. “It is definitely a part of the corporal works of mercy: how can I comfort the afflicted or visit the sick or the imprisoned if I haven’t taken the protocols that are available to me to be in the community in the most effective way?” Fr. Peters, 42, told Detroit Catholic. While the state of Michigan hasn’t specifically listed clergy as part of its first-phase vaccine rollout, priests who perform other essential functions in the community, such as teachers or health care workers, can receive the vaccine.

DETROIT — After recounting his personal encounters with the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., Fr. Theodore Parker called on the congregation to shed old ways of thinking to make room for a new way of justice, love and peace. Fr. Parker, the pastor of St. Charles Lwanga Parish in Detroit, made his remarks during the Archdiocese of Detroit’s annual Mass honoring King’s legacy at the Cathedral of the Most Blessed Sacrament on Jan. 18. The Mass, celebrated by Auxiliary Bishop Donald Hanchon, looked different this year. The church wasn’t full of school children — though full to capacity under COVID-19 gathering limits — but Fr. Parker’s homily rang throughout the sanctuary and in people’s homes via video livestream, reminding those listening why King’s legacy and work are as important now as they were in the 1960s.