Detroit Catholic • 3rd June 2020

Speaking out for equality, anti-racism is the Catholic thing to do, local Catholic leaders say

As protests continue over the May 25 killing of George Floyd, local leaders challenge Catholics to face injustice head-on, become part of solution DETROIT — When a black man is just a boy, his parents will likely have two conversations with him. The first is about life in general — things like being careful crossing the street, how to choose one’s friends and be a responsible young man. The second is about how to act around law enforcement, lest one end up like Emmett Till, Rodney King, Trayv

Detroit Catholic • 16th April 2020

First-ever national ‘Theology on Tap’ seeks to unite those in quarantine across U.S.

Pete Burak, director of i.d. 916 and a graduate of Sacred Heart Major Seminary, will host virtual event with notable Catholic speakers ANN ARBOR — Going out has been canceled across most of the United States, and there are only so many times you can watch Tiger King, so why not make the most of staying in? That's the thinking behind what is presumed to be the first-ever Virtual National Theology on Tap, sponsored by the Ann Arbor-based apostolate i.d. 916 and the Our Sunday Visitor Institute.

Detroit Catholic • 16th April 2020

Catholic senior facilities employ iPads, window visits to keep residents safe, engaged

In an effort to protect vulnerable seniors from COVID-19, living facilities take extra precautions while maintaining sense of normalcy WATERFORD — The coronavirus presents increased concern for everyone’s safety, but particularly for the most vulnerable — namely, the immunocompromised, those with underlying health concerns, the very young, and those 65 years or older. In light of those facts, senior living facilities have been ahead of the curve in taking necessary measures to protect their el

Detroit Catholic • 15th April 2020

First-ever national ‘Theology on Tap’ seeks to unite those in quarantine across U.S.

Pete Burak, director of i.d. 916 and a graduate of Sacred Heart Major Seminary, will host virtual event with notable Catholic speakers ANN ARBOR — Going out has been canceled across most of the United States, and there are only so many times you can watch Tiger King, so why not make the most of staying in? That's the thinking behind what is presumed to be the first-ever Virtual National Theology on Tap, sponsored by the Ann Arbor-based apostolate i.d. 916 and the Our Sunday Visitor Institute.

Detroit Catholic • 14th April 2020

Colorful stained-glass windows, sidewalk chalk bring hope and unite communities

Detroit-area Catholic families join movement to spread cheer, support first responders by creating bright, innovative art projects CLINTON TOWNSHIP — If you’ve driven or walked around Metro Detroit lately, you might have spotted bright, cheery rainbows on residential windows and sidewalks. Upon closer inspection, you might notice these rainbows taking the shape of hearts, crosses and geometric “stained-glass” shapes, with hopeful messages such as “God Bless You” or “This Too Shall Pass.” Rain

Detroit Catholic • 12th April 2020

‘He is risen:’ Archbishop offers Easter blessing to Detroit from cathedral's steps

Archbishop Vigneron gives Easter message of hope and new life, reminding faithful that ‘nothing is more powerful than life in Christ’ DETROIT — Two weeks ago, Pope Francis stood on the rain-soaked steps of St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome and held up a monstrance with the Most Blessed Sacrament, offering the world an extraordinary blessing “urbi et orbi.” Since then, his prayer has continued to bless the universal Church, uniting dioceses and parishes in a unique time of trial. On Easter Sunday, D

Detroit Catholic • 7th April 2020

Archbishop to faithful at remote Chrism Mass: To be anointed is to be sent forth

In a historic first, Archbishop Vigneron consecrates sacred oils without fellow priests or faithful, but reassures Church of shared mission DETROIT — In his homily during the 2020 Chrism Mass from the Cathedral of the Most Blessed Sacrament, Archbishop Allen H. Vigneron told priests and faithful that the Lord makes it clear that to be anointed is to be sent — the words are “a duo,” he said, “an inseparable twinning.” This year’s Chrism Mass was different from any other, as the archbishop did n

Detroit Catholic • 3rd April 2020

A silver lining: Couples mourning ‘dream’ weddings find unexpected graces in hard changes

Receptions canceled and dates postponed, couples renew focus on the sacredness of marriage — with or without the big celebrations DETROIT — It was St. Patrick’s Day, a Tuesday, and Janine Kjolhede and Mark Weber stood before God, a small handful of their closest friends and family and Fr. Mario Amore and got married. It wasn’t what they had originally planned, but to them, it was perfect. For a year and three months, the couple had been planning their wedding with 175 guests at St. John’s Cha

Detroit Catholic • 25th March 2020

Catholic schools’ to-go meal program a lifeline for students who depend on it

Many students rely on school for their only meal of the day, and Catholic schools are stepping up to make sure they receive it DETROIT — As life comes to a screeching halt because of COVID-19, people still have the basic need to eat. This need is acutely felt in many public and parochial schools, where the meal many students receive might be the only one they get all day. Earlier this month, the Michigan Department of Education requested a federal waiver for K-8 schools in the state to contin

Detroit Catholic • 24th March 2020

Superintendent: Local Catholic teachers responding ‘heroically’ to changing times

Local educators say distance learning is ‘very different,’ but committed to making the best of a difficult situation during COVID-19 DETROIT — This week marks the beginning of a new normal for the Archdiocese of Detroit’s schools, as teachers and students embark together into the remote classroom because of growing concerns over COVID-19. Last week, the archdiocese announced the closure of schools to allow for deep cleaning and to give faculty and staff time to consider how to handle potential

Detroit Catholic • 22nd March 2020

Archbishop reminds faithful that amid virus, Jesus is ‘Lord of the year 2020’

During his second livestream Mass, Archbishop Vigneron says faithful are still ‘sent on mission’ even during quarantine and pandemic DETROIT — For the second Sunday in a row, Archbishop Allen H. Vigneron stood before an empty Cathedral of the Most Blessed Sacrament and spoke to his remote congregation through a livestream broadcast. The archbishop celebrated Mass on the fourth Sunday of Lent, with only a co-celebrant, two cameramen, an altar server and a handful of cantors — all in compliance

Detroit Catholic • 19th March 2020

Amid coronavirus lockdown, soup kitchens, food pantries keep calm and carry on

Nonprofits serving Detroit's homeless transition to carry-out dining, but plead for help as pandemic sweeps state DETROIT — As the coronavirus situation continues to evolve in Michigan, soup kitchens and food pantries are facing lots of uncertainty about what will come next. However, one thing is certain: their guests need them, and many say they will continue to serve food to those in need for as long as possible. Although some soup kitchens have had to close down, others such as the Pope Fr

Detroit Catholic • 1st March 2020

A hope for better things: New basilica title reflects Ste. Anne's commitment to community

Home to a diverse congregation, southwest Detroit parish lives the motto its famed pastor coined: 'It will arise from the ashes' DETROIT — Detroit is rising, and Ste. Anne Parish is rising with it. While grand in structure and emblematic of traditional Catholic standards of beauty, the parish is actually more unassuming and humble, much like its patroness. However, also like its patroness, it is capable of so much more. The parish, which has been a staple in its current neighborhood for 133 y

Detroit Catholic • 25th February 2020

'Pączki Day' tradition lives on, inspires camaraderie with loved ones, strangers

The roots of 'Pączki Day' may have long been forgotten, but the evangelistic nature of the tradition remains intact HAMTRAMCK — New Orleans’ Mardi Gras has nothing on “Pączki Day” in Hamtramck. The tiny enclave north of Detroit's downtown, which was once predominately Polish (although now, as of 2017, the number had plummeted to around 10 percent) becomes the center of attention once a year on the Tuesday before Ash Wednesday. Traditionally known as Fat Tuesday or Mardi Gras, it’s called “Pąc

Detroit Catholic • 19th February 2020

Each week, senior leads dozens in the rosary — her 'favorite weapon' against the devil (AUDIO)

Growing up in occupied Poland, Danuta Kropidlowski learned the true power of prayer — and has never taken it for granted STERLING HEIGHTS ⁠— When Danuta Kropidlowski was a young girl growing up in war-torn Poland, she would watch her mother sit in the corner of her bedroom and pray the rosary. Her prayer book was so worn from frequent use that the pages were brown. One time, the rosary broke, and Danuta, in her child-like desire to have the rosary within her always, decided to swallow the blue

Detroit Catholic • 19th February 2020

Teenagers called to say 'yes' to faith at CYO Rainbow Conference XXXVIII

At CYO Rainbow XXXVIII, nearly 600 ninth through 12th graders congregated for two days of reflection, talks and community DETROIT⁠ — Being a teenager in 2020 is challenging. In a culture of constant connection, in which social media is king yet relativism is the norm, teenagers are called to make decisions in a split second, quickly determining right from wrong. This can often be difficult when teens feel that faith sends one message, but the world sends another. However, at the Catholic Yout

Detroit Catholic • 14th February 2020

Southfield priest whose song went viral: 'Always been a dream' to meet Groban

On Sunday night in Windsor, Fr. Patrick Setto had his prayers answered when singer handed him the microphone during a concert WINDSOR — Fr. Patrick Setto’s entire Sunday night was a surprise, starting with his cousins surprising him with tickets to a Josh Groban concert across the border in Windsor, and ending with the world-famous tenor passing off his microphone to the priest. As several videos from the Feb. 9 concert making the rounds online show, Groban bantered with the audience and asked

Detroit Catholic • 7th February 2020

Ping pong, date nights and dedication: How one couple rediscovered their marriage

The Waldens' marriage has lasted 55 years; now, they are dedicated to helping other couples find the same marital bliss STERLING HEIGHTS⁠ — In 1993, Pope St. John Paul II gave his apostolic blessing on World Marriage Day, observed every year on the second Sunday in February. The day honors and celebrates the sacrament of marriage and invites couples to see their own marriage as a gift worth strengthening. For nearly 20 years, Rich and Fran Walden have spearheaded southeast Michigan’s celebrati

Detroit Catholic • 20th January 2020

New director of priestly vocations will bring artistic, joyful perspective to role

Fr. Craig Giera, pastor of St. Ephrem, will succeed Fr. Joe Horn on July 1, looks forward to helping young men discern God's will Fr. Craig Giera sees beauty everywhere, and his perspective as a lover of beauty and a trained and skilled artist will allow him to uniquely fill the role of director of priestly vocations for the Archdiocese of Detroit, come July 1. When Fr. Giera spoke with Detroit Catholic about helping young men find their vocations, he frequently used the words “art,” “joy” and

Detroit Catholic • 16th January 2020

Catholic Charities' Adopt-a-Family program brightens Christmas for families in need

DETROIT — Christmas 2019 was a little brighter and more hopeful for several families in Metro Detroit, thanks to Catholic Charities of Southeast Michigan’s seasonal Adopt-a-Family program. Adopt-a-Family allows parishes and charitable organizations to nominate families in need across southeast Michigan, who receive monetary donations to help them afford Christmas gifts, utility and rent bills and household necessities during the holidays. This year, more than 60 parishes nominated 175 families,