  Kathleen Member Username: Kathleen Post Number: 2499 Registered: 10-2003 |
You may recall from previous threads on St. John Cantius and Delray that the parish got a reprieve from the Archdiocese to stay open a while longer. Well that reprieve is just about up. I'm not sure of the exact date or when the final mass will be said in the church, but thought you might like to know of this upcoming opportunity to see the church tomorrow: "On Saturday, September 29, the West Side Detroit Polish American Historical Society will hold its second general membership meeting, which will be a guided tour of historic St. John Cantius Catholic Church at 844 S. Harbaugh Street in Detroit’s Delray District. The tour will begin at 2:30 p.m. and will be conducted by Ms. Irene Pilch, the church’s secretary. The regularly scheduled mass will follow at 4:00 p.m. The historic church, which is scheduled to close in October, was founded in 1902. The current structure was completed in 1923 and is the second oldest remaining Polish church on Detroit’s west side. The event is open to the public. You're welcome to bring your camera." (Message edited by Kathleen on September 29, 2007) | ||
Kathleen Member Username: Kathleen Post Number: 2500 Registered: 10-2003 |
Bump...join us for the tour of this lovely church today! | ||
Themax Member Username: Themax Post Number: 844 Registered: 09-2005 |
The Church operates like any other business. What about Jesus's command to help the poor? Is that going to be left to the soup kitchens? Meanwhile the pope lives like a Medici prince among the spoils of past Vatican wars. | ||
Mccarch Member Username: Mccarch Post Number: 138 Registered: 12-2003 |
Themax - you forgot to mention the sexual abuse of children by priests! | ||
Bratt Member Username: Bratt Post Number: 666 Registered: 01-2004 |
I thought the catholics had plenty of money. Oops, I forgot, they also had alot of lawsuits didn't they? Freaks! | ||
Charlottepaul Member Username: Charlottepaul Post Number: 1749 Registered: 10-2006 |
Catholicism has given all it can to some of the neighborhoods in Detroit. In most of the neighborhoods with formerly active parishes, they were the last institution to leave. | ||
Carptrash Member Username: Carptrash Post Number: 1460 Registered: 10-2003 |
Parducci is (if my memory serves me well) responsible for some angels - maybe more - in the finished in 1923 section. Sure could use some pictures of them. eeeeeeeek | ||
Kathleen Member Username: Kathleen Post Number: 2501 Registered: 10-2003 |
Thanks, Charlottepaul. This is precisely the situation with St. John Cantius. Once a vibrant Polish parish, the neighborhood has suffered greatly and most of the parishioners have moved out. The area on 3 sides of the church is occupied by a wastewater treatment plant (quite evident today!). St. John Cantius is the last tie to the old neighborhood for these folks, who have lots of memories of their children and friends attending the school and participating in church activities. There were a couple hundred people at today's Mass. I saw people taking photos throughout the church, and having photos of themselves in front of the alter, many with a heavy heart and a few tears!! Their farewell banquet later this month is nearly sold out (they had to change venues once, and now are adding a 2nd banquet hall at the venue in order to accommodate everyone!) Thanks, Carptrash, for letting me know. There are two angels over the main door on the front exterior of the church. I'll send the photos your way and you can let me know what you think. All of the interior statues are said to be wooden statues imported from Italy. | ||
Aiw Member Username: Aiw Post Number: 6387 Registered: 10-2003 |
I'm sure Kathleen, will have some good shots for you Carpy. Here's one I took a few years back.  | ||
Kathleen Member Username: Kathleen Post Number: 2503 Registered: 10-2003 |
Thanks, AIW! I'm glad you had a photo to post. I did have my photos of St. John Cantius Church developed, but our main computer and printer/scanner are out of commission. I will try to post some photos later this week. It was an interesting time with many former parishioners, including descendants, in attendance at Saturday's tour and mass. Many photos were taken. Many remembrances exchanged. In the meantime, it has been announced that the final mass at St. John Cantius will be celebrated on Sunday, October 28, at 2pm. Leading up to that day, daily masses and novena to St. John Cantius will be held as follows: Thurs, Oct 18 - 6pm Fri, Oct 19 - 6pm Sat, Oct 20 - 4pm Sun, Oct 21 - 6pm Mon, Oct 22 - 6pm - celebrant Rev. Edward Prus Tues, Oct 23 - 6pm - celebrant Rev. Eugene Wojtewicz Wed, Oct 24 - 6pm - celebrant Rev. Richard Treml Thurs, Oct 25 - 6pm - celebrant Rev. Richard Rakoczy Fri, Oct 26 - 6pm - celebrant Rev. Ronald Dombrowski Refreshments will be served after Mass in the Rectory. St. John Cantius is located at 844 S. Harbaugh, in Delray, just west of Dearborn St. and north of W. Jefferson. Questions? Call 313-842-2276 | ||
Hybridy Member Username: Hybridy Post Number: 159 Registered: 08-2006 |
i just hope the government didn't pay them off so they can drop the DRIC on top of it unfortunate indeed | ||
Kathleen Member Username: Kathleen Post Number: 2505 Registered: 10-2003 |
Just to add that the future of the Church building and rectory have not been announced. No word on whether it is to be demolished. As for the artifacts inside the church, they will be removed and made available to area Catholic churches and institutions. For example, one particular stained glass window is already slated to go to Madonna University. | ||
Rjk Member Username: Rjk Post Number: 887 Registered: 11-2003 |
"The Church operates like any other business." If the Catholic church operated like any other business they would have left long ago. When I hear/read about the number of people who attended some of these churches and schools that close I'm amazed that they were able to stay open as long as they did. As far as helping the poor, feel free to donate. http://www.catholiccharitiesus a.org/NetCommunity/Page.aspx?p id=193&srcid=-2 | ||
Professorscott Member Username: Professorscott Post Number: 816 Registered: 12-2006 |
I am Roman Catholic. While I agree with Rjk that the Church has stayed in some neighborhoods longer than most other institutions, many prayerful Catholics still think we could be doing better. We closed Catholic schools in the City when the need for them was great. We closed Notre Dame High School because Cardinal Maida did not like the enrollment trend. Many decisions, unfortunately, are made more because of the financial and logistical implications than because of what our faith ought to be telling us to do. Throughout Detroit, the Catholic Church used to provide an alternative to public education, both when the public schools in the City were highly regarded and when they were not. We have lost sight of our mission. Worse yet, the Church is shooting itself in the foot. Nearly every Priest active today is a product of the Catholic schools. As our shortage gets worse and worse, how do we react? We close the very places that are our only hope as sources of replenishment. It is very hard to be Catholic in Detroit these days, I assure you. | ||
Lmr Member Username: Lmr Post Number: 105 Registered: 03-2007 |
If you look at missions that are established by churches (not just Catholic) overseas, usually one of the first things that is created with the mission is a school. If a church denomination, Catholic or otherwise, really wants an active evangelism in the poor communities of our own country, it seems like creating some schools would be very desirable. I'm not sure why our church leaders seem to miss that point. | ||
Professorscott Member Username: Professorscott Post Number: 818 Registered: 12-2006 |
I pray for our Church leaders here in Detroit, as they seem to miss many basic and critical points. I'm not sure what the Cardinal thinks the Church is supposed to be doing. |
