More Catholic parishes in Detroit to close

[jackie5275]

Bet I've been to more services than the avowed Catholics on the board. My husbands family is huge. Sometimes I think we are more in Catholic churches than our own. Weddings, funerals, baptisms, confirmations etc. Even attended classes on how to be a good God parent. Just didn't tell the priest that people can be God fearing but not even Christian.

Bet not. Just a rough estimate based on my VERY regular attendance at Mass, I've been to Mass at least 3,000 times in my life. Can you top that?

[Detroit_uke]

I can top that, Jackie...since I have a few years on you. Plus, I went to a Catholic grade school - pre-Vatican II - we went to Mass EVERY day before classes started. I married a non-Catholic in 1975 - we were married in the Catholic Church. If you want to see the Catholic Ministries in the City - go to the Archdiocese of Detroit website. There's a whole list. Now I understand why people used to say - never discuss politics or religion. Peace be with you!

[NorthofNormal]

The last time I saw/heard of RC doing anything here in the city was Coleman Young got a free ride at a catholic school.

So you've never heard of Focus:Hope, started by a priest and a lay woman after the '67 riots? You are unfamiliar with the extensive ministry of the Capuchin Friars on Mt. Elliott? How about Holy Cross Children's Services? Not to mention that pretty much every parish in the city--and many in the suburbs--offer a food pantry, many support a soup kitchen as well.

There's a lot of reasons to complain about the Catholic Church, but to claim that they haven't been at work in the city is just plain ignorant.

[sumas]

No Jackie can't come close, maybe 4 times a month for the past 40 yrs. Do rosarys with my Mom in law count? How about walking with friends to confession weekly? Math is not my forte.

My neighborhood was heavy on the catholic side. Still is.

Do respect people of faith.

Bothers me a bit that I can't take communion in a Catholic church and church closures bother me way more. All the beautiful structures closed and rotting.

[slick]

I went to a Catholic grade school - pre-Vatican II - we went to Mass EVERY day before classes

Detroit uke, been there done that, plus I was an altar boy, occasionally two masses in one day. I will admit now it is not every Sunday but close, so the numbers do add up.
But we all know it is just not about going to church!!!

[jackie5275]

I can top that, Jackie...since I have a few years on you. Plus, I went to a Catholic grade school - pre-Vatican II - we went to Mass EVERY day before classes started. I married a non-Catholic in 1975 - we were married in the Catholic Church. If you want to see the Catholic Ministries in the City - go to the Archdiocese of Detroit website. There's a whole list. Now I understand why people used to say - never discuss politics or religion. Peace be with you!

Yeah, I know all about your church attendance. But yes, there are all types of ministries in the City.

[rjk]

The last time I saw/heard of RC doing anything here in the city was Coleman Young got a free ride at a catholic school. Thanks

For a person who claims to attend Catholic services as much as you do, how come you don't know about all the good work that the Catholic church does within the city?

[GOAT]

Right Sumas. I am NEVER there [[gee, just there this Sunday and going back on Thursday, thump thump).

I also see some those street corner church "ministers" give themselves a whole heaping of cash as well. While I am sure there are some honest ones out there, there are also a lot of shady ones as well.

By the way my jeeing and non-humorous snarky comments are for the most part on the money. But I guess truth hurts huh?
Now go look into the mirror and tell yourself how great you think you are!

[GOAT]

You can take communion if you are part of the catholic faith, many of the religious orgs stated previously or if you are a member of a tridentine mass. If you are not catholic then you should not take it but it will not be refused.
Also the old, "if divorced you are not allowed to take it" is also false. Divorcess have the rite already to take communion.

[reddog289]

I have thought about buying the book by Arcadia about the Catholic Churchs in Detroit for my Dad. He attended St.Leo's back in his youth which a few years ago had their pots and pan stolen for scrap.When my family would attend ballgames at Tiger Stadium we would park in the lot of St.Bonifice/St.Vincent. I have been in St.Marys in Greektown and can say that is a beautiful church. How does a church such as that stay open while surrounded by gamblers and prisoners?

[detroitbob]

Old St. Mary's draws from the region. It is operated by the Holy Ghost Fathers and not directly by the Archdiocese. Grosse Pointe and far east siders make up the membership and revenues from the parking lot and old school building pass thru to Greektown Casino provide revenue over and above normal donations.

[reddog289]

Thanks for the info DB. I forgot about their lot.

[RYANGUARD]

It is hard to say if a lot of the Catholic Churches in the City of Detroit would have remained open if they had reached out to the "new"neighbors IE Blacks moving into the neighborhoods surrounding their Church.But lots of the inner city Catholic Churches like St Albertus with its heavy polish congregation either couldn't or wouldn't allow themselves to do that and the end result was the dwindling amounts of people showing up for the weekly mass and with the cost of maintaining such a large structure the end result was its closing.I'm sure that isn't the only reason that it was closed but it sure was one of the main reasons.

[SWMAP]

Don't you think that Catholic worship services would be very unappealing to most Baptists? Mass is mystical and ritualistic by it's innate nature. I just don't see the Black neighbors, for the most part, ever joining Catholic parishes when there is a preacher wooing their tithes just around the corner. There are many Black Catholics, of course. Emmett Moten and Netttie Seabrooks are two who are leaders in the AOD, but they were from generational Catholic families, not converts. Moten, for example, from New Orleans.

[RYANGUARD]

One things for certain SWMAP and that is we'll never know now if it would have worked,will we?

[FoxyScholar10]

Don't you think that Catholic worship services would be very unappealing to most Baptists? Mass is mystical and ritualistic by it's innate nature. I just don't see the Black neighbors, for the most part, ever joining Catholic parishes when there is a preacher wooing their tithes just around the corner. There are many Black Catholics, of course. Emmett Moten and Netttie Seabrooks are two who are leaders in the AOD, but they were from generational Catholic families, not converts. Moten, for example, from New Orleans.

Wow.... There are too many ironic jokes to cover in just the first sentence alone.... Le Sigh.

First of all, all Black folk ARE NOT Baptist.

And since I want to hold on to my CHRISTmas spirit, hopefully others will chime in with some enlightenment.

[SWMAP]

Pray enlighten. I look around and see lot's of baptist churches in Detroit. The National Baptist Church brings it's convention to Detroit very often because such suppport here! And I do know about the COGIC and the Jehovah' Witnessses - I guess that I should have mentioned them. But the short-hand is that those are preaching services and the Roman Catholic Mass is a sacrificial ritual.

[FoxyScholar10]

Pray enlighten. I look around and see lot's of baptist churches in Detroit. The National Baptist Church brings it's convention to Detroit very often because such suppport here! And I do know about the COGIC and the Jehovah' Witnessses - I guess that I should have mentioned them. But the short-hand is that those are preaching services and the Roman Catholic Mass is a sacrificial ritual.

You may think these keystrokes are repairing the insults of the previous post. However, they are not. African Americans, Blacks, Negroes, or possible racially hostile terms you may use, are NOT a MONOLITHIC GROUP. Their [[our) differences across religion/faith, philosophies, etc., differ as much as the varying levels of melanin in their [[our) collective skin.

With that said, I have attended a HIGH Roman Catholic mass before and you know what? I understood it! Duh! And when I had a question, I asked somebody! Duh! [[Roman) Catholicism isn't any more or less mystical or sacrificial than faith overall or other religious rituals.

Again, I pray to the Lord Jesus Christ of my faith to send the perfect laborers to enlighten this person. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

[SWMAP]

I agree . I am completely dense. I long ago gave up trying to understand. I just keep paying my taxes and try to keep my head down.

[sumas]

Thanks Foxy well said [[er) written. My church is now perhaps more black than white. Traditions have changed a bit but am very ok with it. Kielbasa vs fried chicken.

People of faith worshipping together is the point. I have never worn my religion on my sleeve so am a little embarrassed to say, but must, Go with God, how ever you worship, in this holiday season. Sumas