The high school closed in 1967 and the building was converted into a neighborhood recreation center called "Ceciliaville." Professional basketball players such as Magic Johnson, Chris Webber, and others played at Ceciliaville as teenagers.
In 1968, then-pastor Fr. Raymond Ellis commissioned a new fresco in the apse to reflect the parish's demographics. Devon Cunningham, parishioner and artist, painted the apse in one summer and continues to worship at St. Cecilia. Portraits of former pastors and other influential figures appear at the feet of Jesus.
As you may imagine, many people took notice of the change for better or worse. The mural received national attention and was featured on the cover of Ebony Magazine in 1969.
The Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Blessed Mother to the right of the main altar.
A portrait of the parish's sixth pastor, Msgr. Thomas Finnigan, hangs in the vestibule near the baptismal font.
Much of the communion rail is still intact.
The parish elementary school eventually closed in 2010.
St. Cecilia Church is located on Livernois Ave., a few blocks north of I-96, in northwest Detroit. Last year, St. Cecilia merged with St. Leo to form St. Charles Lwanga Parish. Both locations continue to celebrate weekly Mass.
Fr. Theodore Parker is the current pastor while Douglas Jackson serves as permanent deacon.
Confessions are heard Saturdays, 4:00pm-6:00pm (please call ahead). The parish does morning prayer on Sundays, in the rectory, at 6:00am. Sunday Mass is at 8:30am and 10:00am. The parish celebrates daily Mass as announced.
For more about the parish, call the rectory at 313-933-678
For more about the school: IHM Sisters
History of the Ceciliaville rec center: USA Today
News articles about the church: Detroit Free Press, Washington Post
10 comments:
Thanks for all this information
My parents, Nancy Fowkes and Edward Roberts were members of this parish, went to school there, and were married there. They lived on Monica and Cranshaw and I remember life in Detroit as a child visiting my Grandparents on Cranshaw in the 50's.
I am thrilled to see more historical information as I have such fond memories that are pretty foggy due to being so young
Thanks
Thank you for this page.
There is a very informative article about St. Charles Lawanda in sundays, 6-04-17, paper at St. John Neumann church in Canton MI. Being a St. Cecilia grad I found it very interesting..
St, Cecelia was the church in which my parents were married on June 22, 1922. It was before the "new church" was built. The church and Masses I assume, were held in the house on Grand River.
Would the blogger like to have a photocopy of that church (a converted home)? I recently found a photo of it, my Dad evidently had taken about the time of his wedding. I would be pleased to share it with you.
As a member of the St Mary of Redford basketball team (1947-'48) I also remember some games that we played in the "old gym at St.Cecelia.
Sad to see that the great, monumental mural of St Cecilia, patron saint of music & musicians, was (evidently) removed? How can this be possible? Why & how did this happen? It was a thrilling, inspiring image which I always admired as a young student at St Cecilia. Many happy memories, superb teachers. - Maureen E. Mulvihill, PhD / Scholar & Rare Book Collector, Princeton Research Forum, NJ. //
I graduated in 1968. The last HS graduation was 1969. I believe High School admissions halted in 1967.
I played basketball and played with High School greats and some Pro players under Coach Sam Washington who started Ceciliavilke basketball league.o also served as a Alter boy through High School to graduation. I had a great High School experience.
My thanks to Mr Larry Washington for sending on his Comment
re his years at St Cecilia in ol' Detroit. Very pleased to
know of his special memories as altar boy, student, and sportsman.
I received excellent grounding from my teachers there, and I remember
almost ALL of them, quite vividly, esp Sr. Fidelis (literature),
Sisters Mary Edwards & Hyacintha (Latin), Sr Desmond (History, etc.
College after St Cecilia's was a welcome continuation, not a huge
challenge. Pax et fides, MEM / Dr Mulvihill / 20 Sept. 2021. ///
___
I gratuated in 1969. The article says the school closed in 1967.
Hello,I am the great niece of Father Ellis. I was 2 when he passed.
A fun historical addition to this article is that the late SaM WASHINGTON FOUNDED THE SAINT CECILA GYM LOCATED DIRECTLY ACROSS THE STREET ST CECILA CHURCH LWANGA PARISH. HE MENTORED COACHED AND HELPED DEVELOP SOME OF THE GREATEST 👑 TALENT OF OUR TIME. IT WAS ESTABLISHED DURING THE RIOTS WERE HE AND OTHERS HELPED DEVELOP TALENT SUCH AS MAGIC JOHNSON,DAVE BING AND A HIST OF OTHERS. AFTER HIS DEPARTURE HIS SON SAM WASHINGTON JR CARRIED ON WITH HIS LEGACY AND STILL IS TO THIS DAY. THANK YOU WASHINGTON FAMILY FOR YOUR MANY CONTRIBUTIONS TO THIS LOCAL ASSEMBLY
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