St. Josaphat

St. Josaphat is the third Polish Catholic church in Detroit, but the second that was actually legitimately founded under the diocese. (Sweetest Heart of Mary is the second Polish catholic parish founded, but... we can cover that in its own post.)

From 2004-2007 St. Josaphat had been the epicenter for the Tridentine Mass in Detroit, but since the promulgation of Summorum Pontificum I think it has shifted northeast a little bit to Assumption Grotto where they have an Extraordinary Form Mass daily. St. Josaphat still has at least 2 EF Masses every week. Lately I have been going to the Monday evening Low Mass, and this past Monday was no exception. The previous day (Nov 14th) was the feast of St. Josaphat in the EF calendar so the large portrait of St. Josaphat above the high altar was being displayed. It usually is covered by an image of Our Lady of Częstochowa. I didn't have my camera, so I was unable to take a picture, but it's very nice, and in the painting he is in the sartorial splendor of an Eastern (Ruthenian Byzantine) Bishop. At his feet lies an axe, the tool of his martyrdom. His people were ticked off at him because he was seeking unity with Rome. So they killed him. Hit with an axe, then shot, then thrown in the river. Read more on him in the Catholic Encyclopedia.

St. Josaphat is clustered with the aforementioned Sweetest Heart of Mary and St. Joseph, both of which will be featured at some point.