For the last two years, St. Ladislaus has been preparing for closure. Currently, it is part of St. John Paul II Parish, along with Transfiguration/Our Lady Help of Christians. As reported recently by The Michigan Catholic, St. Lad's may soon become a chapel of its nearby mother parish of St. Florian.
As chapel, St. Ladislaus would hold a regular Mass schedule and funerals but baptisms, weddings, etc. would be at St. Florian. While the transition is not yet official, St. Florian's latest bulletin lists St. Ladislaus as a chapel. For more info: St. Florian website + St. Florian bulletin A 2014 article: The Hamtramck Review
St. Louis the King Parish was established in 1923 and, like many churches in the northeast area, it had a mostly Polish congregation.
The latest edifice was designed by Walter J. Rozycki, built in 1959, and located on 7 Mile just east of Mound. Felician Sisters taught at the parish school before it closed in 1988, later demolished in 1993.
The church's namesake portrayed on the front facade as well as a side altar.
In 2012, St. Louis the King merged with St. Ladislaus and Transfiguration/Our Lady Help of Christians. St. Ladislaus will also soon close at a date TBD but Transfiguration will remain open. The last Mass at St. Louis the King was celebrated on August 31, 2013.
Agnus Dei above the high altar.
St. Francis of Assisi, Our Lady of Fatima, St. John Paul II, and St. Joseph with child Jesus in the east transept.
The west transept housed a statue of St. Maximilian Kolbe along with a processional canopy and banners.
Side altars to Our Lady of Częstochowa and Mother of Perpetual Help.
Colorful, symbolic windows were found in the lower level of the nave as well as the sanctuary. Geometric, pale windows were found in the clerestory.
A cross-shaped set of windows found over the choir loft.
Both St. Ladislaus (Hamtramck) and St. Louis the King (northeast Detroit) are to close in the coming months though no specific date has been set. Both churches are part of St. John Paul II Parish and their third church, Transfiguration/Our Lady Help of Christians will remain open. Inability to pay maintenance costs is cited as the reason for closure.
St. Ladislaus Parish was established in 1920 and the current edifice built in 1953. In 2012, it merged with Transfiguration and St. Louis the King to form Blessed Pope John Paul II Parish. St. Ladislaus is located at 2730 Caniff, just west of Jos. Campau, in Hamtramck.
I was drawn to some of the processional banners on display near the vestibule.
Hail Mary...pray for us
The stained-glass windows are intriguing. The perimeter of each window is bright and geometric while the center features a realistic portrayal of the Gospels.
There's an interesting collection of statues throughout the church.
I like all of the small balconies overlooking the altar (left) and the portraits of former pastors (right).
Like many Polish churches, St. Ladislaus displays an icon of Our Lady of Czestochowa.
Mass is celebrated at 4:00pm, in English, on Saturdays and 11:00am, in Polish, on Sundays. For more information, view the bulletin archive, the blog of Creative Gene and AOD Film Services.
St. Ladislaus float in the Polish Day Parade with St. Florian Church in the background. Photo courtesy of Karen Majewski
The congregation at Transfiguration Church has seen a lot of changes in the last several years. In 2006, Our Lady Help of Christians (est. 1923) closed and merged with Transfiguration (est. 1925). Six years later, in 2012, Transfiguration/Our Lady Help of Christians merged with St. Ladislaus (est. 1920) in Hamtramck, and St. Louis the King (est. 1923) to form Blessed John Paul II Parish.
With JP2's impending canonization, the parish is in the process of changing their name again to SAINT John Paul II Parish. Currently, they have not announced any celebrations for the canonization.
As you might assume by the name, the parish is traditionally Polish and remains largely so today. Thursdays and Sundays bring Polish Mass to the parish. However, they do offer plenty of opportunities for English Mass.
Site
Sun.
Mon.
Tue.
Wed.
Thu.
Fri.
Sat.
Transfiguration
*Polish
St. Ladislaus
*Polish
St. Louis the King
*Polish
*Polish
First Saturday *Polish
Fr. Andrew Wesley serves as pastor with the assistance of three other priests, two of whom are former pastors at the previous parishes, as well as one permanent deacon.
Organizational changes aside, Transfiguration Church appears to be remarkably unchanged over the decades.
Large arches are found throughout the church.
A gorgeous grotto stands across the street.
I am always amazed by the detailed mosaics found throughout this church, inside and out. Countless, colorful tiles, each less than one square inch, frame the exterior doorway.
Even more tiles cover the interior walls.
Beautiful chandeliers illuminate the side aisles and light reflects off the metallic tiles.
Large murals cap the transepts and doorways.
Since it is still Christmas, the altar is modestly decorated for the season.
