Manresa Retreat House (Bloomfield Hills)

During the late 1910s and early 1920s, laymen from the Detroit area frequented St. Stanislaus Retreat House (now Jesuit Retreat House) in Cleveland, Ohio. In 1923, they established "The Laymen's Retreat League" to build a Jesuit retreat house in the Detroit area under the direction of Fr. John Donoher, SJ. They purchased land in modern-day Grosse Point Park but, after struggling to build a retreat house, they began to look for a new location. Fr. Donoher died in 1925 and  and Fr. William Cogley, SJ, replaced him as chaplain.

St. Ignatius of Loyola being tempted by Satan,
a statue outside of Cleveland's Jesuit Retreat House - Source

In March, 1926, the Edsel Ford Estate purchased the Grosse Pointe Park property. The group then bought William Murphy's 39-acre "Deepdale Estate" in what was mostly a farming area. The location, on the northwest corner of Woodward Avenue and Quarton Road, in what is now the southeast corner of Bloomfield Hills. The location was ideal for their needs as it was central to Detroit and Pontiac and easily accessible. With the approval of the Provincial of the Chicago Province, Fr. Jeremiah O'Callaghan, SJ, the purchase was completed in August of 1926. 

The Deepdale Estate and original retreat house

The manor house was already built and the first retreat took place September 23-26 of that year. 16 men participated in the first retreat and the house had a capacity for 23. The Superior General wanted the property and activities to be owned and administered by the Society of Jesus. However, in the meantime, laymen owned and operated the facility but ownership was eventually transferred years later.

The Retreat Office was originally located in the Gabriel Richard Building in downtown Detroit.  In the early years, it was customary for men from a single parish to make a retreat together. Retreats ended with Benediction at 4:00PM on Sunday and the diocesan pastor normally participated. 

A rendering of the Manresa Retreat House and surrounding grounds

Manresa Retreat House borrowed its name from the Spanish city near where St. Ignatius of Loyola lived for a year while he composed the Spiritual Exercises. 

Cova de Sant Ignasi, a church built around the cave in Manresa

Stations of the Cross, a Lourdes grotto, and gateway were added in the late 1920s. 

A monumental gate at the northwest corner of Woodward & Quarton

Fr. Cogley grew produce and raised cattle to provide food. Like many, the group struggled during the Great Depression. To make matters worse, the manor house caught fire and burned to the ground on March 22, 1934. That same year, Manresa received an invaluable gift: a chalice which once belonged to the 17th-Century missionary Fr. Jacques Marquette, SJ. This chalice was preserved for over two centuries while in the custody of Native Americans in the Upper Peninsula. It is now displayed in a corner of the main chapel.

Despite the financial challenges of the time, the group raised enough funds to rebuild at the same site. The cornerstone was laid in early 1935 and the building, constructed under the guidance of Henry Brennan of the W.E. Wood Co., was completed by August 27, 1936. Fr. Marshall Lochbiler, SJ, directed the first retreat with a full capacity of 31 retreatants. The house was built in a style that came to be known as Detroit Cotswold, a style inspired by the Edsel and Eleanor Ford House, completed just a few years earlier.

Fr. Cogley, the "founding father" of Manresa, died on July 2, 1945, and was soon replaced by Fr. Gerald Fitzgibbons, SJ. The number of retreatants grew and in 1951 the present chapel wing was built. This added rooms on the second floor and raised the capacity to 42 retreatants. In 1952, Fr. Clement Singer, SJ, became Director. As the number of retreats continued to grow, the possibility of a second retreat house in the Detroit area was considered. Midweek youth retreats became very popular and eventually Manresa needed to expand again.

The empty tomb on the northeast corner of the grounds

Fr. Bernard Wernert, SJ, was named Director in 1963 and he moved the offices from downtown to onsite at Manresa. On Palm Sunday, April 3, 1966, ground was broken for the substantial new addition. 1,400 people celebrated the dedication of this extension on May 21, 1967, and capacity rose to 70 retreatants.

Our Lady of Lourdes grotto with altar

High school "Kairos" retreats became very popular and Manresa began to offer women's retreats in the 1970s. On September 12, 1976, Manresa celebrated its Golden Jubilee with an outdoor Mass, presided by Bishop Walter Schoenherr, with over 1,200 in attendance.

 

Fr. Werner retired in 1977 and he was replaced by Fr. Eugene Simon, SJ. A second-story chapel was soon added. Our Lady of Manresa, an original statue, was donated by Peter Grande in 1980. A courtyard was added the following year and the main chapel was expanded in 1987.

Our Lady of Manresa standards immediately north of the retreat house

 Manresa went through a series of short-term directors until Fr. James Serrick, SJ, arrived in 1995 and remained there for several years. The former pump house, which was powered by a waterwheel, was converted to a small chapel in 2000.

Former pump house, now chapel, on the southern edge of the grounds

The Stations of the Cross were refurbished in 2012; the original Stations were encased in new, granite monuments engraved with a corresponding Gospel quote.

Manresa Retreat House continues to host conference retreats every week, with a capacity of 78 persons per retreat, with a total of 2,600 men and women each year. Individually-directed retreats, Bible studies, Days of Recollection, etc. take place throughout the year.

A brief promo video includes commentary from Archbishop Vigneron

A. A. groups meet regularly at Manresa,  once fostered by Fr. Jack Schuett, SJ, who ministered to our A. A. constituency for 21 years. Fr. Francis Daly, SJ, is the current Director of Manresa Jesuit Retreat House while Fr. Peter Fennessy, SJ, is Superior of the community.

Fr. Peter Fennessy, SJ, on Ignatian Spirituality

Daily Mass is celebrated at 8:00am, most weekdays, in the main chapel. On First Fridays, a light breakfast follows Mass. 

An abbreviation of the Jesuit motto, "Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam" (For the Greater Glory of God), is inscribed in a chapel window. The "IHS" abbreviation of the Holy Name on a chapel door.

St. Joseph with Child Jesus stands behind a fountain; St. Thomas Aquinas outside the offices.

Resurrected Christ near the main road; a St. Ignatius shrine on the path to the chapel. 

A branch of the Rouge River runs throughout the grounds.

There are several areas for private reflection or conversation scattered around the grounds as well as a nature trail.

Manresa publishes two periodicals, both are available online: biannual Manresa Matters and bimonthly Manresa Memos.

A book on the history of Manresa Retreat House, published in 2014, is available at the office.

For more info: Manresa-SJ.org + Facebook
Manresa Matters archive: Issuu.com

St. Lawrence Parish (Utica)

St. Lawrence Parish began in 1866 as a mission of Sacred Heart Parish, in what is now Roseville, which was established a year before. On June 25, 1866, George and Eunice Welkins sold a parcel of land for the construction of a church near what is now Van Dyke and Hall Road. Therefore, the St. Lawrence celebrates its sesquicentennial this year.

On September 24, 1877, land was deeded from George and Regina Archenbroon to Bishop Borgess, and in 1878 a new cemetery was consecrated as Saint Lawrence Utica Cemetery. In 1898, a large fire destroyed most of Utica but the Church of St. Lawrence survived. Fr. John D. O'Shea was assigned as pastor of Sacred Heart, Roseville, around the year 1900. One weekend a month, he traveled to the St. Lawrence Mission to hear confessions and say Mass. Another large-scale fire destroyed St. Lawrence Church in 1904. Fr. O'Shea celebrated Mass in nearby residences and, before long, the parish rented a hall until the church was rebuilt. Parish social activities, parties, picnics and suppers help to raise $5,367.26 (about $150,000 today) for the building fund. 

The cornerstone of the second church was laid in 1908 and the church was completed that year at Van Dyke and McClellan, just north of the first church. In August of 1916, Fr. O'Shea suggested to the people of the parish that they celebrate the Feast of St. Lawrence by having a community dinner. What became the annual parish festival soon began.

Bishop Michael J. Gallagher appointed Rev. William Crowley to be the first resident pastor in 1924. Three years later, four acres of land were purchased for a rectory. Ground was broken in 1929 for a combination church and school. The third church opened on Easter Sunday, 1930 with the first Mass at 7:30am that day. Bishop Gallagher visited the new church in July of 1930; he dedicated the church, administered First Holy Communion, and administer Confirmation all in the same day. The school opened the following September with a student body of 149. Four Dominican nuns taught at the school under Sr. Rose Vincent, OP, superior and principal. Before a convent was built, the nuns lived in the school. 

Historic photo of St. Lawrence School at an unknown date - Source

The parish struggled to pay their debts during the Great Depression and it is believed that this stress caused Fr. Crowley to suffer a fatal heart attack, at the age of 56, on July 12, 1932. He was buried in the parish cemetery. On the day of Fr. Crowley's funeral, Bishop Gallagher appointed Fr. Joseph McIsaac to be the second pastor. Fr. McIsaac was beloved for his charisma, brilliant sermons, and financial prowess. After less than three years as pastor, Fr. McIsaac left the parish to join the Order of Preachers - apparently the Dominican nuns at the school left an impression on him

On July 1, 1935, Fr. Edward J. DeKeyser was appointed third pastor and remained at the parish for the next 36 years. When his pastorate began, there were about 200 registered families at the parish. In 1937, a house across from the school was purchased and used as a convent. An additional two classrooms then became available at the school. The relatively-small parish did not have a choir for decades and one or two Sunday Low Masses. The parish grew rapidly in the late 1930s, so much that a new organ was purchased, organized a choir, and added a another Sunday High Mass.

Five servicemen from the parish died during World War II. The school desperately needed to expand during the war but rations and restrictions prevented new construction. However, the parish was able to buy two mobile buildings that allowed seven more classrooms. Because 90% of students contributed to war bonds, the school was awarded the Minuteman flag by the U.S. Department of the Treasury.

A church building fund began started shortly after the end of WWII. The Utica Sentinel stated in a later article: "Father DeKeyser made a house-to-house visit of the people in this (Utica) area known as St. Lawrence Parish. He pushed doorbells and drove back into the field to speak with the members of the parish to learn how they felt about beginning a fund for the construction of a church and possibly a convent. All were in agreement…." Pledges of $45,000 were made, of which $40,000 was collected (more than half a million dollars today).

   

On May 31, 1947, Fr. Daniel P. Bogus was ordained as the first priest raised in the parish. Fr. Elmer Nacy became the parish's first assistant priest in 1948. He remained at St. Lawrence until he was appointed pastor of the new St. Philomena Parish three years later. On March 19, the Feast of St. Joseph, in 1948, ground was broken for a new convent. It was designed by Arthur DesRosiers and built under the supervision of Edward V. Monahan, contractor. Exactly one year later to the day the Sisters moved in. The parish Altar Society furnished the chapel and rooms. 

    

On Saturday, January 25, 1950, in the presence of Rev. Elmer Nacy, assistant pastor; the Sisters of St. Dominic of Adrian; Arthur DesRosiers, architect; Edward V. Monahan, contractor; the building committee; and many parishioners, the Rev. Father Edward J. DeKeyser, pastor, broke ground to mark the official beginning of the building of the new St. Lawrence Church. The cornerstone of the new church was blessed and set in place Sunday, September 3, by Auxiliary Bishop Alexander Zaleski. He was assisted by Fr. Nacy and Fr. Joseph Schramm of Mt. Clemens.

   

On October 28, 1951, His Eminence Edward Cardinal Mooney blessed the new structure before the 11:00 a.m. Mass. Two years later, the parish began a building campaign for a high school. The campaign quickly collected $237,000 ($2.1 million today) and ground was broken the same year.

St. Lawrence High School, complete with 18 classrooms, opened in September of 1954. Four years later, 42 students became the first graduating class. Several parishes were established are outgrowths from St. Lawrence, notably St. Isidore, St. Kieran, St. Matthias, and St. Ephrem.

 

Fr. DeKeyser celebrated his 25th anniversary as pastor in 1960. On September 30, 1962, Fr. DeKeyser was elevated to Monsignor by Pope John XXIII. He was invested with the of his office by Archbishop John Dearden and was among 14 newly appointed monsignors in the Detroit Archdiocese. By 1966, St. Lawrence had 2,000 registered families.

While the parish continued to grow, St. Lawrence was in debt and the high school was forced to close in 1971. Msgr. DeKeyser soon retired but maintained residence at the rectory as Pastor Emeritus. A month later Fr. Francis H. Burns was appointed pastor and remained at St. Lawrence for the next two decades. The parish soon grew to 3,700 families and during this time, the parish placed a strong emphasis on continuing education and faith formation.

  

Fr. Francis Burns celebrated his silver anniversary to the priesthood on October 14, 1973, and the City Council of Utica proclaimed that week to be "Fr. Francis Burns Week". Msgr. DeKeyser celebrated his golden anniversary May 9, 1976, the last Mass he celebrated. On Wednesday, December 29, 1976, Monsignor DeKeyser died at the age of 77 after suffering the rigors of hip surgery. 

The sanctuary: Blessed Mother statue to the left and tabernacle to the right - Source

During the 1980s, extensive repairs were made to the church roof, walls, bell tower, doors, steps and stained-glass windows. The following year, an attached activities building opened and was named after Msgr. DeKeyser. Five cantors from the parish sang in the Papal Mass on September 19, 1987, with Pope St. John Paul II.

 

Thirty Detroit churches closed in 1989, one of which was another by the name of St. Lawrence located in the area of Michigan Avenue & Lonyo. Fr. Stanley Kasprzyk, pastor of the southwest Detroit parish, donated two statues of the patron as well as several vestments, a banner, and other church furnishings. The same year, Utica's St. Lawrence began a $450,000 renovation program. A balcony, with a capacity for more than 100 people, was added to the church. In addition, the tabernacle was moved to a side altar, restrooms were updated, lighting replaced, refurbished church interior, new carpet and HVAC. 

   

In the early 1990s, St. Lawrence was reportedly the largest parish in the Archdiocese of Detroit. In conjunction with the parish's 125th anniversary, the church was designated as a Michigan Historic Site on May 15, 1991. Fr. Burns retired in 1991 but most of his successors have seen only one or two year pastorates. Fr. Bob Fisher was pastor 2003-2014, until he was assigned as pastor of National Shrine of the Little Flower Basilica in 2014. Fr. Roman Pasieczny has been pastor for the last two years and is currently assisted by Fr. Robert Salton and Fr. Matthew Ellis.

LITURGY SCHEDULE

Monday–Friday, 8:00 am

Wednesday (during school year), 9:30 am

Saturday, 4:30 pm

Sunday, 8:00 am, 10:00 am, 12:00 noon

Reconciliation, Saturday, 3:30 pm

Eucharistic Adoration, First Friday of every month from Noon–3:00 pm

(September through May)

Perpetual Help Devotions, Tuesday morning after the 8:00 am Mass

More info: parish website  + school website + bulletin archive + parish history

Another blog post: Discovering Detroit Catholic Churches

Eucharistic Adoration on Election Day

In preparation for Election Day, many parishes are providing opportunities for Eucharistic Adoration. These will be invaluable opportunities for petition and reparation ahead of this important election.

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 7

St. Michael Church, Livonia
Adoration 9:15am-Midnight 
parish website

National Shrine of the Little Flower Basilica, Royal Oak
6:30pm Rosary, 7:00pm Mass, 8:00pm Benediction
* A Perpetual Adoration chapel is also located southeast of the church on 12 Mile Rd.
parish website + bulletin

St. Albert the Great, Dearborn Heights
7:30pm Holy Hour
parish website + bulletin

SS. Cyril & Methodius, Sterling Heights
Prayer Vigil at 7:00pm followed by Adoration until Midnight 
* A Perpetual Adoration chapel is also next to the main entrance of the church
parish website

Our Lady of La Salette, Berkley
7:00pm Holy Hour
parish website + bulletin

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OVERNIGHT, MONDAY–TUESDAY

Assumption Grotto, Detroit
Mass at 7:00pm on Monday followed by Adoration until 7:30am Mass on Tuesday
parish website

St. Isaac Jogues, St. Clair Shores
Mass at 8:30pm on Monday followed by all-night Adoration (no scheduled time for Reposition) 
parish website + bulletin

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TUESDAY, NOVEMER 8

St. Paul on the Lake, Grosse Pointe Farms
Mass at 6:15am & 8:30am; Adoration Noon-7:00pm
parish website + bulletin

SS. Peter & Paul, Detroit (west side)
Mass at 7:00am followed by Adoration until Benediction at 8:00pm
parish website + bulletin

Our Lady of Sorrows, Farmington
Adoration 8:30am-8:30pm
parish website + bulletin

St. John Bosco, Redford Township
Perpetual Help devotions at 8:15am, Mass at 8:30am, Adoration 9:00am-9:00pm 
parish calendar

Church of the Divine Child, Dearborn
Mass at 6:30am & 8:30am, Adoration 9:00am-7:00pm 
parish website + bulletin

Our Lady of Good Counsel, Plymouth
Mass at 8:00am followed by Adoration until midnight
parish website + bulletin

Our Lady of Loretto, Redford Township
Mass at 8:30am, Adoration 9:00am-6:45pm 
parish website

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ELECTION PRAYER
By Servant of God Fr. John A. Hardon, S.J.

Lord Jesus Christ, You told us to give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar, and to God what belongs to God. Enlighten the minds of our people in America. May we choose a President of the United States, and other government officials, according to Your Divine will. Give our citizens the courage to choose leaders of our nation who respect the sanctity of unborn human life, the sanctity of marriage, the sanctity of marital relations, the sanctity of family,
and the sanctity of aging. Grant us the wisdom to give You, what belongs to You, our God. If we do this, as a nation, we are confident You will give us an abundance of Your blessings through our elected leaders. Amen.

U.S.C.C.B. PRAYER FOR THE ELECTION

     Lord God, as the election approaches, we seek to better understand the issues and concerns that confront the United States and how the Gospel compels us to respond as faithful citizens in our community.
     We ask for eyes that are free from blindness so that we might see each other as brothers and sisters, one and equal in dignity, especially those who are victims of abuse and violence, deceit and poverty.
     We ask for ears that will hear the cries of children unborn and those abandoned, men and women oppressed because of race or creed, religion or gender. We ask for minds and hearts that are open to hearing the voice of leaders who will bring us closer to Your Kingdom.
     We pray for discernment so that we may choose leaders who hear Your Word, live Your love, and keep in the ways of Your truth as they follow in the steps of Jesus and His Apostles and guide us to Your Kingdom of justice and peace. We ask this in the name of Your Son Jesus Christ and through the power of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

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Additionally, TheRealPresence.org maintains a directory of Perpetual Adoration sites.

St. Valentine (Redford Township)

St. Valentine Parish was established in 1950, one church in what would become of a group of four Catholic churches that lined Beech Daly Rd. in Redford Township.

St. Valentine clustered with nearby Our Lady of Loretto, located 1.5 miles north, in 2013. Fr. Socorro Fernandes, SAC, has been pastor since then. He is assisted by Fr. Henry Rebello, SAC


Sacred Heart of Jesus side altar with the Holy Oils

A statue of the patron, holding the palm frond of martyrdom, stands in front of the church. St. Anne and Child Mary stand in a corner of the nave.

Monochrome Stations of the Cross are cornered between columns and windows.
 

The Good Shepherd appears in the former baptistry.

Stained-glass windows from the side doors.

Modern stained-glass windows line the walls of the nave; each depicts a different sacrament or element from the Gospels. Next to a each window is a text explanation.

The Traveling Catholic Mass Mob visited St. Valentine Church in February of this year and Bishop Hanchon was the celebrant


The Blessed Mother stands in front of the school, immediately north of the church.

Saturday Vigil Mass is at 5:00pm; Sunday Mass is at 9:00am & Noon. Daily Mass is in the school chapel at 8:30am on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday. Friday Mass is at 8:30am in the church. Confessions are Saturday at 3:30pm in the church.

More info: parish website + bulletin archive + school website
More about the February Mass Mob event: Detroit Free Press + Detroit News