  Kathleen Member Username: Kathleen Post Number: 2539 Registered: 10-2003 |
Worshippers bid a fond farewell as parish holds last Mass "...Before her was an array of arresting images: a decorative manger scene; opulently painted wooden altar statues; and warm candlelight illuminating the pews, accentuating the rich blue, red, emerald and gold hues of soaring stained-glass windows. "If you ever think of a church, that's the way it would look," said Fujawa, 75, now of Sterling Heights, who lived a block away and was baptized at the church. "It was always beautiful." That's why the past year has been bittersweet for the remaining congregants at the Delray neighborhood parish on Detroit's southwest side. Although it was identified last year for closure, the church was allowed to remain open to celebrate its 105th anniversary on Sunday with a final Mass. It will be the church's last event in a string of countless weddings, baptisms and celebrations. "You go there for so many years, everything about it you miss," said Roman Matey, a Wyandotte retiree who began attending with his wife more than 50 years ago. "They don't make churches like that anymore." ..." http://www.detnews.com/apps/pb cs.dll/article?AID=/20071026/L IFESTYLE04/710260378 Losing grace: A magnificent church’s last Masses "...It's another architecturally remarkable, historic church that the archdiocese has had to close or cluster under a single priest, primarily in Detroit and the inner-ring suburbs, because of declining attendance, population shifts and the subsequent loss of revenue. The church is located in a corner of Delray (on Harbaugh at Thaddeus, west of Dearborn Street and north of West Jefferson Avenue) arguably the most polluted part of the city, a once-thriving riverside community that is now almost entirely industrial. Delray's population has dropped from a high of 23,000 in 1930 to 3,100 at last count seven years ago, though it's almost certainly lower today. ..." http://www.metrotimes.com/edit orial/story.asp?id=11944 Archived Forum thread: https://www.atdetroit.net/forum/mes sages/91697/114759.html | ||
Lowell Board Administrator Username: Lowell Post Number: 4273 Registered: 10-2003 |
"Our Lady of the Sewers" closes. Walk out of the church and you look at acres of circular sewage percolators and a scent even church incense can't conquer. Poor church didn't have a chance; I am surprised it lasted so long. | ||
Raptor56 Member Username: Raptor56 Post Number: 140 Registered: 05-2007 |
I've always wondered: What happens to a deceased church? Do they just padlock the doors and leave the Altar and decorations intact, or do they move everything out to storage and hope the homeless, weather, and animals don't take over the empty building? | ||
East_detroit Member Username: East_detroit Post Number: 1227 Registered: 11-2003 |
Heaven forbid that homeless would live in an abandoned church that wasnt turning a profit. | ||
Realitycheck Member Username: Realitycheck Post Number: 481 Registered: 08-2004 |
The answer, Raptor, comes from our reliable friend at detroitblog -- who identifies himself publicly as John in the Metro Times version of his latest post, which Kathleen links to above. Anyhow, two days before The News' article, he quoted the archdiocese as saying: quote:Check out the 6 stunning photos with Wednesday's post. | ||
Kathleen Member Username: Kathleen Post Number: 2540 Registered: 10-2003 |
Thanks, Realitycheck. I believe John and I chatted briefly as a bunch of us were photographing the church a few Saturdays back before the 4pm mass. He said he was taking the photos and doing the interviews for a Metro Times piece. | ||
1953 Member Username: 1953 Post Number: 1477 Registered: 12-2004 |
What a beautiful building. |
