▶ Old Saint Marys' DETROIT MI 2018

"Christianity is not a system of oppressive rules. It is peace, joy, love, and a life that is continually renewed. [...] Your Church is the orchard fed and pruned by your love: may all who seek peace find rest in its shade."" This quote from St. John XXIII could be the motto of Old St Mary's Parish in Greektown, Detroit, so much the ambience there is a reflecting these words. Pastor Wayne Epperley, a Spiritan priest from the congregation of the Holy Spirit (a missionary congregation born in 1703) and all his flock are striving to make of Old St Mary such a place where all people who come are welcome and may discover the love of the Father manifested in Christ and the Spirit that animated the Spiritans who served there for 125 years now (in 2018), since 1893 (Fr. Francis W. Schwab, from Alsace, who had come with Father Strub to the US after the Congregation was expelled from Germany in 1873, was the first Spiritan Pastor for this parish founded in 1835 as a recognized group to be administered sacraments and St Mary's parish in 1843 on the occasion of its first built structure. The Redemptorists took charge of St Mary's parish from 1847 to 1872, then the Franciscans. Since Fr. Schwab in 1893, 12 other Spiritans have been in charge, the current pastor being Fr. Wayne Epperley, an American himself born in Germany. The 'Second church', the church as we know it now, was completed in 1885, a remarkable monument to faith and to the arts. Come and discover with this video a vibrant community proud of her church, walls, ceremonies, the gatherings, a community generous to the Spiritan Mission throughout the world, with notably a commitment to its 'Sister parish', St Michael's in Tanzania, a community opened to all styles of praising, mixed races and styles, and a whole in whole very engaged and welcoming church community. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Email received (March 12, 2018): We had a chance to view the 'Spiritan in Detroit' video. It is a wonderful chronicle of the Presence of the congregation of the HS at St. Mary’s. The church looks absolutely amazing! Rarely do print photos and videos capture the true beauty of our church, but you managed to do it. We are very grateful to you and all Spiritans! God bless, - Michelle Pierron - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -