Dear Parishioners and Friends of Ss. Peter and Paul Jesuit Church,
As a welcoming Christian community glorifying God in the heart of downtown, Ss. Peter and Paul Jesuit Church is serving the people of Detroit today just as it has for 175 years. This Church has seen nearly 7,000 weddings, more than 15,000 baptisms, funerals for the unhoused and city dignitaries alike, and of course Sunday Masses. Generations have shared these moments of happiness and heartbreak with God and the community, moments that carry us into the present and connect us to the past. Likewise, we have seen the city of Detroit rise and struggle and rise again.
Save the date! On June 25, 2023, we will celebrate the 175th anniversary of our parish community and its building, now the oldest in the city. This sacred building and its people have endured as reminders that God, in Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit, is ever present and transforming lives, as a beacon of hope to those in spiritual or physical need. This faith shared by so many Jesuits and lay leaders, parishioners and friends, together with community leaders and donors, has enabled us to continue to serve hearts, minds and bodies and to share the gift of God’s love with all those looking for more – the magis, as St. Ignatius named it.
In 1877 our parish was transformed when Bishop Borgess asked the Jesuits to serve the parish and to begin other ministries here. As we continue to grow in our Ignatian spirituality, we invite the city to join us in celebrating our 175th Anniversary. Over the next year we will share upcoming events with the community through social media, our website, our twice-monthly e-newsletter and in periodic mailings like this one. A parishioner-led committee is planning social, service, and spiritual events to .celebrate our history and our current life and make them more widely known in the community. A local renowned author is writing a new book about the history of Ss. Peter and Paul Jesuit Church. We’re planning to offer “Spiritual Exercises for the City” to spread a deeper understanding of the Ignatian way. Regular celebrations like our Jazz Mass and Sneaker Mass will be enhanced too. Come along on this year-long journey; you won’t want to miss it!
175th Anniversary Steering Committee,
Frank Brady Donna Ridella Al Fields Susan Solner Fr. Gary Wright, SJ, Pastor
A Welcoming Christian Community Glorifying God In The Heart Of Detroit.