Founded in the early 19th century, Old St. Mary’s Catholic Church remains true to its purpose of serving the Detroit community that surrounds the parish.
Construction on the present church building began in 1884 and completed one year later. In the early 1900s, parish priest Father Joseph Wuest, added three stunning grottos to Old Saint Mary’s.
- The Baptismal Grotto shows the baptism of Jesus by John the Baptist in the Jordan River
- The Grotto of Gethsemane displays the suffering of Jesus the night before the crucifixion
- The Lourdes Grotto is a recreation of the shrine in Lourdes, France. Legend says that Father Wuest used stones he collected while visiting the shrine in France to build the grotto.
In 1979, the State of Michigan registered Old St. Mary’s Catholic Church as one of its Historic Sites. The structure is a well-known landmark revered for its exceptionally beautiful pairing of Romanesque and Venetian Renaissance architecture. Old Saint Mary’s consistently lists among the top Detroit attractions recommended by travel guides.
Although the beauty and history of Old Saint Mary’s often take center stage, the parish is a spiritual beacon and thriving part of the Detroit Greektown community. Its location draws members from the surrounding area, including members of local government and the business community.
Old Saint Mary’s reaches out to their community with numerous events. These include participating in providing meals for the homeless at Pope Francis Center, evangelism and musical programs.
The Holy Spirit Fathers (also called Spiritans) began serving Old Saint Mary’s in 1893. The Spiritans dedicate themselves to serve the weak and helpless among them. To that end, the church offers:
• Daily Mass at 12:15 p.m.
• Sunday Morning Mass at 8:30 and 9:30 a.m.
• Sunday Morning Latin Mass at 10 a.m.
• Confessions 15 minutes before Mass
To learn about what Old St. Mary’s Catholic Church can bring to your life.
