Parishioners gathered to say farewell to St. Christopher’s Catholic Church on Sunday, marking the end of an 85-year legacy in Detroit. The church, located at the corner of Tireman and Woodmont since 1965, will close its doors due to ongoing financial challenges and declining attendance.
Tom Stoltz, a devoted member for over 50 years, expressed his sorrow, stating, “It’s been, you know, 85 years in this neighborhood, we’ve done a lot of good. For me, it’s like watching a loved one die slowly, and there’s nothing you can do.” He added that while the church may be closing, its “heart and soul” will endure within the community.
Significant Transition for the Community
Originally opened in 1941, the church underwent a name change in 2019 to honor St. Juan Diego, the first indigenous saint from the Americas. Sunday’s final mass was conducted in both English and Spanish, reflecting the diverse community it served. Msgr. Charles Kosanke, the archdiocese’s regional moderator, acknowledged the emotional weight of the occasion: “It’s a day of sadness and hope. Sadness because this church holds so many memories of its congregation for the last 80 years.”
The decision to close St. Christopher’s is not part of the broader two-year evaluation of Catholic churches in the state, aimed at determining which establishments should remain open. According to Kosanke, the restructuring process is “much more involved and intense,” and some churches cannot wait for the evaluation process. “Sadly, this is one of them,” he noted.
Cherished Memories Resurface
For many parishioners, the final service felt like a homecoming. A group of former students from St. Christopher’s Elementary School reunited in the church, many not having visited since their childhood. Dee Dee Kostrzewa, a graduate from the class of 1978, reflected on the nostalgia of the moment, saying, “Once you’re here with those memories, you can’t look at pictures, but you can’t feel the energy anymore.”
The Archdiocese of Detroit has plans for the St. Juan Diego Parish, which operates from a second location at the former St. Thomas Aquinas. Despite these developments, the day was bittersweet for loyal parishioners of St. Christopher’s. Stoltz expressed his faith in the community’s resilience: “The church is the gospel, the soul of the people, and we will continue on. I think the Lord looked down and I think he’s pleased at what we did here all these years.”
As the doors close on St. Christopher’s Catholic Church, the memories and impact it had on the community will likely resonate for years to come.
