Historic St Joseph church now Oratory under care of religious community
Detroit Archbishop Allen Vigneron has made official the creation of a new Catholic parish at St. Joseph Church in downtown Detroit under the pastoral care of the Chicago-based religious community Institute of Christ the King Sovereign Priest. As of Oct. 7, the site and parish are known as St. Joseph Oratory. The religious community, known for its dedication to the Extraordinary Form of Mass — commonly known as the Traditional Latin Mass or Tridentine Mass — and other Catholic Sacraments, has fostered active parish communities at a dozen other churches across the United States. Canon Michael Stein has been appointed rector of the oratory. He will be assisted by Deacon Jonathon Fehrenbacher. The first Traditional Latin Mass at St. Joseph Oratory will take place at noon on Sunday, Oct. 16. “We are grateful for the Institute of Christ the King Sovereign Priest and the dedication they have to evangelizing through use of the Extraordinary Form,” said Archbishop Vigneron. “The Institute has shown tremendous energy in conveying a sense of the sacred through their ministry around the country and the world. We are especially encouraged that their ministry may also be instrumental in preserving St. Joseph, one of the Archdiocese of Detroit’s most beautiful and historic worship sites.” St. Joseph Church previously was one of three church buildings belonging to Mother of Divine Mercy Parish. As part of the arrangement with the Institute, the Archdiocese of Detroit will assign a priest to celebrate an English-language novus ordo Mass at St. Joseph Oratory each Saturday. Mother of Divine Mercy Parish will retain ownership and operations of its other two historic churches, Sweetest Heart of Mary and St. Josaphat. The Institute of Christ the King Sovereign Priest, is based nationally in Chicago and internationally in Florence, Italy. In many cases, the institute’s ministry has revitalized and allowed for the restoration of historic churches. The Institute was established canonically in 1990 by Monsignor Gilles Wach and Father Phillipe Mora. Its stated mission is “the honor of God and the sanctification of priests in the service of the Church and souls.” The Institute has grown in popularity in the United States since Pope Benedict XVI in 2007 issued a document allowing parish communities, with the blessings of their bishops, to offer the Traditional Latin Mass. “Deeply grateful to Archbishop Vigneron for his gracious invitation, our entire Institute family is very glad for this new apostolate in Detroit. St. Joseph Oratory will be a unique spiritual home offering Masses with sacred music, daily confessions, days of recollection, classes in spirituality and doctrine, and youth formation activities among others,” said Canon Matthew Talarico, provincial superior of Institute of Christ the King Sovereign Priest. “With the help of God and the prayerful support of His people, the Institute seeks to carry on the traditions of St. Joseph with the truth and charity of Christ so very much needed in our world of today.” For more information on Institute of Christ the King Sovereign Priest, visit www.institute-christ-king.org. Contact the office of St. Joseph Oratory at sjdetroit@institute-christ-king.org or visit www.institute-christ-king.org/detroit. The St. Joseph Oratory building is located at 1828 Jay Street in Detroit. n/a
