Father Solanus Casey Beatification Ceremony Date Announced
Beatification Information Prayer for Canonization
DETROIT, MI (27 JUNE 2017) – The Capuchin Franciscan Order of St. Joseph in Detroit has announced that the date for the Father Solanus Casey beatification ceremony will be Saturday, November 18, 2017 at Ford Field in Detroit. This follows the historic announcement by Pope Francis on May 4 that Father Solanus Casey will be elevated to Blessed in the Roman Catholic Church. Details on the Fr. Solanus Casey beatification ceremony, including ceremony time, will be released in the coming weeks and available at solanuscasey.org/beatification. Ticket information will be made available in August. Ford Field will be configured to accommodate approximately 60,000 guests for the ceremony.
A member of the Capuchin Franciscan Order of St. Joseph in Detroit and one of the co-founders of the city’s Capuchin Soup Kitchen, Father Solanus Casey was born November 25, 1870 and died July 31, 1957. He will be the second American-born male to be beatified. The first is Father Stanley Rother, a North American priest who died in 1981 and will also be beatified later this year. A photograph of Father Solanus Casey is available here. For questions about the beatification ceremony, please call the Solanus Center at 313-579-2100 ext. 0 or email amorris@thecapuchins.org.
“We are filled with joy at receiving the final date of the beatification of Father Solanus,” stated Father Michael Sullivan, OFM Cap. and Provincial Minister of the Capuchin Franciscan Province of St. Joseph. “It is a beautiful way to celebrate the 60th anniversary of his passing.”
“I’m grateful to hear from the Capuchin friars that the date of the beatification has been finalized,” stated Archbishop Allen H. Vigneron, Archdiocese of Detroit. “The beatification of Father Solanus will be a tremendous blessing for the whole community of southeast Michigan, an opportunity for all of us to experience the love of Jesus Christ.”
Throughout his ministry, beginning in New York for 20 years, serving at three different parishes, Fr. Solanus was a beloved Capuchin Friar credited with miraculous cures and valued for his wise and compassionate counsel. He served at St. Bonaventure Monastery on Mt. Elliott Street in Detroit, where he worked for 21 years as a porter and spent his life in the service of people, endearing himself to thousands who would seek his counsel. He earned the recognition as ‘the Doorkeeper’ – a Brother who would provide soup for the hungry, kind words for the troubled, and a healing touch for the ill.
The Detroit Capuchins continue their ministry to the poor and the sick and those in need. They operate the Solanus Casey Center, which attracts 250,000 visitors a year.
Fr. Solanus co-founded the Capuchin Soup Kitchen in 1929 and today it serves Metro Detroit by providing food, clothing and human development programs to the people of the community. In addition to preparing and serving up to 2,000 meals a day, they have an emergency food pantry, service center and a tutoring program for children. Its Earthworks Urban Farm harvests six tons of produce from a two and a half acre organic farm. The Soup Kitchen’s On the Rise Bakery assists individuals re-entering society after bouts of incarceration or substance abuse. In addition, the Capuchin Soup Kitchen’s Jefferson House – a twelve-bed residential treatment facility – assists indigent males seeking to reclaim their lives from addiction.
The work of the Capuchin Friars is funded primarily by donations, receiving no government assistance.
ABOUT THE FATHER SOLANUS GUILD
The Father Solanus Guild, a Capuchin ministry, initiated the Cause of Solanus Casey for sainthood in 1966 and continues to keep alive the inspiring memory of Fr. Solanus; brings knowledge of his exemplary life to others; collects information about his life and work; provides prayer, support, and offers services to the Vice Postulator for the Cause of Solanus Casey.
ABOUT THE SOLANUS CASEY CENTER
Inspired by the holy life of Father Solanus, the Solanus Casey Center opened its doors in 2002 to lead visitors on a spiritual journey. Thousands come to the center each year for prayer, to nurture the spirit, and to visit Solanus’ tomb.
In 1998, the Capuchin superiors recognized a need for a more hospitable way to receive the multitude of visitors who come to the tomb of Father Solanus each year. The result is the beautiful and enriching Solanus Casey Center where Casey’s tomb is now located. It also facilitates the spiritual needs of visitors, drawing them into a pilgrimage of faith that inspires in all who visit an invitation to holiness in their own lives.
The Solanus Casey Center and Father Solanus Guild are ministries of the Capuchin Franciscan Province of St. Joseph headquartered in Detroit, which includes Capuchin ministries worldwide.
The Capuchins are an international community of friars modeling themselves after St. Francis of Assisi. The brothers of the Capuchin Franciscan Province of St. Joseph, headquartered in Detroit, serve in a variety of ministries including social service, schools, chaplaincies, retreat house and parishes in Michigan, Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, Montana, Arizona, and Panama. Established at Mt. Calvary Wisconsin in 1857, there are currently 169 members in the St. Joseph province.
ABOUT THE ARCHDIOCESE OF DETROIT
The Roman Catholic presence in southeast Michigan dates back to 1701 with the arrival of French missionaries. By 1833, the Diocese of Detroit was officially established; it was elevated to the status of an Archdiocese in 1937. Seventh largest in the United States, it administers parishes, schools, and institutions within the City of Detroit, as well as Wayne, Oakland, Macomb, Monroe, St. Clair, and Lapeer counties. The mission of the Archdiocese of Detroit is one of Sharing Christ in and through the Church. Served by Allen Henry Vigneron, its 10th bishop (and fifth archbishop), the Archdiocese— its priests and people alike— is currently and enthusiastically engaged in promulgating and promoting faith in Jesus Christ through its initiative to Unleash the Gospel.
Media contacts:
On behalf of Capuchin Franciscan Order of St. Joseph in Detroit
Heather George, hgeorge@loviogeorge.com, 313-832-2210, 248-417-5773 (mobile)
Bridget Burns, bburns@loviogeorge.com, 313-832-2210, 313-218-2505 (mobile)
Archdiocese of Detroit
Holly Fournier, fournier.holly@aod.org, 313.237.5802, 313.570.5962 (mobile)
News Coverage
The Michigan Catholic
- Fr. Solanus’ remains exhumed, relics collected ahead of beatification Mass
- Pope Francis announces Fr. Solanus Casey to be declared ‘blessed’
- Capuchins, Detroiters, family knew Fr. Solanus’ holiness
- Family of Venerable Solanus Casey share stories of great-uncle
The Detroit Free Press
- Detroit priest Solanus Casey one step closer to becoming a saint
- Detroit Archbishop prays at tomb of Father Casey
The Detroit News
- Exhumation to precede Detroit priest’s beatification
- Archdiocese of Detroit: Fr. Casey on road to sainthood
“When we think of past blessings and merciful providence--notwithstanding our sins--whereby God has blessed us, why should we not foster confidence by thanking Him for the future.” - Fr. Solanus Casey
