Archbishop Vigneron invites faithful to participate in I AM HERE Advent Challenge, attend Christmas Midnight Mass at Detroit Cathedral

Archbishop of Detroit Allen H. Vigneron invites the faithful to prepare their hearts to celebrate the birth of Christ with the I AM HERE Advent Challenge before attending in-person Christmas Eve Midnight Mass at the Cathedral of the Most Blessed Sacrament.

The I AM HERE Advent Challenge, created by the Archdiocese of Detroit as part of local efforts in support of the National Eucharistic Revival, delivers daily emails or texts with prayers, meditations, and an invitation to spend time in front of the Blessed Sacrament in adoration. Participants will arrive at the celebration of Christmas ready to receive Jesus who says to us all: “I am here.”

To participate, text “ADVENT” to 84576 or visit iamhere.org/advent.

Archbishop Vigneron also extends his annual invitation to the faithful to an in-person Christmas Eve Midnight Mass at the Cathedral of the Most Blessed Sacrament, located at 9844 Woodward Avenue, between Chicago Boulevard and the Davison Freeway. The Mass will also be broadcasted live on the Archdiocese of Detroit’s Facebook page and YouTube channel.

For those seeking other options, the Archdiocese has updated massfinder.org with Christmas Eve and Christmas Day Mass schedules at parishes throughout southeast Michigan, including in-person, livestreamed, and TV broadcast services. Massfinder.org, sponsored by Catholic Funeral and Cemetery Services, also lists local parish Sunday, Holy Day, and Christmas services, both in-person and livestream.

In addition, local media partners are broadcasting Mass on Christmas Day: Channel 7 (WXYZ) will broadcast 5 a.m. Mass; ClickOnDetroit.com (WDIV-Local 4) will broadcast 8 a.m. Mass; and FOX 2 (WJBK) will broadcast 11 a.m. Mass.

Coverage details:

• Members of the news media are welcome to cover Midnight Mass at the Cathedral of the Most Blessed Sacrament.
• Media are also invited to cover Christmas Day Masses at Old St. Mary's in Greektown at 646 Monroe St., Detroit. Masses will be celebrated at 8:30 a.m., 10 a.m., and 12 noon. Parking is available in the lot next to the church. To arrange for coverage, or to inquire about services at other Catholic churches, please contact Michelle St. Pierre at (313) 805-1408 or stpierre.michelle@aod.org.

To preserve the dignity of the Christmas services, we ask that camera operators refrain from using flashes or any form of artificial lighting, and that special care be taken not to impede processions for Holy Eucharist. Thank you in advance for heeding any instructions you may receive from the staff at our parishes.