Don't you know this is the new Springtime?? Talking about this type of thing only shows you are uncharitable and don't have holy cheerfulness. The diocese must have had good reason to sell the church. They can give that money to the poor. Besides, that church was too showy and ostentatious anyway. God is wherever two or three are gathered, don't you know? You don't need a fancy building. After all, God just wants faithfulness not expensive adornments.

Seriously, these people don't care a whit about the sacrifices of our forefathers in building that place or anything in it. They have completely lost the faith and are happy to be rid of it and line the diocesan coffers for a short while. Perhaps to pay off their court cases, who knows. It is truly the abomination of desolation. The Church will be dismantled until it is about to go under, and then Christ will come.

Sorry what  a dumb bell I am . I meant to add this last night:



Detroit – The Outreach Center at St. Dominic's Parish will remain in operation, even though the parish itself will go out of existence following a closing Mass Saturday, Nov. 12.

"The Outreach Center is the bridge of hope for the working poor, and those with disabilities, and the homeless," said Sherron Jenkins, who has run the center for the past nine years. An average of nearly 200 people a month visit the center for food, clothing, personal hygiene kits and other items.

The decision to close St. Dominic Parish, at Trumbull and West Warren avenues, came as the result of a combination of declining membership, falling income, and mounting debt, exacerbated by the need to undertake costly repair projects for which there was simply no money, said Franciscan Fr. Mark Soehner, parish administrator.

Fr. Soehner, who became administrator of St. Dominic and St. Patrick  parishes July 1, in addition to being pastor of St. Aloysius Parish, downtown, said he quickly learned there remained $40,000 in unpaid bills from the fiscal year that ended June 30.

"We still owed money on our January light bill," he said.

In addition, an inspection team sent by the Archdiocese of Detroit estimated parish buildings were in need of more than $500,000 in repairs. "Not all of that would have to be done right away, but I estimated we would need $100,000 by the end of October if we were going to pay old bills and do the things that needed doing immediately," Fr. Soehner explained.

With only about 64 active members, there was no reasonable prospect of raising the money, he added.

They might be few in number, but longtime members are nevertheless saddened by the impending closing. "It's hard, but what can you do? You can see the handwriting on the wall," said Helen Pardy, whose family has belonged to St. Dominic Parish 44 years.

William Cosgriff, longtime parish council president, said his family had moved into the parish in 1939, when he was 3 years old. "Losing it is like losing a member of the family," he said.

"I'm the oldest of eight children, and all eight of us went to school there. My eight children were baptized there, my parents were buried out of there, and my brother John's funeral will turn out to be the last funeral conducted there," Cosgriff added.

He and his wife, Ella, were married there 57 years ago.

"I've shopped for everything in my life, but I never had to shop for a church before," Ella Cosgriff said.

St. Dominic Parish was founded in 1926, when it was determined a new parish was needed mid-way between St. Leo and St. Patrick parishes. The diocese purchased the former Brewster Congregational Church, which had been built in 1890, and built the school building the following year.

The parish, which once numbered more than 800 families, was operated by the Dominican Friars from its beginning until 1999, and staffed by diocesan priests until this year.

The St. Dominic's Outreach Center just completed a move from its former quarters on West Warren Avenue to the former convent on the parish grounds.Its new address is 4835 Lincoln Ave., though it is accessed through the parish parking lot off Trumbull.

That will be its home, at least until the parish property is eventually sold, but Cardinal Adam Maida made it a proviso of his approval of the closing of the parish that the outreach effort continue.

Fr. Soehner said the Outreach Center is an important Christian presence in the area. "It's critical that we be in this area – that we do not abandon the City of Detroit," he said.

But he emphasized that its work is "not just doing nice things for people," but also involves "inviting people to join us and come and be a part of the incredible experience of Jesus Christ."

Jenkins said members of the continuing parishes in the cluster, St. Aloysius and St. Patrick, would continue to be involved with the Outreach Center. She said financial support comes mostly from suburban parishes and individuals.

Pat Dajnowicz, a St. Dominic parishioner who has worked at the center 11 years, said she believes its work is very important, and is glad she will be able to continue. "After being here a long time, you can't just get up and leave," she said.

Jenkins, who converted to Catholicism at St. Dominic back in 1990, couldn't hold back the tears as she gave a tour of the church last Friday. "I'm so going to miss this place. This is where I found my faith," she said.

The 5 p.m. closing Mass at St. Dominic Church on Saturday, Nov. 12 is open to the public. Those planning to attend are asked to call  (313) 831-8790 several days in advance, so parish leaders can plan refreshments for the reception.

Here is the link for the "Bishop" http://www.aodonline.org/NR/exeres/662BF2F1-2469-491A-AB65-FF75A901388C.htm?NRMODE=Unpublished

Don't you know this is the new Springtime?? Talking about this type of thing only shows you are uncharitable and don't have holy cheerfulness. The diocese must have had good reason to sell the church. They can give that money to the poor. Besides, that church was too showy and ostentatious anyway. God is wherever two or three are gathered, don't you know? You don't need a fancy building. After all, God just wants faithfulness not expensive adornments.

Seriously, these people don't care a whit about the sacrifices of our forefathers in building that place or anything in it. They have completely lost the faith and are happy to be rid of it and line the diocesan coffers for a short while. Perhaps to pay off their court cases, who knows. It is truly the abomination of desolation. The Church will be dismantled until it is about to go under, and then Christ will come.

Far be it from me to side with the NO, but they do have a good reason for closing churches in Detroit.  You can't support a church without parishioners.  The population of Detroit has been in a steady decline since the race riots of the late '60s.  The census of 2000 showed that Detroit's population had dropped below one million.  And the bottom line, the majority of Catholics in and around Detroit are white.  According to the last census, 90% of Detroit's population is African-American.  There is just no financial sense in keeping churches open if there aren't enough people to support them.  It is indeed sad to see these beautiful old churches close, but what else can be done.  As Trads we know that the Archdiocese of Detroit or the Archdiocese of any city USA, would rather raze these old churches rather then sell them to any traditional group.

Here's an article from a local weekly paper that has a much happier ending...even though it's still NO.

http://www2.metrotimes.com/culture/story.asp?id=15424