Basilica of Ste. Anne de Detroit -- Detroit, Mich.

 Destination:  “On July 24, 1701,” explains the history on the parish website, “25 canoes glided to a stop at the foot of a high bluff which ran along a narrow part of the Detroit River ... . French explorer Antoine de la Mothe Cadillac and his party of 50 artisans, 50 soldiers, and two priests began construction of Fort Ponchartrain du Detroit. Among the first log structures was a tiny chapel which they dedicated on July 26, the feast day of Ste. Anne, mother of Mary and grandmother of Jesus.”

 On Sept. 20, the basilica parish founded a guild  to look into the possibility of sainthood for one of its early pastors, Father Gabriel Richard. The guild is exploratory, and not yet  part of the official sainthood process.

Masses are being offered at 10 a.m. in Spanish and 12 noon in English on Sundays. See the website for the parish’s COVID regulations.

Photos: TOP--On July 15, Pope Francis elevated the Mission San Buenaventura in Ventura, Calif., to the rank of minor basilica. (Observer screen grab); MIDDLE-- The Basilica of Ste. Anne de Detroit is  in Michigan. (CNS photo/James Silvestri via Detroit Catholic); BOTTOM--A detail of a mural of Father Gabriel Richard is inside the TCF Center in downtown Detroit. (CNS photo/Detroit Catholic)

Why to go: The only parish operating continuously longer than the Basilica of Ste. Anne de Detroit is St. Augustine in Florida. 

Among the basilica’s features is the Shrine of Ste. Anne de Detroit. The website says it “has been a place of pilgrimage for the faithful for many years, and was named the official (Detroit) Archdiocesan Shrine of Ste. Anne in 2017 by Archbishop (Allen) Vigneron.”

The current church is the parish’s eighth and was built in 1886. It contains a number of items from the previous 1818 building that was constructed while Father Richard was pastor. Born and ordained in France, Father Richard is buried in the basilica. 

During the War of 1812, Father Richard opened field hospitals, and advocated for Detroit’s French and American community among the British. He was captured in 1813, but freed three weeks later — some say at the demand of the Shawnee chief Tecumseh. 

Amenities: Walk-in visitors are not allowed but tours are available by calling ahead and asking to be added to a group. The tour fee is $3 per child, $5 per adult.

Accessibility: Ask when you call for a tour.

(Grand) Kid friendly: All ages are welcome.

Info: Address — Basilica of Ste. Anne de Detroit,  1000 Sainte Anne St. Detroit, MI 48216  

Phone — 313-496-1701 

Website — https://ste-anne.org/

— Sharon Boehlefeld compiled this story; CNS contributed

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