St. Joseph Shrine - Detroit, Mich.

 Destination: If you share Gilbert Drendel’s interest in parish histories, St. Joseph Shrine in Detroit, Mich., offers plenty of history, including weekly Latin Masses, striking Victorian Gothic Revival architecture, and the first stained glass of its kind in the U.S. The shrine’s stained glass and architecture landed it a spot on the National Register of Historic Places in 1972.  

Masses are offered daily at the shrine. Latin Masses are also offered at 11 a.m. on Sundays and at 7 p.m. on the first Fridays of each month. Confessions are offered daily 30 minutes before each Mass.    

Photos: Top --The shrine’s bell tower and steeple, completed in 1892, briefly made the shrine the tallest building in Detroit. 
Below -- Stained glass windows are among the architectural highlights of the church.

Why to go: The shrine was dedicated as St. Joseph Church in 1873 to serve the community’s German Catholics. The shrine features ornate Gothic detailing and high towers. 

The shrine’s bell tower suffered damage from storm winds in 2016, and the shrine was closed for repairs. This raised fears that the shrine would be forced to close down. 

However, a renewal campaign in 2017 raised interest in the shrine, and it found guidance in  the Canons of the Institute of Christ the King Sovereign Priest. The shrine now serves 600 parishioners, up from 25 in 2016. It was established as an archdiocesan shrine in March 2020. 

Accessibility: The shrine is accessible to those with limited mobility. Parking is available across the street.  

(Grand) Kid friendly: All ages are welcome, though the Latin Masses may be too long for young ones. 

Info: Address — St. Joseph Shrine, 1828 Jay St., Detroit, MI 48207
Phone — 313-784-9152
Website — https://www.institute-christ-king.org/detroit

— Megan Peterson compiled this story.

Send Destinations ideas to seasonedobserver@rockforddiocese.org