Cathedral of the Most Blessed Sacrament

History

In 1905, Bishop John Samuel Foley erected the Most Blessed Sacrament Parish in Detroit. Its first services were held in an old shoe factory. That same year, the parish constructed a two-story brick building to house the church and its school. However, with 200 families already belonging to the parish, it soon became inadequate. Delayed by financial problems, construction on the permanent building finally commenced in 1913, with the roof and stonework completed by 1915. In 1930, Bishop Michael J. Gallagher dedicated the new church. Construction on the towers and facade were left for a later date.

In May 1937, Pope Pius IX elevated the Diocese of Detroit to the Archdiocese of Detroit. At that time, St. Patrick's Church in the Brush Hills section of the city served as the cathedral. Archbishop Edward Mooney immediately petitioned the Vatican for approval to dedicate the larger, more modern Most Blessed Sacrament Church as the cathedral. The Vatican agreed in February 1938.

To prepare the church, the archdiocese enlarged the seating capacity of the church by 60 people, erected a new cathedra and moved the pulpit. Mooney rededicated the church in April 1938 as the new cathedral. The archdiocese then start planning for the construction of the towers and facade. However, construction was delayed after the American entry into World War II in 1941.

After the war ended in 1945, construction restarted on the cathedral, finishing in 1951. On November 17 of that year, Archbishop Mooney consecrated Most Blessed Sacrament in a ceremony attended by 600 priests and 110 bishops and archbishops that was broadcast live on local television.

In September 1987, during a papal visit to the United States, Pope John Paul II visited Detroit and stopped at Most Blessed Sacrament to greet gathered guests.

Plans also called for spires topping the towers, however these remain unbuilt. Starting in 1985, and lasting until the early 2000s, Gunnar Birkerts, a well-known local architect was commissioned to redesign the interior of the cathedral, as well as designing the furniture for the papal visit, some of which is still in existence at the cathedral.

Archbishop Allen Vigneron in March 2020 announced the construction of a grotto dedicated to Our Lady of Lourdes on the cathedral grounds. This was to give thanks for the divine healing during the COVID-19 pandemic that started that winter.The archdiocese and Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan announced in 2023 the construction of 54 affordable housing units on a property owned by the cathedral.

In January 2024, the archdiocese unveiled 14 wooden painted statues of the twelve apostles and two angels mounted on the walls of the sanctuary. Carved in Italy in 1927, the statues had previously resided at St. Benedict Church in Highland Park, Michigan, which closed in 2014. The apostle statues were 7 feet tall and the angels 8 feet tall. The archdiocese stated that this was part of the goal to make the cathedral more accessible and welcoming to people.

Architecture

The cathedral's architect was Henry A. Walsh of Cleveland, who designed the cathedral in a Norman Gothic style. Due to the length of the construction, Walsh was unable to see the project to completion, and Detroit architect George Diehl was chosen to succeed him for the construction of the towers in 1950. The building's exterior is made of Ohio sandstone, with Indiana limestone used for buttress facings, traceries, and doorways.

In 2001, Gunnar Birkerts was selected to update the cathedral. Changes included a plaza on the north side of the structure, reconfigured interior spaces, a new sanctuary, cathedra, baptismal font and organ. The original organ was installed the west gallery by Casavant Frères in 1925 as a gift from Frederick Fisher of Fisher Body. During the renovations, this three manual/50 rank instrument was restored and a second organ was installed in the apse.

The new organ is opus 2785 of Austin Organs, Inc. with two manuals and 32 ranks and is connected to the gallery organ allowing them to be played as one instrument from the new console. The new organ was first played at the rededication ceremony March 25, 2003.

References

References

1. {{NRISref. 2007a
2. "History".
3. "Cathedral of the Most Blessed Sacrament".
4. (September 18, 1987). "Detroit, Hamtramck are ready for crowds". [[Detroit Free Press]].
5. (2002). "AIA Detroit: The American Institute of Architects Guide to Detroit Architecture". [[Wayne State University]] Press.
6. (2021-03-31). "The Cathedral Grotto Reflects God's Grace, Mercy & Love".
7. (2023-06-08). "Mayor Duggan joins Archdiocese, MHT Housing to celebrate new affordable housing property near North End".
8. Patti, Gabriella. (January 29, 2024). "Detroit cathedral to unveil long-awaited relics, life-sized statues of 12 apostles".
9. Tutag, Nola Huse. (1987). "Discovering Stained Glass in Detroit". Wayne State University Press.
10. link. (November 12, 2009. Cathedral of the Most Blessed Sacrement. ''Diehl & Diehl Archives''. Photo inside Corrado Parducci's studio. Retrieved July 24, 2009.)
11. "Transfiguration: An Architectural and Liturgical Narrative".
12. (2003). "Cathedral of the Most Blessed Sacrement".