On March 17, 2024, parishioners of St. Christopher’s Catholic Church in Detroit gathered for a poignant farewell as the church closed its doors after 85 years of service to the community. The church, which opened in 1941 and has been located at the corner of Tireman and Woodmont since 1965, is shutting down due to financial difficulties and a decline in attendance.
“It’s been, you know, 85 years in this neighborhood; we’ve done a lot of good,” said Tom Stoltz, a parishioner for over 50 years. He remarked on the emotional toll of the closure, likening it to “watching a loved one die slowly, and there’s nothing you can do.” Stoltz emphasized that while the physical church may close, “the heart and soul will go on.”
Legacy and Transformation
In 2019, the parish was renamed in honor of St. Juan Diego, a prominent Mexican missionary recognized as the first saint indigenous to the Americas. During the final mass, which was conducted in both English and Spanish, Msgr. Charles Kosanke, the regional moderator of the archdiocese, expressed a mix of sorrow and hope. “Sadness because this church holds so many memories of its congregation for the last 80 years,” he noted.
The decision to close St. Christopher’s is separate from a larger, ongoing evaluation of Catholic churches in the state, which has been underway for two years. The restructuring process aims to address the future of various parishes, but certain churches, like St. Christopher’s, were unable to wait.
For many attendees, the final mass felt like a homecoming. A group of former students from St. Christopher’s Elementary School reunited in the church, many of whom had not visited since their childhood. “Once you’re here with those memories, you can’t get look at pictures, but you can’t feel the energy anymore,” reflected Dee Dee Kostrzewa, a graduate from 1978.
Future Plans and Community Impact
Although the closure of St. Christopher’s marks the end of an era, the archdiocese has plans for the St. Juan Diego Parish, which has a second location at the former St. Thomas Aquinas on Evergreen. Despite this, the day remained difficult for many loyal parishioners who had devoted decades to the church community.
“The church is the gospel, the soul of the people, and we will continue on,” Stoltz said, expressing a sense of resilience. “I think the Lord looked down and I think he’s pleased at what we did here all these years.”
The closure of St. Christopher’s Catholic Church not only signifies the end of a long-standing institution but also highlights the evolving landscape of community and faith in Detroit.
