Parishioners of St. Christopher’s Catholic Church in Detroit gathered on Sunday to mark the closure of their beloved church after 85 years of service to the community. Established in 1941, the church has been a staple at the corner of Tireman and Woodmont since 1965. Financial challenges and declining attendance ultimately led to this difficult decision.
Tom Stoltz, a long-time parishioner who has attended the church for over 50 years, expressed the emotional weight of the closure. “It’s like watching a loved one die slowly, and there’s nothing you can do,” he stated. Despite the sadness, Stoltz emphasized that “the heart and soul will go on.”
Memories and Transformation
Renamed in 2019 in honor of St. Juan Diego, a prominent Mexican missionary and the first saint indigenous to the Americas, the parish retains many of its original characteristics. Sunday’s final mass was celebrated in both English and Spanish, reflecting the diverse community that has worshipped there.
“It’s a day of sadness and hope,” said Msgr. Charles Kosanke, the regional moderator for the archdiocese. “Sadness because this church holds so many memories for its congregation over the last 80 years.” He clarified that the closure is not part of the broader restructuring effort currently evaluating the state’s Catholic churches, which has been underway for two years. “There are certain churches that can’t wait, and sadly, this is one of them,” he noted.
For many parishioners, the final service felt like a reunion. A group of former students from St. Christopher’s Elementary School gathered in the church one last time, some having not visited since their school days. Dee Dee Kostrzewa, a graduate from 1978, shared her reflections: “Once you’re here with those memories, you can’t look at pictures, but you can’t feel the energy anymore.”
Future Plans for the Community
While the closure of St. Christopher’s is a significant loss, the archdiocese has plans for the St. Juan Diego Parish, which operates from a second location at the former St. Thomas Aquinas on Evergreen. Despite these future arrangements, the emotional impact of the closure resonates deeply within the community.
Stoltz concluded with a hopeful message about the enduring spirit of the congregation, stating, “The church is the gospel, the soul of the people, and we will continue on.” He believes that the legacy of St. Christopher’s will live on through the lives it has touched over the decades.
