For The Integral Formation Of The Person
Divine Providence has been good to us these past few months, and we are excited to announce that we are currently under contract to purchase the large 4.9 acre vacant lot across the popular Dequindre Cut promenade, just east of our campus, also known as the original Joe Muer restaurant and parking lot. After some negotiations, a positive response to our offer was received on the External Solemnity of the Sacred Heart, this past June. With the blessing of His Grace, Archbishop Allen Vigneron, and with the approval of our superiors, Monsignor Wach and Canon Talarico, the property will be placed under the exclusive administration of the Institute of Christ the King Sovereign Priest, which has been serving at the Shrine for the past 8 years and continues to foster the parish and its various ministries.
The I-375 Corridor Project currently underway and managed by MDOT, will definitely increase property value in the area, making any future opportunities such as this one extremely difficult, as the Project promises to generate better access to Eastern Market, better automobile and pedestrian mobility in the area, particularly around Gratiot Avenue, Eastern Market and the Dequindre Cut, with as you know, the Shrine at the very heart of these neighborhoods. With the help of Butzel Long Law, MBA Real Estate and generous benefactors, our team is currently working on setting up a Michigan Non-Profit Corporation, Desales Park, the best entity possible for the property and its future use, including of course, tax-exemption status.
The Institute of Christ the King assists in the administration of a dozen schools in Europe and Africa and it is our hope to one day see the same fruits here in the United States, providing families with an affordable, classical, and deeply Catholic school, for the transmission of our Faith, and the education of a student’s intelligence, will and affectivity, and manners.
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Discussions with the city and the Archdiocese have been very positive, and all are very enthusiastic to see the area being revitalized thanks to the Shrine’s presence. After several meetings, we were able to keep Orleans Street closed, contrary to the city’s initial plan to reopen it; which would have presented many issues not only for our operations and traffic but also for our good neighbors.
In the heart of two of Detroit’s most popular attraction (Eastern Market and Dequindre Cut/Riverfront), and directly adjacent to the Shrine, this location is ideal, and truly an answer to many years of prayers as our current activities and groups are in dire need of more space in order to continue to grow.
Our multiphase project for the property in the long term will include a larger church hall, with the possibility to rent the hall for various events, more parking spots, a playground area, a multifunction building to host our current Wednesday Co-Op program which continues to grow (with now over 80 students), Catechism classes (approx. 90 students) music program & children’s choir (over 50 members), food pantry (providing to approx. 50 families weekly), a community garden and eventually our first Institute middle school, with a spirituality and pedagogy similar to our European schools, if such is the Will of God.
“The Institute of Christ the King Sovereign Priest is involved in schools with a view to harmony between culture and Christianity to promote the supernatural and human values of Christian civilization in accordance with its particular purpose: the diffusion and defense of the Kingdom of Our Lord Jesus Christ in all aspects of human life.”
Extract from the Institute School Charter
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Our $2.75 million dollar offer was accepted, compared to the $3.5 million dollar initial price, and our 60-day due diligence period with 30 days extension will end on December 4. As we do not wish to distract our current fundraising efforts for the restoration of the Shrine, new property. Fencing off the entire perimeter. This will allow us to give a clear new identity to the place, as well as the possibility to rent the space for parking for events such as Lions games (9 home games this year!), Detroit Food Truck Festival, the Dequindre Cut’s many events and races, etc. Enthronement of a large statue of the Sacred Heart on the property visible from afar and blessing our city, with a commemorative plaque for our early benefactors, as Our Lord promised us: I will bestow abundant blessings upon all their undertakings.
Please know that all your donations are exclusively allocated to the Historic Renewal Campaign which does not include the new property as this major project is currently funded privately and independently from the Historic Renewal Campaign.
Where are we now?
After many months of intense work, our Building Committee was able to gather as much information as possible about the entire structure of the Church building, first in order to assure your safety, then to assess the much needed repairs the best way possible and to establish the most cost and time effective plan to address these many issues.​​
Your safety is our first priority. With this in mind, this past year, with the professional services of WJE, Inc., a top engineering and architectural firm, thorough investigations of the steeple, foundations, facades, louvers, staircases and sacristy walls were conducted allowing us to discover new necessary stone repairs, neces-sary for the safety of our congregation. Drawings and specs were sent out for bids and Grunwell-Cashero, expert in building restoration for over 70 years, was awarded with unanimous approval of our Building Committee. Work will begin very soon (more information is forthcoming).
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What's next?
With the approval of the Archdiocese of Detroit and with the support of our Shrine finance council, we are currently working with Christman Construction to establish a Master Plan in order to address each item mentioned above in a cost-effective and timely manner, as well as many other projects such as the expansion of the parking lot, the repainting of the church, the organ restoration etc. Our hope is for this Master Plan to be ready before Spring of 2025, and for some of the work to begin before Christmas. ​
Continued Work
​At the same time, investigations were also conducted for the roof, and emergency repairs were completed. Thanks to Schena Roofing, a leading Detroit roofing expert, an overall roof condition report was submitted to our team as a reference for future projects. Complete assessments of the cooling/heating system, as well as a complete interior and exterior electrical study were also submitted to us by DiClemente Siegle Inc., a Michigan engineering and architecture expert.
​Again, your safety is our first priority, and with the help of a generous donor and Butzel Long, one of Michigan’s top law firms, the city of Detroit approved our petition to vacate Jay street which will allow us to secure the entire perimeter of the north parking lot, with a new fence and new gate in the next few weeks, at the intersection of Jay and Orleans.
We thank you for your generous support and assure you of our prayers.
Stay tuned for more updates.
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In the meantime, we thank you wholeheartedly for your generous support!
Rev. Canon J.B. Commins, Pastor
About Saint Joseph Shrine
A magnificent Victorian Gothic edifice completed in 1873 and noted as of national architectural significance, Saint Joseph Shrine is a landmark center of Catholic faith, culture, and community in Detroit’s historic Eastern Market district. Since October 2016, the Canons of the Institute of Christ the King Sovereign Priest have served and led the local faithful by bringing daily Traditional Latin Masses, regular devotions, liturgical instruction, and an active parish life. As a result, the parish community at St. Joseph Shrine continues to grow enriching both young and old, individuals and families from all backgrounds and neighborhoods.
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In July 2013, the Archdiocese of Detroit merged St. Joseph with two nearby parishes. Then in October 2016, St. Joseph became its own parish under the spiritual and pastoral care of the Institute of Christ the King. In March 2020 the Parish was granted the designation of Archdiocesan Shrine in recognition of its vibrant spiritual growth and daily life. More details here.
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About St. Joseph Shrine
About the Institute of Christ the King
Founded in 1990 within the Roman Catholic Church, the Institute of Christ the King Sovereign Priest is a society of priests, sisters, and oblate brothers whose aim is to bring the truth in charity of Christ the King to every sphere of human life. Currently serving in eleven countries around the world and in thirteen dioceses across the United States, the Institute is devoted to the sanctification of souls through the celebration of the Extraordinary Form of the Latin Rite with Gregorian chant and through the spirituality of its holy patrons: Saint Francis de Sales, Saint Thomas Aquinas, and Saint Benedict of Nursia, as well as Saint Thérèse of the Child Jesus.
At the invitation of Archbishop Allen Vigneron, the Institute arrived in 2016 to re-vivify the newly unmerged parish, and to minister to the faithful of the Archdiocese of Detroit through a full sacramental life formed and nurtured by the Traditional Latin Mass. Sacred music, generous service of the poor, and cultural enlivenment have all flowered and continue to grow in the beautiful Saint Joseph’s Church in Detroit’s historic Eastern Market, an active and rapidly re-developing urban hub.
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