In 1917, the Ford River Rouge Factory’s construction brought an influx of laborers to Dearborn. Among them were Polish immigrants who, in 1924, founded Saint Barbara’s Church. Their first pastor was Father Raphael Chrzaszcz. That same year, a school opened, administered by the Sisters of Holy Family of Nazareth. The Saint Barbara’s Church we see today wasn’t built until 1955, situated on Schaefer Highway, just north of Michigan Avenue. Decades later, in 2000, Saint Barbara’s Church clustered with St. Cunegunda Parish. The current church building, completed in 1955, is a beautiful example of Spanish mission architecture. Its simple grace and beauty are apparent in the façade of Plain Bedford stone and the mission tile roof. Inside Saint Barbara’s Church, look up to admire the ornate motifs covering the entire ceiling. The stained-glass windows, crafted by the Conrad Schmitt Studio of Milwaukee, depict not only recently canonized saints but also 20th-century venerables and blesseds. You’ll find images of Venerable Solanus Casey, Blessed Jerzy Popiełuszko, and St. Faustina Kowalska among them. Further enriching the interior are processional banners displayed in the transepts, and small statues resting on shelves in each transept. At the rear of the nave, a large font portrays the Baptism of Christ. Symbols of Christ and the Eucharist adorn the altar rail. Saint Barbara’s Church continues to serve its community, offering daily Mass on Tuesdays and Fridays at 6:15 pm. The Friday Mass is dedicated to “Thanksgiving for the Gift of Work and for all the Unemployed.” On First Fridays, Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament takes place from 4:00 pm until the 6:15 pm Mass. Saturday Vigil Mass is at 5:15 pm, and Sunday Masses are at 9:30 am and 6:00 pm.
Центральный дом работников искусств
Step through the grand wooden doors of the Central House of the Workers of Art, and you’ll be transported to