“A place for My cross.” That’s what Jesus said to Saint Clare of Montefalco in a vision. Welcome to Saint Clare of Montefalco Catholic Church.
This church stands as a testament to faith and history. The origins of Saint Clare parish date back to 1923. Father James A. McDonald led the building of the new Saint Clare Parish. The Augustinian Fathers oversaw it. The first Sunday mass was October 3 1926. It was held at the Colony Theatre. The theater was located on Mack and Balfour. Over 500 new parishioners attended three masses. A temporary chapel and rectory were then purchased. They were located at 3444 Bedford in Detroit.
Let’s talk about the parish school. In 1926, Saint Clare parish hired Van Leyen, Schilling & Keogh. They designed the new school building. The Catholic parochial school was completed in 1927. It opened in September with 300 students. The Dominican Sisters from Columbus Ohio were in charge. The school was located at 16231 Charlevoix. It was on the corner of Audubon in Grosse Pointe Park. The facility was created in a Spanish architectural style. It was constructed from brick and stone with a tile roof. The front elevation had a distinctive tower. It was designed to impart a church-like appearance. The school would temporarily serve as the parish’s church.
In 1941, property south of Mack was purchased. It was between Audubon and Whittier. This was for the new church. In 1950, the parish hired Diehl and Diehl to design it. Ground was broken in August 1950. On October 21 1951 the cornerstone was placed. The design of the church took the form of a Latin cross. The main floor had space for 1100 people. It had auxiliary capacity for 1000 more. The altar was clearly visible to everyone. The new church was dedicated on May 10 1953. The architecture stained glass and carvings were created to tell the story of faith and history.
Take a look at the front facade. Saint Clare of Montefalco and Saint Augustine are depicted here. Emblems and coats of arms are visible at a side door. These represent Bishop Gallagher and Cardinal Mooney. Notice the symbols of the Eucharist and the four evangelists. Inside, niches are dedicated to Augustinian saints. See Saint Rita of Cascia and Saint Nicholas of Tolentino. The narrow windows depict the sacraments. Windows in the west transept depict Old Testament scenes. East transept windows show New Testament scenes. The stations of the cross line the perimeters of both transepts.
Two priests from the Congregation of Saint Michael the Archangel currently minister here. They are also known as Michaelite Fathers. The order was founded in 1897 by Blessed Bronisław Markiewicz.
Saint Clare of Montefalco holds a special place in liturgical history. Both the school and the church still exist today. They are wonderful examples of the diverse architectural styles of religious and educational facilities. This church stands as a beacon of faith. It has touched countless lives.