Pilgrimage to Detroit?
Yes, you read that right. There really is the opportunity for a religious (Catholic) pilgrimage to Detroit. There is a Capuchin monastery on Mt. Elliot just east of Comerica Park that now houses the Solanus Casey Center Detroit.
Solanus Casey was born Bernard (Barney) Casey in 1870, the child of Irish immigrants. Three of the sons took vows as priests, but not before Barney worked as a prison guard and made friends with a notorious gunslinger.
Barney felt called to the religious order of the Capuchin Franciscans, despite their ties to the German language and their requirement for facial hair. He lived most of his life in the monastery in Detroit and even was credited with rescuing Chevrolet from financial ruin in 1925 due to his faith.
Fr. Casey became known for his humility and his conviction and had an affinity for the sick. He often celebrated special healing Masses. His colleagues often found him on the wood floor in front of the altar where he had prayed himself to sleep.
He loved the violin, too.
He died in 1957 and his followers have taken up the cause of beatification, essentially requesting the Catholic Church recognize him as Saint.
He received the title of Venerable in 1995 and a pilgrim from Panama visited Detroit and was healed of a severe skin malady after praying over his casket. Pope Francis officially recognized that healing as a miracle which prompted a beatification Mass at Ford Field in November of 2017. Bella attended that ceremony.
The photo above is a relic from Fr. Casey. It is a bone fragment.
True to his humble and decidedly blue collar roots, the next door neighbor is part of the auto industry. It is Motor City, after all.
Bella has visited a couple of times, but my first was on a weekday afternoon and I was both moved by the serenity of the center and impressed by the faith of the Capuchin Friars who spend so much time with visitors. Fr. Gerry treated us like we were the most important people he knew during our visit and we will always be grateful for spiritual guidance.
~ Freddy
