Restoration of
Sweetest Heart of Mary:
Support the Cause

The Sweetest Heart of Mary Church is a beautiful example of late Gothic Victorian Architecture with all the trimmings. But more than that, it is a "brick and mortar" tribute to our Polish ancestors. It stands in it's glory, on Russell Street in the heart of Detroit. In the beginning, this area was the outskirts of the city of Detroit. Then it was the heart of a poor but vital neighborhood full of families, small businesses, schools, and churches. Now the area is a mix of residential and industrial, but unfortunately many of the houses and businesses have been neglected or abandoned.

The first generation of Polish immigrants built the Sweetest Heart of Mary (1889-1920). The next generation enjoyed it in it's "heyday" (1920-1945). The third generation made the exodus from the city (1945-1976). The fourth generation began the serious restoration of the church. If we don't "take up the torch" for this grand old church now, it won't be around for our children to experience. And how very very sad that would be.

To walk through this church is like taking a trip back in time to another era when the grandness of one's church was a measure of the intensity of one's faith in God. And if you know anything about the Polish immigrants, you know they were very passionate about their religion! I've tried to capture the beauty of this church in pictures on this web site, but you truly just have to see it to believe it. There's just no way to capture the grandeur with a 4" x 6" photograph or even with several photographs. When you walk into this church for the first time, your first thought will definitely be "Wow!".

There were great sacrifices made in the building of this church. It is well documented that many many of those early Polish immigrants took out second mortgages on their homes to donate to it's building fund. Over the years, the parishioners have given generously to see it maintained and restored. But the restoration work on a 110 year old church is never-ending. Even though the number of parishioners now is but a small fraction of the number of parishioners the Sweetest Heart of Mary had in it's beginning, they are nevertheless deeply committed to restoring the church to the beauty and glory it once knew. If you have an ancestor who was a member of this church, think about all they sacrificed to see it built and maintained. And think about how disappointed they would be to know that all their efforts were not appreciated by their descendants. The Sweetest Heart of Mary is the visible proof of our ancestors' bravery in facing a new life, their self-sacrifice for the glory of God, and their love of Polish culture and tradition. See if you can find a way to help support the restoration of this landmark in the name of your Polish ancestors. Please give generously.

You can contribute to the Restoration Fund for the Sweetest Heart of Mary in any of the following ways...

• Purchase any of the books or movies featured on this web site using the links provided to the Barnes & Noble Online Bookstore.
• Purchase any of the items from the Gift Shop by giving Estelle Christensen a call (sorry no on-line purchases of these items).
• Send a check made out to "Sweetest Heart of Mary Church" and mail it to: 4440 Russell Street, Detroit, MI 48207 (designate that it is to be used for Restoration).
• If you'd like to contribute to the restoration of the "Doors to the Heart" and have the name of your ancestor listed on a plaque in the church, see the Current Projects page for details.
• Come visit the Sweetest Heart of Mary Church, stay for Mass, and "drop a dime" in the collection basket! There are envelopes in the vestibule for your Restoration Fund donations.
• Join the Sweetest Heart of Mary parish. If you already belong to another parish, you can join as an Associate Parish Member and all your contributions will go to the Restoration Fund! Contact the parish rectory for details.
• Memorials:
  

  Every first Sunday of the month, names are read; the congregation prays in unison at the 11 o'clock Mass for the souls of those people whose names were submitted for that purpose by their loved ones. The donation is $5.00 per name. This is then deposited into the Restoration Fund.

  To submit a name to be remembered at a memorial, please include the following information:

  • Name of the person the Memorial is offered for
  • The month (and year) you want the name read
  • Name of the donor (or who the Memorial is offered by)

  Donor, please complete above for
  rectory use: mail, place in collection basket or deliver it to the rectory. Memorials are remembered on the first Sunday of each month at the 11:00 am. Mass.
  
  Donation $5.00 per name. (Make
  check payable to S.H.M. Restoration Fund).
  
  Sweetest Heart of Mary Church
  4440 Russell Street
  Detroit, Michigan 48207
  831-6659

Come visit... we'd love to see you!!!

Thank you!