At SS. Peter and Paul Jesuit Church, special events call for special Masses

Historic church's 'Blessing of the Sneakers' before marathon day a big hit with runners, priest says: 'It's really been growing'

DETROIT — “Strong and faithful God, as we come together for this competition, we ask you to bless these athletes,” Fr. Gary Wright, SJ, said Oct. 17 to the congregation at SS. Peter and Paul (Jesuit) Church in downtown Detroit.

“Keep them safe from injury and harm,” responded the worshippers, with their arms extended toward the competitive runners gathered at the front of the sanctuary.

“Let them know the rewards of their discipline and perseverance,” Fr. Wright continued.

“May you mount up with wings like eagles. May you run and not grow weary. May you walk and not faint,” replied the congregation, quoting the prophet Isaiah.

“May the road rise to meet you, may the wind be ever at your back. May the sun shine warm upon your face,” Fr. Wright said, citing a Gaelic prayer.

The congregation concluded with, “And until we meet again, may God hold you in the palm of his hand.”

The Mass’ closing hymn was the African-American spiritual “Guide My Feet.”

And just like that, a throng of runners competing in the following day’s 49th annual Detroit Free Press Marathon got an extra boost of inspiration.

A few of the runners in the Detroit Free Press Half-Marathon cross the finish line on Woodward Avenue on Oct. 18. The 49th annual event drew a record 30,000 participants across eight races.

For nine years now, SS. Peter and Paul has hosted a special pre-race Mass for those taking part in the marathon, which draws thousands into the city. Many of the endurance athletes even attend the service in their running gear. 

“It’s really been growing over the years,” Fr. Wright told Detroit Catholic following the Mass. “Each year we get more and more. I don’t remember exactly, I want to say we were close to 100 at the first one, but it’s certainly growing. And next year will be the 50th anniversary (of the marathon) so it just might be full in here.”

The Mass is included on the marathon’s official listing of related events, providing a convenient way for participants to meet holy obligations, even if the race changes their weekend routine or if they are visiting the Motor City for the first time.

“We were inspired by Boston; they started having a Blessing of the Runners in Boston for the big Boston Marathon,” Fr. Wright said. “Then it spread to New York City, and Chicago, and we said, ‘Why not Detroit?’”

It’s become just one of a series of special Masses that dot SS. Peter and Paul’s annual calendar.

“When I first came here, we began to rethink the mission of the church, being right in the heart of downtown,” Fr. Wright said. “We said this has got to be a church for the city, in the heart of the city. We wanted to do celebrations in conjunction with major civic events.” 

Originally, the parish designed a jazz-inspired Mass on Labor Day weekend to go along with the Detroit Jazz Festival. Next came the running Mass for the marathon. SS. Peter and Paul also celebrates a special Mass around the Detroit Grand Prix each summer.

No church building in Detroit is older than SS. Peter and Paul, as its cornerstone dates to 1844. The parish recently marked its 175th anniversary.

“We’re thinking about some other events we might do,” Fr. Wright said. “My daydream would be the Techno (music) Festival, but we’ll see how it goes.”

Although the Scripture readings during the Oct. 17 running Mass were pre-selected for the 29th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Fr. Wright drew inspiration from St. Paul’s letter to the Thessalonians in his homily, in the hopes that runners “grow in endurance” with their faith.

“Our idea is that we take a moment of reflection in the midst of these big civic events, just for these people to step back and think about the faith dimension of the event — of their lives, why we’re all here, what’s our purpose — to get together,” he explained. 

Ironically, it is often difficult for SS. Peter and Paul — located on St. Antoine at East Jefferson in the Bricktown Historic District — to incorporate special-event Masses into its regular schedule at 11 a.m. Sundays because the events themselves may interfere. For example, the marathon route forces several road closures limiting access to the church, and the volume of the engines from the Formula One cars in the Grand Prix — which also passes by the church — tends to drown out the message.

Even though he blesses the participants of the Detroit Free Press Marathon, Fr. Gary Wright, SJ, has not run one himself. “My biggest race was the Turkey Trot on Thanksgiving,” he said. “I could manage 10k; that was about it.”

SS. Peter and Paul is the oldest standing church building in the city of Detroit, as its cornerstone dates back to 1844. It was entrusted to the Society of Jesus in 1877. Institutions such as the University of Detroit Mercy, University of Detroit Jesuit High School, and Loyola High School, and parishes such as Gesu, Holy Family and St. Maron can trace their roots there.

Today, SS. Peter and Paul describes itself as “a young, diverse and welcoming Catholic community, and a sturdy reminder of Detroit’s faith-based roots.” Fr. Wright said the special Masses underscore the parish’s vibrancy.  

“I think we just hope that the word spreads to more people, and I think that we’re to continuing to elevate our presence downtown, that we’re part of the life of the city. This is one way of doing that,” Fr. Wright said. “I think we’re at a period in history and in our culture that people are looking for spiritual meaning. 

“They’re looking for things that will bring us together and not divide us, and I hope we can be, in a small way, a part of that.”