Msgr. Charles Kosanke, pastor of Most Holy Trinity Parish in Detroit, talks to a TV news reporter following the unveiling of a street sign at Sixth and Porter streets in honor of the parish’s former pastor, Msgr. Clement H. Kern. Photos by Mike Stechschulte | The Michigan Catholic On Aug. 15, the Corktown parish and Detroit City Council unveiled two street signs on the corners of Sixth and Porter, and Sixth and Abbott, designating the street as “Father Clement H. Kern Street.”
The commemoration for the man known as the “labor priest” is an honor not only for Msgr. Kern, but the parish he served, said Most Holy Trinity pastor Msgr. Charles Kosanke.
“The naming of Sixth Street for Fr. Kern really highlights his legacy as pastor of Most Holy Trinity,” Msgr. Kosanke said. “He generously served not only the parishioners, but everybody in the local community.”
The sign was revealed on the 34th anniversary of Msgr. Kern’s death, offering a chance for newer parishioners to learn for the first time about the man who did so much for Detroit.
“As Corktown and the city experiences a revival, it’s helpful to keep his memory alive in terms of the example of service he provided for everyone,” Msgr. Kosanke said. “Msgr. Kern’s legacy in Detroit is in bringing people of influence and affluence together in order to help those who are disadvantaged in some way.”
A champion for labor rights, Msgr. Kern brought judges and lawyers together to create a free legal clinic and encouraged his fellow priests and seminarians to take classes in Catholic social teaching.
Msgr. Kern – who preferred to be called Fr. Kern – also began the St. Patrick’s Day “Sharing o’ the Green” fundraiser to support Catholic education in the city, and started the Cabrini Clinic, the oldest free medical clinic in the United States, to serve the homeless, uninsured and underinsured.
“Msgr. Kern focused on the dignity of the human person,” Msgr. Kosanke said. “He didn’t care if you were homeless or the president of the bank; it didn’t matter to him. He said every person is created in the image and likeness of God.”
Most Holy Trinity parishioner Mary Turner — whose family was among those
Sixth Street from Abbott to Porter is renamed “Father Clement H. Kern Street” in honor of Detroit’s “labor priest” on Aug. 15.helped by Fr. Kern — was thrilled when it was announced Msgr. Kern was to have a street named after him.
“I’m hoping people, especially people new to the parish, start asking who Fr. Kern was,” said Turner, who helped spearhead the project. “There’s so much satisfaction that a person who did so much for so many will not be forgotten. Like how Ste. Anne has Fr. Gabriel Richard, St. Bonaventure has Fr. Solanus Casey, we have Fr. Kern.”
Turner said there are dozens of untold stories about Msgr. Kern that she and the parish are trying to publish.
“There was a woman who had six children and no health insurance,” Turner said. “When a child got sick, she took her to the Cabrini clinic, but the doctors were about to leave and she’d have to come back the next day. Then Fr. Kern comes in, walks around the backroom of the clinic and speaks to the doctors. The doctors took one look at her and then called the ambulance to take her to the emergency room. She had a bad case of the measles and had to stay in the hospital for a month. If it wasn’t for Fr. Kern, she probably would have died.”
As Turner looks upon the new street sign, she can’t help but swell with pride.
“Detroit is so blessed to have someone like Fr. Kern, to care for the people,” Turner said. “I hope this sign will remind people who he was and why he means so much.”
