Relocation suggestion

A year or two ago, The Michigan Catholic reported the sale of the Chancery building and the Gabriel Richard building in downtown Detroit. Apparently the buildings were too large for the number of employees. During the past few months, articles have appeared concerning the relocation of the 185 employees to a leased, under-renovation office building on State Street in downtown Detroit. This parishioner, a former diocesan vicariate member, wonders why the AOD selected to lease a building instead of opening the former Sacred Heart Seminary High School building. The school was constructed in the 1960s and may have been closed in the 1980s. It is located near the power house on the Sacred Heart Major Seminary campus. This location affords access to the chapel, dining room and library in the seminary. There is even a parking lot nearby. In these hard economic times for Metro Detroit, downsizing of the population and the resulting necessity to close or merge some churches and schools, why renovate and lease a new facility?- Fred Kilcline, St. Clair

 Editor’s note: In fact, the archdiocese’s Archives department has moved from the Chancery Building into the former seminary high school building, so the writer’s suggestion is a good one. The majority of Central Services employees from the Chancery and Gabriel Richard Building will be moving into the newly leased space at 12 State St. on Feb. 11-12. Look for a story in the next Michigan Catholic.

Technology blues

The column by Paul Stuligross, “Technology keeps us connected, but to what?” (Jan. 23) was right on target. People are so enamored with the electronic media that they are afraid that they are missing something if they do not respond to its prompts. They do not realize that they are neglecting to respect the people, friends and family around them during the day.- Tom Bartkowicz