The Society of Our Lady of the Most Holy Trinity had been at the southwest Detroitparish since mid-August, but this was the first opportunity for Archbishop Vigneron to visit and conduct the installation ceremony.
“We rejoice that Fr. Dennis, along with Fr. Richard and their confreres have come to lead us,” the archbishop said in his homily, making reference also to Fr. Richard Klepac, SOLT, who serves as associate pastor of the parish.
He thanked the two priests for leading the people of the parish “to Jesus through the Virgin Mary” in his remarks delivered first in Spanish and then in English.
Holy Redeemer Parish is one of the largest parishes in heavily Hispanic southwest Detroit,
Fr. Walsh made a public profession of faith, and of obedience to the hierarchy and magisterium of the Church, as Archbishop Vigneron looked on.
Besides Frs. Walsh and Klepac, two other SOLT priests and 14 seminarians form the community living at Holy Redeemer rectory, which once serve as the regional base for the Redemptorist Fathers and Brothers.
The move follows the decision of the 53-year-old SOLT congregation to send its seminarians to Sacred Heart Major Seminary in Detroit. SOLT Frs. Peter Marsalek and Brady Williams serve as rector and formation director, respectively, for the seminarians.
Their leadership of the parish follows the pastorate of Auxiliary Bishop Donald Hanchon, who served there from 1999, after the Redemptoristss left, until shortly after his episcopal ordination.
Speaking to the significance of the feast day, Archbishop Vigneron said, “Today, the whole Christian people rejoices that we have a mother of total beautifulness.”
The whole Church joins with Our Lady in giving thanks to her Son “that she was saved from sin and made all-beautiful – we are thankful for the grace He has given His Mother and for the grace He has given us,” the archbishop continued.
The SOLT congregation was founded in 1958 by Fr. James Flanagan. Today, the congregation – based in Robstown, Texas, in the Diocese of Corpus Christi– includes priests and brothers, deacons, sisters and lay members.
Its stated mission is “to serve the areas of deepest apostolic need.”
