Transfiguration Church in Detroit was founded in 1925 as personal parish for Detroit's vibrant Polish community
DETROIT — Archbishop Edward J. Weisenburger joined the St. John Paul II Parish community in celebrating a century of faith at Transfiguration Church in Detroit on Oct. 19.
Transfiguration Church was established in 1925 as a personal parish for the Polish-speaking Catholic living in the parish boundaries of what was then St. Augustine Parish.
Fr. Simon J. Kilar was the founding pastor of the parish — and the namesake for Simon K. Street, on which Transfiguration Church is located.
Fr. Kilar is depicted in one of Transfiguration’s stained-glass windows, alongside other prominent Polish saints.
In 2012, Transfiguration Parish was merged with St. Louis the King and Our Lady Help of Christians parishes to form what was then called Blessed John Paul II Parish, with Transfiguration being the parish’s lone site. The parish name was changed when St. John Paul II was canonized in 2014.
The parish today features statues and devotionals from St. Louis the King and Our Lady Help of Christians churches, along with other windows and shrines commemorating St. John Paul II Parish’s Polish spirituality and heritage.
Following Mass, Archbishop Weisenburger joined the parish community for a traditional Polish meal.
In addition to the Romanesque-style church, the parish also features a grotto across the street dedicated to Our Lady of Czestochowa.
Fr. Andrew Wesley is just the fourth pastor of the parish in 100 years, following in the footsteps of Fr. Kilar, Fr. Daniel P. Bogus and Fr. Benedict Rembelski.
“I am glad that I'm here, and people have been very great,” Fr. Wesley told Detroit Catholic. “I wouldn't have asked for a better assignment. It's a good one, and we continue to celebrate all that God has done for us over these past 100 years.”
(Photos by Steven Stechschulte | Detroit Catholic)
