Detroit — Although he carried the title of “Blessed” for only three years, John Paul II’s April 27 canonization means quite a few new signs will need to be made.

At Holy Spirit Parish in Highland, the parish’s perpetual adoration chapel — the only one in the Lakes Vicariate — was named John Paul II Adoration Chapel at its institution in 2005. As of last week, it’s now “St. John Paul II Adoration Chapel.”

“The chapel opened the year (John Paul II) died,” said Flora Hernesko, a parishioner who helps coordinate adoration schedules at the chapel. Since then, she said, “the people are very devout and we have coverage 24/7.”

Hernesko said Holy Spirit’s former pastor, Fr. Leo Lulko — who died in May 2013 — had been inspired by John Paul’s encouragement for parishes to have perpetual adoration available, and spearheaded the plan for the chapel.

Even before John Paul II died, the parish wanted the chapel named for him.

On April 27, the day of the canonizations, Holy Spirit wasted no time in holding a rededication ceremony to officially change the chapel’s name to “St. John Paul II Adoration Chapel.” Afterward, Fr. Wayne Ureel, the parish’s current pastor, celebrated the Mass of Divine Mercy.

“Nine consecutive years and going strong,” Hernesko said. “The only thing different (now) is the sign on the front.”

Hamtramck’s Blessed John Paul II Parish, under the guidance of pastor Fr. Andrew Wesley, also recently changed its name to St. John Paul II Parish.

When the parishes of Transfiguration-Our Lady Help of Christians, St. Louis the King and St. Ladislaus merged in 2012, the parishioners jointly voted to name the newly formed parish in honor of the late pope.

“Obviously they had a closeness to him,” said Fr. Wesley of his parishioners, many of whom are of Polish descent.

He said that they didn’t expect the canonization to come so quickly, but are glad to have the pope’s name on their parish.

Fr. Wesley recalled meeting the future saint in Hamtramck during the 1987 papal visit to Detroit, calling it “quite an honor.”

On April 27, to celebrate the canonization of both Pope John Paul II and Pope John XXIII, the parish had a special bilingual English and Polish Mass at the Transfiguration-OLHC church site.

Following the 11 a.m. Mass, a Polish-themed banquet was held, which included singers from St. Louis the King Church and traditional Polish dancers.