A casual reflection on the events that transpire daily would lead one to wonder, "Is this the right time to be talking about a faith revival?" Looking at the situation in the world and in our own country, we see one crisis after another. Consider for example, the severe economic disparity between people, the lack of adequate health care, poverty, immigration, war and violence, the rise in hate groups, decline in birth rates, a lack of affordable housing, environmental crises, and a myriad of other issues — there seems to be an overwhelming number of problems and few, if any, solutions. Even within our own diocese, we are now amid a restructuring. What is going on?
It can seem like there has never been such chaos, but that is not true. The history of the world teaches us that at every age and in every place, there have been challenges. Jesus teaches us that there will be wars and insurrections, natural disasters and so on. He does not sugarcoat the reality of life, but offers a way to change, a new way of living and an answer we so often fail to consider.
In 1805, when the city of Detroit suffered a great fire, Fr. Gabriel Richard wrote a phrase that offered hope in the midst of the desperation of the people then and still offers us hope now. He wrote, “We hope for better things; we will rise from the ashes.” While things may seem dark, we must never give in to despair. Hope is not based on a wish. It is not simply a longing. As people of faith, we hope because our hope is in the Lord and God is always faithful. We hope, because we trust. We hope, because we do not simply rely on ourselves. We hope, because God is leading the way.
Therefore, we are ripe for a revival. Now is the perfect time to come together and point to him who is the Way, the Truth and the Life. This is the perfect time to be renewed in the central tenant of our faith, that the Eucharist is the source and summit of all prayer and worship of God.
So, on July 22 at Huntington Place, we are being invited to join as one to learn, pray, witness and serve as brothers and sisters united in our faith in Jesus Christ. Amid the darkness, Christ is the light. I refuse to believe that God has brought us to this moment only to abandon us. God does not manage decline. God is the source of abundance. This revival seeks to redirect our focus and our hearts and fill us with hope.
I encourage you to visit our website, risingrevival.org, to find out more information about the revival, order tickets and how to sponsor the revival. Any business or individual is welcome to be a sponsor and have their business or organization advertised before, during and after the revival. We will also be having a ministry fair where schools, religious orders and various ministries will be able to promote their ministries.
Together, we do hope for better things. Together in faith we will rise from the past and present and create a new future. Like the missionaries who first came to the shores of the Detroit River, we will be filled with a desire to bring Christ to a new generation of believers. We are the new missionaries, and the belief in the Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist will be the foundation upon which we will move forward. I look forward to seeing you on July 22.
Fr. Joe Mallia is a priest of the Archdiocese of Detroit serving at St. Kieran Parish in Shelby Township and as moderator of the North Macomb 1 Family of Parishes. Along with a dedicated team of clergy and lay leaders, Fr. Mallia is leading the organization efforts for the Rising from the Ashes Revival, which will take place July 22, 2026.
