Robert Delaney | The Michigan Catholic Nearly 1,000 people fill St. Hyacinth Church in Detroit for last Sunday's 100th anniversary Mass.   St. Hyacinth Parish Address: 3151 Farnsworth Ave. at McDougall, Detroit 48211 Telephone: (313) 922-1507 Founding pastor: Fr. Sylvester Kolkiewicz Current pastor: Fr. Janusz Iwan Families: 300 Outreach: Food pantry; Enrichment Group (which promotes Polish heritage); St. Hyacinth Jackowo Seniors; Seniors Pinochle Group.

Detroit — St. Hyacinth Church in Detroit's old Poletown district was filled with people and with memories last Sunday as the parish celebrated its 100th anniversary.

With just fewer than 300 families now, the church isn't very full for most Masses these days, but nearly 1,000 people were there for the centennial observance.

Many Felician Sisters grew up at St. Hyacinth or were assigned there — or both — over the years, and about two dozen of them made it back for the anniversary.

Sr. Mary Cynthia Strzalkowski was one of the Felicians who grew up there when Auxiliary Bishop Stefan Woznicki was pastor. And even though she went on to become provincial of her order's Livonia Province and, from 1988-2000, superior general of the Felicians in Rome, she said of St. Hyacinth, "For me, it will always be home."

Another daughter of the parish is Sr. Mary DeSales Herman, CSSF, vocation director of the Livonia Province. "When I was growing up, there were 35 sisters at the school, and they were all joyful and happy, and that's how my vocation blossomed," she said.

For Casimir Maj, 77, of Warren, the anniversary Mass provided an opportunity to visit with Sr. Mary Synphoria Boros, who was his third-grade teacher at the parish school back in 1939.

Henry Kress, 84, figures he drives 25 miles each way to get to St. Hyacinth from his home in Canton Township. "There are three parishes near where I live, but I come here every Sunday unless the weather's real bad," he said.

St. Hyacinth's role as one of the Polish-American community's principal historic parishes also draws some younger members. Nick Nowakowski, 27, drives in every week from Clinton Township to sing in the parish choir.

"I like the church itself and the way it helps preserve Polish culture," said Nowakowski, whose late grandfather was in the choir, and his father and two uncles still are.

A member of the Wawel Folk Ensemble, he was among those attending the Mass wearing traditional Polish attire.

Fr. Francis Skalski, who was pastor for 35 years until his retirement last year, acknowledged there were many challenges in keeping the parish going as its neighborhood changed dramatically as most of the Polish-Americans moved away and much of Poletown was razed in 1980 to make way for a General Motors plant.

But he said dealing with those challenges was made easier by the strong support of St. Hyacinth's parishioners. "I always had the backing of the people. They were very good to me, and very generous to the parish," he said.

In his homily, Cardinal Adam Maida said, "As we give thanks to God this day, we celebrate the contribution your parish has made to preserving the faith for generations of Catholics in the way you have been an abiding anchor of hope, tower of beauty and goodness right here in the Poletown neighborhood."

Speaking of the present church building — completed in 1924 — he noted that the three cupolas or domes over the nave were inspired by the design of the parish church of Oberammergau, Germany.

The cardinal spoke of the priests who had served the parish over the course of its history, from founding pastor Fr. Sylvester Kolkiewicz to current pastor Fr. Janusz Iwan. But his mention of the decades of service of Fr. Skalski drew a standing ovation from the congregation.

Cardinal Maida thanked the Felicians for their service to the parish elementary school from 1908 until its closing in 1990. And he also commended the many dedicated parishioners who had given of their time and talent to the community.

"In a special way, I want to commend you for keeping alive your Polish culture and traditions, while yet being open to the diversity around you. In the name of the whole Church of Detroit, I thank you for all that you have given to the archdiocese, including countless vocations to the priesthood and religious life. St. Hyacinth Parish truly is one of the great jewels in the crown of the Archdiocese," he added.