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Home / News & Publications / Michigan Catholic News / 2007 / Our Lady of the Angels Parish in Taylor is dedicated

Joe Kohn of The Michigan Catholic
Published December 7, 2007

Joe Kohn | The Michigan Catholic Bishop Francis Reiss (left), aided by Fr. Bernard Fraser, anoints a wall of Our Lady of the Angels Church.

Joe Kohn | The Michigan Catholic Detroit Auxiliary Bishop Francis Reiss elevates the host during the Liturgy of the Eucharist. Bishop Reiss was the main celebrant at Our Lady of the Angels' dedication Mass Dec. 1.

Taylor — For Catholics the world over, last weekend marked the beginning of a season meant to anticipate the coming of the Messiah.

But a faith community in Taylor had another kind of beginning to celebrate, too, as Our Lady of the Angels was dedicated Dec. 1. The new parish was formed from the communities of St. Cyril of Jerusalem and St. Paschal Baylon parishes, which had closed the previous weekend.

"We are here today at a truly historic event," said Detroit Auxiliary Bishop Francis Reiss at Our Lady of the Angels' dedication Mass. The new parish is located at the former site of St. Cyril Parish on Pelham Road.

"The parish and church shall be dedicated, not merely blessed," Bishop Reiss explained to the congregation during his homily. "We are truly witnessing a new beginning.

"We are creating a new reality in the city of Taylor and in the Archdiocese of Detroit."

The Mass started in the frigid outdoors, as Bishop Reiss symbolically opened the doors of the new parish. The crowd that then entered the church filled every pew in the building. Fr. Bernard Fraser, who had been pastor of St. Cyril for four years and of St. Paschal since the summer, concelebrated the Mass along with five other priests.

A choir formed from the two former parishes filled the church with song as parishioners from St. Cyril and St. Paschal carried holy water, holy oils, and books of sacramental records into the church.

Also during the Mass, a decree from Cardinal Adam Maida was read to the community, Fr. Fraser was installed as pastor of the parish, the altar and walls were anointed with holy oil, and the church's candles were lit for the first time.

Bishop Reiss acknowledged the genesis of the new parish, and said the parish's priority would be to foster holiness by using the talents of those in the community and strengthening its bond with the Lord through the sacraments.

"What we are truly celebrating today is all that has brought us here to this important moment," he said. "Today can be but one thing — a day holy to the Lord our God."

Joe Kohn | The Michigan Catholic Maxine Raymond and Larry Creech, parishioners at the new Our Lady of the Angels, bring oils from their previous parishes, St. Cyril of Jerusalem and St. Paschal Baylon, respectively.

At the end of the dedication Mass, Fr. Fraser addressed the congregation, referencing the second reading in which Peter described early Christians as living stones with which to build God's kingdom on Earth.

"As we heard, we are those living stones of faith," Fr. Fraser said. "And now these stones of faith have formed a new cornerstone of Our Lady of the Angels Parish."

He emphasized that the community, in coming together, stay focused on its Christian mission. He added that, although the process of coming together required months of planning and hard work by the two communities, they were just getting started.

"We've just begun," Fr. Fraser said. "The greater challenge lies ahead as we get to know each other's stories.… It's no longer they or us or them. It's now Our Lady of the Angels Parish."

Both before and after Mass, the community gathered in the parish's gym to socialize. Fresh in their minds were the final Masses at both St. Paschal and St. Cyril, but no one appeared to have trouble enjoying the founding of Our Lady of the Angels.

"It was kind of scary at first, because it was kind of like leaving your home," said Mary Ellen Seel, who with her husband, Kenneth, had been at St. Paschal since the beginning, raising nine children there. "But the people here are warm and inviting, and Father has been very inviting, so that has really helped. It makes you feel welcomed. I can't say enough that people have been very, very warm."

Gloria Fregonara, who with her husband Frank had been at St. Cyril Parish for its entire history, voiced her optimism about the new parish.

"It's a beginning," she said. "A new birth. And like the priest said (during Mass), our Blessed Mother's looking over us, and all the angels are protecting us. It's going to work out."

Many shared in her optimism.

Roger Korman, a former St. Paschal parishioner who served on the transitional team that helped facilitate the merger, saw various blessings it would bring to those who had been at St. Paschal, which was a parish of 400 registered families. St. Cyril had about 1,200 families.

"For one, it's nice to be in a full church to celebrate Mass with a nice choir," Korman said. "It just helps you get more into the Mass. And obviously meeting a bunch of new people is a plus.

"We're looking forward to doing bigger and better things than we've done in the past."

Joan Cullinan, a part of the transition team from the St. Cyril side, said she could see there was a lot of pain on both sides as the parishes decided to close — but the Lord was with them as they made their sacrifices.

"As we went through the process, people told the truth, and the truth didn't always feel good," Cullinan said. "Ultimately, the Holy Spirit led us all. And we must have listened, because I think it's been a very good transition."

The process also illustrated the dedication of Fr. Fraser and people of both former parishes to make the transition work, she added. Already, parishioners of both parishes had gathered at parish functions, such as an Advent by Candlelight evening of prayer and socializing.

"I have great respect for Father, and great respect for the people of both parishes," Cullinan said, "because they're really learning to love one another."

Related Link:

• Downriver Vicariate - Together In Faith planning information