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Home  / News & Publications /  Michigan Catholic News / 2008 /  Divine Providence

by Joe Kohn of The Michigan Catholic
Published May 2, 2008

Joe Kohn | The Michigan Catholic Aleksas Matvekas, 13, receives the sacrament of confirmation from Lithuanian Archbishop Sigitas Tamkevicius during a Mass that marked the 100th anniversary of Divine Providence (Lithuanian) Parish in Southfield. Flanking the archbishop were pastor Fr. Ricardas Repsys (left) and Cardinal Adam Maida, who were among concelebrants at the April 27 Mass.

Southfield — For the people of Divine Providence (Lithuanian) Parish, last Sunday was a day of celebration amid a year dedicated to more fervent prayer to the Blessed Mother.

Hundreds of parishioners, past and present, and guests filled the church Sunday morning for a Mass to mark the parish's 100th anniversary. They stayed until the evening at a banquet following the liturgy.

"It means very much to us because we're still trying to maintain ethnic traditions and roots," said longtime parishioner Vytas Petrulas, a past parish council president.

The Mass was celebrated by Archbishop Sigitas Tamkevicius of Kaunas, Lithuania, and concelebrated by Cardinal Adam Maida, pastor Fr. Ricardas Repsys, and a number of guest priests from the Lithuanian Catholic community. At the liturgy, several young men and women received the sacrament of confirmation, and Cardinal Maida was presented with an image of Our Lady of Siluva – named for a town in Lithuania where the Blessed Mother appeared 400 years ago.

Joe Kohn | The Michigan Catholic Hundreds filled Divine Providence (Lithuanian) Parish in Southfield for a Mass to mark the ethnic parish’s 100th anniversary.

A statue of the Blessed Mother with child also was blessed outside near the entranceway to the Church. Along with the 100-year anniversary of Divine Providence Parish, the Lithuanian Catholic community also is marking the 400-year anniversary of St. Mary's apparitions.

"It is an honor to be here and participate and partake in this celebration here with the local community," said Archbishop Sigitas Tamkevicius, through a translator. "And also I'm inviting everybody to Lithuania to celebrate together with Catholics in Lithuania the 400th anniversary of the apparitions of Mary in Siluva."

Though Divine Providence Parish has been around for 100 years, the faith community has been well-traveled. Their current location on Nine Mile Road is the community's fourth locale, including a brief stint at the former St. Bede Parish.

Divine Providence Parish Founded: 1908 Founding pastor: Fr. Kazimiras Valaitis and the Lithuanian Society of St. George. Current pastor: Fr. Ricardas Repsys Location: 25335 Nine Mile Road in Southfield Past locations: Westminster and Cardoni streets, Detroit's east side (1908-1952); Schaefer Road and Grand River Boulevard on Detroit's West side (1952-1970). Activities: Hosts Knights of Lithuania, Daughters of Lithuania, the Lithuanian-American Community of Detroit, Lithuanian Scouts, Lithuanian Catholic Youth Association, Lithuanian school, sports club and folk dance ensemble, others.

The parish was founded in Detroit in 1908 at Westminster and Cardoni streets on Detroit's east side. Established by the Lithuanian Society of St. George, the community was originally named St. George Parish. Because the Lithuanian population moved to different parts of metro Detroit, the parish also moved, completing a new church in 1952 at Schaefer Road and Grand River Boulevard on Detroit's west side.

Since St. George Parish remained active after the Lithuanian Catholic community moved out, the new church had to have a new name. Parishioners chose "Divine Providence."

The new church, however, lasted only 18 years before it was demolished to make room for the Jeffries Freeway.

In 1968, parishioners met with Detroit Auxiliary Bishop Thomas Gumbleton, who helped them arrange a plan for the future. Wanting to remain an ethnic parish, the community met for the next five years at St. Bede Church in Southfield while preparing its present site on Nine Mile Road. The current church and hall were formally dedicated on Sept. 8, 1973.

Divine Providence Parish now hosts several organizations, including the Knights of Lithuania, Daughters of Lithuania, Lithuanian Scouts, and many others.

Parishioners at the 100th jubilee celebration expressed their gratitude to God for the parish's long life.

"It's just unbelievable," said Danguole Jurgutis, who with her late husband, George, raised two children in the parish. "I'm unbelievably joyful. Nobody thought it would survive this long, especially with the moving – but there were always people willing to donate, willing to build."

Valentina Rauckis also has deep roots in the parish – since it moved to its current location, she's planted and taken care of the church's flowers.

"I love it. My daughters received their first Communion, confirmation and went through 12 years of Lithuanian school on Saturdays," Rauckis said. "This is the center of our lives in a way. It's like a second home to us. I couldn't be happier."

Joe Kohn | The Michigan Catholic Cardinal Adam Maida blesses a statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary in front of Divine Providence Church in Southfield. The statue is similar to one in Siluva, the Lithuanian town where the Blessed Mother appeared in apparitions 400 years ago.

Cardinal Maida, who spoke at the end of Mass, said he could relate with the Lithuanian Americans who worship at Divine Providence. The son of a Polish immigrant, Cardinal Maida has dialogued with Eastern European Church leaders about the oppression of communism, under which Lithuania had fallen for decades.

"I know how important it is to keep our traditions and roots alive," the cardinal said. "We know how important it is that our faith be celebrated in our own language and the traditions of our forefathers."

He blessed the community, asking the Lord to continue to work through its members.

Fr. Repsys said, even after several hours worth of celebrating, parishioners called him on the phone on Sunday evening to tell him how inspiring the celebration was.

"We are so happy that we got the cardinal and the archbishop together, and Holy Mary united us together, Lithuanians and American Lithuanians," Fr. Repsys said, adding that the celebration was worked on for more than a year, and that the jubilee celebration would continue all year.

Especially important, he said, is the spiritual impact of the jubilee. With many young people present at the Mass and in the parish, he said he hopes it bodes well for the future of Divine Providence Parish.

"It is encouraging, especially, for a lot of young families to join our parish," he said. "I think it will be a new turning point to our recovery, a renewal of our parish life."