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Home  / News & Publications /  Michigan Catholic News / 2008 /  We gather faithfully to worship the Lord

Published June 27, 2008

My Brothers and Sisters in the Lord:

During this month of July, as I continue to reflect on our 175-year history as a diocese, I would like to express our gratitude for the faithful and generous service of generations of priests, religious, deacons, and lay faithful who have made Detroit well-known for its outstanding commitment to a high quality of liturgical celebrations.

Worship of the Lord is one of the essential aspects of who we are and what we do as "Church." As the council fathers of Vatican II put it, the Eucharistic liturgy "is the summit toward which the activity of the Church is directed; at the same time, it is the fountain from which all her power flows" ("Lumen Gentium" 10).

Christian worship: A response of joyful gratitude

In every culture, from the very beginning of recorded history, human beings have naturally and spontaneously felt compelled to give praise and thanks to the God of creation. In Genesis, we read of the contrast between the sacrifice of Abel and that of his brother, Cain; God accepted Abel's loving sacrifice of a pure and innocent lamb while he rejected Cain's sacrifice because it was not sincere and wholehearted. At the beginning of "Lumen Gentium," the dogmatic constitution on the Church, the Council Fathers spoke about the Church as existing "from Abel, the just one, to the last of the elect…" (LG 2). Abel's sacrifice foreshadowed the development of Judeo-Christian worship and represented one of the first expressions of the "Church" in action.

Worship, in the primitive cultures, was primarily about appeasing the gods. With the Judeo-Christian tradition, however, worship took on a whole new meaning and purpose: It became a response of gratitude for the loving and saving action of the one true God. Thanks to the formative experience of their exodus from Egypt, the Jewish people developed a system of sacrifice designed as a response to God's saving interventions. On Mount Sinai, in particular, they came to see the close connection between loving God and loving one another as His people; life and liturgy were envisioned as one, continuous flow. Sadly, however, time and again, the prophets had to keep reminding the Jewish people that what God wanted was the obedience of their hearts, not simply external performance of rituals.

With the death-resurrection of Jesus Christ, the covenant bond between God and His people assumed an even deeper and more profound meaning. Now the initiative was truly and completely from God's side: He sent His own Son as the perfect Passover lamb, the means of atonement. As Christ died on the cross, His one perfect sacrifice fulfilled all others; and Christ's resurrection from the dead was the enduring sign that His sacrifice had been accepted by the Heavenly Father. The covenant bond between God and His people could never again be destroyed. Now, all Christian sacrifice would be a sharing in His sacrifice, an expression of gratitude, a commitment of loving obedience, a pledge to follow His example in the way that we would live and die.

Liturgy and life

As St. Peter taught in his first epistle (see chapter 2, verses 5-9), through our baptism into the death-resurrection of Jesus Christ, we share in the priesthood of Jesus Christ and can offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God. We do so in the celebration of the Holy Eucharist and in the way we put our faith into action, allowing the Eucharist to permeate every aspect of our lives.

St. Paul touches on this very beautiful message in the opening verses of the 12th chapter of his Letter to the Romans: "I urge you, therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God, your spiritual worship… The council fathers of Vatican II add these poetic thoughts: "During the celebration of the Eucharist, these sacrifices (of the laity) are most lovingly offered to the Father along with the Lord's Body. Thus as worshippers whose every deed is holy, the laity consecrate the world itself to God" (LG 34).

Basically, SS. Peter and Paul and the council fathers were all making the same point which had been taught by the prophets: Our worship of the Lord can never be simply an hour of praise once a week. Every aspect of our lives should be a further expression and continuation of our worship.

Furthermore, we do not worship alone: we worship in, with, and through Jesus Christ to the glory of God the Father in the unity of the Holy Spirit. We also worship with all those who have been baptized into the death-resurrection of Jesus Christ. We are a "priestly people" who praise the Lord together. Together, we ask for His mercy and intercede for the needs of all. Christian worship, therefore, always has a public quality about it; all our prayers are first person plural. Through our worship, we draw closer to the Lord and, at the same time, closer to one another.

Our daily bread, which unites us to the Church Universal

Throughout our 175 years as a diocese, we have worshipped the Lord by gathering faithfully in His name. The Holy Eucharist has truly been the main point of our continuity from generation to generation. This "daily bread" has brought much consolation as communities have lived through times of suffering and loss. The Holy Eucharist helps us to see our own joys and sorrows within the larger context of the death-resurrection of Jesus Christ. We share in His paschal mystery through sign and symbol, and also through the sacrifice of obedient minds and hearts.

The faithful celebration of the Holy Eucharist has also kept our local Church in communion with the Church Universal. As Pope John Paul II often taught, the Church literally comes into being through the Eucharist. Despite many cultural and language differences, we share one same meal, and so, we become one body and one spirit in the Lord – not only at our local parish or an archdiocese, but also as part of the Church Universal.

Our experience of daily hunger of body and spirit and daily nourishment through the breaking of the bread and the pouring of the cup energizes us for loving and generous service of our neighbors. As the Eucharist makes the Church, it also sends us forth on mission – ready to satisfy every hunger of the human heart throughout the world, for at one and the same time, our Eucharistic communion is always apostolic and Catholic or worldwide.

When Antoine de Cadillac and his fellow travelers (who included two priests) arrived in Detroit on July 26, 1701, one of their first desires was to share in a celebration of the Holy Eucharist. As each later generation arrived from almost every nation under the sun, they, too, wanted to do the same; as they built their homes, they were also eager to build churches worthy of God, places to gather for worship.

Places of worship

The Archdiocese of Detroit has been blessed with an extraordinary number of very beautiful churches, each lovingly built by generations of dedicated believers, often by their own sweat, blood and tears. Every ethnic group was proud to have its own place of worship; they often brought statues and other artifacts from their native lands. Even today, newly arriving immigrants are eager to find a place that can be their own home for worship of the Lord.

As ethnic groups continued to arrive and then move on to other neighborhoods, the city of Detroit and many of the surrounding suburbs and rural areas were left with beautiful structures, exquisitely built, but with fewer and fewer members to maintain them and with aging buildings needing maintenance and renovation. Sadly, many beautiful churches had to close; for the most part, other Christian denominations took them over, so they continue to be used for worship.

As we know, the "Church" is not a building, and even if bricks and mortar pass away, the sacrifices and love of those who built and maintained communities of faith continue on in new ways. Wherever and whenever there is death, resurrection follows. The "letting go" and loss is painful and real but still it is part of the cycle of the seasons of life. By the grace and providence of God, we build churches and homes and many structures, and by the same grace and providence of God, just like we, the builders, they pass away. Nothing this side of heaven lasts forever except the Lord's presence in the Church as a whole.

It is often said that we shape our buildings, but then, once they are constructed, they shape us! Such a statement is certainly true when it comes to liturgical space and Christian worship. Churches which have a traditional style of architecture with long aisles and the high altar at one end can be inspiring settings for prayer; they subtly remind us of our humble place before the majesty and mystery of God. At the same time, there can also be a consoling beauty and warmth in churches built in a circular or semi-circular fashion with a strong emphasis on open sight-lines for the altar, ambo, tabernacle and fellow worshippers.

Our archdiocese has been blessed by many gifted architects who have worked with pastors and communities in designing church facilities that are aesthetically pleasing yet still practical and financially affordable. During my 18 years here in the archdiocese, at our monthly consultors meeting and with the input of the Architectural Review Committee, I have reviewed countless plans for the renovation of worship spaces and/or construction of new churches or chapels. I have always been impressed by the enthusiastic dedication and pride of parishioners who want to create the best possible worship space for the praise of the Lord. Visiting parishes and dedicating new or renovated facilities always reminds me that we can never really judge the true beauty of a worship space unless the congregation is present; as the people of God fill the church building, it comes to life in a dynamic way.

Liturgical ministers

Our worship of God can be enhanced by buildings and structures, but in the end, it is certainly not dependent on them. As Jesus taught the Samaritan woman in John 4, we are called to worship "in spirit and in truth." Theologically, we speak of liturgy as a "public work," that is, a work of God that also involves our efforts: We bring our gifts and talents to worship the Lord.

Some of us worship the Lord by being active participants, listening, singing, and bringing our offering for the Lord and the Church. Many of us participate in the liturgy in a more formal or explicit way by offering our time and talents as lectors and extraordinary ministers of the Holy Eucharist, members of the choir, servers, ushers or ministers of hospitality. Some give of their service in a quiet supportive way behind the scenes as sacristans, or members of the Tabernacle Guild or Altar Society.

No one could even begin to count the number of volunteers who have given of their time and talent to make our liturgical celebrations prayerfully pleasing over the decades. A good liturgy takes much planning and organizational skills – selecting of music appropriate for the readings and time of the year, as well as creating an environment that will complement the Scriptures and the theme of the weekend or the season.

The better prepared a lector, the more effectively he or she will proclaim the Word of God. The more communion ministers, musicians, deacons and priests take time to pray and reflect on their privileged service, the more spiritually renewing it will be for them and those they serve.

Many gifts consecrated to the Lord

Over the centuries, Christian worship has evolved and changed from the days of the apostles until now. Yet, fundamentally, the Holy Eucharist has always involved God's people gathering faithfully to hear His Word and respond with gratitude, sharing in the death-resurrection of Jesus Christ. While the priest and deacon stand at the Lord's altar and lead us in liturgical prayer, we are all involved in the celebration and everyone has a role.

In previous months, as I wrote about other important aspects of our history, I have singled out given individuals who have been exemplary in their roles as public servants, teachers and creative leaders. It would be very difficult to even begin to identify the countless musicians who gave their entire lives to Church music or artists whose work graces our church walls or stained glass windows. How many thousands of people have given their voices to be part of Church choirs over the decades in almost every language we could possibly imagine? How many generations of young people proudly but nervously garb themselves with cassocks and surplices or albs to serve at the Lord's altar – often providing memorized Latin responses they hardly understood? Where would we be without ushers or ministers of hospitality helping us find our seats or taking up the collection?

There are so many roles of service, each vital for the proper worship of the Lord. Thanks be to God for the way His people have faithfully given of their time and talent for the 175 years we have been a local Church.

Whether in majestic cathedral-like settings or the simple circumstances of a very modest chapel or temporary facility, God's people have gathered in this local Church of Detroit to share in the sacrifice of Christ, to give honor and praise to God, to ask His blessings, and to find the energy and strength to go forth in Christian service. Praise be the Lord who has inspired and sustained our worship throughout all these decades!

Sincerely yours in the Lord,

†Adam Cardinal Maida
Archbishop of Detroit

download image Joe Kohn | The Michigan Catholic Msgr. John Budde and the congregation celebrate Mass during his first weekend as pastor at the new Divine Mercy Parish in Davisburg in July 2007.

Throughout the 175 years of our history as a local Church, the celebration of the Holy Eucharist and the other sacraments have been a constant source of energy, consolation, inspiration, and hope for the priests, deacons, religious and lay faithful who have celebrated these mysteries of our faith.

This month of July, we give thanks to God for the countless people who have made our Christian worship more meaningful and prayerful – architects, artists, and craftsmen who have designed our worship spaces; musicians, cantors, and choir members who help us raise our voices to the Lord; servers, lectors, communion ministers, ministers of hospitality, and all those who help make the liturgy flow efficiently and respectfully; sacristans and custodians, and all who help ensure the cleanliness and beauty of the art and environment of our worship spaces.

Heavenly Father, through your Son our Lord Jesus Christ, you teach us how to worship "in spirit and in truth."

As we celebrate the 175th anniversary of our archdiocese, we give you thanks for the gift and privilege we enjoy as your priestly people, sharing in the death-resurrection of Jesus Christ through the celebration of the Holy Eucharist.

We ask your continued guidance and inspiration for all who give of their time and talent so that our worship will truly be worthy of your glory.

We ask all this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God forever and ever. Amen.