Solanus Casey Center

Detroit Solanus Casey Center, 1780 Mt Elliott St, Detroit, Michigan, Združene države Amerike

Website of the Sanctuary

+1 313 579 2100

Open Daily: 9:00am to 5:00pm

The Solanus Casey Center is a spiritual oasis where souls are nourished. It is a place of peace and the presence of God’s healing grace experienced through the intercession of Venerable Solanus.

It is an anchor of authentic Catholic values and spirituality for generations past, present and future.

Father Solanus Casey – Biography

Father Solanus Casey, Capuchin, was born on November 25, 1870 on a farm in Wisconsin. His Irish immigrant parents named him Bernard. He was the sixth child in a family of ten boys and six girls. After he left the farm he worked throughout Wisconsin and Minnesota as a logger, a hospital orderly, a street car operator, and a prison guard.

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At the age of 21, Bernard entered St. Francis High School Seminary in Milwaukee to study for the diocesan priesthood. Five years later he decided to enter a religious order. He was invested in the Capuchin Order at Detroit in 1897 and received his religious name of Solanus.

After his ordination in 1904, Father Solanus spent 20 years in New York, Harlem, and Yonkers. In 1924 he was sent to St. Bonaventure Monastery in Detroit where he worked for 20 years. In 1945, he returned to New York for one year. He was assigned to Huntington, Indiana from 1946 to 1956. He was reassigned to St. Bonaventure in 1956.

Father Solanus spent his life in the service of people. At the monastery door, he met thousands of persons from every age and walk of life. In time of trouble and sorrow, they sought his prayers and advice. Many attributed favors to his prayers. He constantly showed his love of God by loving all of God’s people. He was always ready and willing to listen to anyone any time of the day or night. In return he asked people to love and support the missions.

During his final illness, he remarked: “I’m offering my suffering that all might be one. If only I could see the conversion of the whole world.” His last conscious act was to sit up in bed and exclaim, “I give my soul to Jesus Christ.” He died in Detroit at the age of 86 on July 31, 1957 and is buried at St. Bonaventure Monastery.

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Let us remain close in the same prayer! May the Lord bless you abundantly!

Your Pilgrimage

Adults: Upon completion of your pilgrimage, the following ideas are suggested as culmination activities:

  • Canned food and clothing drive to help feed and clothe the poor
  • A daily/weekly prayer for the Beatification of Venerable Solanus Casey
  • Study the spirituality of Father Solanus and discover ways that you can adopt his spirituality in your own life.

Students/Children:

  • Have your class organize a canned food or clothing drive to help feed and clothe the poor
  • A daily/weekly prayer for the Beatification of Venerable Solanus Casey
  • Acts of kindness journal
  • Dedicate a wall or bulletin board in your school to Solanus Casey
  • Create a pathway to sainthood booklet
  • A Solanus Play (Reenactment of the life of Solanus as a young man and a Capuchin)
  • The Beatitudes of Christ (List individuals who are peacemakers in the world today)
  • List the corporal and spiritual works of mercy and offer suggestions of ways these works of mercy can be lived out.

Let us remain close in the same prayer! May the Lord bless you abundantly!

The Solanus Casey Center is located 1780 Mount Elliott Street, Detroit, MI 48207, between St. Paul and Kercheval Streets. Approximately three blocks north of Jefferson Avenue and only a few minutes from downtown Detroit and the major expressways.

From I-94
Take the Mount Elliott Street exit.
Head South on Mount Elliott (toward the river) and follow for about 2 miles just past Kercheval Street.
You will see the steeple of the Church on the Left (East) side of the street.

From Jefferson Avenue (Grosse Pointe)
Follow Jefferson Avenue West toward Downtown. Make a Right turn onto Mount Elliot Street (there is a Walgreen’s on the Corner). Follow for 3 long blocks, just past St. Paul Street— you will see our steeple on the Right (East) Side of the street

Let us remain close in the same prayer! May the Lord bless you abundantly!

PRAYER FOR THE BEATIFICATION OF VENERABLE SOLANUS CASEY

O God, I adore You. I give myself to You.
May I be the person You want me to be,
and may Your will be done in my life today.

I thank You for the gifts You gave to Father Solanus.
If it is Your Will, bless us with the beatification of
Venerable Solanus so that others may imitate
and carry on his love for all the poor and suffering of our world.

As he joyfully accepted Your divine plans,
I ask You, according to Your Will,
to hear my prayer for . . . (your intention)
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

“Blessed be God in all His designs.”

Let us remain close in the same prayer! May the Lord bless you abundantly!

Father Solanus Casey – Biography

Father Solanus Casey, Capuchin, was born on November 25, 1870 on a farm in Wisconsin. His Irish immigrant parents named him Bernard. He was the sixth child in a family of ten boys and six girls. After he left the farm he worked throughout Wisconsin and Minnesota as a logger, a hospital orderly, a street car operator, and a prison guard.

At the age of 21, Bernard entered St. Francis High School Seminary in Milwaukee to study for the diocesan priesthood. Five years later he decided to enter a religious order. He was invested in the Capuchin Order at Detroit in 1897 and received his religious name of Solanus.

After his ordination in 1904, Father Solanus spent 20 years in New York, Harlem, and Yonkers. In 1924 he was sent to St. Bonaventure Monastery in Detroit where he worked for 20 years. In 1945, he returned to New York for one year. He was assigned to Huntington, Indiana from 1946 to 1956. He was reassigned to St. Bonaventure in 1956.

Father Solanus spent his life in the service of people. At the monastery door, he met thousands of persons from every age and walk of life. In time of trouble and sorrow, they sought his prayers and advice. Many attributed favors to his prayers. He constantly showed his love of God by loving all of God’s people. He was always ready and willing to listen to anyone any time of the day or night. In return he asked people to love and support the missions.

During his final illness, he remarked: “I’m offering my suffering that all might be one. If only I could see the conversion of the whole world.” His last conscious act was to sit up in bed and exclaim, “I give my soul to Jesus Christ.” He died in Detroit at the age of 86 on July 31, 1957 and is buried at St. Bonaventure Monastery.

Let us remain close in the same prayer! May the Lord bless you abundantly!

Posted in North America and United States