Detroit Stories

Since 1998, the Capuchin Soup Kitchen's Earthworks Urban Farm has been an oasis in the midst of Detroit's food desert

Show notes:

(0:06) The narrator talks about the history of the Capuchin Soup Kitchen’s Earthworks Urban Farm, which was started in 1998 by Bro. Rick Samyn, OFM Cap., to provide Detroiters fresh food, a sense of purpose and a chance to cultivate the earth in the heart of the city.

(2:12) Wendy Casey, Earthworks’ director, talks about the farm’s mission, which includes a greenhouse, almost an acre of growing space, compost and educational programs, all of which benefit the Capuchin Soup Kitchen.

(3:30) Bro. Gary Wegner, OFM Cap., the soup kitchen’s director, discusses the origins of the idea behind the farm, which produces more than 8,000 pounds of food each year. Bro. Wegner talks about how the farm follows the example of the Capuchins’ founder, St. Francis of Assisi.

(5:56) Tyler Chatman, the farm manager, talks about Earthworks’ robust volunteer program, Earthworks Agriculture Training — or EAT, for short. The program trains up to 10 people each year with the skills they need to cultivate the land. One of EAT’s first students was Casey, Earthworks’ current director.

(9:23) Chatman talks about growing up on the farm. He first experienced Earthworks as a 6-year-old, and has been volunteering for the past 20 years. According to Chatman, it helped keep him out of trouble.

(11:37) Chatman discusses Earthworks’ “open door policy,” saying the farm embraces passersby who happen to stop by. Often, these passersby become volunteers themselves, Chatman says, inspired by the little miracle of growth happening on Detroit’s east side.

(15:05) Casey and Bro. Wegner talk about how Earthworks is a metaphor for Detroit’s resilience. Since its heyday in the 1960s, Detroit’s sprawling urban landscape with 2 million people has been reduced to just over 600,000, meaning the city is replete with empty lots and tons of potential.

Reporting by Daniel Meloy; narration by Emily Mentock; script by Casey McCorry; production by Ron Pangborn

This episode is brought to you by Alliance Catholic Credit Union. Does your bank make you feel like you belong there? At Alliance Catholic Credit Union, you’re a member of a financial institution that serves the Catholic community, providing you with an opportunity to align your banking with your Catholic identity. You receive all the products and services you need to manage your money, and your membership helps support Catholic schools, parishes and organizations. It’s time to put your money where your faith is. Visit alliancecatholic.com to get started today. Service. Community. Catholic. Alliance Catholic Credit Union. Federally insured by the NCUA.

Listen to ‘Detroit Stories’ on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, or Spotify. Podcasts also will be posted biweekly on DetroitCatholic.com.

Scholar discusses journey from Messianic Judaism to Catholicism, and how Catholics and Jews can bridge an ancient divide

Show notes:

(0:04) The narrator sets the scene with André Villeneuve, Ph.D., in Jerusalem with a group of seminarians visiting the tomb of the Old Testament king David. The Catholic group encounters hostility from a local Jew, who demanded they leave, citing religious reasons.

(3:21) André discusses his conversion to Catholicism, which took him on a path from agnosticism as a young man to messianic Judaism. He discusses pivotal influences, including serving war refugees during the civil war in Bosnia and Croatia.

(6:13) After a conversion to Christ through an evangelical church, André decided to pursue biblical studies at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem, and while there, he ended up getting involved in the Messianic Judaism movement, a belief system that combines Jewish and Christian traditions.

(9:28) Frustrated by the “doctrinal anarchy” he found in the Messianic Jewish movement, André found himself drawn to the Catholic Church.

(12:52) After his conversion in 2002, André found himself in a unique position to reach both Catholics and Jews to give each a better understanding of the other faith. André discusses what the Catholic Church has received from Judaism, as well as the wounds many Jews still feel from centuries of hostility and discrimination.

(16:27) André discusses how he feels the Church can better welcome Jews and evangelize while remaining mindful of the deep roots of division that still exist. He talks about his work studying, teaching and leading pilgrimages to the Holy Land, all in an effort to bridge an ancient divide.

Reporting by Gabriella Patti; narration by Fr. Craig Giera; script by Casey McCorry; production by Ron Pangborn

This episode is brought to you by Alliance Catholic Credit Union. Does your bank make you feel like you belong there? At Alliance Catholic Credit Union, you’re a member of a financial institution that serves the Catholic community, providing you with an opportunity to align your banking with your Catholic identity. You receive all the products and services you need to manage your money, and your membership helps support Catholic schools, parishes and organizations. It’s time to put your money where your faith is. Visit alliancecatholic.com to get started today. Service. Community. Catholic. Alliance Catholic Credit Union. Federally insured by the NCUA.

Listen to ‘Detroit Stories’ on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, or Spotify. Podcasts also will be posted biweekly on DetroitCatholic.com.

Former students recall legendary record hops of the 1960s, '70s and '80s at Notre Dame High, and their benefactor, Fr. Bryson

Show notes:

(0:04) The narrator sets the scene of the 1960s, when teenagers looked forward to Friday nights at the record hops at Notre Dame High School in Harper Woods. Those legendary memories weren’t complete without the memory of Fr. John “Hollywood” Bryson, a Marist priest who rubbed shoulders with celebrities and brought in the era’s hottest acts to play sets.

(2:26) Fr. Bryson’s former students, including musician Simone Vitale, actor Dave Coulier (of “Full House” fame) and Notre Dame alum Jerry Alderman describe their memories of “the rock ‘n’ roll priest.”

(6:28) Alderman talks about serving as a DJ for Fr. Bryson’s legendary dances. Often, this led to opportunities to meet stars in the music industry — and even to pick up girls.

(13:27) Vitale recalls the impact Fr. Bryson had on his budding music career, particularly the humility he instilled in his students. Fr. Bryson’s rules helped keep students with “big egos” on the straight and narrow.

(16:47) Coulier, who played “Uncle Joey” on the hit 1990s sitcom “Full House,” talks about how Fr. Bryson identified talent in students — especially those who might otherwise be dismissed as a “class clown.”

(23:05) Notre Dame High School Alumni Association president Jim Mandl recalls Fr. Bryson’s legendary jukebox, and how he was known for playing songs in the school cafeteria.

(26:08) Alderman remembers how Fr. Bryson didn’t just understand young people — he cared deeply for his students and worked to ensure they made the most of the gifts God gave them.

(27:12) Vitale talks about the excitement of the era, the unrepeatable music and the legendary record hops that Fr. Bryson and others made famous. Vitale agrees with others’ assessment: There will never be another Fr. John “Hollywood” Bryson.

Reporting, script and narration by Gabriella Patti; production by Ron Pangborn

This episode is brought to you by Alliance Catholic Credit Union. Does your bank make you feel like you belong there? At Alliance Catholic Credit Union, you’re a member of a financial institution that serves the Catholic community, providing you with an opportunity to align your banking with your Catholic identity. You receive all the products and services you need to manage your money, and your membership helps support Catholic schools, parishes and organizations. It’s time to put your money where your faith is. Visit alliancecatholic.com to get started today. Service. Community. Catholic. Alliance Catholic Credit Union. Federally insured by the NCUA.

Listen to ‘Detroit Stories’ on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, or Spotify. Podcasts also will be posted biweekly on DetroitCatholic.com.

Rebecca Martin wrote the book on Catholic wedding planning — literally — but her own wedding was far from what she imagined

Show notes:

(0:03) The narrator introduces Rebecca Martin, a local book editor who co-wrote “The Catholic Wedding Planner,” a guide for brides and grooms to making their big day a holy, happy success. Rebecca describes how her own wedding planning was derailed, however, when COVID hit in spring 2020.

(2:15) Rebecca talks about the inspiration behind “The Catholic Wedding Planner.” The idea for the book began when both she and her co-editor began planning their own weddings, drawing tips and advice from her own experience they felt other couples could benefit from.

(6:50) Rebecca describes her emotions when she discovered her dream wedding wouldn’t be taking place exactly as she’d envisioned. She talks about the process of letting go of the small — but important — details and learning to focus on her future husband and God.

(12:42) Rebecca talks about the advice she received from others, especially her mother, who reminded her about the importance of the sacrament amidst the difficulties and challenges.

(15:52) Despite this, Rebecca still believes the celebration is important — very much so, she says. She talks about why the party still matters, even while keeping the focus on what’s truly important.

(17:39) Rebecca talks about the importance of planning for the marriage, not just the wedding, by asking big questions and discussing life’s decisions ahead of time. Doing this work is foundational to ensuring a couple builds a strong foundation together, she says.

(20:51) Fr. Mario Amore, a priest serving at St. Aloysius Parish in downtown Detroit, talks about what the Church expects of couples before their wedding day.

(28:05) Rebecca describes a Croatian wedding tradition she believes perfectly characterizes getting married in the Church.

Reporting by Gabriella Patti; narration and script by Casey McCorry; production by Ron Pangborn

This episode of Detroit Stories is brought to you by Weingartz … everything from Lawn to Snow. Over the years, Weingartz has grown to offer an unbeatable selection of outdoor power equipment, and their experienced service technicians and unmatched parts inventory keep your equipment running like new. Visit www.weingartz.com to shop for your lawn & garden needs and find a convenient location near you.

Listen to ‘Detroit Stories’ on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, or Spotify. Podcasts also will be posted biweekly on DetroitCatholic.com.

Former oil rigger, seminarian, country music DJ, and teacher Bill Richart spent a lifetime chasing his vocation — and finally caught it

Show notes:

(0:02) The narrator introduces Bill Richart, a local Catholic musician, lay evangelist and charismatic prayer leader. Bill talks about how he discovered his vocation — and the long, winding road he took to get there.

(2:33) Bill describes growing up in a Catholic household and wrestling with thoughts of the priesthood, like his own father did. Instead, he went to college, but a recession forced him to seek work in alternative ways. So he moved to Oklahoma and found work as an oil rigger, country music DJ, and other odd jobs. Bill describes his experience as a Catholic in the Deep South.

(6:24) Bill moves back to Michigan and enrolls in the music teaching program at Michigan State University. His faith grew tepid in college, until he was introduced to a charismatic prayer group that changed his life.

(8:59) After graduation, Bill grew restless as he lost touch with the vibrant Catholic community he discovered and entered the world of underemployment. He describes a spiritual journey of trying to reconnect with God’s calling.

(10:15) After spending an evening in prayer at a local Catholic church, Bill happened upon a Wednesday night charismatic prayer group. He was soon invited to join them in playing music — one of his lifelong passions — and quickly found a knack. Soon, word of his talent spread, and he found himself playing gigs all over the country.

(13:47) Bill discerns the priesthood for the second time in his life. He joins the Marists in Massachusetts, but his brother’s cancer prognosis puts his plans on the back burner once again.

(15:33) After his brother’s death, Bill describes his desire to resume his discernment. He asks God for a sign to return to the seminary — and receives one, although not the sign he was expecting.

(17:58) Bill resumes his life as a lay missionary, and devotes himself to the full-time apostolate. He hits the road, traveling to 30 states and nine countries, and eventually meets his wife, Anne Marie. The pair marries in 2003, and welcomes their first child. Four years later, their daughter, Faith, is born.

(20:10) Major health complications for Faith force Bill off the road again. Determined to care for his family, Bill settles down and gets a job in a parish — not the life he expected, but a virtuous vocation that allows him to provide health care for his daughter and stability for his family.

(22:10) Seven years later, Bill is diagnosed with throat cancer. He describes the devastation of finding out, but his determination to trust God’s plan no matter what. He receives a reassuring sign during a radiation appointment.

(25:16) After beating cancer, Bill faces his toughest moment yet: the death of his daughter, Faith. Bill describes the heart-wrenching loss of “my little girl,” and the difficulty of finding the strength to keep praising God regardless.

(27:30) After a life of ups and downs, Bill describes the one certainty in his life: God’s providence. Bill talks about discovering his vocation through an unwavering commitment to prayer, hopeful that whatever challenge might come next, the Lord has a plan.

Reporting by Daniel Meloy; narration by Michael Stechschulte; script by Casey McCorry; production by Ron Pangborn

This episode of Detroit Stories is brought to you by Weingartz … everything from Lawn to Snow. Over the years, Weingartz has grown to offer an unbeatable selection of outdoor power equipment, and their experienced service technicians and unmatched parts inventory keep your equipment running like new. Visit www.weingartz.com to shop for your lawn & garden needs and find a convenient location near you.

Listen to ‘Detroit Stories’ on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, or Spotify. Podcasts also will be posted biweekly on DetroitCatholic.com.

Each year, thousands of sick and injured people travel to Lourdes, France, seeking a miracle — and receive something far greater

Show notes:

(0:03) The narrator introduces Kathy Lewis and her husband, Philip, who in 2011 were both struggling with the difficult diagnosis of cancer. A friend suggested they take a pilgrimage to Lourdes, France.

(3:21) Each year, the Order of Malta brings thousand of malades — the French word for “sick person” — to the site of the apparitions of Our Lady of Lourdes. The narrator describes the history of Lourdes, its reputation for miracles, and the thousands who each year seek healing in the baths there.

(6:38) Tom Larabell, president of the Knights of Malta Free Medical and Dental Clinic in Detroit and former chair and treasurer for the area Knights of Malta, describes what a typical pilgrimage to Lourdes looks like.

(8:49) Dr. Ed Jelonek, an osteopathic surgeon and member of the order, describes how he become involved with helping malades make what for many is a life-changing pilgrimage — though not always for the reasons they expect.

(12:53) Kathy Lewis describes arriving on French soil with a prayer in her heart for healing. Philip’s prognosis wasn’t promising, and she knew it would take nearly a miracle to change his trajectory.

(13:50) Thomas Cousino, another malade who arrived in Lourdes paralyzed from a boating accident, describes his expectations. He talks about the challenges involved in being paralyzed, and how the love he experienced in Lourdes was a stark contrast to the struggles of daily life.

(17:29) The pilgrimage in Lourdes culminates in malades being immersed into the baths in the grotto where the apparitions took place. For Kathy, Philip and Thomas, it was a powerful moment that forever will stick in their memories — not because they were healed physically, but because it gave them a peace that surpasses understanding.

(19:14) Kathy and Thomas describe how their lives were changed at Lourdes. None received a physical healing — and Philip died three years later — but attest to another “miracle” they received: a different kind of healing. A healing of the spirit.

Reporting by Daniel Meloy; narration by Leah Butalid; script by Casey McCorry; production by Ron Pangborn

This episode of Detroit Stories is brought to you by Weingartz … everything from Lawn to Snow. Over the years, Weingartz has grown to offer an unbeatable selection of outdoor power equipment, and their experienced service technicians and unmatched parts inventory keep your equipment running like new. Visit www.weingartz.com to shop for your lawn & garden needs and find a convenient location near you.

Listen to ‘Detroit Stories’ on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, or Spotify. Podcasts also will be posted biweekly on DetroitCatholic.com.

Gesu parishioner Pat Jones is on a mission to capture stories of faith, resiliency and courage from community's senior members

Show notes:

(0:02) Emmett Moten Jr., a 79-year-old member of Gesu Parish in Detroit, talks about growing up Catholic as an African-American in the South, where racism and segregation were prevalent parts of daily life.

(2:00) Pat Jones, a writer, producer, storyteller and parishioner of Gesu, talks about her latest initiative, The Elders Project, in which she seeks to capture the stories of older Gesu parishioners like Moten and 95-year-old Beatrice Ward, the first Black woman to integrate Gesu School in 1963, to preserve for future generations.

(4:55) Jones describes the urgency of the project. Each year, dozens of Gesu parishioners pass away, and with them, generational stories of faith that define the century-old parish and its community. Fr. Lorn Snow, SJ, Gesu’s pastor, talks about his support for the project.

(7:30) Moten talks about his interactions with Jones, who persuaded him to tell his story, which includes anecdotes about his childhood, living through segregation not only in the wider culture, but even in the Church.

(10:38) Jones describes the emotions of listening to stories like Moten’s and Ward’s. Many of the stories The Elders Project seeks to capture bring up a wide range of emotion both for listeners and for the storytellers themselves, Jones says.

(12:37) Jones talks about her desire to grow the project by capturing stories from dozens of Gesu parishioners, and eventually, expanding the vision to other parishes. She describes the resiliency of the Gesu community.

(15:01) Jones and Fr. Snow make the connection between storytelling and evangelization. Fr. Snow calls the project “an incredible tool” for evangelization, given the personal faith and testimonies of the elders being interviewed.

(16:56) The narrator describes the importance of capturing stories from “the Silent Generation” — who remains dutifully present for daily Mass, adoration and ministries in parishes across the Archdiocese of Detroit — before it’s too late.

Reporting by Gabriella Patti; narration by Fr. Craig Giera; script by Casey McCorry; production by Ron Pangborn

This episode of Detroit Stories is brought to you by Weingartz … everything from Lawn to Snow. Over the years, Weingartz has grown to offer an unbeatable selection of outdoor power equipment, and their experienced service technicians and unmatched parts inventory keep your equipment running like new. Visit www.weingartz.com to shop for your lawn & garden needs and find a convenient location near you.

Listen to ‘Detroit Stories’ on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, or Spotify. Podcasts also will be posted biweekly on DetroitCatholic.com.

Spared on her deathbed, Catherine Lanni's visions of the Blessed Virgin Mary and Jesus inspired a movement of mercy in Detroit

Show notes:

(0:04) Catherine Lanni recounts a harrowing deathbed experience, during which she received a message from God that completely changed her life.

(1:38) Catherine describes the plan she had for her own life — getting married, having a family — and how starting a religious community was the furthest thing from her mind. She got married, but after becoming pregnant for the first time, Catherine miscarried. For months, Catherine and Mike grieved the loss of Joseph Anthony.

(3:43) The couple went on to have two more daughters, but in 1986, during another pregnancy, Catherine began to hemorrhage again. She was rushed to emergency — this time with severe complications — with doctors telling her she wasn’t going to make it.

(5:00) As Catherine prayed through the ordeal, the Holy Spirit gave her two visions: One of her grandmother, and another of her father — two figures of faith and piety in her life — to calm her fears. And then, a third vision, of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

(8:03) Catherine describes her vision of the Blessed Mother. She begged Mary to spare her life, and her prayer was answered. In return, Catherine promised to “do something good for Jesus.”

(11:06) After being released from the hospital, Catherine had a Mass of thanksgiving said, and started to teach catechism, thinking that would satisfy her duty of gratitude to God. But in September 2022, Catherine experienced another powerful vision: this time of Jesus himself.

(13:17) Catherine describes her vision of Jesus, who conducted what she describes as a “spiritual open heart surgery” on her. Jesus commanded her to begin a prayer group, as well as to found a religious order that would be devoted to spreading the message of Divine Mercy.

(16:13) In the aftermath of her earth-shattering experience of Jesus, Catherine struggled to comprehend and share what she had witnessed. Several months later, she told her vision to her parish priest — at Jesus’ command — and the priest gave her a simple piece of spiritual advice.

(19:17) With the priest’s help, Catherine began to take steps toward fulfilling the mandate she had been given. She began a small prayer group to meet regularly, praying the Divine Mercy Chaplet and studying the writings of St. Faustina. In 2003, Cardinal Adam J. Maida approved the group as an official apostolate, the Servants of Jesus of the Divine Mercy, and later, the Divine Mercy Center (today the Shrine of Jesus the Divine Mercy) was founded in Clinton Township.

(20:16) Catherine talks about the final request Jesus had made: to start a religious order of women. In 2012, she received permission from Archbishop Allen H. Vigneron to begin a new community: the Sisters of Jesus’ Merciful Passion.

(23:53) Today, Catherine is still incredulous at how powerfully God has worked in her life, and reflects on the hopes she has for the shrine and budding religious community: to be a conduit for God’s incredibly powerful Divine Mercy for others in need.

Reporting by Daniel Meloy; narration by Fr. Craig Giera; script by Casey McCorry; production by Ron Pangborn

This episode of Detroit Stories is brought to you by Weingartz … everything from Lawn to Snow. Over the years, Weingartz has grown to offer an unbeatable selection of outdoor power equipment, and their experienced service technicians and unmatched parts inventory keep your equipment running like new. Visit www.weingartz.com to shop for your lawn & garden needs and find a convenient location near you.

Listen to ‘Detroit Stories’ on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, or Spotify. Podcasts also will be posted biweekly on DetroitCatholic.com.

How an 11-year-old girl's zest for life inspired her family to help children battling cancer find joy, even after she died

Show notes:

(0:03) Brett Kast and his mother, Paula, describe Brett’s late sister, Jenna, a spirited young girl who battled brain cancer. At age 9, she was granted a wish from the Make-a-Wish Foundation, but it was a party thrown by members of her parish, St. Anastasia in Troy, that most represented a “glimpse of heaven” for the young girl — surrounded by her friends and loved ones, celebrating life. It was the basis for a foundation created after her death in 2010: the Jenna Kast Believe in Miracles Foundation.

(3:37) Paula Kast describes her daughter’s fight with cancer, which began when she was just 3 years old. Brett Kast, who was 8 at the time, didn’t understand his sister’s plight, but knew there was something special about his sister, who bore her suffering with a grace far surpassing her young age.

(6:54) Paula describes Jenna’s zest for life, her positive attitude, empathy for others, and her determination to make others smile, even when she herself had little to smile about.

(8:53) Brett Kast talks about the inspiration for the Believe in Miracles Foundation, which started with a simple gift to another young boy in the hospital waiting room. Sparking an idea, Brett and his friends soon began to sell bracelets to raise money to grant wishes to other children in Jenna’s position.

(10:40) A TV news report on Brett’s project brought attention to the idea, and soon, a nonprofit was created. Paula Kast talks about the mission of the Believe in Miracles Foundation, which honors Jenna’s legacy by raising money and awareness for childhood cancer patients and terminally ill kids.

(12:34) Even in the midst of her own illness, Jenna was a fixture volunteering with the organization’s fundraisers. Paula Kast describes one of the last events Jenna served, an ice cream social, recalling her daughter’s remarkable strength and grace, borne from her belief that other kids deserved to be happy.

(14:09) After Jenna’s passing, the foundation boomed. Paula began working full time to increase the number of wishes granted. Today, the foundation grants 40-45 wishes each year. Paula describes one wish in particular that stands out in her mind, a young girl who wished for a birthday party in the hospital.

(16:38) Paula describes a heart-wrenching and difficult conversation with Jenna after doctors had informed Jenna that she had only months to live. Seeking to explain heaven to the young girl, Paula recalled the idea that everyday moments of grace — like the birthday party or ice cream event — were “glimpses of heaven.”

(18:57) After Jenna’s death, Paula was reminded of the conversation while fulfilling the wish of a young boy who was nearing the end. Like Jenna, the boy found remarkable strength during his wish day — an impromptu trip to Lambeau Field to see his favorite football team, the Green Bay Packers. To Paula, it was a reminder that “glimpses of heaven” are at the heart of the foundation’s mission, a mission inspired by Jenna’s remarkable strength and faith.

Reporting by Gabriella Patti; narration by Leah Butalid; script by Casey McCorry; production by Ron Pangborn

This episode of Detroit Stories is brought to you by Weingartz … everything from Lawn to Snow. Over the years, Weingartz has grown to offer an unbeatable selection of outdoor power equipment, and their experienced service technicians and unmatched parts inventory keep your equipment running like new. Visit www.weingartz.com to shop for your lawn & garden needs and find a convenient location near you.

Listen to ‘Detroit Stories’ on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, or Spotify. Podcasts also will be posted biweekly on DetroitCatholic.com.

How a rotating warming shelter is more than a service for Royal Oak's homeless; it's a blessing for guests and volunteers alike

(0:02) Laura Mills, a volunteer at the rotating warming shelter at St. Mary Parish in Royal Oak, talks about “Santa Claus,” one of the shelter’s longtime guests, who was able to find housing and rehabilitate after a lifetime of addiction. Mills says his “feel good story” is emblematic of the work the shelter has done to provide homeless and struggling individuals a lifeline for decades.

(3:07) Coordinator Heather Croy describes the work of the shelter, which, for a few weeks each winter, provides a respite from the bitter Michigan cold for dozens of guests with nowhere else to turn. The parish’s gym is transformed with beds, fresh coffee is provided, and meals are served. It’s a chance for guests to feel human again, she says.

(6:12) Croy talks about how the effort got started more than 40 years ago after a homeless man froze to death outside the Royal Oak library. Dismayed, St. Mary’s pastor at the time organized a temporary shelter in the evenings, just somewhere those down on their luck could crash for the night. Soon, other churches took notice, and eventually six area congregations decided to open their doors to the homeless as well. Today, each church takes two weeks each winter.

(7:48) Despite Royal Oak’s upscale atmosphere, Croy says, the need is very real for the city’s homeless population. Croy talks about the changes since COVID-19, including the necessity to scale back the number of guests for safety reasons. It’s been difficult, she says.

(12:03) Far from simply providing a meal and a warm bed, Croy says it’s important that volunteers take time to greet guests on a personal level. Every guest at St. Mary’s knows her by name, and she knows them. It’s how Jesus would want it, she says.

(14:34) A guest at the shelter, who chose to remain anonymous, talks about how the shelter’s volunteers made her and her daughter feel at home, and the circumstances that led her to seek help. “They are praying for me,” she says. “They’re wonderful women.”

(16:38) Another guest, Kevin Brown, found himself homeless after his wife died of COVID-19 last year. He’s been working to secure housing as a job transfer materializes, but the shelter has been a needed stopgap.

(19:35) Croy talks about how the shelter’s guests aren’t the only ones who feel the impact. Volunteers love the opportunity to put God’s gifts to work for others, and in turn are blessed by the guests who arrive at St. Mary’s. Croy cites Matthew 25 as an impetus for the shelter’s work.

Reporting by Gabriella Patti; narration and script by Casey McCorry; voice dubbing by Leah Butalid; production by Ron Pangborn

This episode of Detroit Stories is brought to you by Weingartz … everything from Lawn to Snow. Over the years, Weingartz has grown to offer an unbeatable selection of outdoor power equipment, and their experienced service technicians and unmatched parts inventory keep your equipment running like new. Visit www.weingartz.com to shop for your lawn & garden needs and find a convenient location near you.

Listen to ‘Detroit Stories’ on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, or Spotify. Podcasts also will be posted biweekly on DetroitCatholic.com.