What to know:
- Parishioners at St. Mary, Cause of Our Joy Catholic Church are fighting to preserve weekend masses after two Archdiocese of Detroit restructuring proposals would eliminate Saturday and Sunday services.
- The potential loss of weekend masses threatens a Forgotten Harvest food pantry that served nearly 1,000 people in September alone, leaving staff and volunteers uncertain about its future.
- The Archdiocese of Detroit says no final decisions have been made, with a final restructuring plan not expected until April 2027.
WESTLAND, Mich. — Parishioners at St. Mary, Cause of Our Joy Catholic Church are pushing back against a proposed restructuring that could eliminate weekend masses — and with them, a food pantry that serves hundreds of families each month.
For months, parishioners have been circulating a petition with more than 400 signatures urging the Archdiocese of Detroit to keep the church fully open. Last week, the archdiocese released two new draft restructuring models for parishes across Southeast Michigan. Under both proposals, St. Mary, Cause of Our Joy would lose its Saturday and Sunday services…