Crosses Become Crescents

DETROIT — As a child, Mary Ann Rice considered Our Lady Help of Christians Church a second home.

A daughter of Polish immigrants, she attended its elementary school and worshipped there in Masses said in her native tongue.

After 83 years, the church will celebrate its final Mass on Sunday and become the first church in the Archdiocese of Detroit sold to a mosque. It will cater to a new crop of immigrants — from Bangladesh, primarily.

“It’s going to hurt,” said Rice, 68. “There are a lot of memories there. But you’ve got to go with the times.”

Watching the mosque take down the crosses, Polish icons and other Catholic symbols is going to be difficult …

As sad as it may be for some people, Our Lady Help of Christians’ neighborhood is no longer dominated by Polish Catholics so it makes sense for the Islamic community to move in, said the Rev. Andrew Wesley.

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HT: NewsForum