On one hand, you have the Eternal City. Some two-and-a-half-thousand years old. The epicenter of the life of the Catholic Church. A birthplace of western civilization.

And on the other hand, you have the Motor City. A pup at just over 300 years old. A hallmark of American manufacturing and labor. The birthplace of the automobile.

There might not be a whole lot of similarities between the two. But for the context of the Ad limina Visit, the most important aspect of the cities to keep in mind is the people in each city, and their relationship with God through the Church. We look to Rome because the Vatican City State is there, anchored amid some of the most historically important sites of Christendom — and there resides the Vicar of Christ, our Holy Father the pope. (Be sure to check back in the coming days as our bishops pay visits to some of the sites in Rome. It could be pretty educational.)

Rome looks to us on this occasion because we have 1.4 million Catholics within the city of Detroit and its sprawling suburbs.

Do other things — industry, financial well-being, diversity, value systems, etc. — matter? Absolutely. That’s why when Archbishop Vigneron and the Detroit archdiocese’s auxiliary bishops visit the Holy See, they bring with them the Quinquennial Report to paint a picture of our city. So if you raised the question, “Does the Church care about the state and struggles of the Detroit area?” The answer is “Yes.” Our Quinquennial Report talks about Detroit’s fall from being the 10th largest city in the United States in 2004 to being the 18th largest today. It also touches on Detroit’s great diversity:

“There are presently 32 African American parishes, 22 Hispanic, 16 Polish, two Albanian, two Italian, two Lithuanian, and one each for Croatians, Koreans, Vietnamese, Germans, Indians, and Hungarians… The local Nigerian, Hmong and Chinese Catholic communities gather for Mass and fellowship. There are a number of ethnic parishes belonging to the Eastern Catholic Churches sui iuris including, but not limited to, Chaldeans, Ukrainians, Maronites, Melkites, Syro-Malabars, and Syro-Malankaras.”

Interestingly, though, the report delves further into a breakdown of how the Detroit area is faring economically:

“The population of the city Detroit has dropped below one million, which has a negative effect on both the tax revenues to support the city’s infrastructure, staff and services, as well as a reduction in State and Federal financial grants. The once prosperous city is now fraught with poverty and violence in many of its neighborhoods. The region continues to be one of the most racially segregated in the United States, with approximately 79% of Detroit’s population being Black. New city administration is attempting to identify areas for redevelopment, which has a direct impact on the ministry of the Church.”

It later elaborates still further. Granted, being a reader of this blog you likely know what’s been going on in the region — if not by facts and figures, then at least in general. Still, the Quinquennial Report is sobering in giving a “snapshot” look at the situation, putting it before the Pope and his coworkers, as people who don’t see the headlines around here every day. The report continues:

“Economically, the Archdiocese has members and parishes that range from impoverished to affluent. Oakland County, for example, is one of the ten richest counties in the United States while the city of Detroit contains some of the greatest levels of poverty in the nation. Real family income growth in Detroit is up only 12% since 1959 while the national average increase is 128%. The continued loss of manufacturing jobs which began in the 1970s contributed to an increase in the regional poverty rate (under $22,113 annually for four-member family in 2010). This was especially articulated beginning in 2008 when three domestic automotive manufacturers were forced into restructuring. In its wake, unprecedented migrations of executive and academically trained professionals, as well as trades people, have left the region for work in other places. In the current year, it appears this migration has been temporarily halted; however, the tenuous situation of global and national economies remains a prominent concern of those living here.”

On a cultural note, the Quinquennial details the fact that Detroit still has groups of ethnic minorities that “prefer having their own parishes and schools but within a context of social equality. Their strong sense of identity and community originate within their locality.” The diversity brings an “added dimension” to the local Church and is “very much welcomed by the Archdiocese,” the report says. The report also includes this interesting note on summing up what might seem pretty tough to sum up — the general morality of our region:

“The overall morality is a reflection of America’s long-standing tradition of individuality and self-determination. It is based more so on what the individual believes is appropriate for any given situation rather than socially sanctioned precepts and behavioral expectations. Even within this context however, volunteerism is encouraged and adherence to the concept of family and community values takes considerable precedence over any perceived notion of individualism.”

These are but a few passages in the lengthy Quinquennial Report. We’ll be exploring some more from the report in the coming days as our Bishops, on their journey, help introduce Detroit to Rome…

Pope Benedict XVI prays the Angelus from his window overlooking St. Peter's Square. | CNS

Good afternoon everybody. It’s a beautiful end of a Sunday afternoon here in Rome. The sky is clear. Half moon. And I’m walking in St. Peter’s Piazza right now.

I was able to be here in the square today for the Holy Father’s Angelus. I remembered to pray for all of you. I’m looking forward to the arrival of all the other bishops from Michigan. It’s a great opportunity for us not only to be of mutual support as we face a common mission, but also to be in prayer together for all of you.

So, again, my prayers continue, and please keep praying for me.

St. Peter, pray for us. St. Paul, pray for us. Amen.

A night view of Rome's skyline. (Photo from the Catholic News Service via Reuters)

As you’ve read, Archbishop Vigneron has made his way early to the pilgrimage and has been remembering the faithful of the Archdiocese of Detroit in prayer these past couple of days from Rome.

We expect our auxiliary bishops from Detroit to be landing in the Eternal City soon, as well, where they’ll join together for the Ad limina pilgrimage, which officially begins on Wednesday. The Bishops will have the opportunity first to celebrate Masses together and visit some of the sites that are so central to our Catholic faith.

Coming up on the blog, we’ll be hearing from the auxiliary bishops. We’ll also take a look at the bishops’ itinerary. And we haven’t forgotten to share a bit more from the Quinquennial Report with you, either. So please stay tuned. It should be a prayerful and insightful week.

I’m happy particularly to do this in here Rome. We have a very vivid sense that our communion and the sacrifice of Jesus is a communion with the successor of Peter and all the people of God throughout the world.

I hope you have a blessed day. Please be assured of my prayers, and please keep me in your prayers that I may be always faithful to my stewardship of the pascal mystery of Jesus. I’ll be back in touch with you very soon, I hope even later today. God bless.

I had the opportunity already this mornimg to offer Mass. Today’s the anniversary of my installation as the archbishop of Detroit, and while I would have been happy to celebrate it at home, offering Mass here in Rome for all of you  was a great blessing. Rome is always a homecoming for all of us, because it’s the place of St. Peter, the place of St. Paul — the place we all belong because of our communion with the Catholic Church and especially  with the Holy Father the pope.

So please continue to keep me in your prayers. I mean this afternoon to visit some of the tombs of the other holy men and women who have lived in Rome, and I hope to be able to visit the tomb of St. Philip Neri.

God bless all of you and I hope you have a great Sunday.

Schools and youth ministries have also pledged acts of kindness and volunteer works, along with daily prayers for the pope’s intentions. Students at St. Paul on the Lake, for example, pray daily and have even made a Rosary book of intentions. And Sacred Heart Youth Ministry is dedicating their service to the needy in the inner city through the Peanut butter and Jelly mobile soup kitchen ministry.

It is our hope as a local Church that our bouquet is full and beautiful before God, and is a show to him and to the Holy Father our love and care for our Catholic Church.

http://www.artbible.info/art/large/426.html

St Paul lies in the foreground with his arms outstretched toward the light emanating from above, presumably from Jesus. Dominating the frame, however, is the figure of a horse from which, we infer, Paul fell when Christ appeared and spoke to him the words, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?”

One of my colleagues at the seminary delights in contending that there was no horse; and, indeed, none is mentioned in either of the accounts in the Acts of the Apostles. Though perhaps absent from the historical scene, the horse serves other purposes in the painting. In the Psalms the horse is a symbol of strength, especially in battle (Ps 33:17); and in a prayer for the king, the psalmist declares Israel’s trust in the power of the Lord, “Some rely on chariots, others on horses, but we on the name of the Lord our God.”

What the artist portrays, then, is the complete upheaval Paul experienced through meeting the risen Lord Jesus. He was knocked off of his prideful perch of reliance on what he would later call “a righteousness of my own based upon the law” (Phil 3:9) and offered a new foundation for his life: faith in Jesus Christ. Thus, from his new lowliness the soon-to-be apostle reaches out to the only strength he will rely on for the rest of his life: “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” (2Cor 12:9)

As we travel to Rome in the next few days, we will hold these words in our hearts and pray for the on-going conversion necessary in the life of every Christian to reject self-reliance and self-sufficiency and to walk in the only authentic confidence available: “I can do all things in Him who strengthens me.” (Phil 4:13)

The painting from Santa Maria del Popolo

As time went on, the reports grew longer, and by 1895 they were typewritten.  It was not until John Cardinal Dearden sent the Quinquennial Report to Rome in 1974 that the Holy See received news about the Archdiocese of Detroit in English.