Michelle St. Pierre, right, a representative from the Archdiocese of Detroit, presents a check for $2,590 to Catholic Charities of Southeast Michigan during “Catholic Night at Comerica Park” on Sept. 10. Accepting the check are Catholic Charities CEO Paul Propson and Catholic Charities chief administrative officer Judi Wyatt. Also presenting the check is Canon Michael Stein, ICKSP, pastor of St. Joseph Oratory in Detroit. (Photos by Valaurian Waller and Melissa Moon | Detroit Catholic)
'Catholic Night at Comerica Park' features faith-filled fellowship, raises $2,590 for Catholic Charities of Southeast Michigan
DETROIT — Maybe the Blessed Virgin Mary is a Detroit Tigers fan.
Despite the Tigers' Major League-worst record of 43-100, more than 500 Catholics descended upon Comerica Park on Sept. 10 for the inaugural “Catholic Night at Comerica Park,” a celebration of faith and fellowship with a little baseball sprinkled in.
And wouldn't you know it, the Tigers walked off with a dramatic 12-11 win against baseball's best team, the vaunted New York Yankees.
Entertaining baseball aside, “Catholic Night” raised $2,590 for Catholic Charities of Southeast Michigan (CCSEM) as priests, lay faithful and representatives from the Archdiocese of Detroit and CCSEM enjoyed a late summer night at the ballpark.
“It was a beautiful night for baseball and for our Catholic community,” Catholic Charities of Southeast Michigan CEO Paul Propson said. “The financial support of Catholic night will help in our important work of providing help and giving hope to everyone we can reach in southeast Michigan. Thank you to the Tigers and the Archdiocese of Detroit for making Catholic night a big success for Catholic Charities of Southeast Michigan.”
Before the game, the Cathedral Choir Academy of Detroit, led by director Susan Lindquist, sang the national anthem for the 16,733 fans in attendance, and school groups from local Catholic schools played catch on the field.
Each fan who purchased a ticket for “Catholic Night” received a limited-edition Detroit Tigers ballcap with the Unleash the Gospel logo.
Catholic Charities of Southeast Michigan CEO Paul Propson, left, and Bishop Ronald Peter Fabbro, CSB, of the Diocese of London, Ontario, make their way to their seats before the game begins. “As Catholic Charities, we were blessed to come and enjoy fun and fellowship from all over the diocese and it was great to meet our neighbors from Windsor,” Propson said.
St. Joseph Oratory pastor Canon Michael Stein shows off his “Unleash the Gospel” Detroit Tigers hat before the game.Tigers fans enjoyed drinks, complimentary hats and entertaining baseball during “Catholic Night at Comerica Park.”
Members of the Cathedral Choir Academy of Detroit, led by Susan Lindquist, sing the national anthem before the game between the Detroit Tigers and New York Yankees.Annie Schunior and her son, Xavier, enjoyed the game with their Tigers gear and new Unleash the Gospel “swag.”Fr. Jeff Allen, left, associate pastor of St. Michael the Archangel Parish in Livonia, and Fr. Jim Houbeck, associate pastor of the Church of the Holy Family in Novi, enjoy the ballgame from their seats behind left field.
Each fan who purchased tickets for “Catholic Night at Comerica Park” received a limited-edition Detroit Tigers “Unleash the Gospel” hat, courtesy of the Archdiocese of Detroit.Fans stand for the national anthem, performed by the Cathedral Choir Academy of Detroit.
Representatives from Catholic Charities of Southeast Michigan and the Archdiocese of Detroit talk before the check presentation of $2,590, raised from the proceeds of ticket sales for “Catholic Night at Comerica Park.”London, Ontario, Bishop Ronald Peter Fabbro, CSB, right, talks with Canon Michael Stein, ICKSP, pastor of St. Joseph Oratory in Detroit, on the field before the game. The “big screen” at Comerica Park displays the logos of the Archdiocese of Detroit and Catholic Charities of Southeast Michigan, which co-sponsored the event.Fr. Adam Nowak, associate pastor of St. Frances Cabrini Parish in Allen Park, talks with Comerica Park staff members before the game begins.Players and fans stand for a moment of silence to remember Fred McLeod, former in-game broadcaster for the Detroit Pistons and local sports broadcaster, who died Monday of a heart attack at the age of 67.Catholic Charities of Southeast Michigan CEO Paul Propson smiles on the field before the game.Bishops, priests, lay Catholics and representatives from the Archdiocese of Detroit, Diocese of London, Ontario, and Catholic Charities of Southeast Michigan pose for a photo in the concourse at Comerica Park.
Tigers mascot “Paws” entertains fans before the game begins.Singers with the Cathedral Choir Academy wear their Unleash the Gospel hats while performing.
Tigers right-handed pitcher John Schreiber looks out at Comerica Park from the home dugout during warmups before the Tigers' game against the New York Yankees.Catholics from the Diocese of London and the Archdiocese of Detroit talk during the game in the concourse at Comerica Park.Before the game, students from Detroit-area Catholic grade schools had the opportunity to play catch on the field at Comerica Park and meet Tigers mascot “Paws.”Lots of selfies were taken and memories filed away during “Catholic Night at Comerica Park.”
