Detroit — “Mass Mob V” really means it’s the fifth year of the Detroit Mass Mob, but it could just as easily indicate victory.

When the organizers started the ever-popular movement of city-dwellers and suburbanites alike visiting historic Catholic churches to celebrate a Mass together, they had no idea they would keep going five years later.

But as 2018 begins, the Detroit Mass Mob is still going strong. The group recently released its new schedule, which includes some repeat visits, stops to Eastern-rite churches and even a high school gymnasium.

“Selection of where we are going is the hardest thing we do,” said Thom Mann, one of the Detroit Mass Mob organizers. “We get asked by churches all over the archdiocese, but we try to focus on older, prettier churches in the city. We take suggestions, get ideas from people and priests calling us, but it comes down to us making decisions.”

This year’s tour includes stops at some of the city’s historic ethnic churches, including Holy Cross (Hungarian) Parish in Delray, and two Eastern-rite Catholic churches: Immaculate Conception Ukrainian Catholic Church in Hamtramck and St. John the Baptist Romanian Catholic Church on Woodstock Drive in Detroit.

“We wanted to go Holy Cross for a few years, but just had some scheduling conflicts for a while. We’ve been asked to St. John the Baptist Romanian for years; last year was their 100th anniversary,” Mann explained. “They are all beautiful churches. For our fifth year, I thought we did pretty good.”

This year’s schedule also includes a Mass in the former St. Francis de Sales Church (now part of St. Peter Claver Parish) on Pinehurst Street. The former church now serves as the gymnasium of neighboring Loyola High School.

“It’s the 25th anniversary of Loyola High School, so we were asked to come,” Mann said. “It’s a gym now, so there are no beautiful statues or stained-glass windows, but the outside is beautiful. The school will be open to the public so people can walk through.”
Organizers say there are Mass Mob groups in 25 cities, but Detroit makes a case for being the most active “chapter” in the country.

“We’ve had more than 35,000 people show up to Masses over the last four years,” said Jeff Stawasz, another organizer. “We didn’t know if interest would continue. The best way to describe it was from Archbishop (Allen H.) Vigneron, when he said it was a ‘paradoxical’ event with the old and new. It’s a mix of these old parishes, but a new way to experience them.

“This year, we’re visiting more than 1,000 years of parish history from these eight churches,” Stawasz said. “It’s incredible to come and see people’s curiosities when they visit these old churches, seeing the art and beauty of our faith. I truly believe it’s the Holy Spirit that brings people together, and has brought us together for these past five years.”

2018 Mass Mob schedule

Sunday April 15, 11 a.m.: Holy Cross Hungarian Catholic Church, 8423 South St., Detroit

Saturday May 12, 4 p.m.: St. Peter Claver Parish, St. Francis de Sales Church (now Loyola High School Gymnasium), 15325 Pinehurst St., Detroit

Sunday June 10, 11 a.m.: St. Joseph Oratory, 1828 Jay St. , Detroit

Sunday July 15, Noon:  Immaculate Conception Ukrainian Catholic Church, 11700 McDougall St., Hamtramck.

Sunday Aug. 12, 10 a.m.:  Sweetest Heart of Mary Catholic Church, 4440 Russell St., Detroit

Sunday Sept. 16, 11 a.m.:  St. Damien of Molokai Parish, St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church, 46408 Woodward Ave., Pontiac.

Sunday Oct. 14, 10 a.m.:  St. John the Baptist Romanian Catholic Church, 2371 Woodstock Dr., Detroit

Sunday Nov. 4, 11 a.m.:  St. Mary’s of Redford Catholic Church, 14601 Mansfield St., Detroit