A new nonprofit, The Catholic Initiative, will undertake $30M 'complete rehabilitation' of historic church, establish $20M endowment
DETROIT — One of Michigan’s oldest and most historically significant Catholic churches, the Basilica of Ste. Anne in southwest Detroit, will be preserved for generations to come thanks to a “transformative partnership” between Ste. Anne Parish and The Catholic Initiative, a new nonprofit created by the Pulte Family Charitable Foundation.
As part of the partnership, The Catholic Initiative will embark upon a $30 million rehabilitation of the historic basilica and its property, as well as create a $20 million endowment to provide for future capital needs and operational support in perpetuity, including repairs, routine maintenance, and the financial support of an on-site priest.
Msgr. Charles Kosanke, rector of the Basilica of Ste. Anne, announced the partnership to Ste. Anne parishioners during Masses on March 9. The Archdiocese of Detroit and The Catholic Initiative jointly announced the initiative to media the same afternoon.
Built in 1886, the Basilica of Ste. Anne — the eighth church structure in the history of Detroit’s original and founding parish — is an architectural icon in the city, overlooking the Detroit River near the Ambassador Bridge and serving as a place of welcome and worship for Catholics and others for generations.
However, like many historic churches, decades of wear and tear on the basilica’s aging infrastructure have resulted in millions of dollars in maintenance and renovation needs, creating an unsustainable burden on the parish.
“Due to the Basilica’s age and significance, Ste. Anne Parish would have needed to enter a state of perpetual fundraising, often at the expense of its missionary efforts, to undertake the extensive renovations and costly maintenance work required,” Detroit Archbishop Emeritus Allen H. Vigneron said in a media release.
As part of the Vatican-approved partnership, ownership of the church building and campus will shift to a newly formed 501c3 organization created for the sole purpose of preserving the historic basilica and property, with The Catholic Initiative assuming all responsibility for ongoing maintenance and renovation.
The shared vision of the partnership protects and ensures Ste. Anne Parish’s future, with the parish retaining “exclusive and permanent rights to use the property as a Catholic church and basilica,” expressed through a 200-year renewable lease.
The Pulte Family Charitable Foundation, a philanthropic organization run by the family of the late homebuilder and philanthropist William J. Pulte, supports a variety of charitable and humanitarian causes led by nonprofit and educational institutions in Metro Detroit and across the world.
Pulte, a native of southeast Michigan, was a devoted Catholic family man in addition to his work building and managing PulteGroup Inc., which has built more than 750,000 homes since its founding. Throughout his lifetime, Pulte donated hundreds of millions of dollars — often anonymously — to Catholic churches and charitable causes. One such example was the Angel Fund, which helped inner-city parishes assist struggling families by paying basic living expenses. Pulte died in 2018 at the age of 85.
Kevin Doyle, president of The Catholic Initiative and chief operating officer of the Pulte Family Charitable Foundation, said Pulte’s legacy of service continues to inspire the foundation’s efforts.
“The Foundation was built on the ethos of ‘to whom much is given, much will be required,’ and a commitment to embodying an entrepreneurial spirit — finding new ways to solve challenges,” Doyle said in a news release announcing The Catholic Initiative. “The Catholic Initiative honors that ethos by pioneering a new model of investing in vibrant churches, schools, and parishes in underserved communities, ensuring their long-term sustainability. This model frees religious leaders and Catholic educators from their financial burdens and allows them to focus on their true mission: serving their parishioners and students.”
Doyle said the partnership with Ste. Anne — one of the first projects undertaken by The Catholic Initiative — will allow Detroit’s founding parish to move forward as a beacon of hope to the community, with its long-term future secure.
“Ste. Anne is more than a building; it is a community hub, a town within a city,” Doyle said. “This innovative partnership ensures the Basilica of Ste. Anne de Detroit, a cornerstone of the community for 200 years, will continue to thrive for generations to come.
"To our knowledge, this is the first time in United States history that the Vatican has approved a shift in ownership of a parish church to a dedicated nonprofit,” Doyle continued. “We are pioneering a new model of investing in vibrant churches, schools, and parishes, securing their long-term viability and strengthening their ability to serve their communities. We hope we can shift the conversation for priests and parishioners — from one of constant fundraising to one of renewal, sustainability, and the needs of the community.”
Archbishop Vigneron expressed his gratitude for the foundation’s partnership, which he called a creative solution to the struggle many inner-city parishes face with rising maintenance costs. He noted that the partnership will allow the Basilica of Ste. Anne to focus on ministry and outreach to its southwest Detroit community, free from the struggle of constant repair, maintenance and fundraising.
“I am deeply grateful to the Pulte Family Charitable Foundation and The Catholic Initiative for answering the call to help preserve the Basilica and thereby strengthen the parish’s ability to further its missionary presence in the community,” Archbishop Vigneron said.
Archbishop-designate Edward J. Weisenburger, who will succeed Archbishop Vigneron as archbishop of Detroit on March 18, also expressed his “enthusiastic” support of the effort.
“I am both honored and inspired to continue the legacy of Archbishop Vigneron’s leadership through my support of this partnership between Ste. Anne Parish and the Pulte Family Charitable Foundation. It is a remarkable example of how creative and faithful stewardship can ensure the preservation of our sacred heritage while advancing our mission,” Archbishop-designate Weisenburger said. “I look forward to seeing this collaboration bear fruit for the glory of God and provide the resources needed to sustain the Basilica of Ste. Anne for generations to come.”
Founded in 1701, Ste. Anne is the second-oldest continually operating Catholic parish in the United States. Over the centuries, the community has grown and changed many times. Today, the parish community serves a largely Hispanic population, with robust ministries and liturgies throughout the week in both English and Spanish. In 2020, Pope Francis elevated the historic church to the status of a minor basilica.
In recent years, the parish has raised significant funds to undertake long-overdue repair projects, including a $5 million restoration of the basilica’s two historic steeples in 2023.
The partnership with The Catholic Initiative protects Ste. Anne Parish’s exclusive future use of the basilica and property — including for parish events, liturgies, charitable programs and other activities — for the next two centuries and beyond.
The Catholic Initiative and Ste. Anne Parish will work together to restore the basilica and campus over three years. In addition to a complete rehabilitation of the church and property, the $30 million project will include a new outdoor pavilion, enhanced walkways, landscaping and lighting, and a prayer wall. A $20 million endowment will also secure the basilica’s future preservation, as well as operational needs.
According to the archdiocesan news release, “a significant part of the restoration funding will come from a $111 million commitment the Pulte Family Charitable Foundation announced today toward providing funding for its ‘Legacy of Hope’ Projects,” with the remaining funds raised from donors across the United States.
The restoration of the Basilica of Ste. Anne is one of three “flagship projects” being undertaken by The Catholic Initiative. The nonprofit also is working to secure the property ownership of Chicago’s oldest all-girls Catholic high school, Josephinum Academy of the Sacred Heart, and to establish an endowment for the school’s long-term viability, as well as to establish an endowment to support Bulldog Catholic, the campus ministry program led by Fr. Mike Schmitz.
Fr. Schmitz, a widely known speaker and host of Ascension’s “Bible in a Year” and “Catechism in a Year” podcasts, has joined the board of directors of The Catholic Initiative.
“I was deeply inspired by the vision and innovation behind The Catholic Initiative,” Fr. Schmitz said. “This model isn’t just about financial support, it’s about unleashing the full potential of Catholic churches, schools, and parishes. Many Catholic communities are vibrant and alive with faith, they just need the resources to thrive for generations. I felt called to be part of something that can truly transform the future of the Catholic faith.”
The nonprofit said two other Midwest projects are in development and will be announced in the coming months.
In the Archdiocese of Detroit, the Pulte Family Charitable Foundation also owns St. John’s Resort in Plymouth, which formerly served as St. John’s Provincial Seminary and still includes a functioning Catholic worship space, Saints Mary and Joseph Chapel, for which the Archdiocese of Detroit has an exclusive lease.
Announcing the initiative to parishioners after Mass on March 9, Msgr. Kosanke said after years of attempting to raise the necessary funds to restore Ste. Anne, it was clear “we needed a miracle to be able to restore this church.”
“I’m here to announce today that we received a miracle,” Msgr. Kosanke said, leading applause from the congregation.
“Today, with this announcement, Ste. Anne is blessed to move forward into the future with a firm financial foundation, thanks to the Pulte Family Charitable Foundation and its new Catholic Initiative,” Msgr. Kosanke said. “With God’s blessing and a lot of hard work, their hope is to help other parishes like Ste. Anne all over the United States.”
“Finally, I want to thank almighty God for bringing us the people that we need to restore this church and to keep it open for many generations to come.”
