Art enthusiast Fr. Mech brings passion for ministry, Labrador retriever to Detroit’s ‘mother church’
Fr. J. J. Mech, who was installed Sept. 20 as the eight rector of the Cathedral of the Most Blessed Sacrament, said he wants to highlight the cathedral's beauty as a way to draw people to the Archdiocese of Detroit's mother church. "Some people have never seen the Cathedral, and I find that amazing," he said. "It's a truly amazing experience, and I want people to become overwhelmed when they visit.Photos by Dan Meloy | The Michigan Catholic
Detroit — Priest. Artist. Servant of the Church. There are many ways to describe Fr. J.J. Mech, but he prefers “family man.”
The youngest of six children growing up in Dearborn Heights, the new rector of the Cathedral of the Most Blessed Sacrament has always seen his congregation like a family.
“I know it sounds corny, but I like to cling to my parish like it’s one big family,” said Fr. Mech, who is getting acclimated to being the pastor of three different parish families: the cathedral parish, Our Lady of the Rosary and St. Moses the Black, all in Detroit.
“The parishioners do feel like my family very quickly, and with this new assignment, I feel like the head of a very large family. This is the first cluster I’m in charge of, so it’s very interesting to figure out. Like a father who has many children, each one is unique in their own way.”
Fr. Mech was appointed by Archbishop Allen H. Vigneron in March to be the eighth rector of the Cathedral of the Most Blessed Sacrament, an ancient position in the Church in which a pastor is called to care for the cathedral building and parish family. He was formally installed during a special Mass on Sept. 20.
“I see my position as being a steward of the property and in turn, the faith,” Fr. Mech said. “This is the archbishop’s home, it’s his church, but I’m called to care for the people who attend Mass here. But caring for the faith in three parishes is not my job; it’s not the archbishop’s job. It’s everybody’s job.”
Accompanied by his black Labrador retriever, Annie, Fr. Mech’s Aug. 1 move the cathedral from St. Anastasia Parish in Troy also meant moving his art studio, where he builds and paints tiles he gives to parishioners and couples he marries.
His basement studio is not completely set up, but he is surrounded by art and the timeless architecture of the Norman Gothic-styled cathedral, which was built a century ago as a parish church before being elevated in 1938.
“I love art, and I love how the cathedral is one big piece of art,” Fr. Mech said. “I was the chaplain for the Detroit Patrons of the Arts in the Vatican Museums and also worked on ‘Art of God’s Sake,’ (a large religious art exhibition at St. Anastasia), which was really nice. I love the works by Corrado Parducci; he was a famous Detroit sculptor who did some amazing work for the cathedral. You can see his work inside and outside the church.”
Fr. Mech sees the liturgy as art, which can be a medium to draw people into the cathedral and start or reignite their interest in Catholicism.
“You see a lot of young, active individuals in the area surrounding the cathedral,” Fr. Mech said. “I think the Lord is going to draw them in. They are curious about the cathedral, the architecture,
Fr. Mech, an artist in his own right, hopes to set up his own studio in the sub-basement of the cathedral. Here he shows a bas-relief tile he sculpted of the Madonna and child.the history; they want to see what it’s all about. That’s the beauty of the architecture of the cathedral: it’s not throwaway architecture.”
Even more important than the building, managing the cathedral parish and its people is the primary role of the rector. An average of 60 weddings is performed every year at the cathedral, and many visitors come to Blessed Sacrament to see the mother church as the embodiment of Catholicism in Detroit.
Fr. Mech knows the primary challenge he faces is creating a good first impression of the Church in the city while caring for the people who attend Mass at the parish week in and week out.
“The challenge can be a bit overwhelming, but it’s Christ’s message, and that’s what’s important,” Fr. Mech said. “The liturgy itself is an art in its own form. When a person looks at a pretty painting, they think, ‘Oh, that’s nice.’ When you explain the meaning and symbolism behind the painting, it takes on a life of its own. That is how you create a connection with people.”
Fr. Mech’s new favorite hobby is showing off the beauty and intricacies of the cathedral, welcoming people to arrange a tour with him to show off the majesty of the 100-year-old building.
When Archbishop Vigneron appointed Fr. Mech to the position, he gave Fr. Mech the mission of drawing people to the mother church, but didn’t detail how he wanted it done.
“He didn’t want to hinder my creativity,” Fr. Mech said. “I decided we need to utilize all the beautiful things to enhance the parish, draw them into the mother church. Some people have never seen the cathedral, and I find that amazing. It’s a truly amazing experience, and I want people to become overwhelmed when they visit.”
During his formal installation as rector on Sept. 20, Archbishop Vigneron summarized Fr. Mech’s new role by relating it to the name of the cathedral and the family that looks to be connected through God’s salvation.
“The parishioners at Blessed Sacrament want to take up the Cross and follow Jesus, to meet the difficulty that comes with following him,” Archbishop Vigneron said. “They need someone who’s been anointed, someone who belongs to the service of Jesus Christ in the flesh. Fr. Mech is given to the community to guide them to be the saints they want to be.
“That is the summarization of Fr. Mech’s mission, the summarization of the name Blessed Sacrament, to distribute the Eucharist, the passion and salvation of Jesus’ death. Because we have the Eucharist of Jesus, we keep on his mission to serve others, and Fr. Mech is continuing that long line of service by ministering the sacrament here at Blessed Sacrament.”
