St. Bonavanture Monastery Chapel

About St. Bonaventure Chapel and the Solanus Casey Center

St. Bonaventure Chapel is the historic 1883 chapel of the Capuchin Franciscan friars of the Province of St. Joseph, located on Detroit's east side at 1780 Mount Elliott Street. It forms the spiritual heart of the Solanus Casey Center, a pilgrimage and ministry site dedicated to Blessed Solanus Casey, the Capuchin friar who served as the monastery's porter from 1924 to 1946. The Center was dedicated in 2002 by Cardinal Adam Maida, Archbishop of Detroit, and was envisioned not as a static shrine but as a mission-sending pilgrimage place — sending pilgrims back to their own communities renewed in faith and Franciscan spirit. The Center has welcomed hundreds of thousands of pilgrims of various faiths and backgrounds, drawing roughly 10,000 visitors a month and over 100,000 a year to the tomb of Blessed Solanus in the chapel's north transept.

History of St. Bonaventure Monastery

The Capuchin presence on Mt. Elliott Street began in 1882, when Detroit Bishop Caspar Borgess granted Fr. Bonaventure Frey permission to establish a Capuchin friary. Two acres were purchased in March 1883, the chapel was begun in June 1883, and seven friars moved into the new friary in January 1884. The Victorian Gothic chapel — with native limestone, local red brick, and German-trained woodcarvers' reredos — has been the community's spiritual center ever since. The monastery complex grew to include the 1908 Soup Kitchen, the 1939 Third Order Hall, a 1960 mission building, and a small friars' cemetery. The Islandview neighborhood grew up around the monastery and the historic Mt. Elliott Cemetery across the street. Solanus Casey served as porter from 1924 to 1946, and in 1929 helped co-found the Capuchin Soup Kitchen, which today serves about 1,000 meals a day. After his death on July 31, 1957, Solanus was buried in the monastery backyard, and pilgrims have come to his gravesite ever since.

• 1882 — Bishop Caspar Borgess grants permission for the Capuchin friary
• 1883 — Two acres purchased on Mt. Elliott; chapel construction begins
• 1884 — First community of seven friars moves into the friary (January)
• 1908 — Soup Kitchen building constructed
• 1924–1946 — Solanus Casey serves as porter
• 1929 — Capuchin Soup Kitchen co-founded with Solanus's help
• 1939 — Third Order Hall built
• 1957 — Fr. Solanus dies July 31; buried in monastery backyard
• 1966 — Diocesan investigation for cause of canonization opens
• 1987 — Solanus's body exhumed (found incorrupt), re-interred in north transept of chapel
• 1995 — Pope John Paul II declares Solanus Venerable
• 2002 — Solanus Casey Center dedicated by Cardinal Adam Maida
• 2017 — Solanus beatified by the Catholic Church on November 18 at Ford Field

Architecture and Chapel Features

The chapel is a Victorian Gothic design by Detroit architect Peter Dederichs Jr., with a foundation of native limestone, walls of local red brick with limestone trim, and elaborate interior woodwork carved by local craftsmen trained in Germany. A carved reredos behind the main altar contains statues of St. Francis and St. Bonaventure. Behind the main chapel is a smaller Gothic chapel originally used only by the friars but now open to the public. A major accessibility renovation begun in 2017 added two barrier-free entrances, wheelchair availability at the reception desk, and other amenities so the chapel could better serve pilgrims.

• Architect: Peter Dederichs Jr. of Detroit
• Style: Victorian Gothic
• Foundation: native limestone
• Walls: local red brick with limestone trim
• Reredos: carved wood, featuring statues of St. Francis and St. Bonaventure
• Smaller Gothic chapel behind the main space, originally for the friars alone
• Two barrier-free entrances added in 2017–2018 renovation

Mass, Sacraments, and Devotions

St. Bonaventure Chapel offers daily Mass and confessions six days a week, all open to the public. The Capuchin friars are committed to making the sacraments readily available, and the chapel's reconciliation chapel is staffed Tuesday through Saturday from 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on a first-come, first-served basis — no appointment is required. Two especially cherished devotions are the weekly Blessing of the Sick Service (Wednesdays and Sundays at 2:00 p.m.), a tradition begun in the 1880s, and the monthly First Friday Adoration of the Most Blessed Sacrament, which runs from 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. with Benediction at noon. Mass and confession schedules are extended during the annual Novena and Feast of Blessed Solanus Casey (July 21–30).

• Daily Mass: 7:30 a.m. Monday through Saturday
• Sunday Mass: 9:00 a.m.
• Holy Day Mass: 7:30 a.m. and 12:00 p.m. (Noon)
• Confession: Tuesday–Saturday, 9:30 a.m.–4:00 p.m. (no Sunday or Monday confessions)
• First Friday Adoration: 9:30 a.m.–4:00 p.m. with Noon Benediction
• Blessing of the Sick: Wednesdays and Sundays, 2:00 p.m.

Novena and Feast of Blessed Solanus Casey

Each year from July 21 through July 30, the Solanus Casey Center hosts the annual Novena and Feast of Blessed Solanus Casey, drawing thousands of pilgrims to St. Bonaventure Chapel. A daily Noon Mass is celebrated in the chapel (with occasional 9:00 a.m. and evening Masses on key days), each day themed around a different saint and a Catholic virtue. The week culminates in the Feast Day on July 30, typically presided over by the Archbishop of Detroit, with a noon Mass featuring Capuchin presiders and a special feast-day procession. Confessions are extended throughout the novena week (9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.), the gift shop offers a 20%-off sale, and public tours of the Center are offered at 10:00 a.m. Special celebrations are livestreamed on Facebook and YouTube.

• Dates: July 21–30 each year
• Daily Noon Mass in St. Bonaventure Chapel, with each day themed on a different saint and virtue
• Saturday vigil: Anointing of the Sick at 2:00 p.m. and Vigil Mass at 4:00 p.m.
• Feast Day (July 30): 9:00 a.m. Mass typically presided by the Archbishop of Detroit
• Extended confession hours: 9:30 a.m.–4:00 p.m. throughout the novena
• Livestreamed on Facebook (Blessed Solanus Casey) and YouTube
• Novena Prayers available for download in multiple languages

Blessed Solanus Casey — The Porter of St. Bonaventure

Bernard Francis Casey (1870–1957) — later Fr. Solanus Casey, OFM Cap. — was born in Oak Grove, Wisconsin, and entered the Capuchin Franciscans. He was assigned to the St. Bonaventure friary in Detroit, where he served as porter (doorkeeper) from 1924 to 1946, welcoming visitors, listening to their struggles, and praying with them. He also helped obtain food and supplies for the Capuchin Soup Kitchen, especially during the Great Depression. He died on July 31, 1957, at age 83, and was buried in the monastery backyard. By the time of his death, he had filled seven notebooks with over six thousand reported 'favors received' through his prayers. In 1966 his cause for canonization opened; in 1995 he became the first American-born male declared Venerable; and on November 18, 2017, he was beatified in Detroit before tens of thousands at Ford Field. His remains rest in the north transept of St. Bonaventure Chapel.

• 1870 — Born in Oak Grove, Wisconsin
• 1924–1946 — Served as porter at St. Bonaventure Monastery
• 1929 — Helped co-found the Capuchin Soup Kitchen
• 1957 — Died July 31 at age 83, buried in the monastery backyard
• 1966 — Diocesan investigation for cause of canonization opened
• 1987 — Body exhumed, found incorrupt; re-interred in north transept of chapel
• 1995 — Declared Venerable by Pope John Paul II
• 2017 — Beatified November 18 at Ford Field, Detroit

The Capuchin Franciscan Friars of the Province of St. Joseph

The chapel is staffed by the Capuchin Franciscan Friars of the Province of St. Joseph, one of the largest and most active Capuchin provinces in the United States. The friars maintain a deep presence in Detroit through St. Bonaventure Monastery (home to many of the province's ministry directors and its retired friars), the Solanus Casey Center, the Capuchin Soup Kitchen, and the Capuchin Retreat Center. The current Director of the Solanus Casey Center is Br. Ben Joseph (Benoy Joseps), OFM Cap., with Br. Johan Paul Gill, OFM Cap., as Assistant Director. Fr. Edward Foley, OFM Cap., serves as Vice-Postulator for the Cause for Canonization of Blessed Solanus Casey. Fr. Mike Bertram, OFM Cap., serves as both Volunteer Coordinator and Hospitality Coordinator, warmly welcoming the many pilgrim groups who visit each year.

• Capuchin Franciscan Province of St. Joseph
• Director of the Solanus Casey Center: Br. Ben Joseph (Benoy Joseps), OFM Cap.
• Assistant Director: Br. Johan Paul Gill, OFM Cap.
• Vice-Postulator for the Cause: Fr. Edward Foley, OFM Cap.
• Volunteer & Hospitality Coordinator: Fr. Mike Bertram, OFM Cap.
• Capuchin Soup Kitchen Executive Director: Fr. Gary Wegner, OFM Cap.
• Retired friars live in community at St. Bonaventure Monastery

The Father Solanus Guild

The Father Solanus Guild is a devotional and informational association that keeps alive the inspiring memory of Blessed Solanus Casey, brings knowledge of his exemplary life to others, archives information about his life and work, and provides prayer, support, and material assistance to the Vice-Postulator for the Cause of Canonization. Guild members receive prayers and updates from the friars, and help sustain the work of promoting Blessed Solanus's cause for canonization. The Guild is led by a Director (Timothy Lykins) and an Assistant to the Director, and is supported by the Friars and Staff of the Solanus Casey Center.

• Devotional and informational association
• Director: Timothy Lykins
• Assistant to the Director
• Supports the cause for canonization of Blessed Solanus Casey
• Membership open to the public

Capuchin Soup Kitchen and On the Rise Café

The Capuchin Soup Kitchen, co-founded in 1929 with Solanus Casey's help, is the largest of the Capuchin ministries and one of the most respected charitable institutions in Detroit. Located on the monastery grounds and adjacent blocks, the Soup Kitchen serves about 1,000 meals a day (over 600,000 meals a year), and offers substance abuse programs, an urban farm, a children's program, and a service center that distributes over five tons of food and 1,700 articles of clothing each year. Its social enterprise arm, On the Rise Bakery, employs men previously incarcerated or in recovery through the R.O.P.E. (Reaching Our Potential Everyday) program, developing life and work skills in community. An On the Rise Café is now located on-site at the Solanus Casey Center, offering sandwiches, soups, coffee, beverages, and baked goods to pilgrims and visitors.

• Co-founded in 1929 with Fr. Solanus Casey's help
• Executive Director: Fr. Gary Wegner, OFM Cap.
• ~1,000 meals served daily, 600,000+ per year
• Substance abuse programs, urban farm, children's program, service center
• On the Rise Bakery — social enterprise for men in the R.O.P.E. (Reaching Our Potential Everyday) program
• On the Rise Café — located on-site at the Solanus Casey Center

Visiting the Chapel and Center

The Solanus Casey Center — which includes St. Bonaventure Chapel, the museum, the gift shop, and the On the Rise Café — is open Tuesday through Sunday from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. The center and chapel are closed on Mondays and on major holidays. Pilgrims can take a self-guided or guided tour of the center, attend daily or Sunday Mass, go to confession, pray at the tomb of Blessed Solanus, browse the museum and gift shop, and enjoy a meal or coffee at the On the Rise Café. The center has two barrier-free entrances, and wheelchairs are available at the reception desk or by calling ahead. Many of the chapel's special events — the weekly Blessing of the Sick, the monthly First Friday Adoration, the annual Novena and Feast of Blessed Solanus Casey, and the Transitus of St. Francis of Assisi on October 3 — are livestreamed on the Blessed Solanus Casey Facebook page and YouTube channel for those unable to attend in person.

• Open Tuesday–Sunday, 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. (closed Mondays and major holidays)
• Two barrier-free entrances; wheelchairs available at the reception desk
• Free admission; museum, gift shop, and café on site
• Phone: 313-579-2100
• Address: 1780 Mount Elliott St, Detroit, MI 48207-3427
• Livestreamed events on Facebook and YouTube

Faith Formation, Pilgrimages, and Getting Involved

The Solanus Casey Center welcomes thousands of pilgrims each year, including school groups, parish pilgrimages, and individuals seeking the intercession of Blessed Solanus Casey. A volunteer program, coordinated by Fr. Mike Bertram, OFM Cap., invites the lay faithful to assist with welcoming pilgrims, guiding tours, supporting the museum and gift shop, and helping with special events. The center's website offers a virtual tour, prayer petitions, novena prayers in multiple languages, and an online store for devotional items. For those wishing to deepen their devotion, the Father Solanus Guild offers a way to support the cause for canonization while staying connected to the Solanus Casey Center's spiritual life.

• Volunteer opportunities coordinated by Fr. Mike Bertram, OFM Cap.
• Group and school pilgrimages welcomed
• Father Solanus Guild membership
• Prayer petitions accepted online
• Novena prayers available in multiple languages
• Online gift shop (giftshop.solanuscenter.org)