About St. Charles Borromeo · Detroit, Michigan
St. Charles Borromeo Parish is a historic, diverse Catholic parish on Detroit's near east side, founded in 1886 by Belgian immigrants and now part of the Central Renaissance 2 Family of Parishes in the Archdiocese of Detroit. Worship is centered on a striking 1918 Renaissance-Romanesque church at 1491 Baldwin Street, known for its Wurlitzer pipe organ and ceiling murals representing the parish's multi-ethnic community. Today the parish carries on its more-than-130-year-old mission of education, worship, evangelization and outreach to the sick, elderly, youth and disabled of the neighborhood, with Sunday Mass at 11:30 a.m. and Friday Mass at 11 a.m., both offered in person and live-streamed online.
- Established
- 1886
- Patron
- St. Charles Borromeo
- Rector
- Fr. Francis Asomkase, SSJ — Priest in Solidum and Moderator of the Central Renaissance 2 Family of Parishes
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Detroit (Central Region, Renaissance Vicariate, Central Renaissance 2 Family of Parishes)
Why belong here
St. Charles Borromeo is a small, intentionally diverse parish that has served Detroit's near east side for more than 130 years and takes seriously its call to minister especially to the sick and their families, the elderly, youth and the disabled. Worship is enriched by a 1918 Renaissance-Romanesque interior, ceiling murals celebrating the parish's many cultures, and one of only two Wurlitzer pipe organs of its kind still in service. Parishioners can plug in through nearly a dozen active ministries — from St. Vincent de Paul outreach and the Boulevard Ministry, to Religious Education, the Choir, Altar Servers, the Alumni Committee and a Children/Youth program that includes liturgical dance, drumming lessons, tutoring and youth choir — making it easy to find a real way to belong.
Mass times at St. Charles Borromeo
Weekly Mass schedule
Parish Overview & Mission
St. Charles Borromeo describes itself in its mission statement as 'a diverse urban parish of Detroit, rooted in Christ's Gospel and Catholic tradition.' It seeks to build community through education, worship and evangelization, and to carry on Christ's ministry especially to the sick and their families, the elderly, youth and the disabled. With Mary as its model of unconditional love, the parish aims to welcome everyone into the peace, love and salvation of Jesus Christ, acknowledging the Holy Spirit as the source of its call, strength and renewal.
- Identifies itself as a 'diverse urban parish of Detroit' rooted in Christ's Gospel and Catholic tradition
- Core mission areas: education, worship, evangelization
- Special pastoral concern: sick and families, elderly, youth, disabled
- Mary held up as the model of unconditional love
History of St. Charles Borromeo Parish
The parish was established in 1886 in a largely Belgian area of Detroit as an offshoot of Our Lady of Sorrows. Father Hendrix and the founding Belgian families built a small 30-by-60-foot frame church on Field Avenue between Agnes and St. Paul almost entirely with their own labor and materials. By 1897 the parish included French, Belgian, German, Scotch and Irish members; by 1920 it numbered about 3,000 parishioners, the great majority American-born. The current Renaissance-Romanesque church was designed by parishioner-architect Peter Dederichs and built starting in 1918.
- 1886 — parish established in the Belgian community
- 1887 — first church dedicated February 6; school opens with 57 pupils
- 1889 — Fr. Christian Denissen becomes pastor; church expanded
- 1912 — rectory and parochial school built under Fr. Hewlett
- 1918 — construction begins on present church (architect Peter Dederichs)
- 1920s — parish peaks near 3,000 members; school enlarged in 1925
- 1960s–70s — membership decline; school eventually closed and sold
- 1980s — parish faces closure; Fr. David Preuss, OFM Cap, leads rescue and restoration
- 1986 — designated a Historic District (June 20)
- 1995 — church re-dedicated in November
- 2011 — 125th anniversary homecoming celebrated
Architecture & Historic Buildings
The present-day St. Charles Borromeo church was designed in early Renaissance-Romanesque style by the Detroit architect and parishioner Peter Dederichs, who was also the architect of the old St. Mary Church in Greektown. A building permit for an 'edifice of Romanesque style for religious use,' estimated at $160,000, was issued on February 25, 1918. The 1980s–90s restoration added new ceiling murals representing the parish's multi-ethnic community and completely repainted the interior to complement the original design.
- Style: early Renaissance-Romanesque
- Architect: Peter Dederichs (Detroit, parishioner)
- Construction permit issued February 25, 1918
- Interior repainted and ceiling murals added during 1980s–90s restoration
- 1912 rectory and school building still stand on the property
- Wurlitzer pipe organ — one of only two of its type still in service
Clergy & Pastoral Team
Since the Archdiocese of Detroit's 'All Are Welcome' restructuring, St. Charles Borromeo is shepherded by a team of Priests in Solidum within the Central Renaissance 2 Family of Parishes, with Fr. Francis Asomkase, SSJ, serving as Moderator. Fr. David Preuss, OFM Cap — credited with saving the parish from closure in the 1980s — continues in solidum and will mark 25 years of pastoral care at St. Charles in 2026.
- Fr. Francis Asomkase, SSJ — Priest in Solidum and Moderator
- Fr. Richard Baumann — Priest in Solidum
- Fr. Charles Nwamadi, SSJ — Priest in Solidum
- Fr. David Preuss, OFM Cap — Priest in Solidum (25th anniversary Aug. 2, 2026)
- Deacon Joseph Jones
- Deacon Justus Ihemawulotu, SSJ
- Edward Cotton — Mission Support Director
- Rhonda Gilbert — Pastoral Associate (Worship Commission chair)
- Joan Jacobs & Angie Kadowaki — Boulevard Ministry Ministers
- Mary Catherine Wright, RN — Parish Nurse
Parish Council
St. Charles is governed by a Parish Council drawn from across the parish community, with officers and members at-large listed in the parish bulletin (The Vigil).
- Chairperson: Naim Edwards
- Vice-Chairperson: Dennis Ballard
- Secretary: Marian Harvey
- Members: Angela Kadowaki, Patricia Ballard, Alex Grabowski, Freddie Henry, Mary Ellen Howard, Bruce McDonald, Mikhail Perkins, Richard Preuss, Linda Simpkins
Mass, Worship & Schedule
St. Charles Borromeo celebrates Sunday Mass at 11:30 a.m. and Friday Mass at 11:00 a.m., both offered in person and live-streamed (the Sunday Mass via YouTube). The parish also hosts a Wednesday-evening Bible Study from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m. and gathers after Sunday Mass for fellowship refreshments in the Social Hall. As part of the Central Renaissance 2 Family of Parishes, St. Charles shares a network of Sunday Masses with neighboring parishes including Nativity, Sacred Heart, St. Augustine/St. Monica and St. Elizabeth.
- Sunday Mass — 11:30 a.m. (in person and live-streamed)
- Friday Mass — 11:00 a.m. (in person)
- Bible Study — Wednesday 6:00–7:00 p.m.
- Sunday fellowship refreshments after Mass
- Funeral meals served by the Kitchen and Hospitality Committee
Family of Parishes Schedule
Within the Central Renaissance 2 Family of Parishes, Sunday Mass is offered across the partner parishes so that Catholics on Detroit's near east side can find a Mass time that fits. The published Family schedule lists Sunday Masses at Nativity (9:30 a.m.), Sacred Heart (8:00 a.m. traditional and 10:00 a.m. gospel), St. Augustine/St. Monica (10:00 a.m.), St. Charles Borromeo (11:30 a.m.) and St. Elizabeth (12:00 p.m.).
- Nativity — Sunday 9:30 a.m.
- Sacred Heart — Sunday 8:00 a.m. (traditional) and 10:00 a.m. (gospel)
- St. Augustine / St. Monica — Sunday 10:00 a.m.
- St. Charles Borromeo — Sunday 11:30 a.m.
- St. Elizabeth — Sunday 12:00 p.m.
Sacraments
Preparation for the sacraments of initiation is coordinated through the Religious Education Commission, which also runs the parish's adult-initiation (RCIA) process. The Worship Commission supplies the liturgical ministers — lectors, table ministers and Eucharistic ministers — for each Mass.
- Eucharist (First Communion) preparation
- Confirmation preparation
- Reconciliation preparation
- RCIA — adult initiation into the Catholic faith
- Eucharistic Ministers, lectors and table ministers coordinated through the Worship Commission
Religious Education
The Religious Education Commission teaches the principles of the Catholic faith to the children of the parish and neighborhood, including preparation for Eucharist, Confirmation and Reconciliation, and also provides Catholic education for adults seeking to join the Church.
- Director of Religious Education: Joni Scott
- Children's faith formation in Eucharist, Confirmation and Reconciliation
- Adult education and RCIA
Parish Ministries & Groups
St. Charles welcomes the gifts and talents of every parishioner. The parish runs a wide range of commissions, committees and programs covering worship, service, religious education, youth, alumni, fundraising, hospitality, outreach, music and liturgical support.
- Worship Commission — lectors, table ministers, Eucharistic ministers (Chair: Rhonda Gilbert)
- Christian Service Commission — evangelization in parish, neighborhood and world (Chair: Sherwen Keys)
- Alumni Committee — annual Alumni Sunday, quarterly newsletter
- Children/Youth Committee — liturgical dance, after-school tutoring, drumming lessons, altar servers, lectors, youth choir, vacation Bible school, field trips (Chair: James Taylor)
- Fundraising Committee
- Kitchen and Hospitality Committee — funeral meals, annual picnic, Sunday refreshments (Chairs: Mary Ann Andrecovich, Suzan Anderson, Rene VanZaelen)
- St. Vincent de Paul — emergency food, housing, rent/mortgage and furniture assistance (Chair: Sherwin Keys)
- Altar Servers (Chair: Mark Wedgeworth)
- Choir (Director: Thomas Nance III)
- Ushers (Chair: Dan Jones)
- Boulevard Ministry (Joan Jacobs & Angie Kadowaki)
- Parish Nurse Ministry (Mary Catherine Wright, RN)
Outreach & Pastoral Care
Pastoral care and outreach flow through several parish groups. St. Vincent de Paul offers person-to-person services such as emergency food, housing assistance, rent/mortgage help and furniture vouchers. The Boulevard Ministry extends the parish's presence into the neighborhood, and a registered nurse on staff coordinates the Parish Nurse Ministry.
- St. Vincent de Paul — emergency food, housing, rent/mortgage and furniture help
- Boulevard Ministry — neighborhood outreach
- Parish Nurse Ministry — health-related pastoral care
Music & Liturgical Arts
Music at St. Charles is led by Choir Director Thomas Nance III, with the youth choir adding another layer of parish participation. The historic Wurlitzer pipe organ — one of only two of its type still in service — remains a distinctive feature of the parish's liturgical life, and the ceiling murals added in the 1990s visually represent the parish's diverse community.
- Choir Director: Thomas Nance III
- Youth choir (part of Children/Youth Committee)
- Wurlitzer pipe organ (one of only two in service)
- Multi-ethnic ceiling murals added during 1990s restoration
Communications & Online Presence
The parish live-streams its Sunday Mass on YouTube and shares news through a Facebook page, a website, and a weekly bulletin called 'The Vigil' that includes parish and archdiocesan information for the Central Renaissance 2 Family of Parishes.
- Website: https://www.stcharlesdetroit.org/
- Facebook: St. Charles Borromeo Parish - Detroit MI
- YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@st.charlesborromeodetroit
- Weekly bulletin: 'The Vigil' (includes Family of Parishes information)
Visiting & Contact
The parish rectory at 1491 Baldwin Street is open Monday through Thursday 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. and Friday 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Visitors and parishioners are encouraged to call (313) 331-0253 or email [email protected]; the office fax is (313) 331-4834.
- Address: 1491 Baldwin Street, Detroit, MI 48214
- Phone: (313) 331-0253
- Fax: (313) 331-4834
- Email: [email protected]
- Office Hours: Mon–Thu 10 a.m.–3 p.m.; Fri 9 a.m.–1 p.m.
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father Hendrix1886–c.1889
First pastor; divided time between Our Lady of Sorrows and the new St. Charles Borromeo chapel
- Father Christian Denissen1889–c.1911
Expanded the original frame church in 1889; acquired property and laid groundwork for the future church complex
- Father Hewlett1911–
Built the rectory and parochial school in 1912 and broke ground for the present Renaissance-Romanesque church in 1918
- Fr. David Preuss, OFM Cap1987–2008
Saved the parish from closure in the late 1980s; led roof repairs, boiler replacement, interior repainting, ceiling murals and electrical upgrades; re-dedication in November 1995; returned as Priest in Solidum; 25th anniversary celebrated August 2, 2026
- Fr. Raymond Stadmeyer, OFM Capc.2008–
Pastor at the 125th anniversary homecoming in 2011; introduced the Front Porch Scripture Ministry and an additional 9 a.m. Sunday Mass