About St. Florian · Hamtramck, Michigan
St. Florian Roman Catholic Parish is a historic Polish-heritage parish in Hamtramck, Michigan, founded in 1907 by Polish immigrants who worked in Hamtramck's auto plants. The parish is best known for its towering 1928 Polish Cathedral-style church designed by Ralph Adams Cram, the tallest building in Hamtramck and a National Register landmark. More than 120 years after its founding, the parish continues to welcome over 500 families, celebrates Mass in both Polish and English, and is pastored by the Society of Christ Fathers (Towarzystwo Chrystusowe dla Polonii Zagranicznej), a Polish religious order founded on the charism of Servant of God Cardinal August Hlond. In addition to Sunday Masses, the parish operates a Saturday Polish-language school, sponsors Polish cultural festivals, and runs a thriving Adoramus contemporary music ministry.
- Established
- 1907
- Patron
- St. Florian (patron saint of Poland and of firefighters)
- Rector
- Rev. Ryszard Czerniak, S.Chr. (Society of Christ)
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Detroit
Why belong here
St. Florian offers a rare combination: a living Polish-American Catholic heritage in a towering 1928 landmark church, with daily and weekly Masses in both Polish and English. The parish welcomes over 500 families — Polish, Albanian, Asian, and multiethnic American — and surrounds the liturgy with a strong music program (Adoramus contemporary ensemble, Polish Choir, Schola Cantorum, and the children's Florianki choir), a Saturday Polish-language school for children, vibrant cultural festivals (Strawberry Festival, Polish Soup Festival, Bal Niepodległości), and ministries such as the Divine Mercy Society, Eucharistic Ministers, Lectors, Quilters, the Third Order of St. Francis, and the Saint Theresa Guild. For those who want their Catholic faith lived bilingually, culturally, and communally, St. Florian is one of Metro Detroit's most distinctive parishes.
Mass times at St. Florian
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 3:00 PM – 3:45 PM (St. Ladislaus Chapel)
- 30 minutes before each Mass
Adoration times
- Sunday — Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament after the 8:30 AM Mass
- Tuesday — 5:30 PM Exposition, followed by 6:30 PM English Mass
- Wednesday — 5:30 PM Exposition, followed by 6:30 PM Polish Mass
- Friday — 3:00 PM – 6:00 PM Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament
Parish History & Heritage
St. Florian was founded in 1907 by Polish immigrants working in Hamtramck's auto plants. A storefront served as the first worship space before the cornerstone of the original church was laid in 1908 and dedicated January 10, 1909 by Bishop John S. Foley. Within two decades the Polish-American community raised $500,000 (pre-Depression) for a far grander sanctuary, designed by Ralph Adams Cram and dedicated October 21, 1928. Pope John Paul II (then Cardinal Karol Wojtyła of Kraków) celebrated Mass here in 1969; the parish was featured in the 1998 film Polish Wedding; and on November 23, 2009 it celebrated its centenary with a Michigan Historical marker.
- Founded 1907 by the Archdiocese of Detroit
- First pastor: Rev. Bernard Zmijewski (Polish immigrant from Poznań)
- First church dedicated January 10, 1909
- Present church dedicated October 21, 1928 — designed by Ralph Adams Cram
- Pope John Paul II celebrated Mass here in 1969
- Centenary Mass November 23, 2009; Michigan Historical marker erected
Architecture & the Church Building
The eight-story-tall Polish Cathedral-style church is the tallest building in Hamtramck, with its spire rising nearly 200 feet. Ralph Adams Cram's modified English Gothic design pairs a broad Gothic arch entry with twin spires, a Rose window in the rear, intricate brickwork, Reading-made stained glass, a Detroit-built pipe organ, and Italian-made altars decorated with real gold leaf. The whole complex — church, school, and rectory — sits on one square block within the St. Florian Historic District, listed on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places in 1984.
- Architect: Ralph Adams Cram (Cram and Ferguson, Boston)
- Style: Polish Cathedral / Late Gothic Revival
- Spire height: nearly 200 feet
- Altar windows depict Saints Casimir, Florian, Hedwig, Hyacinth, and Stanislaus
- Side altar dedicated to Our Lady of Częstochowa
- American Architect Award, 1929
- NRHP-listed 1984 (St. Florian Historic District)
Pastor & Clergy
St. Florian is pastored by priests of the Society of Christ (Towarzystwo Chrystusowe dla Polonii Zagranicznej), the Polish religious order whose mission is to serve Polish faithful abroad, grounded in the charism of Servant of God Cardinal August Hlond. The current pastor is Rev. Ryszard Czerniak, S.Chr. Notable recent predecessors include Fr. Mirosław Frankowski, S.Chr. (who leads the Adoramus Music Group and oversaw the merger of St. Ladislaus into St. Florian, now the order's general superior) and Fr. Tomasz Sielicki, S.Chr. (who guided the parish through its 2008–2009 centenary).
- Rev. Ryszard Czerniak, S.Chr. — Pastor
- Rev. Edward Traczyk, S.Chr. — Priest in Residence
- Br. Bogdan Barton, S.Chr. — Brother
- Deacon Michael McCrandall
- Deacon Joseph
Society of Christ Fathers
The Society of Christ (Towarzystwo Chrystusowe dla Polonii Zagranicznej) is the Polish religious order that staffs St. Florian. Its charism comes from its founder, Servant of God Cardinal August Hlond, and its mission is to provide pastoral care to Polish faithful around the world. The order also staffs Our Lady of Częstochowa Parish in Sterling Heights (St. Florian's cluster partner) and St. Ladislaus Chapel in Hamtramck, which is operated as a chapel-of-ease for St. Florian.
- Founded on the charism of Servant of God Cardinal August Hlond
- Mission: pastoral care for Poles living outside Poland
- Cluster partner: Our Lady of Częstochowa, Sterling Heights
- Operates St. Ladislaus Chapel, Hamtramck, as a mission chapel
Sacraments
Parish staff assist parishioners in arranging Baptism, Reconciliation, Matrimony, and Anointing of the Sick. Arrangements for Baptism and Matrimony should be made at least three weeks in advance; the sick may request a visit from a priest for Anointing.
- Baptism — arrange at least 3 weeks in advance
- Reconciliation — Saturday 3:00–3:45 PM at St. Ladislaus Chapel
- Matrimony — arrange at least 3 weeks in advance
- Anointing of the Sick — visits to the sick available
Parish Ministries, Groups & Organizations
St. Florian is supported by an unusually large number of lay groups, choirs, and societies — more than a dozen named ministries serve liturgical, catechetical, social, and cultural life.
- Adoramus Music Group
- Altar Servers
- Children's Choir — Florianki
- Divine Mercy Society
- Eucharistic Ministers
- Lectors
- Parish Council
- Polish Choir
- Quilters
- Saint Florian Schola Cantorum
- Saint Theresa Guild
- Strawberry Festival Committee
- Third Order of Saint Francis
- Ushers and Usherettes
Sacred Music — Adoramus
Adoramus ("We Adore" in Latin) is St. Florian's contemporary music ministry, performing Polish and sacred song at liturgies and community events since 2008. The ensemble has also performed for Polish-American audiences in Metro Detroit, Chicago, Doylestown, and Toledo, and is directed by Fr. Mirosław Frankowski, S.Chr. The group's repertory includes Polish worship songs such as 'Oto ja,' 'Chlebie Najcichszy,' 'Hetmanka,' and 'Przyjaciela mam.' Vocalists, guitarists, pianists, percussionists, and instrumentalists are welcomed.
- Founded 2008; led by Fr. Mirosław Frankowski, S.Chr.
- Performs at Masses, holy days, and Polish-American events
- Open to new vocalists and instrumentalists
Polish Heritage, Festivals & Cultural Life
Preserving Polish heritage is central to St. Florian's mission. The parish hosts signature annual festivals, Polish-language Masses and devotions, a Saturday Polish-language school for children, and the Bal Niepodległości (Polish Independence Day Ball). It welcomes parishioners of every background — Polish, Albanian, Asian, and multiethnic American — to celebrate faith as one family.
- Strawberry Festival (early May)
- Polish Soup Festival — Festival Polskich Zup (October)
- Bal Niepodległości — Polish Independence Day Ball (November)
- Saturday Polish-Language School (catechism and Polish culture for children)
- Polish-language Masses every Sunday and Wednesday/Friday
- Polish-language parish bulletins and website content
Visit, Contact & Location
The parish offices are at 2626 Poland Street in Hamtramck, on a full square block within the St. Florian Historic District. Office hours are Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, 12:00 PM – 4:30 PM; the office is closed July 4 and August 15. Visitors may reach the parish by phone at (313) 871-2778 or by email at [email protected], and follow parish news on its Facebook page and YouTube channel.
- Address: 2626 Poland Street, Hamtramck, MI 48212
- Phone: (313) 871-2778
- Email: [email protected]
- Office hours: Tue/Wed/Thu 12:00 PM – 4:30 PM
- Closed July 4 and August 15
- Facebook: St. Florian Church (109398282419983)
- YouTube channel (linked from stflorianparish.org)
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Bernard Zmijewski1907–
First pastor; Polish immigrant from Poznań
- Fr. Mirosław Frankowski, S.Chr.
Former pastor who directed the Adoramus Music Group and led the merger of St. Ladislaus into St. Florian; now the Society of Christ general superior
- Fr. Tomasz Sielicki, S.Chr.
Predecessor to Fr. Frankowski; led the parish through its 2008–2009 centenary and the 2011 Archdiocese review
- Rev. Ryszard Czerniak, S.Chr.
Current pastor