About St. Hedwig · Detroit, Michigan
St. Hedwig is a historic Roman Catholic church located in Southwest Detroit, Michigan, at 3245 Junction Avenue. Founded in 1903 as a Polish national parish under Bishop John S. Foley, it has served generations of immigrant Catholics and today worships primarily in English and Spanish, reflecting the neighborhood's transformation into a vibrant Hispanic community. Since July 1, 2013, St. Hedwig has been united with neighboring St. Francis D'Assisi Church as one merged parish: St. Francis D'Assisi – St. Hedwig Parish, sharing clergy, faith formation, and pastoral life across the two historic buildings.
- Established
- 1903
- Patron
- St. Hedwig of Silesia (Jadwiga Śląska)
- Rector
- Rev. Bernardo Cruz (Family-Pastor of Southwest Vicariate Family 1, In Solidum team)
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Detroit
Why belong here
St. Hedwig invites you into one of Southwest Detroit's oldest and most beautiful Catholic churches, where Polish-rooted heritage and a vibrant present-day Hispanic community meet in the same worship space. The parish offers weekday and weekend Masses in both English and Spanish, regular Eucharistic Adoration and the Sacrament of Reconciliation, a Spanish-language catechism program for children, youth groups and parish movements (Grupo de Jóvenes, Movimiento Juan XXIII, Conquistando las naciones para Cristo, El Buen Pastor), and the sacraments of Baptism, First Communion, Confirmation and Marriage. As part of the merged St. Francis D'Assisi – St. Hedwig Parish, parishioners belong to a community that has kept its doors open for more than 120 years and that explicitly asks for your help to keep the parish open for generations to come.
Mass times at St. Hedwig
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Wednesday 6:00 pm (at St. Hedwig)
- Saturday 3:15 pm (at St. Hedwig)
- Sunday by request (at St. Francis)
Adoration times
- Wednesday 6:00 pm (at St. Hedwig, in Spanish)
- Thursday 6:00 pm (at St. Francis, in Spanish)
About St. Hedwig Catholic Church
St. Hedwig Catholic Church is a Roman Catholic parish in Southwest Detroit at 3245 Junction Avenue, founded in 1903 as a Polish national parish and now part of the merged St. Francis D'Assisi – St. Hedwig Parish (since July 1, 2013). The parish belongs to the Archdiocese of Detroit and today worships in English and Spanish, with weekday Masses, weekend Masses, Reconciliation, Eucharistic Adoration and a full Religious Education program across both churches. The website at stfrancis-sthedwig.com presents the parish in both English and Spanish and explicitly asks parishioners to help keep the parish open.
- Two historic churches, one Catholic parish
- Bilingual: English and Spanish
- Archdiocese of Detroit, Southwest Vicariate Family 1
History of St. Hedwig Parish
St. Hedwig Parish was founded July 3, 1903 by Bishop John S. Foley, who appointed Father Jan Mueller — a Roman-trained priest born in Łódź in 1865 — as first pastor. Polish immigrant families south of Michigan Avenue had outgrown nearby St. Francis d'Assisi (1889) and St. Casimir (1882), and they pooled funds to buy twelve lots on Junction Street between Norton and Rollins Streets (later renamed St. Hedwig and Konkel Streets). The first church/school was blessed in December 1903 and held its first Mass on December 18, 1904. Polish Franciscans took over the parish in the years following a brief canonical disruption in 1905; architect Harry J. Rill designed the present church in 1911, and the upper church was dedicated on Thanksgiving Day, November 30, 1916. The parish then operated an elementary school and high school until the 1990s; both closed as Polish families moved to the suburbs. New Mexican and Latin American immigrants transformed the neighborhood, and under Fr. Kenneth Chase (1994) and Fr. Christopher Maus (1998) the parish added Spanish Masses, opened the Latino Cultural Pastoral Center in the old convent, and celebrated its 2003 Centennial Jubilee with Cardinal Adam Maida. After Fr. Robert J. Wojciechowski's sudden death in 2011, the PIME Missionaries arrived, and on July 1, 2013 St. Hedwig merged with St. Francis D'Assisi Parish.
- Founded July 3, 1903 by Bishop John S. Foley
- First pastor: Rev. Jan Mueller (1903–1905)
- Polish Franciscans staff the parish in early 20th century
- Present church designed by architect Harry J. Rill, dedicated Thanksgiving Day 1916
- School buildings later occupied by the Academy of the Americas
- PIME Missionaries arrive 2011; merger with St. Francis D'Assisi July 1, 2013
Religious Education / Catecismo
The Department of Religious Education, directed by Jannet Castro, offers classes from September to May for children under 17 in both English and Spanish. Written registration per child is required; tuition varies and prior arrangements can be made at registration (held in July and August). Office hours for Religious Education are Tuesday–Friday 4:00–6:00 pm and Saturdays 9:00 am–3:00 pm. Adult faith formation for the RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults) is offered in Spanish as 'Catecumenos'.
- Sunday 9:00–10:00 am: Religious Education in English at St. Francis Hall
- Tuesday 7:00–7:55 am: 2nd Year Confirmation in English at St. Francis
- Wednesday 7:00–7:55 am: 1st Communion in English at St. Francis
- Wednesday 6:00–7:00 pm: Catechism in Spanish at St. Hedwig Rectory
- Wednesday 5:30–7:00 pm: Children's Catecismo in Spanish at St. Hedwig (Jannet)
- Thursday 7:00–7:55 am: General Religious Education in English at St. Francis
- Adults: Catecumenos (RCIA) in Spanish
Parish Ministries, Movements & Youth
The parish nurtures a vibrant Spanish-language pastoral life through several recognized groups and movements alongside its faith-formation programs. These include a youth group (Grupo de Jóvenes) and three Spanish-speaking movements named on the website.
- Grupo de Jóvenes (Youth Group)
- Movimiento Juan XXIII
- Conquistando las naciones para Cristo
- El Buen Pastor
- Catecismo para niños (children)
- Catecumenos (adults)
Sacraments
St. Hedwig celebrates the sacraments in the ordinary manner of the Roman Rite, with preparation in both English and Spanish. The parish provides preparation for Baptism, First Communion, Confirmation, Marriage, and RCIA. Reconciliation is offered weekly (see Mass & Reconciliation Schedule).
- Baptism — register through the parish office
- First Communion — English and Spanish tracks
- Confirmation — 2-year program in English
- Marriage — contact the office
- Reconciliation — Wednesday 6 pm and Saturday 3:15 pm at St. Hedwig; by request Sunday at St. Francis
- Anointing of the Sick — on request
Parish Staff
Parish life is supported by a small team led by Rev. Bernardo Cruz, Family-Pastor of Southwest Vicariate Family 1. The parish website lists the clergy and lay staff who coordinate the various ministries and offices of St. Francis D'Assisi – St. Hedwig Parish.
- Rev. Bernardo Cruz — Family-Pastor / Pastor
- Yolanda Cruz (Mago) — parish staff
- Jannet Castro — Director of Religious Education
- Jeff Stanton — parish staff
- Gabriel De Alba — parish staff
St. Hedwig of Silesia — Patron Saint
The parish is named for St. Hedwig of Silesia (Jadwiga Śląska), a 12th–13th-century duchess born c. 1174 in Bavaria who married Duke Henry of Silesia, raised seven children, founded the Cistercian monastery at Trebnitz, and was renowned for her care of the sick, poor and lepers. She died October 15, 1243 and was canonized by Pope Clement IV in 1267. She is patroness of Silesia, Poland, brides, widows and orphans, and her feast day is celebrated on October 16 in the General Roman Calendar.
- Born c. 1174 in Andechs, Bavaria; died 15 October 1243 at Trebnitz
- Canonized 26 March 1267 by Pope Clement IV
- Patroness of Silesia, Poland, brides, widows and orphans
- Feast day: October 16 (moved to October 20 in Canada)
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Jan (John) Mueller1903–1905
First pastor, appointed July 3, 1903 by Bishop John S. Foley; born in Łódź, 1865; trained in Rome; built the first church/school (cornerstone 1903, first Mass Dec 18, 1904).
- Rev. Wojciech Topolinski (Topolski)1905–1909
Recalled in September 1909 after the Polish Franciscans took charge of the parish.
- Rev. Eustace Bartoszewicz, OFM1909–
Sent to assist Fr. Szczerba; oversaw construction of the great Rill-designed church, completed Thanksgiving Day 1916.
- Rev. Kenneth Chase1994–1998
First diocesan pastor since Fr. Mueller in 1905; oversaw closure of the elementary school (1995), sale of school buildings to Detroit Board of Education, remodeling of rectory, restoration of church towers, opening of Latino Cultural Pastoral Center in the old convent, and installation of a passenger elevator in the North Tower.
- Rev. Christopher Maus1998–2004
Installed new slate roof, restored stained-glass window covers, repainted Lower Church Hall, added sanctuary carpet, new sound systems, Heritage Room, and added the 12:30 Sunday Spanish Mass in September 2003 for the growing Hispanic population.
- Rev. Robert J. Wojciechowski2004–2011
Grew Spanish ministry and promoted Polish and Spanish culture; passed away suddenly April 8, 2011.
- Rev. Kenneth Mazur, PIME2011–2012
Pastor when PIME Missionaries (Pontifical Institute for Foreign Missions) arrived; clustered with St. Francis D'Assisi Parish.
- Rev. Ravi T. Marneni, PIME2012–2013
Served as assistant pastor under Fr. Mazur; appointed Administrator in 2012; led the parish into the July 1, 2013 merger.
- Rev. Bernardo Cruz2013–present
Administrator, later Pastor of St. Francis D'Assisi – St. Hedwig Parish; in 2021 appointed Family-Pastor of Southwest Vicariate Family 1 under the In Solidum model.