Most Holy Redeemer Church

The Most Holy Redeemer Church is located at 1721 Junction Street in Southwest Detroit, Michigan, within the West Vernor-Junction Historic District. The church was once estimated as the largest Roman Catholic parish in North America. West Vernor-Junction Historic District is adjacent to Mexicantown and contains a growing Mexican community and resurgent neighborhood.

The parish was founded in 1880 by Redemptorist father Aegidius Smulders, a former chaplain in the Confederate army. Initially the parish served a congregation predominately of Irish immigrants, many of whom worked in the tobacco factories. Services were held at first, above Patrick Ratigan's general store on West Jefferson Avenue and later in what was then known as Paddy McMahon's Saloon. Church services were held on the first floor, while the second served as a residence for priests. The first church building, a wood frame structure designed by Redemptorist Brother Thomas, and known as the Little Church on Sand Hill, was dedicated in 1881. A second larger Gothic style church was built in 1896 during the tenure of pastor Benedict Neithart.

More information

Comments Statistics

| | Public | Spanish