St. Mary Roman Catholic Church, Detroit

Saint Mary Roman Catholic Church, formally known as the Church of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary, is one of the oldest Roman Catholic parishes in Detroit and holds the distinction of being the third oldest in the city. Located on Monroe Street, in the heart of the Greektown Historic District, this iconic landmark is commonly referred to as "Old Saint Mary's Church" to differentiate it from other parishes with the same name in the region.

The parish was founded in 1834 by Father Martin Kundig to serve Detroit's growing population of German-speaking Catholic immigrants. The original church, built in 1841, stood on land donated by early French settlers Antoine and Monica Beaubien, who also gifted the parish its first set of bells. Over the decades, the church evolved into its current form, with the cornerstone of the existing structure laid in 1884 and completed the following year under the guidance of German-born architect Peter Dederichs, himself a parishioner.

The church, rectory, and former convent (now a community center) are built in the Romanesque style with Venetian influences, featuring red brick construction and twin towers framing a striking rose window on the west façade. Inside, the nave spans 80 feet in width and rises 90 feet in height, showcasing ten polished granite columns, originally intended for the Michigan State Capitol.

Saint Mary’s features three early 20th-century grottos by Father Joseph Wuest, including a Baptistry, a Lourdes replica, and a Garden of Gethsemane scene. Its school, founded in 1844 and staffed by lay teachers, later welcomed the Christian Brothers and School Sisters of Notre Dame, operating until 1966. Administered by the Spiritans since 1893, the parish’s notable figures include Rev. John A. Lemke, the first U.S.-born Polish-American Catholic priest, baptized here in 1866.

Designated Michigan Historic Sites in 1979, Saint Mary Roman Catholic Church reflects Detroit's immigrant history, German craftsmanship, Romanesque elegance, and Catholic tradition.