The feast day of St. Anne and St. Joachim is a high point in the year for the Basilica of Ste. Anne de Detroit. On July 26th, 17 members of the Michigan Area attended the feast day Mass, which was celebrated by Archbishop Allen Vigneron, ChC.

Msgr. Charles Kosanke, Ste. Anne’s pastor and rector, welcomed the Michigan Area members, praising the Order for its work “to help the sick and suffering … thank you for your presence and your mission.” Noting that Order members were wearing their capes and robes, Msgr. Kosanke quipped, “Besides the clergy, they may be the warmest in the church right now.”

Following Mass, Michigan Area members and others in attendance had the opportunity to venerate relics of St. Anne and St. Joachim.

Ste. Anne de Detroit is the second oldest continuously operating parish in the U.S., dating to the founding of Detroit in 1701. The first church building, a tiny log chapel, was dedicated on July 26th, the feast day of Ste. Anne, mother of Mary and grandmother of Jesus.