Detroit: The City of Faith
Chaldean faith traditions featured in new PBS documentary
By Sarah Kittle
Nestled along the shores of a great river, Detroit’s story is one of triumph over adversity. From its humble beginnings as a French fur-trading post to its rise as the automotive capital of the world, Detroit has weathered economic downturn, social upheaval, and urban decay. Yet, amidst the challenges, one constant has remained – the power of faith to inspire, unite, and uplift.
In a new PBS documentary, producer/director Keith Famie explores the aspect of faith through the lens of family – the family of churches in metropolitan Detroit. Saint John’s Resort in Plymouth hosted a premier of the new film on Sunday, March 17; it seemed fitting to explore faith on St. Patty’s Day surrounded by men in kilts, cassocks, and headdresses.
The short film explores the Polish, German, Irish, Hispanic, African American, Scottish, Lebanese, Chaldean, Jordanian, Palestinian, Syrian and Armenian communities of faith. These are all immigrant communities. In a program for the event, Famie states, “We often take for granted just how hard that must have been for those early travelers who came to our country, often by themselves or to meet up with a brother or sister or cousin, in hopes that this new foreign land, where they do not speak the language, was going to become their home.”
My father was first generation Scottish American, a Presbyterian who converted to Catholicism to marry my mother. He shared with me his wonder at the faith of immigrants, many who boarded a ship to a strange land not knowing if they would see their parents, family, or homeland ever again.
Famie’s introduction in the premier program book goes on to say, “This is faith, not only in one’s spiritual beliefs, which I’m sure drove a certain level of confidence, but also faith in one’s self, faith in family and faith in their community who offered open arms to these weary travelers.”
Prior to the screening there was a reception in the Wine Grotto that featured food from all the different communities. It was interesting to see how many of these groups prioritized faith, food and family, just like Chaldeans. Many of the communities share an emphasis on family celebrations. A photo of the store “Big Dipper” in 1957, which was founded by the Jonna family, is seen in the film, as well as a beautiful Chaldean wedding.
The film begins with Fr. Patrick Setto setting brush strokes onto canvas. “Painting is entering the spiritual realm,” he explains. He talks about the conversion of his community in the Middle East during apostolic times and how true Chaldean priests have been to the Mass, even speaking the same language as Jesus.
Fr. Patrick discusses Christian churches and why he thinks having different practices shouldn’t keep faiths from supporting each other. That’s exemplified here in Detroit, where “church people” from many faiths do support each other, especially people that have been oppressed for their faith.
A priest from Kirk in the Hills, a Scottish Presbyterian church in Bloomfield Hills, talks about “kirking in the tartan,” a practice where Scots wore their tartans to church under other clothes when they were banned from doing so as a show of support for all whose religious beliefs were oppressed.
Armenians share a lot of similarities with Chaldeans. They, too, were converted by early apostles; in fact, they lay claim to the first Christian nation. The history of their religious oppression includes the Persian Empire, which tried to forcibly covert them, and the Ottoman Empire, which nearly erased them. They escaped to America and settled in metro Detroit. But they had no church.
In an act of solidarity that local faith communities continue to exhibit, St. John’s Episcopalian Church on Woodward in Detroit allowed the Armenian worship community to hold services there until 1931, when the first Armenian church was built.
Detroit is home to a vibrant array of immigrant churches that reflect the city’s status as a melting pot of cultures and faiths. From the Polish Cathedral-style architecture of St. Florian Church, built by Polish immigrants in the early 20th century, to the history-rich halls of Second Baptist Church, founded by 13 African Americans in 1836 and serving as a stop on the Underground Railroad, each immigrant church tells a unique story of resilience, community, and cultural identity.
Observing the timeline of Detroit’s historic churches is like watching the community develop in stages. These churches serve not only as places of worship but also as centers of cultural preservation and community engagement, offering support, resources, and a sense of belonging to generations of Detroit residents from diverse backgrounds. Through their architecture, traditions, and ongoing contributions to the fabric of the city, Detroit’s historic and immigrant churches continue to play a vital role in shaping the spiritual and cultural landscape of our city.
The Detroit: The City of Faith film crew spent time with the “Ignite the Spirit” group at St. Joseph Chaldean Catholic Church this past January, capturing the congregation’s Eucharistic adoration, meditation and song and emphasizing the significance of music to religion. A social media post of the taping states that, “The melodies, harmonies, and rhythms in religious music evokes emotions and creates a sense of unity among worshipers.”
The film is more than just a historical retrospective. It’s a celebration of the enduring faith that sustains Detroit’s residents through both triumph and tragedy. From the grassroots efforts of faith-based organizations to the innovative approaches to social justice and community development, we witness the profound impact of spirituality on the city’s ongoing revitalization efforts.
“Having a great deal of admiration and respect for our Chaldean community here in Michigan,” states Famie, “I was so honored to be able to feature their rich story of faith as well as their community leadership in our film Detroit: The City of Faith.”
