Pope Francis makes Royal Oak shrine a Minor Basilica

Shrine is 2nd Minor Basilica in Michigan

ROYAL OAK, Mich. – Detroit Archbishop Allen H. Vigneron announced Saturday that Pope Francis has named the National Shrine of the Little Flower Church in Royal Oak a Minor Basilica. The title is given to churches around the world and shows that they have a particular importance in liturgical and pastoral life and a closer relationship with the pope.

The title of Major Basilica is reserved to churches in Rome.

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"By honoring the National Shrine of the Little Flower with the designation as a Minor Basilica, Pope Francis has blessed all of us in the Archdiocese of Detroit," Vigneron said. "As a basilica, the National Shrine helps to express our own relationship to the Holy Father and to enrich the liturgical life of the entire Archdiocese. This honor carries with it a responsibility to share our love of Jesus with more fervor."

Vigneron requested the honor for the Shrine in 2014. The church's pastor, Father Robert Fisher, and former pastor, the late Monsignor William Easton, led a year-long effort at the parish to build a case for the honorary title.

"We are most grateful to Pope Francis for the designation, and to Archbishop Vigneron for his support and guidance to obtain it," Fisher said. "The essence of being a National Shrine — and now a Minor Basilica — is drawing people closer to the Lord by providing a place for prayer, and where one's spiritual life can be refreshed, energized and deepened. We recognize our responsibility all the more to spread the Gospel message to all who come our way."

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Fisher became Shrine's pastor in early 2014 succeeding Easton, who had been the pastor for 19 years before his unexpected death.

Among criteria for becoming a Minor Basilica, Shrine had to demonstrate heightened liturgical activity and architectural stature. With eight regular Masses each weekend, including one in Spanish, it's among the most active churches in metro Detroit. Four full-time priests work at the church.

Featuring an Art Deco design, the building has a crucifix-adorned tower on the outside and was one of the area's first churches to feature a round sanctuary with the altar in the center. Other distinctive features include a chapel containing many sacred objects like relics of saints, and its Heritage Hall, which illustrates the church's history.

To mark its designation as a Minor Basilica, Vigneron will lead a solemn celebration of Mass with a reading of the decree at 7 p.m. on April 22.

The church's name also will change to reflect its new designation.

Due to its closer connection to the pope, Shrine will see enhancements to its already-active liturgical life throughout the year. Though the schedule of services week-to-week will not change, Shrine will observe various feast days associated with St. Peter and the papacy.

Shrine is now one of 82 churches in the United States — and only the second church in Michigan — to hold the title of Minor Basilica. The Basilica of St. Adalbert in Grand Rapids was named a Minor Basilica in 1980.

Shrine has a membership of more than 3,500 families and operates its own grade school and high school.

Founded in 1926, the church was one of the first named after St. Thérèse of Lisieux, a French nun known as the "Little Flower," who was canonized in 1925. In 1998, it became one of the first five churches in the country given the National Shrine designation by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.

Masses at National Shrine of the Little Flower this weekend are at 4:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. on Saturday and at 7:30 a.m., 9 a.m., 10:45 a.m., 12:30 p.m., 4 p.m. (in Spanish), and 6 p.m. on Sunday.