I ’ ve had there . I was ordained a priest by Cardinal ( John ) Dearden right there in the chapel — I requested that , and afterward , some of my contemporaries were also ordained there — so for me , it ’ s always been a very significant place .” — Archbishop Blair
“ Few people know that Sacred Heart has the largest collection of Pewabic tile in the state of Michigan . The chapel itself , in my humble opinion , is one of the most beautiful seminary chapels in the world . The Tudor Gothic style is beautiful , and a lot of work and a lot of love has been put into it .” — Bishop Monforton
“ The building was completed in 1924 — I believe it only took a year and a half to build . It was an incredibly quick build . It ’ s amazing , and it ’ s a tribute to this day to the generosity of the people of the Diocese of Detroit at that time .”
— Bishop Boyea
How has Sacred Heart ’ s location — in the heart of Detroit — been a blessing over the years ?
“ There ’ s no denying Sacred Heart is a centerpiece of the neighborhood . The seminary leadership really wanted us to be good neighbors to the community around us . As an urban Church , I think we ’ re much more connected through our formation to serve the people of Detroit .”
— Bishop Donald F . Hanchon , retired auxiliary bishop of Detroit
“ Being in the heart of the city really helped us to see how our ministry was meant to go out to others . It wasn ’ t just to be locked up in the seminary . Coming from the suburbs , it was very different . And yet it was very rewarding that we were in the city .” — Bishop Boyea
“ Just as our beloved city has experienced periods of growth and periods of struggle with pain and racism and poverty , so has the Church . Being right in the heart of the city , Sacred Heart is a constant witness to that fact . Even under difficult circumstances , the mission is the same : the mission of Christ to go everywhere and preach the Gospel .”
— Bishop Quinn
How has Sacred Heart been accommodating to seminarians of different rites , dioceses , and religious communities over the years ?
“ When I was a seminarian — and especially today as a bishop sending our seminarians to Sacred Heart — we never saw ourselves as outsiders . We always saw ourselves as belonging . ( As Chaldeans ) we feel that we ’ re enriching Sacred Heart , and Sacred Heart is enriching us . We see beautiful relationships being created ( between seminarians of different rites and dioceses ), and these relationships are priceless . They go beyond just seminary formation . We have a unique opportunity to show the catholicity , the universality , of our faith .”
— Bishop Kalabat shms . edu 15