Our Lady of the Lakes Catholic Church had the honor of hosting Bl. Solanus Casey’s finger bone during the first weekend of June. This first degree relic was present during Sunday Masses and stayed through Monday night when a rosary and Conclusion Mass occurred.

On the Monday of the visit, the relic spent most of the day at the school chapel, which allowed every student, from pre-kindergarten to high school, time to reflect and pray with the relic. “I prayed for peace for my exams,” said junior Macy Senerius. Others prayers for healing for themselves, family members or friends. Sophomore Brooklyn Robak “prayed for all those in hospitals.”

A multitude of parishioners and guests sought his intercession for healing and peace or prayed for Bl. Casey’s canonization. Receptionist Kim Di Dio described the day: “it was a steady stream of people coming in the whole day. It’s refreshing to see both young and old take the time to come see the relic. It’s huge to have someone from Detroit on his way to becoming a saint.”  

Bl. Solanus Casey was a Capuchin priest and was known as “The Doorkeeper” at the monastery, but his ministry of healing and compassion was known throughout Detroit and beyond. Casey was venerated in 1995, and was beatified at Ford Field in November 2017.

He has a special devotion with one Laker family, Cindy Brower shared the story of how his intercession helped save the life of her sister and unborn baby. “My sister developed a condition during her pregnancy that should have been fatal. During her long hospital stay, she prayed to him daily, but she didn’t tell anyone she was doing it. Still throughout her stay, nurses, doctors, visitors, they all kept telling her they were praying to Fr. Solanus Casey.”

In the end, both she and her baby survived and the family credits it to Fr. Solanus Casey. The event has been submitted to the Vatican as a possible miracle for the Cause of Solanus Casey to become a canonized saint.

We hope those students praying for final exams, and all who came to venerate the relic, took to mind the words of Bl. Solanus Casey, “Have faith in God, shake off excessive worry, and thank God ahead of time!”

Educating students in grades PreK through 12 for over 60 years, Our Lady of the Lakes Catholic School provides an educational experience grounded in Catholic Tradition, personal discipline and academic excellence. We offer small class sizes and low student-to-teacher ratios in a safe and secure family-oriented community. Weekly Mass complements a fully integrated one-to-one iPad program, championship athletics, K-12 robotics program, before and after school care, and much more!