Archdiocese of Detroit and The Catholic Initiative Launch Landmark Restoration of America’s Second Oldest Parish: Basilica of Ste. Anne de Detroit

June 8, 2026 – The Archdiocese of Detroit, the Basilica of Ste. Anne de Detroit, and The Catholic Initiative, a nonprofit organization created by The Pulte Family Charitable Foundation, will hold a restoration and site blessing ceremony on June 10 at 11:30 a.m. in the basilica plaza, located at 1000 Ste. Anne Street in Detroit.

The ceremony will officially mark the beginning of an extensive restoration of the Basilica of Ste. Anne. Founded in 1701, Ste. Anne Parish has been a cornerstone of Detroit's spiritual, cultural, and civic life for more than three centuries. The Catholic Initiative is pioneering a new philanthropic model that seeks to restore and sustain vibrant, but historically under-resourced Catholic parishes and schools like Ste. Anne across the country. Restoration work at Ste. Anne began earlier this year and is the first major demonstration of this new model for preserving Catholic institutions. It represents a significant and generational investment in the future of this historic landmark and parish community.

Msgr. Charles Kosanke, current rector of the basilica; Fr. Tim Laboe, who will become rector of the basilica on July 1; and Mark Pulte, co-founder and chairman of The Catholic Initiative, will participate in the blessing, alongside parishioners, staff, construction workers, architects, designers and leadership from The Christman Company, the project's construction manager.

The restoration is the result of a transformative partnership between the Archdiocese of Detroit and The Catholic Initiative. The Catholic Initiative is spearheading a $55 million effort to restore the basilica and surrounding campus while establishing a permanent endowment to support the parish’s long-term sustainability. Through a combination of philanthropic investment and ongoing fundraising efforts, the organization is working alongside donors and supporters to secure the resources needed for the restoration and future vitality of the parish. The project includes the comprehensive restoration of the basilica, rectory, and surrounding campus. The project will preserve and restore the historic beauty and architectural integrity of the buildings while incorporating modern improvements, including new plumbing and electrical systems, enhanced accessibility, and air conditioning.

“Ste. Anne has stood as a beacon of faith, hope, and perseverance in Detroit for generations," said Pulte, co-founder and chairman of The Catholic Initiative. "Through this restoration, we are not only preserving a remarkable church building but investing in a sacred place that will continue to serve families, welcome visitors, and strengthen the community for decades to come."

The restoration is expected to be completed by spring of 2028. In addition to the complete renovation of the basilica and parish facilities, the project includes a reimagining of the surrounding campus as a vibrant community hub for parishioners, visitors, and the broader Southwest Detroit community. Through enhanced gathering spaces, landscaping, lighting, and pedestrian pathways, The Catholic Initiative hopes to create a "Catholic oasis" in the heart of Mexicantown.

"Ste. Anne has been a treasured part of the Catholic presence in Detroit for more than 300 years," said Archbishop of Detroit Edward J. Weisenburger. "This restoration is an investment not only in an historic church, but in an active parish community that continues to worship, serve, and welcome people from across Southwest Detroit and beyond. We are grateful to all who are helping make this vision a reality."

Following the blessing ceremony, attendees will have a chance to see inside the basilica and view the extensive scaffolding that now fills the building, offering a firsthand look at the scale and complexity of the restoration effort. Guests will also enjoy lunch provided by El Caballo Taco Truck.

“For the past ten years, it has been one of the greatest blessings of my priesthood to serve the people of Ste. Anne," said Kosanke, current rector of the basilica. "This parish is more than a historic church; it is a family, a neighborhood anchor, and a source of hope for Southwest Detroit. Seeing this restoration become a reality is incredibly meaningful because it represents a profound investment in both our faith community and the future of this vibrant part of the city."

About the Basilica of Ste. Anne de Detroit:

The parish community of Ste. Anne was founded on July 26, 1701— just two days after Antoine de la Mothe Cadillac and his companions, including two Catholic priests, established the settlement of Fort Ponchartrain du Détroit—making it the second oldest continuously operating parish in the United States. The current church building is the eighth church constructed for the use of the parish community, consecrated on October 30, 1887. The building was granted the title of “minor basilica” by Pope Francis in 2020, in recognition of its heightened liturgical activity and its architectural stature. It stands today as the home of an active parish, shrine, historical treasure, and landmark in a revitalized, multi-ethnic, bilingual neighborhood in southeast Detroit.

About The Catholic Initiative:

The Catholic Initiative, launched March 9, 2025, by the Pulte Family Charitable Foundation, is renewing the family of God by investing in and partnering with vibrant, but under-resourced parishes and schools to restore sacred places, amplify ministries, and sustain them for generations. As a first-of-its-kind, Vatican-approved funding model for lasting Catholic presence, the initiative aims to build a world where Catholic parishes and schools are alive, forming people, and transforming communities—especially where they are at most at risk of disappearing.

This innovative approach shifts ownership of church buildings and campuses to a newly created nonprofit organization formed solely for this purpose. The Catholic Initiative assumes full responsibility for renovating and maintaining the properties, while the parishes or schools retain exclusive and permanent usage rights, ensuring vital funds are never redirected. Additionally, the model establishes a dedicated endowment to guarantee a reliable, steady income stream to support these communities long into the future. Find out more at www.thecatholicinitiative.org.

About The Pulte Family Charitable Foundation:

Guided by the belief in the inherent dignity of all people, the Pulte Family Charitable Foundation works to meet the basic human needs of the most marginalized members of the human family, including socioeconomically disadvantaged youth; the aged; persons with physical, emotional, and mental disabilities; and those with the fewest material resources.

In addition to the above, the Foundation seeks to serve religious communities and correlative organizations of Judeo-Christian beliefs. To this end, the Foundation strives to enact through its grantees the Seven Corporal Works of Mercy: feed the hungry, give drink to the thirsty; clothe the naked; care for captives; shelter the homeless; visit the sick, and assist the mourning.

Media Contacts

For the Archdiocese of Detroit:
Holly Fournier
fournier.holly@aod.org
(313) 237-5802

For The Catholic Initiative:
Tammye Raster
tammye@thecatholicinitiative.org
574-250-2547

For the Basilica of Ste. Anne:
Colleen Moore
colleen.moore@steannedetroit.org
773-520-4415

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