We have been incredibly blessed in the last year to update our technological infrastructure through a grant from Archbishop Vigneron and the Archdiocese of Detroit. This grant is not only generous, but it is an investment in our future as a parish and center for outreach. As I have mentioned in previous communications, to date we have updated our computer and phone networks and have modernized equipment and hardware for all staff. We have also begun using new systems that help us work more efficiently and effectively as a team.

In addition to these much-needed updates, today I am happily announcing the launch of our new parish website, www.staloysiusdetroit.com. More than ever, a parish website needs to be a place where visitors can quickly and easily access information such as Mass and confession times and the parish bulletin. While our old site served us for a time, our new site is streamlined to provide necessary information without getting bogged down in too many details. Our parish website is designed by and large for visitors—to be a virtual front door for people who will be moving downtown or coming for a sporting or musical event. While we parishioners will certainly find it helpful in providing all of the information we are accustomed to, a second phase of the website specific to parishioners will be launched at a later date and will provide us with more inside information including schedules, calendars, and other pertinent items that are not meant for the general public.

You probably noticed that our domain name has changed. I was hesitant to agree with this because ‘stalsdetroit’ has not only been our home on the web for several years, but it is also much easier to spell! So, why change? If you currently do a ‘Google’ search for our parish, you will notice that our current website does not show up on the first page of results. In fact, you would be hard pressed to find our website in any of the results! Yes, you may find outside websites that host information such as bulletins, but not our official site. The marketing team has assured me that the change will bring our parish to the top of the search results. As for spelling ‘Aloysius’, the team also tells me that search engines are very sophisticated in understanding misspellings and suggesting corrections. Since we also own the ‘stalsdetroit’ domain, anyone accustomed to using that URL will be redirected to the new site.

Finally, you will also notice a change in the visual identity of our parish. The new logo and color scheme were carefully thought out and refined, and I invite you to explore our new website, Instagram page (StAloysiusDetroit), and our Facebook page to discover the details of our new brand. We worked closely with marketing professionals and designers to present an identity that speaks of who we are, where we have been, and where we are going.

For almost 150 years, St. Aloysius Parish has been a beacon of faith, hope, and love on Washington Boulevard. Despite the current pandemic, we press on with our eyes fixed on Jesus and our welcoming arms extended to our brothers and sisters. 

Entrusting us to the care of our Blessed Mother and the intercession of St. Aloysius Gonzaga, I remain,

Fr. Mario Amore