March 2026 Photo Journal / Little Flower Basilica

Right after my last message in early February, Detroit’s frigid air broke and the birds returned.

Then the cold came back as we moved into a strange week where the Lunar New Year, Ramadan, and Lent aligned.

Because of the city’s large Polish community, Fat Tuesday is known here as Paczki Day. People flock to bakeries across the region to pick up paczki, Polish-style donuts traditionally eaten right before Lent begins.

Thankfully this year I had a flexible day, so I was able to get over to Hamtramck, the hub of Polish culture in the area, to stroll around.

I caught the last bit of pre-sunrise blue hour, and by 7:30 AM, I was enjoying paczki and coffee at the Polish Sea Club, a classic neighborhood watering hole that opens early on this special day.

After my morning adventure, a couple errands took me north to Royal Oak. While up there, I ran into the National Shrine of the Little Flower Basilica. I had passed it once before but didn’t have time to stop. This time I did.

I was floored by the architecture, design, light, and layout. Stunning craftsmanship.

The church was built in the 1930s as a Roman Catholic basilica dedicated to Thérèse of Lisieux, a French nun from the late 1800s who was known as the Little Flower. The name comes from her idea that each person is like a small flower in a garden. Even if unnoticed, it contributes to the beauty of the whole.

Here’s some photos from the visit: