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Pope Names Grosse Pointe Woods Priest 'Monsignor'
Grosse Pointe Woods' Our Lady Star of the Sea Catholic Church's Pastor Gary Smetanka is named 'Monsignor' by Pope Benedict XVI.
GROSSE POINTE WOODS – Detroit Archbishop Allen H. Vigneron has announced that Pope Benedict XVI has conferred the title of “Monsignor” upon eight Detroit-area priests, including Gary Smetanka, pastor of Our Lady Star of the Sea in Grosse Pointe Woods. A prayer service to commemorating this honor for all the new monsignors will be held at Sacred Heart Major Seminary in Detroit at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, January 23, with a reception following. The honorary title of “monsignor” is given to Roman Catholic priests as a sign of appreciation and recognition of the service they have rendered, both locally and in the world. Including those newly named, 34 of the Archdiocese of Detroit’s 400-plus active and retired diocesan priests hold the title of…
