Thanking God Ahead of Time: A History of the Church in Detroit

Thanking God Ahead of Time:

A History of the Church in Detroit

Sunday, October 12, 2025 - Saturday, November 15, 2025

Instructor

Fr. Bryan Shackett

Priest in Solidum, Metro Huron Family of Parishes & Part-Time Faculty Member, Sacred Heart Major Seminary

Teaching Assistant

Melissa Pordon

Course Description

Do you know our story? History is often the story of how we have followed the Lord and served Him through joys and hardships. “Thanking God Ahead of Time: A History of the Church in Detroit” invites you to discover this multicultural story of the church in Detroit from its foundations in the 17th century to the present day. From the early missions to the foundations of the local Catholic institutions to the many cultural changes that have shaped the community, participants will experience how the events of history have impacted and directed the formation of our local church. Through examining the many challenges that the church has faced in her history in Detroit, and how people have responded to those challenges, we will also gain a better understanding of the role of the Holy Spirit in the Church's mission and the importance of our own participation in that mission. Our Lord Jesus Christ has always guided His Church throughout history. Come and explore what He has done in Detroit, and discover how He is calling us to better serve Him in the future.

This course is not intended to be academically strenuous but to provide a shallow-entry point for those who have busy lives and need flexibility. This course is designed for personal enrichment and does not count towards any academic credit at Sacred Heart Major Seminary or for any certification in the Archdiocese of Detroit. 

Contact

For questions about course content contact the instructor/teaching assistants using the Inbox on the red menu bar on the left side of your online course page. 

For technical support see the Tech Support guide in the Welcome module of the course.

Textbooks

Required Readings:

No required texts for this course

Schedule of Topics:

• Introductory Module: Available beginning September 19, 2025 
• Module 1: What Is History? (October 12 - October 18)
• Module 2: The French Period of Detroit (October 19 - October 25)  
• Module 3: The English Period of Detroit (October 26 - November 1) 
• Module 4: The American Missions Period of Detroit (November 2 - November 8)
• Module 5: The Archdiocese of Detroit (November 9 - November 15)

Weekly Activities:

The following learning activities are available to students each week. There are no specific requirements for participating in the course. However, those who complete all the videos and self-tests will receive a certificate of completion at the end of the course.
 

• Weekly video lectures 
• Weekly recommended readings and links to additional learning resources
• Weekly self-test to see what you’ve learned
• Open online discussion for participants to share with each other what they are learning and encourage each other

The time commitment is flexible for this course. There is one weekly video lecture (~20 min). Participants who are interested in completing all recommended readings and course tasks can expect to spend around 2-3 hours/week on the course. However, levels of participation and engagement are up to the discretion of the individual.

All Equip Courses Include These Features:

• A dedicated online learning support coordinator to offer prompt assistance
• 24/7 access to the digital learning environment
• Engagement as a community of connected learners who share a common faith
• Extended access to course content after the course end date
• Learning environment support provided by Canvas (our learning management platform)
• Technical assistance provided by Sacred Heart’s IT staff
• A Certificate of Completion is awarded to those who complete the course learning activities

Technical Requirements:

Canvas Tech Requirements