October 15: Detroit's Second Founder

Welcome to the American Catholic Daily Reader podcast. Today is October 15th, and our story is Detroit's Second Founder. In 1822, when Michigan Territory elected its new representative for the United States Congress, most agreed only one man would do, Father Gabriel Richard.

Born in France on October 15, 1767, Richard fled to America with his fellow Sulpicians in 1792. Upon his arrival, he briefly taught at St. Mary's Seminary in Baltimore, then spent six years ministering in the Illinois Territory before moving to Detroit in 1798.

There, as pastor of St. Anne's Catholic Church, Richard built the frontier town some of its first schools, secured Detroit its first printing press, started its first newspaper, and gave the city its first library. When fire destroyed Detroit in 1805, Richard organized the rebuilding efforts and wrote the city's new motto.

Likewise, when the local Protestant congregation lacked a minister, they turned to Richard, who preached sermons for them every Sunday. Once the congregation found a proper Protestant minister, he and Richard convinced the territory's government to open the school that later became the University of Michigan. Father Richard served the school as a professor, founding vice president, and trustee.

The priest's kindness and integrity won over the local Native Americans as well, who came to Richard's aid when the British captured Detroit during the War of 1812. After the Redcoats arrived, they demanded Richard swear an oath of loyalty to the British crown. The priest refused. He'd already sworn an oath to uphold the U.S. Constitution and would swear no other. Immediately, the soldiers imprisoned him. But when the Shawnee chief Tecumseh got wind of Richard's capture, he made the Shawnee's continued alliance with the British conditional on Richard's release.

Richard soon walked free. Dubbed Detroit's second founder, Richard seemed a logical choice to represent the Michigan Territory in the 18th U.S. Congress. He served for two years, secured funding for the first major road to Detroit, and then returned to full-time ministry.

Richard died nursing the sick during a cholera epidemic in 1832. They say the crowd at his funeral outnumbered the entire population of Detroit. Richard's example encourages us to engage our communities with faith-driven action, addressing both practical and spiritual needs. Identify one way you can serve your community today, whether through education, charity, or leadership, guided by integrity and faith.

Thank you for listening to the American Catholic Daily Reader podcast. Join us tomorrow, October 16th, for another story of faith and courage in America.