NEWSPAPERS n o i t i d E l a i c e p S
September 24, 2025 candgnews.com Oakland County papers
Relics of St. Thérèse of Lisieux to visit Shrine BY TAYLOR CHRISTENSEN tchristensen@candgnews.com
ROYAL OAK — For the first time in 25 years, the relics of St. Thérèse of Lisieux, a Catholic saint known as “the Little Flower” and revered for the spirituality of “the Little Way,” will be visiting the National Shrine of the Little Flower Basilica in Royal Oak, 2100 12 Mile Road. The relics will be at Shrine Oct. 1-8, beginning on her feast day. The days also coincide with Shrine’s 100-year anniversary as a parish, according to a press release sent out by Shrine. The reliquary containing some of her bones first came from France to the U.S. in 1999 and drew more than 1 million people in 25 states, according to the press release. According to the tour’s U.S. coordinator, the Rev. Donald Kinney, a Discalced Carmelite priest at the Carmelite House of Prayer in California, “It is a special blessing that the reliquary will be visiting the U.S. during the 100th year anniversary of her canonization and for the Jubilee year of the church,” the press release says. “There have been great crowds and great blessings everywhere,” Kinney said in a prepared statement. “Such continued worldwide acclaim is unprecedented in the history of the Church. St. Thérèse continues to be loved as ‘the greatest saint of modern times.’” The tour is making 40 stops in 11 states with the first being in Royal Oak.
LEFT: The National Shrine of the Little Flower Basilica at 2100 12 Mile Road in Royal Oak will host the relics of St. Thérèse of Lisieux in early October. ABOVE: This statue of St. Thérèse of Lisieux is at the National Shrine of the Little Flower Basilica. Photos provided by Anne Bates
See SHRINE on page 8A
Southfield, Lawrence Tech ready for groundbreaking of new softball field BY MIKE KOURY mkoury@candgnews.com
SOUTHFIELD — The groundbreaking on a brand-new softball field created from a partnership between the city and Lawrence Technological University will commence this week. Southfield and Lawrence Technological University will break ground on a softball field to be used by the Blue Devils from 11 a.m. to noon Friday, Sept. 19, at the site of the new field on the Southfield Municipal Campus, 26000 Evergreen Road. “Southfield is proud to continue our longstanding partnership with Lawrence Tech,”
Southfield Mayor Kenson Siver said in a prepared statement. “This new field will not only elevate women’s athletics at LTU, but it will also serve as a tremendous asset for our residents — opening the door to a wide range of sports programming, community activities, and recreational opportunities that strengthen pride and engagement across our city.” The new field dates back five years when the university received word that MST Steel Corp.n President Richard Thompson wanted to make a $500,000 donation for a new softball field. The school began work on the project when it ran into a bit of trouble; namely, that it didn’t have See SOFTBALL on page 8A
Rendering provided by Lawrence Technological University
The city of Southfield and Lawrence Technological University will break ground on a new softball field Sept. 19. It will be located on the Southfield Municipal Campus at 26000 Evergreen Road.