70,000 people are expected to pack Ford Field Saturday.
Not for a football game, but for a Mass to celebrate the life of a Catholic priest who is one step away from sainthood.
Fr. Solanus Casey died 60 years ago, but he continues to be an inspiration to many. During his lifetime, he developed a reputation of a simple man who inspired faith and healed the sick.
Earlier this year, Pope Francis approved a miracle attributed to Solanus Casey, elevating him to beatified or blessed.
Gerarda Tobin is organizing this weekend’s events. She says many people coming to Saturday afternoon’s beatification Mass are drawn to Fr. Solanus' reputation as a “healer”.
“I know there will be a lot of people who will be there that day praying for that,” says Tobin. “I’m just praying that Solanus will hear those and people will have the experience that they are hoping they will have on Saturday.”
Tobin is optimistic that the Catholic Church will be able to authenticate another miracle to Solanus Casey that will lead to the Catholic Church declaring him a saint.
