PIME Missionaries has been located in Detroit for six decades. Their facility, located just north of McNichols in the University District, was built in 1928 and it needs some work -- enough that the organization considered relocating, perhaps even to a new city.
Instead, PIME decided to undertake an extensive, multi-million dollar renovation of the four-story, 70,000-square-foot building. "It's an ideal location; it's close to several communities we work with in the Detroit area," says Rick Schulte, PIME's communications director. "Sometimes our priests need to learn languages, and [University of Detroit Mercy] is right down the street -- it's nice to be
next door to a great school like that."
PIME is a Roman Catholic missionary organization whose members dedicate their lives to service on five continents. It was founded in Italy in 1850, and established its United States regional headquarters in Detroit in 1947.
The facility houses PIME's long-term residents,
visitors and seminarians undergoing training.
The renovations will take about one year and will be extensive. "It's safe to say that it will be gutted down to bare studs and rebuilt," says Schulte.
The project is being supported by private donors as well as by the Archdiocese of Detroit.
Source: Rick Schulte, PIME
Writer: Kelli B. Kavanaugh
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