Gesu Catholic School
On October 4, 2025, the new Archbishop of Detroit visited Gesu church and school to celebrate Mass and take a tour of the school. This was on the feast day of St. Francis of Assisi and Archbishop Weisenburger came in recognition of Gesu’s important work for creation care and designation as the Archdiocese of Detroit’s first Laudato Si parish. The archbishop toured the six-acre campus with Gesu students, parishioners and members of the parish’s “Green Team,” getting a first-hand look at the parish rain gardens, food composting system, solar panels, and removal of downspouts which feed into the stormwater system.
Archbishop Weisenburger, himself the driver of an electric Chevrolet Equinox, said he was impressed with all the work the Gesu community has done and continues to do when he celebrated Mass at the end of his visit.
During Archbishop Weisenburger’s tour of the parish and school, Gesu students showed the archbishop how food is sorted and disposed of after lunchtime. The efforts have resulted in the school only using one trash bag for waste disposal. Gesu students also gave Archbishop Weisenburger a tour of its composting machine, which breaks down uneaten meat. Non-meat items are donated to Pingree Farms to feed the animals, and liquids are diluted and used as nutrients for fertilization.
It was a great experience for Gesu students to show the archbishop the work that they have done to make Gesu more sustainable.
