The evening will feature internationally acclaimed Polish soprano Dominika Zamara, whose career has taken her to stages throughout Europe and the United States. The program will also spotlight the music of three European composers, Maestro Antonio Bellandi, Maestro Tiziano Bedetti, and Maestro Wiesław Rentowski, including works composed in tribute to St. John Paul II and presented at the world premiere event.
For Detroit and its Polish American community, the anniversary carries particular significance. John Paul II’s September 1987 visit was a historic moment for a region profoundly shaped by generations of Polish immigrants and their descendants. Nearly four decades later, this concert recalls not only the presence of a Polish pope in Michigan, but also the faith, heritage, and institutions through which Polish identity has flourished in Detroit and across the state.
The setting for the commemoration is an important part of that story. Sweetest Heart of Mary Church, located at 4440 Russell Street in Detroit, is one of the city’s magnificent historic churches and a lasting monument to Detroit’s Polish Catholic heritage. Founded by Polish immigrants in the late 19th century, the parish and its landmark church stand as witnesses to the faith, sacrifice, and determination of the Polish families who helped build Detroit. Its soaring Gothic interior provides a particularly meaningful setting for sacred music honoring St. John Paul II.
Continuing a Polish American Legacy
The concert is presented by the Polish Institute of Culture & Research at Orchard Lake, an institution dedicated to preserving, studying, and sharing Polish and Polish American history, culture, and heritage. Located on the historic Orchard Lake Schools campus, the Institute carries forward a legacy deeply intertwined with the history of Polonia in Michigan and throughout the United States.
Through its archives, exhibitions, cultural programming, scholarship, lectures, concerts, and community partnerships, PICROL works to preserve the accomplishments of earlier generations while ensuring that Polish culture remains a living inheritance for generations to come. Bringing this commemoration to one of Detroit’s historic Polish churches reflects that mission, connecting the history preserved at Orchard Lake with the communities, churches, and people who created it.
Event Information
World Premiere Opera Concert Honoring St. John Paul II
Saturday, September 19, 2026 | 6:00 p.m.
Sweetest Heart of Mary Church
4440 Russell Street
Detroit, Michigan
Admission is free. Reservations are requested at www.picrol.org.
The concert is presented in commemoration of the 39th anniversary of St. John Paul II’s visit to Michigan, September 18–19, 1987.
