Father Gabriel Richard - Detroit, MI, USA - Statues of Religious Figures on Waymarking.com

"Gabriel Richard P.S.S. (October 15, 1767 – September 13, 1832), was a French Roman Catholic priest who ministered to the French Catholics in the parish of Sainte Anne de Détroit, as well as Protestants and Native Americans living in Southeast Michigan. He established schools, a library, and vocational training with weaving looms. After Detroit was nearly destroyed by a fire in 1805, he and others created a new layout for the city. His motto following the fire, Speramus meliora; resurget cineribus ("We hope for better things; it will arise from the ashes") is inscribed on the Seal of the City of Detroit.

Richard helped negotiate the Treaty of Fort Meigs. He was co-founder of the Catholepistemiad of Michigania (which would later be renamed the University of Michigan). He was the first Catholic priest elected to the U.S. House of Representatives as delegate of the Michigan Territory for the 18th Congress. The Fr. Gabriel Richard Guild was established in 2020 as one of the first steps towards canonization of Richard."

The sculpture is granite and depicts Father Richard stands holding a Bible in front of his torso with his proper left hand. The inscription reads:
FATHER GABRIEL RICHARD
1767-1832
PIONEER PRIEST PATRIOT FOUNDER
OF CHURCHES AND SCHOOL CO- FOUNDER OF
THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN
MEMBER OF CONGRESS
PRINTER MARTYR OF CHARITY PRO-
PHET AND APOSTLE OF CHRISTIAN
CIVILIZATION HE SERVED GOD
AND COUNTRY ON THE
MICHIGAN FRONTIER

Associated Religion(s): Roman Catholic Statue Location: Gabriel Richard Park 7130 E Jefferson, Detroit, MI 48207 Entrance Fee: None Artist: Leonard D. Jungwirth Website: [Web Link]

Visit Instructions:
Take a picture of the statue. A waymarker and/or GPSr is not required to be in the image but it doesn't hurt.

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