Detroit — The Detroit Mass Mobs, which galvanized popular support and multiplied attendance at several historic Detroit-area churches in 2014, are hoping to build on that success with a new schedule in 2015.

The first Mass Mob scheduled this year will be at noon March 15 at Old St. Mary’s Church at 646 Monroe Ave. in downtown Detroit’s Greektown district.

Through efforts to launch a movement to lift up some of Detroit’s financially struggling but architecturally breathtaking churches, the Mass Mobs drew thousands of Catholics to such sites last year, where attendance often numbers in just the dozens on a given Sunday. Such a groundswell, while temporary, often provided a boost to the collection plate, as well.

The movement garnered support from archdiocesan officials as well, including Archbishop Allen H. Vigneron, who issued a video statement of support for the movement last summer and even celebrated an Oct. 12 Mass Mob at St. Francis D’Assisi Church in Detroit.

After the March 15 Mass at Old St. Mary’s, Mass Mobs are planned once a month throughout the year. The remaining schedule will be:

• April 19, 12 p.m. — Good Shepherd Church, 1265 Parkview, Detroit


• May 3, 12 p.m. — Ste. Anne de Detroit Church, 1000 Ste. Anne St., Detroit


• June 7, 10 a.m. — St. Matthew Church, 6021 Whittier, Detroit


• July 12, 11 a.m. — St. Aloysius Church, 1234 Washington Blvd., Detroit


• Aug. 9, 12 p.m. — St. Josaphat Church, 715 Canfield, Detroit


• Sept. 13, 12 p.m. — St. Hedwig Church, 3245 Junction, Detroit


• Oct. 11, 12 p.m. — Transfiguration Church, 5830 Simon K, Detroit


• Nov. 8, 11 a.m. — SS. Peter and Paul (Jesuit) Church, 438 St. Antoine, Detroit


• Dec. 6, 12 p.m. — St. Leo Church, 4860 15th St., Detroit

Visit www.detroitmassmob.com to follow updates throughout the year.

In addition, a second Mass Mob group will also plan additional dates throughout 2015. “The Traveling Catholic’s Mass Mob,” organized by Annamarie Barnes, has published its schedule on its Facebook page. Barnes helped organize Mass Mob events in 2014, along with Thom Mann, Anthony Battaglia and Jeff Stawasz.