PIME Finds a New Home in Farmington Hills
Farmington Hills, a serene city located north of Detroit, is the new home for the PIME U.S. Mission Center. PIME (the Pontifical Institute for Foreign Missions), a society of apostolic life, has moved to a 12-acre property in Farmington Hills after spending 40 years on Quincy Street in Detroit.
Fr. Daniele Criscione, PIME, indulging in a quick “selfie” with the U.S. Mission Center staff at the new location.
The new headquarters, acquired from the Bernardine Franciscan Sisters, includes a chapel seating 60, a social hall, offices, priest residences, and a ministry center. It not only offers a more peaceful place for the staff to work but also allows priests and staff to gather at a single location, making communication a breeze.
Brooded by the various country flags where PIME operates, Fr. Daniele Criscione radiantly poses behind his desk at the new PIME U.S. Mission Center headquarters.
The move also provides a tranquil environment with local fauna gracing the sprawling grounds, hence, the staff finds the new location more centering and peaceful. “We see (the missionaries) here as a staff, and we want to share that with our supporters and donors so they can get a real feel for how PIME is, and how we are helping people all over the world,” remarked Michelle Regner, the PIME U.S. Mission Center administrator.
The new location also serves to better manage finances, with the consolidation into a single site resulting in major cuts in operating expenses. More funds will now be directed to support PIME missions all over the globe. “Two years ago, for the first time, we were able to send $1 million, and in 2023 we raised $1.1 million, and this year we hope to raise $1.2 million,” Fr. Daniele Criscione, PIME, director of the U.S. Missions Center, pointed out.
In addition to the serenity, convenience, and better financial management, the new location opens up opportunities to connect more personally with donors and supporters. Plans are in motion to line the corridors with photographs of “the many faces of PIME” missions, a thoughtful gesture aimed at giving visitors a vision of the work PIME does. As Criscione put it, the new location will offer a place where people can come for a break, allowing deep connections with the Metro Detroit community. This sentiment was echoed by Regner, who envisions the new location as a hub for gathering people and fostering a stronger bond with the community.
Upcoming plans also include hosting events once the visitor parking lot is set up, making it an accessible place for everyone who wishes to be part of the PIME family. The Farmington Hills campus promises to cultivate not just a better work environment, but also a place that plays a pivotal role in global missionary work.
A picturesque aerial shot of the new 12-acre PIME U.S. Mission Center with open spaces for strolling and prayer, lending itself to an atmosphere of tranquility.
