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The Real St. Nick(s)

Detroit Stories

The story of Michigan’s very own Santa school and how the true spirit of Christmas can change lives. (00:51) We meet John and learn about the St. Nicholas Institute, Michigan’s very own Santa school. (2:18) We learn a bit about John’s background, what brought him to the St. Nicholas institute, and what he found when he arrived. (3:46) After learning a bit more about the kinds of courses offered at the St. Nicholas Institute, John tells us about the personal prayer and reflection time the retreat offers. (6:11) We meet Fr. Joseph Marquis, of Sacred Heart Byzantine Catholic Church in Livonia. We learn about Fr. Joseph Marquis’s history with Santa and the founding of the institute. (7:24) Fr. Marquis tells us about his inspiration in forming the institute and the importance of overcoming popular myths about St. Nicholas and getting to know the real, beloved man. (10:16) Fr. Marquis discusses the N-O-E-L model the institute follows, and gives us some of the saint’s personal history. (12:00) We learn how the tradition of St. Nicholas’s gift-giving began, and how it’s rooted in the Gospel. (14:04) Fr. Marquis shares the story of how his particular devotion to St. Nicholas came to be and the impact the saint had on his life at a young age. (16:39) John tells us about the impact the retreat has had on his ministry as Santa, and the importance of remembering St. Nicholas as a man of faith.