1949 proved to be a bad year for the parish.  A life size statue of St. Francis was ordered for the parish grounds.  The artist that was hired to create the statue changed studios.  This lead the parish and the Archdiocese into litigations against the studios and the artist.  Eventually the statue was finished and now graces the parish grounds. 1955 saw major repairs and alterations done to the parish buildings.  The convent was remolded to give each one of the sisters a separate sleeping room.  A change from the  large dormitory that made the upper floor of the convent. New steps and doors were placed on the church during this time.

In the mid 1960's permission was granted to paint the church.   Archbishop Deardon in a letter to the pastor reminded him of the special nature of the church building.  He reminded the parish that this was one of three consecrated churches in the Archdiocese and the cost of painting was to be well over $60,000. (At that time consecrated churches were not allowed to be in any form of debt, for the fear that a consecrated church no longer be a place of worship.)

During this time the city of Detroit under went major population changes.  People began to move in large numbers from the inner city to the suburbs.   The reasons for the population shift is beyond the scope of this history.  It will however play a role in the late 1980's when all inner city parishes are studied for their viability.

In 1970 a marble altar was places in the sanctuary to bring the church in line with all the liturgical changes made by the Second Vatican Council.   The relics that were placed in the High Altar during the consecration ceremonies in 1936 were moved to the new altar. It was also during this time the communion rail was modified to give a better view of the altar and sanctuary.  The age worn marble floors of the sanctuary were also covered in red carpet.  The crucifix which hung from the right pillar of the communion rail was moved to the rear entrance of the church.   With decreasing attendance at weekday masses, the rise in cost of heating such a large church, the old caretakers house was turned into a chapel where weekday masses were to be celebrated during the winter months.

In March of 1985 all  inner city parishes we were asked to take part in the City Task Force.  The task force was to make recommendations to the Archbishop Szoka for dealing with the problems of inner city churches.   In 1986 a Self Study was done by the parish to determine the viability of the Parish.  This study was to be used by the Task Force to make recommendations to the Archbishop whether to keep the church open or close it.  With declining vocations to the religious life the School Sisters of St. Joseph had to say good bye to the parish.   This was not good timing.  It only fueled the speculation that St. Francis was among the growing list of city churches slated for closure.  An announcement was made on September 28, 1988 only one year away from the Centennial Celebration, it was determined that St. Francis was a viable parish and that it should remain open.