St. Mary's of Michigan history

THE SETTLERS The first settlers of Westphalia arrived in the port of New York on October 3rd, 1836 aboard the Leontine from their long journey which began in the port of Bremen, Germany.

Father Anton Kopp returned back to his assigned parish in September of 1837 and celebrated Masses in the homes of the settlers.

In March of 1838 a two-room log house, that served as the first church as well, was completed.

In 1843, land was purchased on the current site of St Mary's and a small wooden church was built.

St Mary Parish was established in 1857 to meet the spiritual needs of the German population in the Grand Rapids area.

On August 15th, 1859, the cornerstone of a new church (built entirely out of brick lest someone try to set it on fire again) was laid.

St Mary Church in Wayne is the oldest Catholic parish in western Wayne County, founded in 1862.

The church was reopened and a pastor appointed in September, 1868 but the pattern of the St Mary of Redford priests living on a shoestring budget would continue through the end of the century.

In 1888, the congregation had grown and was too large to be ministered in homes and public meeting halls.

About Us Our History The Charlevoix Catholic church was established in August, 1890.

In August of 1893, monthly Mass was started to be held.

In October, 1894 the church bell was purchased.

Andrew Dooling in 1898 that the parish turned a corner.

Dooling's tenure as pastor in the early 1900's, the parish outgrew the old cemetery and purchased property on Six Mile (McNichols) and Grand River Avenue.

Dooling died suddenly of influenza in 1919, the parish was finally on a stable foundation.

In the mid-1920’s new stained glass windows were installed in the church, with additional windows in the sacristy, tower, and entry area.

The final burial there was in 1922 and eventually the property was sold and the bodies reinterred at Holy Selpuchre Cemetery on 10 Mile.

St Mary of Redford in Detroit (1923)

The older frame church became the first parish school with an enrollment of 125 students for the start of classes in September 1924 and a faculty composed of IHM Sisters.

When the school its first decade in 1930, there were 1100 students enrolled in grades K-12.

History of St Mary of Redford (through the 1970's) by Robert Godzak

January of 1981 saw the beginning of the relocation of church appointments and by the end of the year, the project was completed.

Also in 1985, St Mary School celebrated its sixtieth anniversary.

In March 1987, St Mary (of the Immaculate Conception) Parish in Wayne celebrated its 125th Anniversary.

Information is gratefully taken with permission from Of Pilgrimage, Prayer, and Promise, produced by the Westphalia Historical Society, Westphalia Area History, and from Sisters of Christian Charity revised edition 1999.

Jack, The F.A.C.T. Committee was reinstated and in May 2000, the new Parish Activity Center opened.

In 2001, the parish purchased a former credit union building and opened the St Mary Community Outreach Center.

On May 5, 2011, Archbishop Allen Vigneron ordained Monsignor Donald F. Hanchon as an Auxiliary Bishop.

In 2013 St Mary moved toward its next century and a half under the leadership of Pastor David Burgard along with a staff that included Permanent Deacon Ralph Luddecke; a Director of Religious Formation, a Christian Service Coordinator and a Minister of Pastoral Music.

In 2016, Archbishop Vigneron named Bishop Walter A. Hurley as Financial Administrator of clustered parishes St Mary (Wayne), St Richard (Westland), and Holy Family (Inkster). Bishop Hurley's assignment was to oversee the parishes' finances while Fr.