Our Heritage of Faith - A History of Our Parish

A Brief History of the St. Mary Parish as compiled by Lois M. Nichols

St. Mary Parish, the oldest Catholic Community in South Oakland County, had it origins in the hospitality of its people.  As early as 1842, Catholics gathered in the Lockman home at what is now Twelve Mile and Campbell and in the Grusel House on Evergreen Farm.  Priests from Holy Trinity in Detroit, Fr. Fahon and Fr. Kilroy, traveled north on horseback to celebrate the Eucharist, hear confessions, baptize babies, and otherwise minister to this determined congregation.  And determined they were, coming from up to fifteen miles away by horse and buggy, sled or mud boat, depending on the weather.  It is not hard to imagine some good potluck dinners following the liturgy after all this early Sunday morning activity.

Later, the growing faith community was served by Fr. Wallace from Pontiac and Fr. Brockman of Assumption Grotto in Detroit.  In 1851, this band of Catholic pioneers, about thirty families in all, built a small frame chapel near 12 Mile and Campbell on land donated by Edmund Lockman.  It was dedicated to St. Michael, possibly in recognition of the efforts of parishioner Michael Swager who had kept alive the dream of a church the community could call its own.  St. Michael’s Mission included all of the area between Dequindre and Southfield on the East and West, and from Six Mile Road to beyond Fourteen Mile Road on the South and North.  Fr. Mantels, Fr. Hendrickand Fr. Schrieber came from an established parish in Centerline to minister to the people.

In 1886, Fr. Schrieber attempted to found a parish school.  Classes met for about two years, first in a small building near Fourth and Main Streets and later near Fifth and Center.  Miss May Bellman taught all the grades.

In 1888, the Capuchin Fathers from the Monastery in Detroit assumed responsibility for St. Michael Mission and moved the church from the rural area to the village of Royal Oak.  Joseph Braun donated two lots at the corner of Fifth and Main Streets.  A frame building was erected, given the name St. Mary and dedicated in 1889.  This modest church boasted a steeple and bell tower.  The bell was used to call the faithful to worship on Sundays and to summon the volunteer fire department at other times.  This bell was later moved to the church on Lafayette and is now in the Fellowship Center.

St. Mary remained a Capuchin Mission until October 1, 1909, when Fr. John Needham became the first resident pastor.  Under Fr. Needham’s direction the parish acquired property on the east side of Lafayette between Seventh and Lincoln.  A rectory, and a combination church, school, and a social hall were built.  On May 31, 1915, Bishop Kelly laid the cornerstone and the following October the church was dedicated to the Blessed Virgin.  A year later, a residence, acquired with the property, was converted for use as a convent.  Six Dominican Sisters from Adrian came to teach in the school know as St. Mary Academy.

In 1917, a small group of lay parishioners formed a St. Vincent DePaul Conference at St. Mary.  This was to be the forerunner of St. Mary’s significant outreach to the poor and disadvantaged.

Fr. Maurice Chawke succeeded Fr. Needham in 1919.  Fr. Chawke, long a champion of young people and education, led the parish in the building of St. Mary High School on the parish property.  The high school was dedicated in 1925 and additional sisters came from Adrian to serve as faculty.

Fr. Chawke was succeeded in 1934 by Fr. Vincent Hankerd, followed by Fr. Harold Rosebrook in 1942, and Fr. Clarence Kane in 1946.  St. Mary Parish was growing.  On Sunday, April 4, 1948, two thousand six hundred sixty two worshipers were counted at the Masses.

Fr. George Cairns, a Latin, Hebrew, and Greek scholar, who had been a professor of education of twenty years, became the pastor of St. Mary in 1948.  In 1951, with assistance of Mr. William Sullivan, the present church property was acquired.  The new church was erected and was formally dedicated on December 12, 1954.  In 1959, the current rectory was added.

Fr. Karl Hubble, a long time professor at Sacred Heart Seminary, was assigned as pastor at St. Mary in 1961.  Under his leadership a new convent was built in 1962 to accommodate the large number of sisters now teaching in the grade and high schools.  In 1968, a new grade school, the Education Center, was constructed.

The footprint of the parish did not change under the leadership of the following pastors:  Fr. Edmund Batterby, Fr. William Easton, Fr. Raymond Sayers and Fr. Timothy Babcock.  In time, the high school became a regional school and was put under the authority of the Archdiocese.  It later closed.

Fr. Thomas Villerot, a retired priest who had previously ministered in our parish, came to St. Mary to assist with Masses and other sacramental events.  He continued to minister until he was almost ninety.

In July, 1989, Fr. William Sinatra was appointed pastor and built the Fellowship Center with proceeds from the sale of the high school and convent.

Fr. Michael Woroniewicz, Fr. Andrew Tomasko, Fr. Stephen Vileo and Fr. Kenneth Kaucheck followed in succession and St. Mary parish was clustered with St. James parish in Ferndale.

Our current pastor is Fr. Steven Wertanen.  He was assigned in July, 2009

We thank God for the blessing of the last 167 years and ask Him for the strength and grace to be a sign of His Presence in our community as we go forward.