St. Mary Catholic Church

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A History of St. Mary Catholic Church

This text is taken from "St. Mary Parish, Williamston, Michigan: A Short History, compiled by Mrs. Harris (Norine) Hartwell, 1983.

During the winter of 1868-1869, Owen Brannan and Peter Zimmer cut and hauled the timber that was to be used in the construction of a church for St. Mary Parish, Williamston, Michigan.

It was a plain, frame structure, 50 by 35 feet. The following year, 1870, the interior was finished. The cost was about $1100. The lot, on High Street, was donated by the Waldo brothers, who gave a considerable sum of money to aid the Church.

Prior to the building of a church, perhaps as early as 1850-55, the few Catholics of this vicinity were visited by Fathers Monaghan Kelley, DeCuninck, Van Paemel, Van Den Driessche, and others. Among the homes that were honored by having the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass offered in them were Owen Brannan's, John Grimes', Peter Zimmer's, and Loraunger's.

The early pioneer Catholics were very thankful for the self-sacrificing zeal of these priests, especially that of the saintly Fr. Van Den Driessche. He was the first priest stationed in Lansing, and had the distinction of being the only person for whom the Grand Trunk Railroad stopped at a country crossing so that he might offer Mass at St. Patrick Church, in Woodhull, a parish organized in 1847, in Shiawassee County. The train stopped again to pick him up for his return trip to Lansing.

On the occasions when Mass was offered there, the Catholics around Williamston would take their families and make the journey of about ten miles, often over almost impassable roads, so that they might worship God and keep their faith alive.

Some of the descendants of these families are now devout parishioners of St. Mary's, which proves that their sacrifices for the faith bore good fruit.

Fr. John Lovett was the first resident pastor of St. Mary Parish, coming here in September, 1879. At this time the rectory and lot were purchased from W. H. Cochran, at a cost of $1150. Fr. Lovett's jurisdiction extended from Lainsburg on the north to Leslie on the south, and included the parish at Bunker Hill in Ingham County, and St. Patrick's in Woodhull. St. Mary Parish had about 40 families at this time.

Fr. Lovett was succeeded in July, 1880 by Fr. Joseph Byrne, who was the pastor but a few months.

In the summer of 1881, Fr. Joseph A. Ording became pastor, and he remained here until November, 1886. During his pastorate, 24 feet were added to the length of the church, and a tower was erected. Mr. Joseph Linn had charge of this construction.

Fr. James Gore was pastor from 1886-1889. In August, 1889, Fr. John P. Ryan was appointed parish priest at Howell, with the care of St. Mary, Williamston, and St. Agnes, Fowlerville, as missions.

In the year 1895, fire destroyed the frame church. the present brick structure was built that same year.

In February, 1898, Fr. John J. Connolly became resident pastor at Williamston, with Fowlerville, Bunker Hill, and Woodhull as missions. He built the present rectory and was successful in liquidating all the debt on the parish before he was transferred in 1905 to organize Blessed Sacrament Parish in Detroit.

During his pastorate, each summer a chicken pie dinner was served at Williams' Grove on the north bank of Cedar River. These dinners were well attended by the townspeople and surrounding community, and the culinary art of the St. Mary's ladies was much praised. Banquets were also served in the Williamston Opera House to help raise money for the parish.

Rev. Fr. A.X. M. Sharpe became the pastor of St. Mary's on July 26, 1905, and remained until January 5, 1916. During his pastorate two young men were encouraged by him to study for the priesthood. They were the late Msgr. Leo DeBarry, and the late Fr. J.J. Ording who was pastor at St. Jude Church in Detroit.

The following article written by Dr. F. N. Turner, not a Catholic, shows the esteem in which Fr. Sharpe was held by all: "He was broad-minded and had a happy faculty of adapting himself to all walks of life. He was always ready to give his services at every political or social gathering, a true patriot who preached all lived those great principles that are the foundation of our democracy-- the Fatherhood of God and the Brotherhood of man. This was Fr. Sharpe, the priest of St. Mary's Parish."

Fr. Duffy succeeded Fr. Sharpe for 6 months, and in July 1916, Fr. Thomas J. Fallon became pastor, and remained until 1924. In the year 1919, St. Mary's celebrated its 50th anniversary as a parish.

Next came Fr. James Cotter, who was pastor until 1929. Fr. Francis V. McCormick followed Fr. Cotter, and was pastor until December 1945. through his efforts a beautiful park was developed from the low land north of the church property on the south bank of Cedar River. It is now a county park, and bears his name, a lasting tribute to his interest in the community.

Fr. George Higgeins followed him, and was pastor for about a month. Then Fr. John Bush served the parish for seven months.

Fr. Adolph Oser came to St. Mary's in August 1946. He remained until July, 1947. he was followed by Fr. Joseph Wieber, who remained until July, 1948. During his pastorate St. Mary's Hall was built just north of the church, and is a fine addition to the parish for both social and financial needs. Richard Simons went to study for hte priesthood, and later became pastor of Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish in Flint, Michigan.

Fr. Hugh Conklin succeeded Fr. Wieber, and was pastor until 1954. then came Fr. Frank Martin, who remained until July, 1956. this year, the Thompson residence, east of the rectory, was purchased and remodeled to serve as a convent.

Fr. A. Thomas Fitzgerald was the next pastor, and remained one year. In June, 1957, Fr. William Hankerd came to St. Mary's. In the spring of 1959, construction was begun on the school building. it was completed and opened for school on September 1 of that year. It was staffed by three Sisters of St. Joseph of Nazareth, Michigan. they were Sister Aileen Marie, Sister Bernadette, and Mother Mary Cabrini. At one time all eight grades were being taught. three young men entered the seminary during Fr. Hankerd's pastorate.

Fr. Frank Jansen succeeded Fr. Hankerd in August, 1966, and remained until May, 1979. Fr. Jansen was succeeded by Fr. Steven F. Makranyi.

Here ends the original text...

Father Dan McKean took over in 1992 during which time the school addition and activity center was built. Fr. Dan was here until 1999 and then Fr. Tom Thompson came to St. Mary in 1999 and was pastor until 2005.

Father Peter Clark came to St. Mary Catholic Church in 2005 and is the current pastor.