St. Michael the Archangel at 502 West Front Street, Monroe, MI 48161 US - Brief History of Our Parish
| Brief History of Our Parish |
Saint Michael the Archangel, located at 502 West Front Street in Monroe, is the second Rev. Benjamin Schmittdiel (top left) was the first Diocesan pastor of St. Michael. He was a native of Lancaster, Pennsylvania and graduate of St. Thomas Seminary in Bardstown, Kentucky, south of Louisville. St. Michael was Rev. Schmittdiel’s first and only assignment as a priest – he was appointed Pastor one week after his ordination and served in that capacity for the next 36 years until his sudden death in 1899. Fr. Charles Bolte (middle) became Pastor upon Fr. Schmittdiel's death and served for 16 years. He was followed by Rev. Alphonse Bertele (bottom left), who was Pastor from 1915 until 1947 - just the third Pastor in 84 years! St. Michael the Archangel retained its “nationalist” personality for many decades after its founding. Latin and German were the only languages heard in church until 1890, when the Celebrant began delivering sermons in English on alternating Sundays. Our parish abandoned the use of German altogether during the first World War. Today, like most parishes, St. Michael the Archangel has lost its ethnic character and enjoys wide diversity among its 1200 families. In fact, Rev. Stephen Rooney, pastor from 1995-2008, is a native of Belfast in the north of Ireland. Although Fr. Rooney speaks fluent English, Irish, Italian and Latin and may even be able to order dinner in a French 
oldest Catholic Church in Monroe County, Michigan. The movement to establish the parish began in 1845 when 14 German immigrant families, longing for an opportunity to worship in their native tongue, petitioned the Bishop of Detroit for authority to build a church. Five prominent families contributed a total of $2,000 for the land for the development, which they purchased in July of 1852, from the estate of Monroe’s first mayor. The mayor’s palatial residence was remodeled for use as a temporary church and was consecrated on the Feast of Saint Michael, Michaelmas, September 29, 1852. The cornerstone for the present church was laid on June 12, 1866, and the building was consecrated in October, 1867. The 187-foot steeple was added in 1883. The cost of the 
church, including the steeple and three magnificent bells for the tower, totaled a mere $40,000. Our three-story, brick rectory was built in 1874 for $5,000, and our original school was built in 1918 -- and both continue to serve the staff and parishioners of St. Michael.
restaurant, he is not known to speak a lick of German! The parishioners and staff of St. Michael are proud of the many sacrifices and achievements of those who came before us. We celebrated the 150th anniversary of the parish in September of 2002. More information about the rich history of Saint Michael the Archangel can be found in the commemorative book "Partners in Faith: 150 Years of Saint Michael the Archangel Catholic Church" which is available at the rectory or by calling 241-8645.