St. Joseph Parish, Jackson at 705 N Waterloo St, Jackson, MI 49202-3472 US - Our Church History...
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Our Church History...
Color Photos by: Joseph Ziepiela |
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| Photos by: Joseph Ziepiela |
St. Joseph Parish was organized in 1901 through the efforts of about sixty-five Polish families eager to establish a parish, which would serve the Polish-speaking people who had immigrated to Jackson during the late 1800’s and early 1900’s. Though the parish was organized in 1901, it was not until 1902 that Bishop John S. Foley of Detroit and the Polish community in Jackson reached agreement and authorization for the parish establishment was given. As resident pastor, Bishop Foley appointed Father Joseph F. Herr, at the time assistant at St. Casimir’s church in Detroit.
The first mass at St. Joseph Parish was celebrated on October 2, 1902, and the site was White Hall (the location of the former White’s Drug Store near downtown Jackson). When the time came to select a site on which to establish the new parish, Bishop Foley himself came to Jackson and walked from St. John’s church to what is now the intersection of Waterloo Avenue and Leroy Street. There the Bishop stopped, sat down and said “This is far enough. Build here." There on the site of the former Potter estate was erected the original St. Joseph Church, which was completed in 1904.
The original church was built under the direction and guidance of its first resident pastor, Father Herr, with much of the preparatory work and landscaping done by the parishioners themselves. The building of the original church began the tradition of lay participation and involvement in the work of the parish, a tradition carried on today by the present parishioners.
Reminiscent of the old structures and cathedrals of Europe, so much a part of the Poles쳌Ereligious heritage, the first St. Joseph Church structure was built in the Romanesque and Gothic style of architecture. The first St. Joseph Church was dedicated December 5, 1905. Though the parish was led through the early part of the last century by many reverent and caring pastors, the most dynamic and longest serving of those were Father Joseph Przybylski who was named pastor of St. Joseph parish in May of 1925 and recently retired Father Marian J. Lesniak who pastured from July, 1963 until October 2, 2002.
Under the nearly forty years of leadership provided by Father Przybylski, St. Joseph parish saw growth and change in both the spiritual and material aspects of the parish. By 1939 Father Przybylski oversaw the first of two major redecorations of St. Joseph Church that took place during his pastorate. By 1948, Father Przybylski was ready to celebrate the 25th anniversary of his ordination. Parishioners and friends joined in the celebration and the school children presented a special presentation dealing with Father Przybylski’s life since his assignment to St. Joseph parish some thirteen years earlier.
A few years later in October of 1952 the parish celebrated its Golden Jubilee of it’s founding. At the time of the Golden Jubilee celebration the parish was debt free and it’s mortgage had been paid in full. At the time of the jubilee celebration the church had nearly 900 members, representing some 225 families. In 1955 the parish constructed a new convent at the corner of East Avenue and Leroy Street and in 1960 a new rectory was built on the site of the old rectory at the corner of Waterloo Avenue and Leroy Street. The parish had continued to grow at a rapid pace and by 1960 had some 498 registered families thanks to the guidance of Father Przybylski. But in 1963, failing health forced Father Przybylski to retire from the parish work that he knew and loved, leaving behind nearly 700 Catholic families.
On July 22, 1963 Father Marian J. Lesniak was appointed pastor of St. Joseph parish. Prior to assuming his pastorate at St. Joseph’s Father Lesniak was associate pastor at St. Stanislaus parish for eight years. Father Lesniak continued the tradition and interest of the former pastors in fostering the best in Catholic education in St. Joseph parish and also providing the best possible physical environment for the students of St. Joseph School. In 1967, under the leadership of Father Lesniak plans were made for the building of a new, more modern St. Joseph Church and on January 20 and 21, 1967 the original St. Joseph church was razed to make room for the parishes new place of worship.
While the new church was being constructed the congregation used the parish social hall in the basement of the St. Joseph school as a temporary place of worship. The new church was completed and dedicated on Mothers Day, May 12, 1968 by the Most Reverend Alexander Zaleski, Bishop of Lansing. Having a new and beautiful church and sanctuary in which mass could be offered with maximum participation of the congregation caused the parish to grow and develop. By October 3, 1977 the parish numbered 902 registered families. Growth such as this was but a dream when those original forty-five families organized the parish in 1901, and that dream is still alive today in the current congregation.
Today the people of St. Joseph parish are still a vibrant and living testament to all those who came before. Recently the parish undertook yet another “building project쳌Eunder the leadership of Father Lesniak. In honor of those who founded the parish and to thank the God for all of the blessings he has bestowed upon St. Joseph parish throughout the past one hundred years a shrine honoring the Holy Family of Jesus, the Blessed Virgin Mary and St. Joseph the patron saint of the parish was built. Bishop of Lansing Carl Mengeling prior to the Centennial Mass officially dedicated the Holy Family shrine on October 2, 2002.
This was a bittersweet occasion for the entire parish as this also marked the end of the pastorate at St. Joseph’s for Father Lesniak who retired following the mass after nearly forty years of service. Under Father Lesniak leadership St. Joseph parish and school continued to thrive and be a vital presence in the Jackson community. Father Mike Petroski was handed the the tough job of following Father Lesniak as a temporary administrator until Father Louis Madey was assingned permanent pastor of the parish.
Although Father Louis Madey was our pastor for only a short time he made his presence known. A man of great learning, he was not afraid to defend the true teachings of the Church. His strong leadership brought this parish to a new position in the community as an unabashed source for authoritative magisterial teachings of the Catholic Church. With his infectious positive attitude and energy he brought new life to the parish community.
This brings us to today, where St. Joseph parish has been placed into the caring hands of our new parish pastor, Father James Shaver. Already a farmiliar presence during mass and confession here at St. Joseph he is well liked for his strong sense of compassion and good-natured enthusiasm.
We welcome our new Pastor praying for God’s blessings upon him as he begins his pastorate at St. Joseph parish.