St. Augustine Cathedral Parish celebrates 150 years

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“The year 1856 witnessed two significant events in Kalamazoo. On Aug. 27, a little known lawyer from Illinois, Abraham Lincoln, spoke at a rally in Bronson Park. He spoke in support of the Republican presidential nominee, John Fremont, and in opposition to slavery. The second event occurred on Jan. 22 in the form of a letter from the bishop of Detroit, Peter Lefevère. His letter established St. Augustine, Kalamazoo, as a parish with a modest congregation of 47 families which grew over the next 150 years to the current 830 families.

“Since long before the parish church of St. Augustine became the cathedral of the newly created Diocese of Kalamazoo in 1971, it has stood at the center of the Catholic community of southwest Michigan. In the face of many challenges, God has never abandoned us; the priests, religious and parishioners have found strength in their unity and have remained steadfast in their resolve. With profound gratitude to God and to those who have gone before us, we celebrate with the greatest expression of gratitude – the Most Holy Eucharist.”

– excerpted from Bishop Murray’s homily at St. Augustine Cathedral Parish on Sunday, Oct. 15, 2006.

Throughout 2006, the parish has observed its 150th anniversary in various ways. In conclusion of the year’s celebration, on Oct. 15, 2006, parishioners gathered for Mass, followed by a special dinner at the Father Crowley Center.

A brief history of Church of Kalamazoo

The story of the Catholic Church in Kalamazoo – indeed in Southwestern Michigan – centers in the mother church, St. Augustine. It is probable that early missionaries knew the locality even before the founding of the village in 1829. The Pottawatamie Indians were among the first of the Indian converts. The first Catholic white man to settle permanently in Kalamazoo was Dennis Talbot, and the first Mass of record was said in 1832 by Father De Seille in the Talbot home. Other Catholic families gradually came to the area until in 1843 a regular mission was established in the village, placed under the jurisdiction of Father Sorin, founder of Notre Dame University.

In 1852, 20 years after the first Mass, the first Catholic church was built – a 30 feet by 20 feet structure located on West Kalamazoo Ave. The mission continued until the first resident pastor, Fr. Anthony Label, was appointed and assumed his new duties in 1856. His parish was a formidable one: in addition to Kalamazoo County, it included the counties of Van Buren and Allegan; later St. Joseph and Barry Counties, and temporarily, Berrien County. Its congregation included 47 families.

There were also regularly established missions in many of the young communities adjacent to Kalamazoo. A myriad of problems beset Fr. Label as he traveled over muddy, icy and sometimes nonexistent roads, ministering to his scattered flock. Debt always rode with him; he sold his watch to satisfy insistent parish creditors and twice sold his horse and buggy. In 1862, Kalamazoo saw its first religious vocation as young John McManus entered Notre Dame to study for the priesthood. Fr. McManus duties took him to the Deep South where the Church was in sore need of missionaries.

Meanwhile, the little church, which had been outgrown and was considered unsafe, was replaced by a larger brick church on the same location. Its building presented financial difficulties not anticipated by either the pastor or the congregation, but the new church was eventually completed and dedicated in 1869.

In 1883, following Fr. Label’s death and a period of short-term administrators, a dynamic young priest named Fr. Francis O’Brien was placed in charge. His pastorate was destined to last 38 years, and during that time he changed the face of Catholicism in Kalamazoo. He encouraged Eucharistic devotion, and among other things, oversaw the building of a new rectory, school and convent. In 1889, at Fr. O’Brien’s request, the Sisters of St. Joseph arrived from Watertown, N.Y., and undertook the establishment of Borgess Hospital, where Fr. O’Brien later died at age 71.

In 1923, Fr. John R. Hackett came to the parish reluctantly, fortified by the assurance that he would be transferred for at the end of two years – not anticipating he would be its beloved pastor for 30 years. Upon the arrival of Fr. Hackett, a survey of parish needs indicated an extensive building program. It was decided to begin with the erection of a new high school on West Michigan Ave., completed in 1926. In 1937, Pope Pius XI established the Diocese of Lansing and the first bishop, the Most Rev. Joseph Albers, appointed Fr. Hackett Vicar General of the diocese. A new grade school, adjoining the high school, was completed in 1939.

In 1950 the plans for the current church left the drawing boards and took shape in stone and brick. The cornerstone was laid by Bishop Albers Aug. 13, 1950, and the formal dedication took place on Dec. 4, 1951. Four years later, in 1955, Msgr. Charles Keating was appointed pastor, and he served for 16 years.

On Dec. 19, 1970, Pope Paul VI created the Diocese of Kalamazoo from the Diocese of Lansing and the Diocese of Grand Rapids. On June 15, 1971, Most. Rev. Paul V. Donovan was ordained its first bishop and St. Augustine Church became St. Augustine Cathedral. Fr. Crowley, who had replaced Msgr. Keating as pastor of the St. Augustine Parish, was the first rector of the newly consecrated cathedral.

On May 13, 1980, a destructive tornado slammed into the St. Augustine Cathedral and School. Thankfully, no one was injured. Subsequently, the cathedral was renovated and then rededicated on July 21, 1989, the 18th anniversary of the diocese.

Bishop Donovan led the Diocese of Kalamazoo for more than 20 years before retiring in 1994. Bishop Donavan’s successor, Bishop Alfred J. Markiewicz, was afflicted with poor health and died Jan. 9, 1997, at age 68. A year later, on Jan. 27, 1998, Bishop James A. Murray was ordained the third bishop of Kalamazoo. Under his leadership, the diocese has continued to develop in many ways. Today, the Diocese of Kalamazoo, which encompasses nine counties in southwestern Michigan, includes 46 parishes, 13 missions and a Catholic population of more than 110,000.

 

© Diocese of Kalamazoo 2007