History of the Diocese of Kalamazoo

The first official Mission in this corner of Michigan was on the shore of Lake Michigan -- in the settlement of St. Joseph -- in 1690. It was named the parish of St. Joseph in 1720.

This peninsula area has a background rich in history and ecclesiastical roots. French explorers from New France (Canada) with Jesuit missionaries, followed by the Franciscan missionaries, brought the Good News of Jesus Christ to the Northwest Territory, including the Michigan Territory. These missionaries were under the Bishop of Quebec. After the American Revolution, all Catholics in this new country came under the See of Baltimore with its first American bishop, John Carroll.

As Catholic migrants joined the wagon trains into the vast lands of the West, many were attracted by the rich farmland of the Michigan plains and the 725 lakes of the Michigan Territory. Deciding to call this area "home", they developed small vibrant towns, the centers for farming communities, and grew rapidly. Berrien County is reputed to grow the greatest variety of crops of any single county in this country.

Native Americans, with over 4,350 living in this nine-county area hold a very special part of its history. The Potawatomi, Ottawa and Chippawa are but three of fifteen different tribes represented. The land on which the present Sacred Heart of Mary Church in Silver Creek dates back to a church hewn on forty acres of land deeded to the Bishop of Detroit through a the Chicago Treaty of 1833 between Chief Leopold Pokagon and the U.S. Government.

By the time the area was established as the Diocese of Kalamazoo in 1971, many middle-sized cities and small rural towns existed through the area. The first tasks of the diocese included setting up traditional basic diocesan offices and developing a sense of needs throughout the parishes. A full set of ministry offices were created to serve the various needs of education, lay ministry, special needs ministry, liturgical development, and spiritual direction. The enduring mission of Jesus is envisioned and summarized in all three of the bishops' mottos: Service, through peace, embodied in a joyful spirit.

Founding of the Diocese of Kalamazoo

The Catholic Diocese of Kalamazoo was founded on July 21, 1971. The Second Vatican Council called for the creation of smaller diocese so that bishops could be more available to the people they serve. Five Michigan bishops, the National Council of Catholic Bishop and the Holy Father reviewed a three-year study of existing boundaries and suggestions of realignment of or development of new dioceses in Michigan. This resulted in the creation of two new dioceses in Michigan: The Diocese of Gaylord and the Diocese of Kalamazoo.

It was a memorable and exciting day on July 21, 1971, when the Apostolic Delegate of the United States, Archbishop Luigi Raimondi, read the Executive Decree, creating the Diocese of Kalamazoo. John Cardinal Dearden of Detroit, then ordained Paul V. Donovan as the first bishop of the Diocese of Kalamazoo

The newly created diocese encompassed 5,337 square miles of nine counties in southwest Michigan: Allegan, Barry, Van Buren, Kalamazoo, Calhoun, Berrien, Cass, St. Joseph and Branch. Catholics in the diocese numbered 83,000 and has expanded to 119,00 in 1999.

The Diocese of Kalamazoo has grown 46 parishes, 13 missions, 44 priests, and 23 deacons. It has 7 religious orders working in non-parish ministries. It operates three Catholic high schools and twenty-one elementary schools serving more than 5,000 students throughout the diocese. Three Catholic hospitals serve the health care ministry in the diocese.

Bishops of the Diocese of Kalamazoo

The Most Rev. Paul V. Donovan
Installed: July 21, 1971 - served to 1996.
Celebrated Silver Jubilee as Bishop
Motto: "TO SERVE RATHER THAN BE SERVED."

The Most Rev. Alfred J. Markiewicz
Installed: January 31, 1995 -- died on Jan. 8, 1997
Beloved among the people during short tenure.
Motto: "An Instrument of Your Peace."

The Most Rev. James A. Murray
Installed: January 27, 1998 -- present bishop of the diocese
A Splendid Gift
Motto: "Rejoice in the Lord Always."