St. Joseph Shrine Parish, Brooklyn at 8743 US-12, Brooklyn, MI 49230 US - Our Church History
| Our Church History |
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| St. Joseph Church Christmas Morning 1914 |
In the 1700's the French "black robes" were the first Catholics in the area now called Michigan. The earliest Catholic community in this area is recorded in the late 1790's...they were the Potowatami Indians. They were under the pastoral care of Father Gabriel Richard, pastor of St. Anne's in Fort Detroit. Father Richard's ministry included several other small communities between Detroit and Benton Harbor. Highway U.S. 12 originated through Father Richard's influence in Congress, thus the creation of the Detroit-Chicago Road. Trade and settlements increased in earnest. The increase in summer residents and visitors continues today as some families have used the same cottage for four and five generations. Michigan International Speedway and other summer recreational opportunities attract thousands more. St. Joseph Shrine originated as a missionary church during the 1850's. Priests from Adrian, Clinton, Manchester, Tecumseh and Monroe served the parish until the first resident priest arrived in 1954.
The original church, which is still part of the present structure, was constructed starting in 1854 by Irish pioneers. In 1863 the first Mass was held in the church. The tower and stained glass windows were added in 1911. In 1928, Father Joseph Pfeffer from St. Mary's in Manchester served here and oversaw the enlargement and remodeling of the church to its present form. The transept was built and nave enlarged, transforming the church to a cruciform plan. The red tile roof, the tower and use of mosaic tile and wrought iron in the interior give the church its Spanish Mission flavor.
As part of the 1928 expansion of St. Joseph Shrine, a shrine - inspired by the grotto at Our Lady of Lourdes in France - was designed. In 1932 work on the outdoor stations of the cross began along the south shore of Iron Lake. This longtime dream of Father Pfeffer became reality as Leo Ouellette, Ralph Corona, Dionysius Rodriquez, Father J. P. Eppenbrock, J. Wuest and several men of the area carried the undertaking through to completion. One of the unique characteristics of the project is the sculpturing of concrete to resemble wooden timber. The Rectory, Rectory Hall and Parish Offices were built during the time of Father Henry Hengehold, the first resident pastor.
In order to meet the needs of the increasing number of summer residents and visitors the Parish Hall, located on U.S. 12 and Egan Highway, was built during the pastorate of Father James Fitzgerald, in 1968-1969. Previous to that, "tent meeting" liturgies were held in the middle section of the parish cemetery. In 1990, the parish hall was enlarged and updated. The building was renamed St. Joseph Family Center.
In January 2007 our church was added to the National Register of Historic Places.