| 1788 - Parish of
St. Mary founded by French Canadian Catholics, named St. Antoine (St.
Anthony) of the River Raisin 1794 -
First pastor arrives, Fr. Edmund Burke, from Quebec
1817 - Monroe County established
1829 - Second church building -
"Fairgrounds church" built
1839 - Third parish church built on current
site at Elm & Monroe
1845 - St. Antoine renamed to St. Mary of
the Immaculate Conception
1845 - Fr. Gillet establishes IHM religious
order of women
1861 - 1865 Civil War soldiers drill and
camp on church grounds
1888 - St. Mary parish 100 Year Anniversary
Celebration
1889 - The Recording Angel statue dedicated
1904 - New sanctuary completed and
dedicated
1910 - The Sacred Heart Institute built,
school for students
1914 - 125th Parish Anniversary celebration
1918 - New rectory built and old 1871
Victorian one dismantled
1921 -Additional classrooms added to the
Sacred Heart Institute
1928 - New organ installed in choir loft of
church
1942 - Fr. Henry DeGryse dies after 29
years as pastor
1954 - New school building added to parish
by Fr. R. Francis Paquette
1955 - Sisters' house purchased on Borgess
Avenue
1959 - Monument and memorial unveiled at
original parish site of St. Antoine during Michigan Week
1965 - Religious Pre-school classes begun
1968 - Fr. Carl Gentner installed as pastor
1970's - John Raymond begins as parish
Organist and Music Director and Beth Dusseau begins as Choir Director
1975 - Parish Council organized from
parishioners
1987 - Arrival of Fr. Brian Chabala as 21st
Pastor of St. Mary Parish. Large scale renovation begins! Parish
Celebrates Mass in St. Mary Academy auditorium
1987 - Sister Margaret Cutcher retires as
Principal of St. Mary Parish School.
1987 - Mary Ann Lipinski becomes the new
Principal.
1988 - 200 Years of Catholic Faith
Celebrated by St. Mary Parish Renovated church rededicated by newly
named Edmund Cardinal Szoka 1988 -
Ceramic mosaics of St. Mary and St. Antoine of Padua installed in front
niches of church 1997 – Arrival of
our 22nd Pastor, Fr. Anthony Sulkowski Sister Geraldine Nowak, OSF,
resigns as Pastoral Associate and is succeeded by Sister Jean O’Connor.
1998 - Dedication of the Parish Life Center,
gym and section of St. Mary School and Religious Education Offices
2002 – Church Bell tower glass window is
replaced by large mosaic of Jesus Christ
2002 - Arrival of our 23rd Pastor, Fr.
Timothy Babcock 2003– Sister Jean
O’Connor, IHM, St. Mary Pastoral Associate, retired and was succeeded by
Sister Carmela Whitton, OSF
2004 - Our parish's 216th year of faith,
an ongoing history.... 2005 -
Arrival of our 24th Pastor, Fr. Marc Gawronski | 
