St. Elizabeth Catholic Community

During the first quarter of this century the Catholic population of the areas in and around Old Wyandotte had grown rapidly and was straining the resources of the existing parishes in the area. Bishop Michael J. Gallagher took steps to relieve the overflow from the mother churches in Old Wyandotte by establishing St. Elizabeth Church on February 11, 1924, in the recently annexed Ford City section.

Father John C. Palmer, previously pastor of Immaculate Conception Parish, Lapeer, was appointed first pastor and directed to minister to the needs of the Catholics in the new parish boundaries. With no church or rectory out of which to work, Father Palmer lived for a short time with his close friend Father Fisher in St. Patrick's rectory until suitable quarters could be found in the parish.

Some of the earliest masses were offered in the Labadie School on Goddard Road until permission was received from the City of Wyandotte administration to use the Community Hall (fire house) on the corner of Biddle and Goddard Road. In a very short time Father Palmer established a rectory in a rented house directly behind the Community Hall and thus was better able to direct the growth of the fledgling Catholic parish. Many of the early parishioners were former members of St. Patrick Church and St. Francis Xavier Church, Ecorse. The convenience of a church so close to home undoubtedly helped to increase membership.

A new rectory was established in 1925 on the northeast corner of Goddell and Second Streets. This structure served the needs of the parish until 1964, when a new modern rectory was built on the same site.

Father Palmer, to meet the need for Christian education in the community, in 1925 established a parish school. It was only for the first three grades and classes were held in the upper rooms of the Community Hall. The Sisters of St. Joseph, Nazareth, had charge. The idea of a parish school was worthy indeed but unfortunately the parish did not yet have the resources to make the school a success and it had to be discontinued after three years.

By 1926, the parish had outgrown the space in the Community Hall; and with a desire for their own church, the financial obligation of a new church building was assumed by the parish. The church was built on the northwest corner of First and Goddell Streets and served as the parish center of worship until early 1955, and then as a parish youth center until it was leveled in early February of 1972.

Father Palmer, with unswerving faith, worked tirelessly to minister to the faithful of the young growing parish. Ill health, however, overtook him and forced him to resign from active pastoral work in 1934. He was called to his eternal reward on August 6, 1952. May he rest in peace.

In December of 1934, Father Leo J. Zindler was appointed pastor of the parish. Father Zindler's pastorate covered over fourteen years. During this period he lead St. Elizabeth Parish out of its infancy and through two great historical events of the century; the Depression of the 30's and World War II of the 40's. Despite the serious economic disruptions of this period, the parish debt was retired and a surplus of approximately $200,000.00 was accumulated. This laid a solid financial foundation for the acquisition of the properties for the school, convent, and today's church. These accomplishments are not only a testimony to the zealous efforts of Father Zindler but also to the generosity and selfless spirit shown by the parishioners of St. Elizabeth.

During Father Zindler's administration, the parish family continued to grow so that by 1940, the parish was assigned its first assistant pastor in the person of Father Ferdinand DeCneudt, the first of several assistants to follow. Father DeCneudt served the parish for 2 and a half years, doing exceptionally great work with the youth of the parish. He was succeeded by Father John G. VanAntwerp in September of 1942, and remained here for five years assisting with the many pastoral requirements.

Because of the growing number of Italian speaking families settling in the parish, an Italian speaking assistant was assigned in May of 1947. This was Father Charles J. DeSantis. Father DeSantis served the parish faithfully for the next three years and added immeasurably to parish development.

By 1949, illness forced Father Zindler to retire from active parish work, but not before he witnessed the ground-breaking ceremonies in January 1949, for a new parish school and convent. Father Zindler continued to live in the community for approximately eighteen years after his retirement. He continued to do the work of God by becoming specially attached to the sick and invalid of the area and was a frequent visitor to Wyandotte General Hospital. His portrait, even today, is on display in the hospital's main lobby. Father Zindler was called to rest from his earthly labors at the age of 84 on May 18, 1967. May he rest in peace.

In March of 1949, Father Bernard Loeher was appointed pastor. The school and convent construction program continued aggressively with his leadership so that they were both completed and in use by September of 1950. The Sisters of St. Joseph once again became a part of the parish scene as they undertook the task of providing a Christian education program for approximately 400 children of the parish. Because of the deep faith, devotion, and generosity of the good people of the parish, one of the long awaited needs of this Catholic community was finally fulfilled.

A new associate pastor, Father Peter S. Lentine, arrived at St. Elizabeth in June 1950, to replace Father DeSantis. Following his four years as pastor of St. Elizabeth, Father Loeher was reassigned to assume the duties as pastor of All Saints Parish, Detroit, in June of 1953. A few of the highlights during his pastorate at St. Elizabeth were: school and convent completed, the old church repainted and redecorated, and the lot on the southeast corner of Second and Goddell Streets (where present church now stands) was converted to a parking lot. Father Loeher is now retired and resides at 8650 Harding Street, Centerline, Michigan.

Father James P. McCabe was now appointed pastor in September of 1953, and he continued to develop the spiritual and physical growth of the parish with the same tireless zeal shown by his predecessors. One of his early pastoral accomplishments was to better communicate with his parishioners by publishing a weekly bulletin containing only parish announcements and commentary on Christian Doctrine. His next major project is the one for which he will be best remembered--our present church.

The parish community of St. Elizabeth by now had grown to about 900 families and the need for a larger house of worship had become quite evident. Through Father McCabe's leadership and motivation, the parish embraced the idea of a new church and showed their support by pledging a total of $114,000.00. Ground breaking ceremonies took place on July 27, 1954. The cornerstone was laid on October 3, 1954, and the first Mass was offered on Holy Thursday, 1955. His Eminence, Edward Cardinal Mooney presided at the official dedication of our new St. Elizabeth Church on October 17, 1955. Father Lentine returned to preach the sermon for this ceremony since he had recently been transferred to Assumption Grotto Parish, Detroit. He is presently pastor of St. Philomene Parish, Detroit.

The distinction of being the shortest termed assistant at the parish rests with Father Norman P. Thomas who served from June 12 to September 18, 1955, when he was appointed assistant at St. Michael Church, Pontiac. Father Mario DiGiulio was then assigned to St. Elizabeth Church.

One of Father DiGiulio's activities was to assume the duties as spiritual director of the Legion of Mary, which was introduced into the parish by Father McCabe in February of 1954. Sensing the need for an organization to minister to the corporal needs of the parish and surrounding area, Father McCabe also founded a local chapter of The Society of St. Vincent de Paul in November of 1956.

On May 19, 1957, Father McCabe celebrated the twenty-fifth anniversary of his ordination to the Priesthood. In 1962, His Holiness POPE JOHN XXIII, who elevated him to the rank of Domestic Prelate (Monsignor), bestowed a second honor upon him.

After serving the parish for nearly four years, Father DiGiulio was reassigned to be associate pastor of St. Ignatius Parish, Detroit, in June of 1959. He was best remembered for his work with the Knights of the Altar, the Legion of Mary, and certainly his beautiful sermons. His replacement was Father Ernest Porcari, newly ordained from St. John Seminary, Plymouth. The parish administration continued with one assistant until June of 1963, when Archbishop Dearden assigned newly ordained Father Joseph L. Romano to the parish. In September, 1963, construction began on a new rectory to replace the old frame structure that had housed our priests since the very first days of the parish. During construction, the priests temporarily moved to 1124 First Street until completion of the new rectory in June of 1964.

Father Porcari never had the opportunity to live in the new rectory since he was reassigned as associate pastor to St. Clement Parish, Dearborn, in May of 1964. Father Porcari faithfully served the parish for five years, showing extraordinary zeal in developing an adult education program and strengthening the senior high school student C.C.D. program. He also initiated the summer Vacation Bible School Program. One month later, June 1964, Father Casimir Butkus was appointed associate pastor at St. Elizabeth Parish.

The first of many changes to affect the parish community as a result of Vatican II occurred on Easter Sunday, April 18, 1965, when the first complete Mass in the English language was offered in St. Elizabeth Church.

It was also in April 1965, that St. Elizabeth Parish joined four other Wyandotte parishes in support of a new area "central" Catholic high school to be known as Gabriel Richard High School. The new school was needed because St. Patrick, servicing the high school students from its surrounding parishes, was phasing out its high school program. The first freshman class of Gabriel Richard High School attended classes at St. Patrick's for the first school year of 1965-66. All classes were transferred to the new building with the start of classes in the 1966-67 school year.

In the fall of 1966, St. Elizabeth, under the leadership of Father Romano, joined several other Wyandotte parishes to combine their resources and provide a better C.C.D. program for the public high school students. The new catechism program became known as the Catholic Student Education Program. The first classes of this program were held at St. Elizabeth School beginning with the January, 1967, semester and then transferred to Gabriel Richard High School in the fall of 1967.

After having served the parish with great devotion and untiring enthusiasm for six years, Father Romano was reassigned to St. Thomas Aquinas Parish, Detroit, in June of 1969. During his stay at St. Elizabeth he worked very actively with the youth of both the parish school and the C.C.D. and C.S.E.P. programs. Father Romano is presently co-pastor of St. Agatha Parish, Detroit.

A few weeks later, on July 6, 1969, our pastor, Monsignor McCabe, announced his retirement primarily because of ill health. Monsignor McCabe had now shepherded the parish for sixteen years, the longest tenure for any pastor to date. His retirement easily aroused mixed emotions; the parish was losing a man who had been a truly concerned Father to all of us over the years, but on the other hand, after thirty-seven years in the service of God he surely deserved a time free of the worries and burdens of pastoral work. Monsignor McCabe's earthly retirement was quickly interrupted when the Lord called him to his eternal reward on November 5, 1969, at the age of 66. The parish community at the passing away of the most gentle and holy man experienced a deep sense of mourning. May he rest in peace!

Father Bernard D. LaBelle was reassigned from Nativity Parish, Detroit, to assume the pastor duties at St. Elizabeth in July 1969. Father LaBelle's first task was to carry out an Archdiocesan directive to form a Parish Council. This was implemented by the formation of a Steering Committee in mid summer to workout the details of organization. Their work culminated with a parish election in which eleven Council representatives were chosen on November 16, 1969. The installation ceremonies were held November 30, 1969, with Father LaBelle presiding.

In December, 1969, the parish acquired the services of a full time Music Director-Liturgist in the person of Mr. Eugene Murphy. He served the parish in this capacity until his acceptance of the same position at St. Clement's, Dearborn, in March, 1974.

In March, 1970, the Parish Council was faced with a most difficult decision concerning the future of St. Elizabeth's grade school. The Sisters of St. Joseph had announced that they could no longer service our school after the end of the school year. In cooperation with St. Joseph's and St. Patrick's, the three schools combined their resources and formed the Wyandotte Catholic Consolidated School System. St. Elizabeth's was to house two classrooms of grades one through five; St. Joseph's was to house two classrooms of grades six through eight. The two school buildings opened in September 1970, under this new organization.

The parish suffered a further setback in October, 1970, when our one remaining associate pastor, Father Butkus, was assigned as Chaplain of Oakwood Hospital, Dearborn. Father Butkus served the longest period of any assistant at St. Elizabeth, six years and four months. The pastor and parishioners doubly missed him since the Archdiocese informed us that there would be no replacement.

On December 6, 1970, the parish witnessed another milestone in its history; the commissioning ceremony of ten laymen as Extraordinary Ministers of the Eucharist. St. Elizabeth was the first parish in Wyandotte, and among the first in the Archdiocese, to use Lay Ministers. During the Christmas season of 1970, the church organ failed and was in need of very extensive repairs. In January 1971, the Parish Council authorized a funding campaign to purchase a new organ to be dedicated to the memory of Monsignor McCabe.

However, within a few weeks, the parish was stunned by the death of Father LaBelle after a brief illness. Father LaBelle died on February 14, 1971, having served the parish only nineteen months. Father LaBelle embraced the Priesthood of the Lord for thirty-two years and was 57 years old when called to his eternal reward. Father LaBelle shall always be remembered for his steadying influence on the parish as he came to his new assignment at a critical time in our parish life. He took capable command of the administration of the parish and rose whenever possible to the demands, needs, and desires of his flock. We will always remember him with gratitude as a witty, yet very priestly man. May he rest in peace!

Father Kevin O'Doherty of the Mariannhill Fathers was appointed Administrator of the Parish after the death of Father LaBelle, until April 14, 1971, when Father George Fortuna was newly appointed pastor. Father Fortun,a former associate pastor at Sacred Heart Parish, Dearborn, continues as the present pastor. On November 7, 1971, the parish community was privileged to host the celebration honoring the twenty-fifth Anniversary of Ordination of Father Casimir Butkus. A Mass of Thanksgiving and a reception in the school hall was given in his honor.

The Parish Council, in early 1972, started to take action to reduce unnecessary expenses and improve the financial position of the parish. The first was a decision to level the old church building, which had not been used for several years and was in need of extensive repairs. An atmosphere of nostalgia prevailed as the work of razing was begun on February 14, 1972. This marked the closing of another era in the history of the parish with only the bell and cross remaining as reminders of the hard work, prayer, and sacrifice of the founding parishioners.

On April 21, 1972, Father Marc Son, from the diocese of Suwan, Korea, arrived at St. Elizabeth as part of an Archdiocesan program of introducing foreign priests to American parish ways. Father Son quickly improved on the language barrier and was soon assisting with parish work. He was a familiar sight in the community, pedaling along on his bicycle. Father Son left in May, 1973, to return to his native land.

In the fall of 1972, the parish school situation further deteriorated as enrollments continued to decline. After careful deliberation and considering the welfare of the total parish community, the Parish Council voted to withdraw from the Wyandotte Catholic Consolidated School. So, with much sadness, our parish school was once again forced to close its doors just as it had done forty-four years ago. The Organ Fund, started in early 1971, reached its goal during the passing year. On October 15, 1972, an inspiring dedication program was held. It was highlighted by a choral program, Mass of Thanksgiving, organ concert, and the dedication ceremonies. The memorial plaque honored the memory of our two deceased pastors, Monsignor McCabe and Father LaBelle. Also inscribed on the plaque were the names of all the parishioners whose generosity made the new organ possible. The response of the parish was a testimony to their faith and belief in the importance of music in the Liturgy. The spirit of Christian renewal touched St. Elizabeth Parish in a special way in May of 1973 when a Charismatic Renewal Prayer Group was established in the parish. Chapter 19 of Acts, 1-6, relates to us the need to allow the Holy Spirit to work for the good of the church through its members, and the Renewal Group seeks to do this in its own special way. During this Golden Jubilee Year, the steering committee arranged a continuing schedule of events to mark this joyous occasion. The first event was a special Mass on April 28th with Father William Murphy, Vicar of the Downriver Vicariate, concelebrating with Father Fortuna. Also, several former priests who served the parish in the past returned to offer Mass and renew old acquaintances at the receptions that followed. Continuing the festive spirit, a Fall Festival was held on the grounds the weekend of September 20, 21, 22, and included a spaghetti dinner on Sunday afternoon. During this Golden Jubilee Year the parish had the honor of celebrating the ordination of its first priest. Father Tony Litwinski, who had been away to Rome for his theology studies, was ordained to the priesthood August 2, 1974, by Bishop Krawchak at Our Lady of Good Council, Plymouth, Michigan. On the following Sunday, August 4, 1974, the parish joined with him in celebrating his first Mass. The feast of Christ the King on November 24, 1974, was a fitting date to close the Golden Year. The solemnity of the occasion was highlighted by a con celebrated Mass with Father Fortuna, Father Kopek, and Bishop Imesch presiding as the representative of Cardinal Dearden. And, finally, on this day, the parish community who has been bound together through the Body of Christ at St. Elizabeth Parish for the past fifty years sat down together at the Jubilee Banquet of Thanksgiving. The past fifty years at St. Elizabeth Parish have been good, fruitful years that have seen God's blessings returned to us ten-fold. We have especially favored with the dedicated people He has sent to minister to us during this first half-century of growth. Let us all pray that God will continue to shower his graces and blessings on our community through the continuing action of the Holy Spirit for the second half-century.