St. Paul the Apostle
121 N. Union St. Ithaca, MI 48847
St. Paul’s origins date back to mid-1900s. On Pentecost Sunday, June 1, 1952 more than 200 people attended the first Mass at the newly organized Catholic mission church of St. Paul the Apostle in downtown Ithaca. Father Paul E. Foster greeted everyone as the 9 a.m. Sunday morning service began. The Catholic Church of St. Paul the Apostle became a reality. That first Mass was offered in a vacated auto dealership building on Pine River Street. Prior to that time, Catholics in the area traveled to Alma, St. Louis or Bannister. But, now they had their own parish…albeit without a proper church building.
It didn’t take long, however, for the younger parish to raise funds to build a church. In September of 1952, Father Charles L. Ganley replaced Father Foster and a year later in May of 1953 ground was broken for a new colonial-style church to be built on the corner of Emerson and Union streets. On Sunday, Nov. 8, 1953, Father Ganley sang the first Latin High Mass in the almost completed church, preceded by a blessing of the interior. However, formal dedication ceremonies were held June 29, 1954. Bishop Woznicki celebrated the Mass, Speaking in both Latin and Polish. It was a glorious day for all those who had worked so hard to see that a proper church was built in Ithaca. The church featured 10 stained glass windows, a choir loft, and a basement meeting hall.
It was in 1964 that new liturgical rules were implemented governing the Mass being celebrated in English versus Latin, having the congregation and not just the choir participate during Mass, having other musical instruments besides the organ played during Mass, and new rules for fasting and abstinence. These changes evolved out of the Second Vatican Council and were implemented world-wide throughout all Catholic churches.
In the 1960s the small Ithaca parish grew–grew so much that it outgrew its new building. It also needed religious education classrooms and a parish hall. Occasional downpours tended to flood the basement which was used as a community hall for the church. Functions scheduled for the basement often had to be postponed or crews with mops and buckets had to swiftly clean up the water before the functions could be held. On Sep, 14, 1969, the present church was dedicated by Most Rev. Bishop Francis F. Reh, the then newly installed Bishop of the Diocese of Saginaw. The church features hand made Facet Glass windows above the alter, hand-crafted by a Midland artist and donated by the Dionise family.
In 2002, the church celebrated it’s 50th anniversary as a parish, and on Sept. 19, 2019, the current church building will celebrate its 50th anniversary.
St. Martin De Porres
4010 W. Cleveland Rd. Perrinton, MI 48871
In March of 1962 the Most Reverend Stephen Woznicki, Bishop of Saginaw Diocese, saw the need for a mission church in the southwest section of the Diocese. He asked Fr. Charles Ganley, pastor of St. Paul the Apostle Catholic Church in Ithaca to undertake this endeavor.
First, Fr. Ganley visited each Catholic family in the area and ask them to help spread the word of a new church in the area. After meeting with the local people he appointed committees to proceed with the business of locating a building to serve as a “House for the Lord”. An empty building on Main St. in Middleton, the “Lucas building”, (formally Troub’s Hardware) was rented and “soon to be parishioners” began work acquiring an alter, chairs, and other necessities for our church. Bishop Woznicki requested the first celebration of Mass to occur at least by June of 1962. Fr. Ganley and the Catholic people of the area were very busy March, April, and May preparing our building to meet this deadline.
The naming of our mission church was decided upon by Fr. Ganley with the approval of Bishop Woznicki. Fr. Ganley chose Martin de Porres as the patron saint for our mission church, a newly canonized saint in Rome on May 6, 1962. On June 10, 1962 in our “Store Front Church”, we celebrated our first Mass on Pentecost Sunday. The Holy Father, Pope John XXIII sent a special blessing and an estimated 200 people were in attendance.
Danny Barrett, son of an early Catholic family (the Norton Barretts), instructed and trained Ronee Zyzelewski and Mark Daniels to be some of the first alter boys. Two babies were baptized at this first Mass. They were Lawrence James Lieby, son of Melvin and Sharon Lieby and Laurie Ann Zelinski, daughter of Robert and Shirley Zelinski. St. Martin de Porres first Mass celebration also coincided with the 10th anniversary of the first Mass at St. Paul’s in Ithaca.
Within a month, Fr. Ganley appointed the first church committee. A building committee was also appointed and was responsible for locating and securing property for our new church. A parcel of land was located at the northwest corner of M-57 and Luce Road. In 1963, St. Martin purchased this three acre parcel to build our new house of worship. Fr. Ganley immediately began the task of fund-raising money for the new church. His unique plan to raise money was for us to send letters to family, friends, and acquaintances asking for a donation. Father was very convincing and the letter drive was very successful. Almost all the money needed to build the church was raised through generous contributions of the parishioners and the letter drive.
Formal ground breaking for St. Martin de Porres mission church was July 14, 1963 and the $67,000 Church was raised the week of Jan. 12, 1964. Our first Mass was celebrated by Fr. Ganley on March 15, 1964. Terry Lee and Gary Dee Blair, twin sons of Bert and Rosalie Blair, were the first to be baptized in the new church. The first wedding celebrated was that of Fred Kirby and Dorothy Mazey.
Through the years our humble church has grown strong in faith and community. We are grateful for the leadership, guidance, and caring faith our priests, administrators and parishioners have shown us and our community.
Special thanks to our past priests and administrators.
Fr. Charles Ganley, Fr, Donald Eppenbrock, Fr. Joseph Frisky, Fr. John Hoogterp, Fr. Max Frego, Fr. John Ederer, Fr. Harry Sikorski, Fr. Julius Spleet
Sister Phyllis, Sister Ginny, Sister Margo, Carol Hale
In 2012, St. Martin De Porres celebrated it’s 50th Anniversary.
St. Paul Parish Clergy History
Father Edwin Dwyer: July 2020 – Current
Fr. Paul Foster: June 1952 – September 1952
Fr. Charles Ganley: May 1957 – June 1966
Fr. Donald Eppenbrock: June 1966 – July 1970
Fr. Joseph Friske: October 1970 – January 1976
Fr. John Hoogterp: March 1965 – July 1983
Fr. Max Frego: July 1983 – July 1992
Fr. Harry Sikorski: June 1992 – June 1994
Fr. John Ederer: August 1994 – October 1998
Fr. Julius Spleet: October 1998 – January 2014
Fr. Andrzej Boroch: January 2014 – July 2020