“Longing for an opportunity to worship in their native tongue” is the desire that led to the establishment of Saint Michael the Archangel Catholic Church. Here we are at Saint Michael the Archangel Catholic Church in Detroit. It stands as a testament to faith. It also represents the rich history of the city’s German immigrant community.
The story of Saint Michael the Archangel Catholic Church began in 1845. Fourteen German immigrant families petitioned the Bishop of Detroit. They sought permission to build a church where they could worship in their native language. In July 1852, five families contributed $2,000. They purchased land from the estate of Monroe’s first mayor.
The mayor’s residence was remodeled. It served as a temporary church. It was consecrated on September 29, 1852, the Feast of Saint Michael. The cornerstone for the present church was laid on June 12, 1866. The building was consecrated in October 1867. The 187-foot steeple was added in 1883. The total cost was a mere $40,000. A three-story brick rectory was built in 1874 for $5,000. The original school was built in 1918.
Rev. Benjamin Schmittdiel became the first Diocesan pastor of Saint Michael. He was a native of Lancaster, Pennsylvania. He was appointed Pastor one week after his ordination. He served for 36 years until his death in 1899.
Saint Michael the Archangel retained its “nationalist” personality for decades. Latin and German were the only languages used in church until 1890. Then, sermons in English began on alternating Sundays. The parish stopped using German altogether during World War I.
Today, Saint Michael the Archangel has wide diversity among its 1,200 families. Rev. Stephen Rooney, pastor from 1995 to 2008, was a native of Belfast in Ireland. Rev. Philip Ching was the pastor from 2015 to 2020. He was born in Detroit. Our current pastor, Rev. Kishore Battu, joined us August 1, 2020. He is originally from India.
The inside of Saint Michael the Archangel Catholic Church is adorned with paintings and statues. Almost life-size Stations of the Cross were added in 1923. Artisan Matthew Ising decorated Saint Michael’s. The original stained-glass windows were donated at $100 each. The last remaining original window is the rose window above the altar. The present windows were installed in the 1940s.
Saint Michael’s has three altars. There is one dedicated to Mary and Joseph. The main altar is breathtaking. Rev. Stephen Rooney repainted and remodeled the church in the late 1990s. The paintings represent how the church looked in the late 1800s.
The church celebrated its 150th anniversary in September 2002. More information can be found in the book “Partners in Faith: 150 Years of Saint Michael the Archangel Catholic Church”. It’s available at the Monroe County Library.
The journey of Saint Michael the Archangel Catholic Church reflects faith. It also represents the transformation of a community. From its humble beginnings to its present-day diversity, Saint Michael the Archangel remains a beacon of hope.