There are many stories about the founding of our parish, none of which can truly be confirmed because there were no real records kept.

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1 History of St. Francis D'Assisi Parish. Remembrance of 100th Anniversary st. Francis D'Assisi Parish, Detroit, Michigan, p CAP at Orchard Lake. There are many stories about the founding of our parish, none of which can truly be confirmed because there were no real records kept. If one talks to the families of the "Founding Fathers" you will be told of numerous meetings held to decide whether a new church was needed and mm where it should be built. Based on these stories, the actual founding of the parish would have taken place in These stories could be corroborated by a newspaper article in one of the polish papers entitled: The History of Detroit Polonia Upon the 250th Anniversary of Detroit. What we do have are the minutes of a meeting held on February 24,1889 at St. Casimir's parish and a second meeting held on February 28,1889 at the home of a Mr. Joseph Malicki. It was at this second meeting that six lots on Wesson and Buchanan and six lots on Campbell and Buchanan were purchased for the amount of $2,900 with a down-payment of $ In 1889 the City of Detroit Directory showed that Buchanan ran from Grand River Avenue to Junction. Wesson was not listed in the directory. Michigan Avenue was a street of wooden planks and only 30 feet wide. There was a creek running down what is now Military Avenue. The area where the church was built had been a wheat field and in recent years had changed to vegetable gardens for homes nearby. This western border of the city was overflowing with new people and new homes. Most of the people were Polish and attended Mass at St. Casimir, St. Boniface and also St. Albertus. As time passed, the distance proved tiring for the adults and difficult for the children. The people realized that the churches were becoming over-crowded as well. So looking to the future, they decided it was time for a new church and school. When the first committee was formed, they chose the area of Wesson and Buchanan over a previously suggested area of Gilbert and Clayton, known as the clay banks. A few men went to Bishop Foley and told him of their plans and asked for a Polish priest to aid them. The Bishop assigned Fr. Romuald J. Byzewski to assist the men in starting the new parish. Fr. Paul Gutowski, pastor of St. Casimir's also aided the group in their quest. It did not take long for Fr. Byzewski and the newly formed committee to choose a Polish builder by the name of Martin Landczakowski to build their church. The architect was Henry Engelbert. In June, 1890, the cornerstone was blessed and with that, construction was begun on the first 1

2 building. It was built on the corner of Buchanan and Campbell. The first floor was the school, the second floor served as the church and the basement was the hall. The church seated 700 people. The cost was about $35,000 for the new brick building. It was the fifth Polish Parish in Detroit. The second on the west side. On April 19,1891, the polish catholic societies, formed a procession at the corner of Michigan Avenue and Twenty-Third Street to await the arrival of the Bishop and the clergy accompanying him. The procession consisted of the Polish Commanders of the Knights of St. John, Polish Civic Societies and two bands of music. They led the Bishop and his entourage to the new Polish Catholic Church of St. Francis to bless and dedicate it. After the Bishop had sanctified the walls of the edifice, there was a great rush and soon all available space was occupied. The services were from morning till 2 p.m. In 1891, the first Confirmation took place in the new church. In 1892, a four-classroom school was started with 282 children attending under the direction of four teaching nuns. In 1898, nine years after he had been appointed as the first pastor of the new St. Francis Parish, Fr. R. Byzewski was transferred to Sweetest Heart of Mary parish. May, 1898, a new pastor was appointed to the parish of St. Francis. His name was Fr. Felix Kieruj. He was young and enthusiastic. He soon saw the need to build a bigger church, school and other parish buildings. Again a building committee was formed. This time Joseph Kastler and Hunter Co., architects, were hired. The cost of building the new church would be $150,000. In 1903, the blessing of the corner stone took place on the corner of Wesson and Buchanan. The building that was built on that corner stone is the church that stands today. The Free Press would later say of it: "Interior of new St. Francis Polish Catholic Church, a fine specimen of church decoration, conceded by many judges to excel anything of the kind west of New York City." On Sunday, June 4, 1905, ten thousand people turned out to witness the formal dedication by Bishop Foley. Uniformed sir knights, with drawn swords, made a wall about the sacred edifice while the Bishop, followed by deacons and subdeacons, by seminarians and red-robed acolytes, solemnly walked about the church, chanting litanies and sprinkling the walls with holy water. Reaching the main entrance, the cortege entered the church and moved slowly up the center aisle chanting the litany of the saints. Having reached the sanctuary, those accompanying him paused and knelt while the Bishop, in a loud voice, pronounced the dedicatory invocation. The procession then encircled the entire church, the Bishop meanwhile sprinkling the walls with holy water and reading the prayers of consecration. At last, the sanctuary, the most sacred portion of the temple, was entered and consecrated. Then the doors were swung open and the crowd, preceded by the uniformed knights of the various church orders and the members of societies of the parish and the city, surged up the aisles. 2

3 From doors to sanctuary railing, the worshippers knelt and stood, awed by the beauty of the sight - a sea of reverent faces turned toward the altar, while the music of the Detroit Symphony Orchestra and of the thirty voices of the choir filled the church with harmony. Parts of Haydn's Second Mass, of Mozart's Twelfth Mass and Gounod's beautiful Agnus Dei were sung. It was day of triumph, of joy, of dedication (to God) for the zealous and hard working pastor of St. Francis, the Rev. Felix Kieruj, and his joy and gratitude were shared by every member of his parish, and by thousands of good Polish co-religionists throughout the city. The work had only begun. Fr. Kieruj then built a new and large school, a larger rectory, a convent for the nuns, parish hall and other buildings. The school has 22 classrooms. The hall would be the center of activity. In 1908, John Bonkowski was the first parishioner to be ordained a priest. He subsequently died at a very early age. April 23,1919, Fr. Felix Kieruj passed away. The tremendous amount of work in the building and maintaining the various functions of the parish took its toll on him. He had gone to Colorado Springs, Colorado to recuperate. It was there that he died. During the period that Fr. Kieruj was away, Fr. Baweja had administered to the needs of the parish. The body of Fr. Kieruj was brought back to Detroit and lay in state in St. Francis Church. Three days later the Right Rev. Michael J. Gallagher, Bishop of the Diocese of Detroit with the Rev. Fr. F. Gzella, as honorary deacon and the Rev. Fr. A. Grudzinski as the honorary subdeacon sang the requiem Mass. After the Mass the body of Fr. Kieruj was escorted by the people of St. Francis Parish, who walked in a solemn procession, along with the church societies and a police escort to the Michigan Central Railroad Station, where it was shipped to La Salle, Illinois, for burial. May 24,1919, Fr. Alexander Grudzinski became the pastor of St. Francis and a change was to transpire. The church was $160,000 in debt. The hall would no longer be the center of parish activities. The people were expected to conduct themselves with dignity and piety. He begged and ordered the people to give generously to the collection basket. His plan worked. With a great deal of determination, Fr. Grudzinski paid off the debt in nine years. Many considered it a miracle because he did not hold any bazaars, festivals or any other fund raising activities for this purpose. June 3, 1928, in preparation for the consecration itself, a preparatory service was held. The Rt. Rev. Gallagher, Bishop of the Diocese, placed in a reliquary the relics of St. Timothy and St. Teophilus, three grains of incense and an attestation written on parchment. The reliquary then was placed in an urn and a number of candles were lit to burn through the night while Matins and Lauds would be recited. June 4,1928 at 7 a.m. began the long and solemn ceremony of the consecration of St. Francis of Assisi Church. About 2,000 Catholics of the Diocese of Detroit, clergy and laity participated in a ceremony which had been performed here only about a half dozen times in the century the diocese had been in existence - the consecration of a church building. 3

4 At the beginning of the service the candles affixed under the twelve crosses of the interior walls of the church were lit. The Bishop and clergy then proceeded to where the relics were deposited, leaving the church in charge of a deacon. While Bishop Gallagher was being vested the seven penitential psalms were recited. The Bishop and clergy then proceeded to the main door of the church where, remaining outside, the Bishop blessed the water and then made a circuit of the walls, sprinkling the upper part, the second time sprinkling the lower part, and the third time the middle. At the conclusion of each circuit the Bishop struck the door of the church with the base of his crozier, saying in Latin: "Lift up your gates, ye princes, and, be ye lifted up, ye everlasting door, and the King of Glory shall come in." Each time the Deacon within the church replied: "Who is this King of Glory?" After the first two circuits, the Bishop answered, "The Lord, strong and mighty in battle." The third time he answered, "The Lord of armies, He is the King of Glory." The Bishop then entered the church with his attendants while the people and clergy remained outside, and the doors were closed. The chanters sang "Veni, Creator Spiritus" and recited the Litany of Saints. Then while the Canticle "Benedictus" was being recited, the Bishop traced the Greek Alphabet with the point of his crozier, in ashes spread upon the floor, beginning at the left side of the door and proceeding to the Epistle corner of the church. He then traced the Latin Alphabet beginning at the right side of the door and proceeding to the Gospel corner of the Church. This portion of the ceremonies, of great antiquity, is rich in the symbolism of the instruction given to the newly baptized in the elements of faith and piety. The crossing of the two lines of the alphabets points to the cross as the principal dogma of the Christian religion. The Greek and Latin alphabets represent the Jews and Gentiles, respectively. The Greek alphabet being written first because the Jews were the first to be called to the Christian faith. The Gregorian water, a mixture of water, salt, ashes and wine, commemorative of the legal purification of the Jewish people, was then blessed by the Bishop, and at this juncture the consecration of the altar was begun. With the point of the crozier, Bishop Gallagher traced a cross on the upper part and the lower part of the main door inside, and proceeding to the altar traced, with the Gregorian water, a cross at the center of the altar and one on each of the corners. The support and table of the altar was sprinkled seven times, the Bishop passing around the altar each time as the chanters recited the psalm "Miserere." The circuit of the interior walls was made three times, the Bishop sprinkling the lower portion of the walls the first time, next the middle portion, and finally the upper part. The Bishop then sprinkled the floor of the church in the form of a cross, passing from the altar to the door and from the Gospel to the Epistle side in the middle of the church. Returning to the middle of the church and facing the altar, the Bishop sprinkled the floor before him, behind him, at his left and at his right. In solemn procession of Bishop, clergy and laity the relics were carried to church where they were borne around the outside in procession, the clergy and laity repeating, "Lord, have mercy on us." He then gave an exhortation to the people I and two decrees of the Council of Trent were read by one of the clergy. The Bishop anointed the pillar on each side of the door three times with Holy Chrism. 4

5 The relics were carried into the church. The Bishop deposited the reliquary in the Sepulcher of the altar, after which the altar was incensed and anointed with Holy Chrism in the form of a cross at the center and at the corners. The ceremony concluded with the anointing of the twelve crosses on the interior walls with Holy Chrism, after which they were incensed, and with the blessing of the altar cloths, vases and ornaments of the church the ceremony was completed. A solemn High Mass followed, and a year's indulgence for all who visit the church on the day of consecration published. This ceremony took place exactly twenty-three years after the present church was dedicated. St. Francis D'Assisi Church is only one of three churches consecrated in the Archdiocese of Detroit, and at the time was only the fifth church in the nation to be consecrated. February 25,1936, last rites were conducted for Rev. Fr. Ladislaus A. Zigaj, Assistant Pastor of St. Francis by Fr. Grudziński, Pastor Bishop M.J. Gallagher performed the burial rites at Holy Cross Cemetery. Fr. Zigaj was assigned to St. Francis immediately after his ordination and had served here until his passing. Rev. Fr. Alexander J. Grudzinkski was invested with the purple robes of a Monsignor of the Roman Catholic Church during a ceremony in the church on this Monday evening, October 30,1936. June, 1939, Monsignor Grudzinski announced his resignation as pastor. Again the effort and work of the parish had affected the health of a pastor of St. Francis. So, one year after his request, Msgr. Grudzinski was granted his retirement and he spent the remaining years of his life in his home opposite the parish school. July 3,1939, Fr. Maximillian Gannas took over the duties of pastor of St. Francis. There were no debts on the church but there were many necessary repairs needed to the church buildings. The church was painted inside. The lower part of the hall was rebuilt and renovated and the upper portion was redecorated. Fr. Gannas renovated the three altars in the church and the communion rail. He wanted everything looking its best for the Golden Jubilee that was to come. October 13, 1940, the Golden Jubilee of St. Francis was celebrated. The most Rev. Edward Mooney, Archbishop of Detroit, presided at the Mass, sung by the Pastor, Rev. Fr. Maxmillian Gannas. More than 1,500 parishioners and clergymen participated. In 1941 there was expectation and celebration. In October of that year the Rosary Society of St. Francis celebrated its Golden Jubilee The United States was at war and many of the young men of the parish were enlisting in the service. As the men enlisted, those left behind began to do then- part to help. For Valentine's Day the school children sent 500 greeting cards and 200 games and puzzles to soldiers in army camps throughout the country. For Easter they prepared 2,200 presents for the soldiers of St. Francis. They also purchased $1,045 in defense stamps, contributed $31 for Masses for the soldiers and gave $78.50 to the missions. The latter project was done in a five-week period. There were many other projects to follow. 5

6 Rallies were being held to get parishioners involved in the war effort. On the hall, movies were shown of the fighting and bombing to encourage people to sign up as Air Wardens. It was also during this time that Fr. Gannas encouraged the men that were left behind to become ushers and to form an Ushers Club. The Polish Roman Catholic Union marked its 70th Anniversary in St. Francis Hall in October, Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts from St. Francis and St. Andrew performed for the group. Among the guest speakers were Fr. Gannas, Gov. Murray D. Van Waggoner, Senator Brown, Judges O'Brien and Moynihan and Msgr. Krzyzosiak, Rector of Orchard Lake Seminary. It was considered quite an honor for Fr. Gannas and the parish to host this affair thru 1944 the parish remained active doing their share for the war effort. Fr. Gannas and the parishioners, like other parishes were involved in the war bond effort. In March of 1944 St. Francis received a War Bond because St. Francis led the churches on the west side with sales of $51,800 in bonds in the fourth war loan drive. In 1945 the war ended and as the men of the parish returned home, things began to return to normal. By 1946 dances and church socials became the norm once again. By August plans were under way for a class of 1934 reunion. Fr. Gannas working with some of the former students established the St. Francis Alumni Group. In 1948 as repairs continued to be made a new iron fence was put up around the property proved to be a bad year for Fr. Gannas. He ordered a six foot statue of St. Francis for the church grounds. It was designed by Professor de Ranieri of William Doig & Sons, Manufacturers-Bernardine Studios of New York. Cost $3, Soon after the order was placed the Professor left the above mentioned companies and joined the de Ranieri Studios Inc., in Detroit and Fr. Gannas continued to work with the Professor. This led to letters of litigation between Fr. Gannas, the Archdiocese, the three companies and lawyers for all involved. It was a long and tiring process. But the statue was finally completed and delivered. It now stands between the church and the rectory. On June 17,1951 Fr. Gannas celebrated 40 years as a priest and St. Francis celebrated 61 years as a parish. The students of St. Francis performed for Father and the Parishioners had a banquet. For the Jubilee Fr. Gannas requested, through the Archdiocese, the Portiuncula Indulgence for the church and its parishioners. His request was granted. In 1955 repairs were the order of business again as the front steps of the church were replaced. It was also the year that alterations were made to the convent. The Sister's sleeping quarters consisted of one large room with beds separated by curtains. Fr. Gannas decided to have the upper portion of the convent remodeled to provide separate rooms for each of the Sisters. Fr. Francis Skalski celebrated his first Mass at St. Francis on June 3,1956. Fr. W. Filipowicz, a former student of St. Francis, was named Rector of the Seminary. 6

7 On October 25,1956 another celebration was held for Monsignor Maximillian Gannas. It was to honor him on his 75th birthday, his 45th anniversary of his ordina tion, the elevation to the office of Monsignor and appointment to be an Archdiocesan Consultant. Fr. Gannas' age and health were beginning to affect him. It was becoming increasingly clear to him that he would have to resign and turn the care of St. Francis and its parishioners over to a younger man. In 1961 Fr. Gannas announced his resignation as Pastor. January, 1962, Fr. Joseph A. Gierut, Ph.D. became pastor of St. Francis. He was the fifth priest to assume this office. Again the emphasis would be put on the parishioner's duty to support the parish through donations, rather than depending on fund raisers. To encourage more donations the pew rental system that had been in existence since the founding of the parish was discontinued. In its place a twenty-five cent pew rental collection and a new Sunday envelope collection system was introduced. In July Fr. Gierut started a Parish Council of Men. The men were appointed by him to aid in certain matters of the parish. One of the first major items to be dealt with by the new Council would be a parish census. In 1963 the parishioners were told that the Bishop's Council met in the Vatican and determined that the church is not made up alone of prelates and priests but it is made up of the people of God the Church is family. It means that we worship as a family, work as a family, and plan as a family. This would be a fore warning of many changes to take place. Rev. Stanislaus G. Kaminski, assistant pastor, celebrated his 25th Anniversary in the priesthood on June 27, In November, 1964 a Lectors and Commentators Group was organized to fulfill the directive of the new liturgy. Lay people would now read the Epistle and the Les son instead of the priest brought more changes. In January the Parish Hymnal Book was introduced so that everyone could pray and sing the Mass with the priest. In March the practice of carrying the offering to the altar began. In May, a portable altar was placed at the bottom of the stairs in the sanctuary so that the priest could face the people while saying Mass. June 27,1965, Fr. S. Kowalczyk is appointed assistant pastor. September, Bishop John Deardon in a letter to Fr. Gierut gave permission to paint and renovate the interior of St. Francis D'Assisi Church. In the letter the Bishop made note of the fact that the church is one of three consecrated churches in the Archdiocese of Detroit. The final cost would be well over $60,000. In October of 1966 Fr. Gierut organizes the Parents and Teachers Guild of St. Francis. The Rosary Society, organized by Fr. Byzewski, celebrated its 75th Anniversary as a church society. In the fall of 1969 there were two new committees begun. The first was a Parish Council Steering Committee and the second one was a Concerned Parents Committee. 7

8 Fr. Kowalczyk began encouraging the parishioners to get involved in community problems as well as church problems. One of the major tasks the people set for themselves was to have the whole parish area zoned residential. To accomplish the task, the St. Francis Community Council, was established in June On June 30th, Fr. Joseph A. Gierut, Ph.D. announced his retirement due to reasons of health. July 12,1970. Fr. Sigismund Kowalczyk is installed as the new pastor of St. Francis. In August, 1970 another recommendation of the Bishop's Council of Vatican 13 was implemented with the appointments made to the Parish Council Commissions as a second step towards a Parish Council. The election of officers a month later would complete the formation of the Parish Council. In October, 1971 Fr. Joseph Grzelak came to St. Francis as an assistant pastor while working full time with drug addicts at the Drug Clinic of Herman Kiefer Hospital. And on November 19, 20, 21 the first St. Francis Festival was held. It was a time of fun, of learning how to work as a parish family and a time to raise funds for the upkeep of the school. The emphasis was put on working as a team rather than working against one another to see who could raise the most money for their group. The festival has been a yearly event ever since. A new club was formed in May, 1972 when some of the senior citizens joined together to form the 50 and Up Club. In December of that same year Fr. Kowalczyk had a set of carillons installed, to enhance ringing of the Angelus. Now the sound of two beautiful hymns can be heard throughout the neighborhood twice daily. On June 10,1973 Sister Nolantia celebrated her Golden Jubilee of life in the religious order. It was also a celebration of 25 years of teaching at St. Francis. She was the first of many to celebrate an anniversary in the religious life at St. Francis while Fr. Kowalczyk served as pastor. In April, 1974 Fr. Sig began building a new choir group for the 85th Anniversary of St. Francis. They got a great deal of practice by singing for Sister M. Syncletica at her 25th Anniversary in the religious community on June 30th and Fr. Francis Kowalczuk's celebration of 25 years in the priesthood on August 25th. As part of the preparation for the 85th Anniversary a number of special Masses were said, followed by cake and coffee. The big day finally arrived. On October 12,1975 the parish of St. Francis DAssisi celebrated its 85th Anniversary. It was a proud day for the Pastor, Fr. Kowalczyk and his parishioners as they walked in procession into the church. In 1976 some of the parishioners presented works of art and love to the parish. Among them were massive wooden candle holders, and a metal Offering Table. It seems appropriate that this was the year the Tree of Hope was introduced at Christmas time. Parishioners were invited to hang a Christmas ornament on a Christmas tree by the Blessed Virgin altar as a symbol of their prayer of petition or thanksgiving. More changes would take place within the church itself in A red carpet would be installed in the Sanctuary to cover the worn marble steps. A portion of the Communion railing would be removed so that the beauty of the altar and the floral 8

9 decorations could be better seen. The large cross with the body of Christ would be removed from the pillar at the front of the church and moved to the rear of the church. The latter was one of the hardest changes for the parishioners to accept was a year of celebration again as the parish joined Sister Gabriel in celebrating her 50 years in the religious life. And on June 4th the Golden Jubilee of the Consecration of St. Francis church took place. A special Mass was said, followed by a get together on the hall, and later Fr. Grzelak took some of the parishioners on a special tour of the church. A new addition to the parish was made. Due to rising heating costs the Parish Council decided to convert the old caretaker's house into a chapel and meeting place. The first Mass was said on January 29,1979. The weekly morning Mass was said in the chapel henceforth, during the winter months. In May another Jubilee took place. Sister M. Celine celebrated 50 years in religious service saw more jubilees. Sister M. Clarentia celebrated her Golden Jubilee as a nun, on April 13th and Fr. Joseph Grzelak celebrated 25 years in the priesthood on June 1st. The anniversaries, in themselves, were not unusual. What was unusual was that so many took place within such a short period of time within the parish. In 1981 the choir was restructured. Two choirs were formed, one Polish and one English. Again the choirs has ample opportunity to show their talents. Sister M. Lucy celebrated her Golden Jubilee on May 3rd. The St. Elizabeth Society Group 227 cele-brated 65 years as a society on May 17. June 7th, Fr. Sig Kowalczuk celebrated his 25th Anniversary as a priest. While the parish rejoiced with their pastor little did they know his stay as the parish would soon end. In a few years he would be called upon to move on to another parish. May 16,1982. Sister Edwin celebrated her Golden Jubilee. Again the parish joined in celebration. Again they could not foresee the change to come. In 1983 the parish lost two fine priests. Fr. J. Grzelak and Fr. F. Kowalczyk, both assistant pastors of St. Francis, passed away. They would not be replaced. St. Francis Parish would now have only one priest. 1984, the parish went about its business. Repairs were made to the church towers. Easter time was a fun time, as another fund raiser, the Easter Boutique was held. On April 8th St. Francis was the Host Parish for a Holy Hour conducted by Bishop Schoenherr to celebrate the Jubilee Year of Redemption. The choirs from All Saints Church and St. Andrew Church sang along with the St. Francis Choir. On May 20th Fr. Kowalczyk announced his impending transfer to St. Peter and Paul Church. The parishioners begged him to stay but he couldn't. The bishop had given him his orders and he must obey. It was with sad hearts that the people of St. Francis said goodbye to Fr. Kowalczyk. On August 26th Fr. Dennis Nowinski was installed as the seventh pastor of St. Francis. There would be no assistants for the parish again and Fr. Denny would be called upon to serve in other capacities that would take him away from his parish duties often. The people found it difficult to adjust. In March, 1985 the St. Francis Parish Council was asked to participate in the development of a City Task Force to present recommendations to the Bishop for dealing with difficulties urban churches 9

10 of the Archdiocese of Detroit were encountering. More than three years later the final outcome of that first meeting JL would produce shock waves throughout the Diocese, the City of Detroit and far beyond. On a brighter note Fr. Albert Cylwycki celebrated his 25th Anniversary as a priest, at St. Francis on June 30th. Fr. Cylwycki, a Jesuit, had been saying the 12:15 Mass at St. Francis since the demise of Fr. Kowalczuk. Later in October, St. Francis School got completely new, insulated windows. The windows not only added new beauty to the school but they also reduced the great loss of heat in the winter. Bills were going up faster than the money was coming in and new ways to conserve were always being sought. In 1986 St. Francis Parish had to conduct a Self Study to help identify its degree of viability as the Task Force presented its recommendations to the Archdiocese. Rumors ran rampant that St. Francis would close. As if the threat of closing, hanging over St. Francis, was not bad enough, the parish was handed another shock. On June 28,1987 the Sister of St. Joseph said goodbye to St. Francis. The principal, Sister Edwin, retired after 20 years of service at St. Francis School. Her health had made it difficult for her to continue her work. The remaining nuns would leave with her. It was a sad time. The nuns had been a part of the Parish from its beginning. They had done so much more than teach the school children. They had taken care of the altars. They had given of their time and talents to any and all church activities. Now they were leaving. That sorrow was soon tempered with excitement and joy. On September 18th and 19th, the people of Detroit were given a rare opportunity to see Pope John Paul II (The Polish Pope) when he visited the Detroit Area. Fr. Dennis and a number of parishioners had the opportunity of attending a Mass at which the Pope was the main celebrant. It was something they would long remember. A meeting was held on April 17,1988 to begin planning the 100th Anniversary of St. Francis D'Assisi Parish. The parishioners began to look to the future with hope and joy. But on September 28th, another shock wave spread. The Cardinal announced that many of the neighboring parishes were to close. There was sadness over the loss. There was relief. St. Francis was not one of the churches marked to close. A dark cloud once again hangs over St. Francis. On June 11,1989 Fr. Denny announced that he is being transferred to All Saints in Memphis, Michigan. No replacement has been announced. But like the pioneers that founded our church we are looking, with hope, pride, joy and determination as we move forward to celebrate the 100th Anniversary or St. Francis DAssisi. STO LAT! 10