A Century of Faith and Community: The History of St. Mary Student Parish
St. Mary Student Parish, a vibrant Catholic community in Ann Arbor, Michigan, has a rich history deeply intertwined with the University of Michigan. From its humble beginnings as a chapel serving a small group of Catholic students to its current status as a thriving parish of over 1,700 students, staff, and community members, St. Mary's has consistently provided a space for religious worship, community engagement, and personal growth.
The Genesis of a Student Parish (1914-1925)
The story of St. Mary Student Parish begins in 1914, when the auxiliary bishop of Detroit recognized the need for a dedicated worship space for the growing number of Catholic students attending the University of Michigan. At the time, approximately 600 Catholic students were on campus, and it was felt that a dedicated facility was needed for their "religious welfare." Father Michael Patrick Bourke was appointed to organize a separate congregation for these students, marking the official beginning of what would become St. Mary Student Parish.
The first site of the chapel was the Morris property, located on the southwest corner of Jefferson and State streets, secured on March 26, 1915. However, this initial space quickly proved inadequate to meet the needs of the expanding Catholic student population. A fund-raising program was initiated to construct a new, larger building.
In 1922, an unexpected challenge arose. The University's Board of Regents, exercising their power of "eminent domain," decided to condemn the proposed site for state use. This forced Father Bourke to find a new location for the chapel. Utilizing the funds already raised, he purchased a parcel of land on the northeast corner of William and Thompson streets for $29,000.
Construction of the new chapel began in July 1923 and was completed on April 7, 1924, with the laying of the cornerstone. The Student Chapel was officially dedicated on February 29, 1925. This marked a significant milestone in the history of St. Mary's, providing a permanent home for Catholic students at the University of Michigan. Designed by UM Professor of Architecture Albert J.J. Rousseau, this Art Deco style Roman Catholic church served the students from the University of Michigan. Despite being trained in Paris in the Beaux Arts style, Rousseau clearly had a modernist streak. Examples include the yellow brick and the contrasting sculptural stone crosses over the windows. Dual angels were used for ornament at the ends of the mullions and jambs of the windows as well.
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Growth and Expansion: The Newman Club and Father Gabriel Richard Center (1930-1953)
The 1930s brought further growth and development to St. Mary Student Parish. In 1930, a Newman Club was organized at the Chapel. Taking its name from the famous English Catholic theologian of the 19th century, the first Newman Club had originated at the University of Pennsylvania in 1893 and soon spread westward. The purpose of the Club at the University of Michigan was "to sponsor the educational and social phases of the Chapel program."
The club was reorganized in the mid-1930s, and the first meeting of the modern Newman Club was held on January 23, 1938. On March 5, 1939, the Club began publishing its bulletin, the Chapel Chronicle. The subsequent growth of the Newman Club made necessary the building of a facility which could both serve as a student center and as the home of the Newman activities.
The Father Gabriel Richard Center was the inspiration of Father Frank J. McPhillip, who coordinated a highly successful nation-wide fundraising campaign among Catholic alumni of the University. The building was formally dedicated November 22, 1953. This new center provided much-needed space for the Newman Club's activities and solidified St. Mary's role as a hub for Catholic student life on campus. The Newman Club was subsequently renamed the Newman Student Association.
Serving the Community: St. Mary's Today
Today, St. Mary Student Parish continues to thrive, serving not only students but also the broader Ann Arbor community. The parish's primary mission remains focused on serving students, but it also welcomes and supports individuals and families from all walks of life.
The parish building itself stands as a testament to the enduring legacy of faith and community. On March 10, a copper time capsule placed in the cornerstone foundation block of the building’s construction 101 years ago was unburied. The unearthing of this time capsule offered a unique opportunity to reflect on the parish's history and the values it has upheld for over a century.
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A new cornerstone, meant to replace the original, was placed. Shinseki said, “This is not just a random box of things that we’re putting into the cornerstone,” Shinseki said. “It really is something that we hope represents who we are as a community and why people find so much meaning here. So by having a ceremony to mark that, I think it helps to set that apart. A building’s cornerstone is the first building block placed in construction and is often inscribed with meaningful symbols. Shinseki said he hopes in 100 years when people reopen the box they discover how vibrant and diverse the St. “Our primary core mission is to serve students, but we really do serve the broader Ann Arbor community, and that’s something I think we want to express through what’s put in the box,” Shinseki said. “We’re so proud of St. Mary’s and we’re hoping it’ll be standing in 100 years,” Campos said. “We want people to see the history and the importance of what we stand for. St.
Historical Continuity and Enduring Values
In an interview, Paul Conway, University associate professor emeritus and St. “I think it’s an opportunity to reflect on the importance of historical continuity, or just historical facts (and) insight,” Conway said. “And it simultaneously says, ‘Well, how were things different?’ But it also tells how people were the same. If you read the newspapers we’re still facing some of the same - both political and social - activities that you see 100 years ago.
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