St Mary History

1837	Michigan becomes a state
1845	Mass is held in the home of Patrick Pendergast. Fr. Andreas Viszosky would travel by horseback to see to the sacramental needs of the several Irish immagrant farmers living in the area,
1847	Wright becomes a Township, seperating itself from Tallmadge Township. Samual Wright was the oldest man at the meeting, so they named the townsip after him.
1852	Approximately two acres of land was purchased by Bishop Peter Lafavre, the bishop of the Diocese of Detroit, from James Lee and his wife, The church of St Mary was built and the first Mass was said by a Belgian priest, Fr, Van Paemel, who was the Pastor at St. Andrews. St. Mary was a mision church of St. Andrews in Grand Rapids.This church building was located about 200-300 yards west of 24th Ave on the north side of Garfield. This was the first Catholic Church in Ottawa county.
1853	Fr. De Ceunick brings the sacraments to St Mary’s until he is replaced that year by Fr. Edward Van Paemel as Pastor of St. Andrews.
1858	Grand Trunk Railroad completed it’s line from Detroit to Grand Haven which passed near Berlin (Marne).
1868	Land where the present church is located is purchaed for the sum of $2000. Construction begins on a new and larger church building. The total cost of the new church, including the adjoining priests residence, was $5,500.
1872	On Easter Sunday 1872 the new church was dedicated by Bishop Casimir Borgess of Detroit. St. Mary’s becomes a mission church of St. Patrick’s in Grand Haven, being served by Fr. Timothy J. Murphy.
1879	Fr. Timothy J. Murphy moves his residence from Grand Haven to St. Mary’s.
1880	Fr. E.M. Limpens, pastor of St. James, Grand Rapids, consecrates St. Mary’s cemetary.
1880	Fr. Michael Dalton is appointed pastor of St. Mary’s.
1882	The Roman Catholic Diocese of Grand Rapids was officially established on May 19, 1882, by Pope Leo XIII. It was created from territory that had previously belonged to the Diocese of Detroit. Its first bishop was Henry Joseph Richter, who was appointed in January 1883 and installed later that year. When he became bishop, the new diocese had: 33 churches, 36 priests, 17 schools, about 50,000 Catholics.
1884	Pastoral residence for the parish was again moved to St. Patrick’s, Grand Haven.
1888	Fr, Dalton is succeeded by Fr. Edward A. Caldwell.
1891	Fr. Thomas J. O’Connor is appointed pastor of St. Patricks, Grand Haven.
1897	New tower and bell are added to the church.
1898	The church building burns to the ground on Sunday, February 13.
1898	The rebuilt church is dedicated by Bishop Richter on September 7. 1898.
1899	Another new tower and bell are added to the new church.
1899	Fr. Paul Henry Maus is installed as pastor of St Patrick’s, Grand Haven. Over the next 5 years, new altars are purchased, new statues set in place, the church was painted and carpeted.
1909	A new rectory is completed.
1911	Fr. Danel J. Hyland is installed as pastor of St. Patricks, Grand Haven.
1923	Fr. Timothy J. O’Connell is installed as the first resident pastor of St. Mary’s. (until now, St. Mary’s has been a mission church of St. Patricks in Grand Haven. Their pastor was our pastor.)
1933	Fr. John McDolald is installed as pastor.
1936	Fr. Raymond Sweeney is installed as pastor.
1938	Fr. Charles Nugent is installed as pastor.
1940	Fr. Joseph Drew is installed as pastor.
1956	Msgr. Thomas Bolger is installed as pastor.
1962	Fr. Gordon Grant is installed as pastor.
1968	Marble statue of the Blessed Virgin is installed at the cemetary.
1969	St. Mary’s builds a new Catechetical and Parish Social Center.
1971	Msgr. Walter Grill is installed as pastor.
1971	A Saturday evening vigil mass was addedto the weekend schedule at 7:30. The Mass also took on a new look, with the placement of the altar in the middle of the sanctuary and Mass being offered facing the people.
1973	A permanent altar was installed next to the Blessed Virgin statue at the cemetary shrine.
1974	A crucifix and a statue of the Risen Christ was added to the cemetary shrine.
1979	Fr. Kenneth A. Wing is installed as pastor.
1979	A storm topples the steeple off of the church. Mass begins being held in the Parish center.
1981	Msgr. Terrence L. Stewart is installed as pastor.
1982	Old church is demolished and construction of a new church begins.
1983	The present St Mary’s church is dedicated by Bishop Breitenbeck.
1998	A new pipe organ is installed in the church.
2002	Fr. William Zink is installed as pastor.
2009-2010	Major Renovations and Improvements at the St Mary Parish Hall
2012	Saint Michael-Coopersville clusters with Saint Mary’s, Marne. Fr. David Gross is installed as Pastor of both parishes.
2014	Fr Anton Tran is installed as Pastor of both parishes
2015	New Corpus/Crucifix is displayed in the main sanctuary
2016	Fr Ayub Francis Nasar is installed as Pastor of both parishes
2017	Stations of the Cross refurbished and displayed in the main sanctuary
2022	Fr Michael Hodges is installed Pastor of both parishes.
2026	May 1, 2026 The Most Reverend David J. Walkowiak, Bishop of Grand Rapids, Michigan signs a decree stating the official merger of St Mary & St Michael to become one New Parish- St Mark the Evangelist. (with the primary church of Str Mary and the secondary church of St Michael)