Saint Alphonsus High School - Arrow Yearbook (Dearborn, MI)

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 ily abundantly for the charity and generosity in giving up the home so willingly for the service of the Divine Master. Plans for building a1 church were soon made and on the ninth Sun- day after Pentecost, in 1852, the corner stone of the church was laid. On Oct. 10, 1852, a new' church in honor of St. Alphonsus was dedicated by Bishop LeFevre. Father Glaunach labored so zealously for his par- ishoners that when he died, Oct. 19, 1852, the people of Greenfield, who loved him dearly, requested that his body be buried in their'church. This request, however, could not be granted for many reasons. After Father Glaunach’s death the work was canned on by Father DeDyche, who officiated every other Sunday. The debt, w-hich was in- curred in building was soon wiped away. Until 1854 the Redemptorist Fathers remained in charge after which services were conducted by Father F. X. Roth until 1856. To celebrate the1 Jubilee declared by the Holy Father in 1855, a mission was given at St. Alphonsus. Shortly after the name of this district was changed to Springwells. For the following two years the parish was again in charge of the Redemptorist Fathers. From 1858 to 1860 services were conducted bv Father Macicejewski. During this time a parochial residence was erect- ed. For one year the Redemptorist Fathers again presided, after which Father Charles Chambelle was placed in charge, until 1873. The pres- ent church edifice was begun by Father George Godez in, 1873 and com- pleted under his supervision one year later. After the death of Father Godez, the Capuchin Fathers conducted the services until June 10, 1897, at which time Bishop John S. Foley appointed, as rector of this ’parish, Father A. J. Buechsenman under whom the Golden Jubilee of the Church was celebrated in October, 1902. In 1904 the present rectory was built. Rev. Monsignore J. Mies succeeded Rev. A. J. Buechsenman in 1920. At this time the city began to grow very rapidly. Monsignore Mies found a vast field of endeavoi . Our present pastor, Rev. John Klich, succeeded Monsignore Mies in 1923. This parish will soon reach the century mark, being already in the eighty-fourth year. Four years after the beginning of this parish, in 1846, a little log school house was built on a farm just across from the present side of the church. In this rude structure school was taught until 1862 when the old school which still stands was erected. This school was presided ever by male teachers until 1881, when the Sisters of St. Agnes were ap- pointed as teachers. In 1897 these Sisters were replaced by the present Sisters of St. Dominic. In 1921 the present school facing Calhoune Ave- nue was built and a High School begun. The year 1926 sees the comple- tion of this school with a cost approximately of $200,000.00, and the first graduating class of S. A. H. I A beautiful convent to accommodate twenty-four Sisters was built in 1924. RUTH HORGER, ’26

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Picture an uninhabited wilderness with a few log dwellings along various Indian trails. Such sparse settlements was the beginning of St. Alphonsus parish in 1842. These early settlers were so few that being unable to erect a church at that time, their private humble abodes were used by the Redemptorist Fathers of Detroit, who came out at various intervals and said Mass. In 1852 the Catholics cf this district, known as Greenfield, were gathered together under Rev. Albert Schaeffer, C. SS. R., Rector of the Redemptorist Fathers, then in charge of St. Mary’s church. The work was intrusted to a member of the community, Father Ernest Glaunach, who came to Detroit in 1851. There being no church at that time in this locality,The Esper family gladly gave up their home for the celebration of Mass and the most august Sacrifice was offered first on Whit-Sunday |at which the parish- ioners devoutly assisted. A portion of the home was converted into a sanctuary and a sacristy as well as other sacred tribunals were provided. God blessed this fam-

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ST. ALPHONSUS CONVENT