History of St. James Church

In the history of any parish community, people’s lives are the most important material that is necessary for the building of a church. It is the people who are St. James Parish.  We offer testimony to the living as well as to those who have gone before us into eternal life.  It is to the thousands of unknown laborers that we offer grateful tribute for the building of the parish of St. James.  St. James Church remains a visible sign of the faithful labor they shared.

 

WE REMEMBER!  WE CELEBRATE!  WE BELIEVE!

EXCERPTS FROM ST. JAMES, FERNDALE, MICHIGAN, 1919 - - 1994

A classroom in the old Central School, then fronting on a two-lane Woodward Avenue is where it all began.

On the evening of Tuesday, October 14, 1919, an organizational meeting of interested Catholics was held in a classroom in the Central School Building, located at Nine Mile Road and Woodward Avenue in Ferndale, Michigan. (The Central School Building is now hidden by the Ferndale Center Building.)  A very young, dark-haired Fr. James O’Brien was introduced to those in attendance, about eighty five men, women and children.  Fr. O’Brien had been appointed by Bishop Gallagher of Detroit to investigate the possibility of starting a parish in Ferndale.  He decided at this time to schedule Sunday Masses at 8:00 and 10:30 AM and, on the following Sunday, October 19, 1919, a small group of about 100 people attended Mass in that same classroom celebrated by Fr. James O’Brien.  From a list of three names for the new church, Bishop Gallagher chose James, the Apostle, to be the patron saint of the parish.  The Parish of St. James was born!

Father O’Brien emphasized that the new parish was established primarily for the saving of souls and that its success depended on the amount of both spiritual and material support given.

As the congregation grew, the parish purchased the Arthur Porter farm located south of Nine Mile Road at Pearson and Woodward Avenue.  The farmhouse on the property became the first rectory and was the headquarters for thefirst festival held that year of 1920.  The garage became the sanctuary.  The farm’s chicken coop became the chapel and accommodated about 150 people.  It was used until December 1920.

Latecomers at Mass heard the service from outdoors through the open windows of the “chicken coop” Chapel during favorable weather, but when weather moved indoors filling the sanctuary with snow at Easter time, plans were made for building a first unit, a Chapel where services were held for the first time at Christmas in 1920.  It was the basement foundation of the future school with a wooden vestibule entrance.

Construction of a school building for the first eight grades began in August 1920.  The site was located on the northwest corner of West Hazelhurst and Woodward Avenue.  The Sisters of St. Joseph (SSJ) from Nazareth, Michigan were called upon to be teachers at the new school.  The Sisters lived on the top floor of the school building the first year, and later moved temporarily into a two-story residence facing Pearson (in the spot now occupied by the present church.)  The convent, with accommodations for 25, was built on West Hazelhurst, and was completed in 1927.

Once the school building was completed, St. James now incorporated both a grade and a high school with 300 children in attendance.  There were 12 students in the first high school graduating class in 1928.

In spite of dire times, in 1929, the parish realized that it needed to enlarge the school in order to accommodate the growing number of students.  There were now more than 700 students enrolled.  The parish went ahead with plans for a new unit and construction began in the fall of 1929 to build a new unit adjacent to the grade school building facing West Hazelhurst.  It provided room for a gym with additional classrooms above for the high school.

Individual morale and the morale of the whole country was at its lowest.  Nevertheless, Fr. O’Brien pushed on toward his goals. Fr. O’Brien encouraged the planning and construction of the much needed new church.  The number of parishioners in St. James Parish was growing.  The chapel in the basement of the school had become inadequate.  With that, financial planning for a new church began.  By the end of October, 1943, the church’s building fund was started.

Fr. John Gordon came to St. James as an assistant to an ailing Fr. O’Brien.  Fr. Gordon was especially interested in building operations and was given the job of overseeing the planning and construction of the new church.  Plans were approved by the Chancery in the fall of 1948.  Thou Art Peter and Upon This Rock Thou Shalt Build My Church was he theme for the laying of the cornerstone for the new church August 7, 1949.

The first Mass in the new church was celebrated at 8 a.m. Easter Sunday, April 9, 1950.  His eminence Edward Cardinal Mooney officiated.  The seating capacity of the new church was 1,100.  The parishioners of St. James were rightfully proud and eager to enjoy the beautiful celebration!  The new church as a beautiful tribute to the founding pastor, Fr. James O’Brien, his able assistants, the Sisters of St. Joseph, and the men, women, and children who had worked so faithfully to fulfill this dream.

At this time also, St. James’ school had the largest registration in its history.  There were 1,028 students registered; 711 in the grade school and 318 in the high school.  Mother Marion Hankerd, SSJ, and her staff of 25 served the school.  Tuition was $20 a year for St. James families and $40 per family for pupils from other parishes.  Religious education classes were conducted for those students in the parish attending public schools.  St. James became one of teh largest parishes in the Archdiocese of Detroit.

Under the leadership of Fr. O’Brien, the parish had purchased land, and built a school, gym/social hall, convent, and a new church.  The school had been enlarged and remodeled with additional classrooms added in the basement where the chapel had been.  Improvements had been made in the domestic science room, library, and locker and shower rooms were installed.  A new asphalt parking lot was also completed, and all but one of the stained glass windows had been assigned. Progress!  From chicken coop to church!

Fr. O’Brien celebrated the Fiftieth Anniversary of his ordination to the priesthood and was honored June 3, 1951.  Soon after, Fr. O’Brien was elevated to the rank of Monsignor.  Those fifty years of service had taken their toll, however, as his health continued to fail.

With the new church complete, plans for the construction of a new rectory were presented and approved by the Chancery Office.  Plans called for accommodations for the pastor, three assistants, two guest rooms, and rooms for two housekeepers.

Msgr. O’Brien’s health became very fragile and, on several occasions, he was hospitalized at St. John’s Hospital.  The parish indebtedness was always a deep concern to Msgr. O’Brien since his goal was to establish a debt free parish.  In January of 1958 he was once again hospitalized.  While in the hospital, Monsignor made the final payment on the church debt and celebrated the burning of the mortgage.  The very next day, January 18, 1958, he died.  He was 82 years old.  During his lifetime, Msgr. James E. O’Brien had pursued his goal, and lived to see it fulfilled!

Msgr. O’Brien had served the people of St. James and Ferndale for 37 of his 57 years as years as a priest.  The parish that began with a group of 50 families now averaged 2,328.  Through devotion, sacrifice, energy and considerable business acumen under the watchful eye of Msgr. O’Brien, the parish grew and prospered over the years.  Through his own actions and his life, Monsignor James E. O’Brien exemplified a truly devoted priest, kindly father and shepherd.  He died knowing that his beloved parish was debt-free.  St. James had Built it Church!

In March of 1958, Fr. George Ging became the new pastor at St. James.  Soon after he arrived, official notification was received from the Archdiocese and State Officials that improvements had to be made to the parish’s existing buildings.  Bleachers were added on the main floor of the gym and a kitchen was added adjacent to the gym.  Construction of a new parking lot next to the convent began.

In the fall of 1958 there were 2,273 registered families in the parish and all Masses were well attended.  Beginning New Year’s Day, 1959, a new Mass schedule was introduced - 6:30, 8:00, 9:15, 10:30, 11:45, and 12:45p.m.  John Shada joined the high school staff as head football coach in 1959.  Under his leadership, the red and white Dales were consistently victorious, always championship contenders, and ready to Fight! Fight! Fight!

Through the years of working together, the parish became like an extended family under the watchful eye of Fr. Ging who encouraged active participation in parish life.  St. James’ parishioners were well-noted for their generous support of the church, school, convent and community.

In the early sixties, with Fr. George Ging as pastor, St. James experienced a peak in its history in the number of parishioners, school enrollment and financial resources.

There were 2,395 registered families in the parish by the end of December, 1961.  The school had an enrollment of 1,157 students and a waiting list.  It was determined that a new addition to the high school was necessary.  The new addition would include a new chemistry and physics laboratory, library, commercial department, three classrooms, storage and restroom facilities.  The construction of the new high school addition was completed and it was blessed January 10, 1963.

A new Mass ritual was authorized for the Archdiocese of Detroit in which all the sacraments were to be celebrated in English and the celebrant was to face the congregation.  In order for the priest to face the congregation, a portable altar was used.

The final report of 1964 showed that there were 2,140 registered families in the parish and 1,209 students in the school (804 in grade school and 405 in the high school plus 670 students enrolled n the weekly Confraternity of Christian Doctrine (CCD) classes.

Fr. George Ging died suddenly September 4, 1965, at the age of 68.  He was a truly Christ-like man, a fatherly pastor and a faithful servant of God.  The Community of Ferndale mourned the loss of a truly humble man of God.

Rt. Reverend Msgr. Edmond Fournier was appointed Pastor of St. James on November 16, 1965.  He was an innovator, an educator and an organizer, right in step with the changes introduced by the spirit of Vatican II.  He involved the members of the St. James Church Committee (appointed by Archbishop Dearden) in assessing, planning, and executing the maintenance and care of the church, school, convent and rectory.  Msgr. Fournier was urged to bring all buildings and grounds to A-1 condition.

The Mass was now said entirely in English and the whole congregation took a more active role in the Liturgy.  The celebration of evening Masses and the allowance of eating meat at Friday weddings and funerals was introduced.  It was a time when church organizations either dissolved or merged or emerged.  The Rosary Altar Society and the League of Catholic Women combined their membership and became know as the St. James Women’s Council.  The Moms’ and Dads’ Club changed its name to Parent-Teacher Guild (PTG) and the St. James School Board was formed.  The Booster Club was also organized in 1966 to manage all parish athletic activities.  The Sisters were permitted to wear new modified habits.

The St. James indebtedness exceeded $200,000 in 1966 and school costs were dramatically exceeding school income.  A parish preference questionnaire was prepared concerning the future of St. James’ schools.  The results showed that parishioners were in favor of closing the high school before closing the grade school.  An ever increasing number of children from the parish were attending public schools and the parish was deeply concerned about their religious education.  The Religious Education Department was expanded and the Confraternity of Christian Doctrine Program (CCD) was implemented.

There was unrest within the Church as a result of all the liturgical changes in the Church.  There was also turmoil throughout the City of Detroit.  Focus: HOPE was formed as a project aimed at easing racial tensions and fostering a positive approach to community solidarity.

A series of six speak-up discussion sessions or Synods was developed by the Archdiocese.  The series was introduced at St. James and each session dealt with a different aspect of life in the Church.  This diocesan-wide program provided important input and recommendations for Synod 69.  Involvement was the key word of the day.

In 1968, the school’s net losses totaled $236,646.  It was determined that tuition had to be raised.  For members of the parish, tuition was now set at $120 for one student and $140 for two or more in the grade school and $140 for one and $240 for two or more in the high school.  These charges went into effect in September, 1968.

The Religious Education Program was expanded to serve the growing needs of the 800 public school children.  In June 1968, Shirley Beaupre was hired as the first full-time professional religious education director.  Following the guidelines of Vatican Council II’s Pastoral Constitution on the Church in the Modern World, the St. James CCD Program became one of the best in the Archdiocese.

A registration pledge drive was initiated to heighten financial support for the parish.  This increased weekly contributions from an average of $4,300 to $5,400.

A committee was formed to deliberate the future of the school.  This committee recommended closing the grade school, keeping the junior and senior high schools open and raising the tuition 40 and 50 percent, respectively.  This decision was contrary to the results of the parish questionnaire prepared in 1967 which indicated parishioners were in favor of closing the high school before closing the grade school.  The difficult decision to close the first six grades was effective at the end of June 1969.  Starting in September, 1969, the curriculum would cover grades 7 through 12.

St. James became a member of the South Oakland Vicariate.  Archbishop John Dearden was elevated to the rank of Cardinal on May 4, 1969.  There were 75 in the June 1969 graduating class.

The community was stunned and deeply saddened when Coach John Shada collapsed and died on the playing field during the first game of the St. James, 1969, football season.  Not since the sudden death of Fr. Ging had the parish felt such shock and grief.  His St. James Dales went on to become Division Champs in 1969.

The celebration marking St. James’ Fiftieth Anniversary as a parish (1919 to 1969) was low-key.  An air of sadness hung over the parish and the mood was somber but the continuing energies and talents kept the feeling of a united community alive and strong.

In spite of closing the grade school there was still a school deficit of $20,000 at the end of the 1969 - 1970 school year.  Tuition was again increased.  St. James was one of 132 parishes to receive a letter from Cardinal Dearden requesting a study of their educational programs, personnel and finances for the 1970 - 1971 school year.

A Parish Council was formed in the spring of 1970.  Intended to provide a forum for parish unity, coordination, representation and growth in sharing, the Council soon found itself in a problem solving position.  Polls were conducted relative to the possibility of closing St. James’ Junior and Senior High Schools.  Council meeting grew so large that they had to be held in the gym.

Any hope of financial assistance from the State to non-public schools was lost with the failure of Educaid to become law and the passage of Proposal C in November, 1970, which prohibited all existing health, welfare, and educational services to non-public schools.  The Archdiocese, in turn, notified parishes that, after June 30, 1971, no more money could be borrowed for school financing.  This sealed the doom of many schools in the Archdiocese.  The Parish Council recommended to close St. James.

The published Mass schedule for the weekends was Saturday, 5PM and a Community Mass at 7PM, and Sunday Masses at 7, 9, and 11AM and 12:30 and 7PM.  Newly elected Parish Council President, Pat Curtin, appointed a special committee to study the possible uses of the soon to be vacated school buildings.

The 43rd and last class of 72 high school seniors celebrated Mass and Commencement exercises at the 12:30PM Mass on Sunday, June 13, 1971.  The tradition that started in 1928 had come to an end.  On that same day, Msgr. Fournier informed the parish at all Masses that he was leaving St. James.

Fr. John Echlin succeeded Msgr. Fournier as pastor on July 22, 1971.  It was time to get refocused and to get better acquainted with the new pastor.  The deficit spending since 1965, while trying to meet all the Diocesan and State requirements and regulations had caused the parish debt to reach $377,600.   Many activities were introduced to help enrich the parish’s spiritual and social life.  Fr. Echlin introduced the first St. James Ministerial Team and also installed St. James’ first Extraordinary Ministers of the Eucharist (EME’s).

During the fiscal year 1971-1972, a generous amount of money was donated by parishioners and non-parishioners, school equipment was sold and along with festival profits, a total of $59,190.55 was paid toward the debt.  College seminarians and priests of the Pontifical Institute of Foreign Missions (PIME) took up residence in the former convent providing rental income of $12,000 a year.

Fr. John Echlin announced his resignation effective September 1, 1972, and efforts were initiated to seek a new pastor.  Fr. Thomas R. Physician was affirmed at the January 15, 1973 Parish Council meeting.  Parish Council President Chuck Page appointed Pat Curtin to undertake the task of revising the Council’s constitution bringing it more in keeping with Archdiocesan guidelines.  Representation now included a senior citizen, a teenager, a Vicariate and an at-large representative making a total of 15 Council members.  Commission structure was reduced from eight to four:  Administration, Worship, Religious Education and Christian Service.

The Offertory of the Mass was now know as the Presentation of the Gifts.  The word Liturgy, meaning Word of the People, was now used more often than Mass.  Church leaders wanted parishioners to understand and be aware of themselves as a community - a People of God.

Fr. Physician tendered his resignation on January 15, 1975.  Frs. Ronald Sayes and Arthur Bell were assigned as co-pastors effective May 1, 1975.  In June 1975 the Administration Commission notified parishioners that the school building along Woodward Avenue would be used exclusively for rental to outside groups and that all parish activities were to be ehld in the Community Center.  Religious Education facilities were moved to new quarters in the Community Center Building.  Parish organizations were now required to submit a list of dates that they wished to use the gym.

More changes in the Church were in the making:  a new Penance Rite, Communion in the hand and the canonization of Elizabeth Ann Seton as the first American born saint.  The Commissions decided that the parish must adhere to a strict austerity budget.  The heat was turned down and a Eucharistic Chapel was set up in the Community Center in an effort to conserve energy.  A weekly offertory goal of $3,000 was set.  The Archdiocese requested a detailed budget plan and the financial situation of the parish.  The parish was notified that the entire debt of about $320,000 had to be paid off within a 20-year period.  Bishop Gumbleton suggested that St. James continue to reduce parish operating expenses.  In June 1976 total revenues for the parish came to $223,777 and the total expenses were $216,041.  The parish was able to pay the interest (due on the debt plus $8,000 toward the principal.

The parish continued to struggle financially and the firm of McCarthy Associates was hired to assist.  A parish-wide fundraising effort began in September 1977.  At the close of the campaign, 522 parishioners had pledged a total of $129,482.  Consideration was given to selling part of the St. James property foruse in the construction of Senior Citizen Housing.  Approval from the Archdiocese was required and this would be a long, slow process.

Under a revision of the Parish Council’s constitution, there was to be five members at-large to be elected by the parishioners who would join the Commission representatives and the appointed members.  The Council would then elect the president and vice-president from their own numbers.  These changes eliminated the office of president-elect and the election of the officers by the parishioners.

Pope Paul VI died of a heart attack August 6, 1978.  On October 16, 1978, John Paul II was elected as the Church’s new spiritual leader.  He embraced the Ecumenical Movement that was started by Pope John XXIII.

Parish activities and social events continued to run smoothly.  Frs. Bell and Sayes were reassigned in December, 1978 and replaced by Fr. Ronald Alder, officially installed January 28, 1979.  In order to keep the parish operating, cutbacks had to be made.  Discontinued were the Masses on Saturday morning, Sunday’s 6:30 AM and the 10AM Community Mass and the evening Masses on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.  The daily Mass at 8:30 AM Monday through Friday continued as usual.  Volunteers were needed in the rectory office and calls to the rectory after 5PM were handled by an answering service.

Again the development of a Senior Citizens Apartment of St. James property was up for consideration.  It was determined, however, that the property was too far from a shopping area.

Confession received a new name - it was now known as Penance or Reconciliation.  Face-to-face Reconciliation continued to be an option according to the revisions set forth by Vatican II.  The front confessionals were remodeled to create a pleasant room for the meeting between priest and penitent.

The parish had a full activity calendar for 1979.  Special events took place each month - the Women’s Council’s Anniversary Mass, the Booster Club’s St. Patrick’s Day Party, a Euchre Tournament, St. James Footlighter’s presentation of an original musical comedy, and square dance classes offered by Chuck and Ruth McClelland.  The Mother-Daughter and the Father-Son Breakfasts, a baseball outing to Tiger Stadium, the annual golf outi8ng, and the parish picnic at Wilson Park.  The Booster Club’s Sing-a-Long with the banjo priest, Fr. Dustin, the celebration of St. James’ Sixtieth Anniversary, the Footlighter’s Dinner Dance, and the Women’s Council’s Christmas Bazaar filled out the year.  Parishioners were faithful in serving as religious education teachers, office volunteers, cantors, lectors, EME’s, ushers, altar servers and council members.  There was also an adult mixed choir and a children’s choir that served the parish.  Participation in these various activities offered parishioners a chance to develop deep friendships and community spirit.

During the 1980’s, the decade of families, St. James stressed family values.  In the fall, the usual parish events took place and the organizations extended their invitations to parishioners to come forth and join.  The Christian Service Commission came under new leadership with Sr. Mary Ann.  A Parish Council survey supported the construction of a ramp to enter the church, thus making the church handicapped-accessible.

St. James considered the possibility of selling the former convent and the rectory.  This would reduce the impact of the rising parish utility and maintenance costs.  Fr. Alder received permission to sell the convent but permission to sell the rectory was denied.  The parish’s financial summary (July 1, 1980 to June 30, 1981) showed that St. James had held its own.  On May 17, 1981,  Archbishop Edmund C. Czoka was installed as the new leader of the Archdiocese of Detroit.  St. James’ former athletic director and head coach, John J. Shada, was inducted into the Michigan High School Coaches Association Hall of Fame.

With the authorization of a new style of worship in the Mass and sacraments, rituals were changed which, in turn, caused changes to be made to the focal point of the interior of the Church.  The new focus was to be the altar.  Devotional items such as statues were to be physically separated from the space used for Liturgy.  In accordance, the Worship Commission proposed removing the confessional in the back of the church and constructing two shrines in their place.  These shrines would house the devotional statues and candles which had occupied places in the front of the church.  The confessionals at the back of the church on both sides were removed and a shrine was constructed in the open alcove on St. Joseph’s side.  The alcove on the Blessed Mother side was left open.  The statues were removed from the front of the church and placed in the shrine.  The two side altars in the front of the church were left in place, but bare.

Other suggested changes that were made in due time included:  putting in a chimney, installation of a gas boiler, Casablanca-type ceiling fans, and entrance ramp to the church and improvements to the church lighting and sound system.

Parishioners made good use of the Community Center and gym for their various parish functions and activities without charge.  Because the Teen Task Force was losing its momentum, Sr. Mary Ann Suggested the formation of a St. James Teen Club.

The ADF Drive became known as Catholic Services Appeal (CSA) encompassing the ADF, Priest’s Retirement, Inter-Parish Sharing and Disadvantaged Schools.  The 1982 St. James assessment was $15,570.  $26,685.50 was collected.

Fr. Ron Alder accepted a position as Associate Pastor at St. Paul Catholic Church in Grosse Pointe in June of 1982.  Upon his departure, he urged parishioners to participate in church gatherings and community affairs representing a wider segment of the Body of Christ than the parish of St. james such as the Southeast Oakland Vicariate, the Northwest Region and the Archdiocese of Detroit.  Fr. David L. West arrived on July 1, 1982.  The Liturgy schedule remained unchanged - Saturday 5PM, Sunday 8AM, 10 AM and noon, and daily Mass at 8:30 AM Monday through Friday.

A ramp was constructed on the southeast entrance of the church.  The church entrances were rebuilt, the doors were resealed and varnished.  The bell tower was cleaned out and new grating was installed in hopes of keeping the pigeons out.  In order to better control the parking lot area, a gate was installed between the church and the school building.  The parish’s Christmas Collection stayed in the parish and was used for parish needs.  As of December 31, 1982, the parish debt was down to $192,687.07

St. James was growing but Sunday collections were not increasing.  Father West felt he had to curtail some of the services being offered and that this change would help save on expenses.  The Archdiocese conducted special meetings to define the roles and responsibilities of parish councils and their commissions.  Fr. West announced that all those parishioners who attended these special meetings would be permitted to place their names and the office they wanted to serve in a ballot box.  During Sunday Mass, names were drawn by lottery and those names drawn automatically became a Council member.

Parish organizations were gearing up for their fall meetings and activities under their new administration.  The Booster Club sponsored the annual parish picnic at Harding Park in Ferndale.  Fundraisers were set in motion.  The Rosary Altar Society sold the Entertainment ‘84 Books and prepared for the Christmas Bazaar.  The Boosters also sponsored a Toronto train trip.  They also offered an alternative mini-trip by bus to London, Ontario.  The Retirees held their annual card party and dessert luncheon and the St. James Footlighters started their 1983-84 season looking for new members.  “Focus: Life” began in the fall - a program to provide spiritual, service, recreational and ministerial activities and events for the parish’s young people from 13-30 years of age.  The parish also had The Teen Club which was “…emerging as a healthy cell in the body of St. James Parish.”  Its membership numbered 45 and approximately 25 attended weekly.

Over the past 65 years, St. James Parish had grown in size and stature from its humble beginnings in the Chicken Coop Chapel.  Through prayer, determination and sacrifice, the parish had brought spiritual, educational and cultural leadership to it parishioners, to the Community of Ferndale and to the country.  Although the number of registered parishioners had risen, according to Fr. West, the weekly collections had decreased.  Something was happening within the parish, as the financial support was slipping.  Faced with these facts, Fr. West predicted the parish would have to make major adjustments such as cut services, go to only two Masses on Sunday and one on weekdays, reduce the parish staff, put on hold any future expansion of programs, repairs and renovations, and the hiring of a second priest would be impossible.  The parish was still in debt to the Archdiocese and Fr. West refused to incur any more.

It was determined that the church organ needed major repairs at an estimated cost of $30,000.  The decision was made to gradually restore the organ but that work would be done in phases, and the money had to be raised.  There was an undercurrent of uneasiness in the parish.

St. James’ 1984 CSA assessment was $17,700.  The total amount pledged by parishioners was $29,666.55.  $12,066.55 was returned to the parish and new cushions were purchased and put in the front pews of the church.  St. James ended the fiscal year (1983-1984) with no bills due except for the ever-present debt to the Archdiocese.  An undercurrent of unrest continued to grow within the parish.

A wide rift developed between the parishioners and administration and, as a result, Fr. David West left St. James July 14, 1985.  Fr. Robert Wurm became the new pastor of St. James Parish on September 1, 1985.  A census of the parish determined that 1,135 families and individuals made up the St. James Parish community but only 400, or roughly 35% of the registered parishioners were supporting the parish.

St. James qualified to become a gathering site for the South Oakland Shelter (SOS) - a joining of over 25 Oakland County churches of various denominations joined together with Social Service Agencies to help those less fortunate find temporary shelter.

Underlying feelings of uneasiness began to give way with the change in pastoral leadership.  There was an active Senior group (the Retirees).  The Baby Boomers, a young adults’ group met twice a month in the homes of the members.  The M.O.M.’s met regularly every two weeks.  There was also a Teen Club for the high school students.  Parishioners enjoyed the annual events such as the Ushers’ Card Party and the St. Patrick’s Day Party.  The annual Blood Bank and Crop Walk were also well supported.  Parish life was gradually getting back to normal.

Sister Eveleen Forkin, SM, joined the parish staff April 13, 1986 as director of Christian Service.  The parish staff and Mass schedules remained unchanged and volunteers were still needed in the office.  Although the church’s finances were an ever present concern, activity continued in and about the parish as usual.  Monthly meetings of the different organizations continued.  There was a women’s fitness class, a youth outing to Proud Lake, a trip to the movie theater, a Fat Tuesday party, racquetball on Sunday afternoons and the men’s retreat at St. Paul of the Cross.

Parishioners cast votes to return the statues to the side altars.  The other statues remained in the shrine in the back of the church - a quiet spot to kneel and pray.  The Rosary Altar Society coordinated a new approach to purchasing flowers for the altar.  Parishioners were encouraged to sign up for a particular weekend at a cost of $30 allowing their name and intention to be published in the Weekly in recognition of their gift.

Parishioners’ response to having a Columbarium in the back of the church was positive.  It was to be built in the back of the church in in the space where two confessional had been removed.  The cost of each niche was $850.  It was to be a final resting place for loved ones.  The formal dedication was Sunday, December 6, 1987.

The developers who had purchased the former convent defaulted on the sale and St. James regained ownership of the gutted building with the realization that taxes had not been paid on the building - $17,500 was owed for 1983-84 and $19,500 for 1985-86.

Financial woes intensified as the parish debt to the Archdiocese grew to $134,833 at the end of the 1986-87 fiscal year.

St. James became a host-site for the SOS Program in 1987 and accepted on e of the week-long shelter stints.  As a host church, St. James was committed for a period of one week to provide daily transportation from the gathering sites in the evening, to a series of drop-off spots in the morning, space to shelter the homeless and disadvantaged, prepare morning and evening meals and a sack lunch.

Diane O’Neill, Marge Perkins and Rose Avery spearheaded a Garden Committee to care for the flower beds around the church and, in 1987, St. James received an award from the Ferndale Beautification Commission.

The parish offered several activities for spiritual awareness and growth.  On All Saints Day, the children participated in the Liturgy dressed as their favorite saint.  They were each encouraged to learn more about the life of the saint that they chose.  A professional puppeteer prepared a Christmas homily for the Children’s Mass on Christmas Eve.  A six-week Welcome Home Program was designed for those who had been away from the church.  The second Sunday of each month was designated as Corporate Communion Sunday for the Rosary Altar Society.  A women’s retreat was held at St. Paul of the Cross Retreat House and the candidates for Confirmation attended a retreat at Marianhill. The Giving Tree became an annual sharing activity during Advent.

The St. James Mission Statement was prepared and published in the Weekly along with the monthly calendar listing p0arish happenings.

Fr. Wurm was very interested in promoting community and in introducing cultural activities.  St. James launched the first of four Ferndale Chamber concerts featuring the Detroit Chamber Artists.  St. James also participated inthe Church Unity Program.  The parish participated in activities that benefited the entire community such as teh Red  Cross Blood Bank, Crop Walk, Hand-Across-Woodward to support the SOS Program and the Life Chain along Woodward Avenue in support of the right to life.  Fr. Wurm and parishioners promoted community spirit by marching in the annual Ferndale Memorial Day Parade.

Other activities throughout the year that promoted parish unity were the regular Sunday afternoon racquetball sessions, the regular monthly meeting of parish organizations, the annual Usher’s Card Party and a St. Patrick’s Day Party.  Ashes were distributed on Ash Wednesday and services were held each Wednesday evening during Lent.  The Seder Meal was celebrated in the gym before the Holy Thursday Mass in church.  The parish held solemn Good Friday church services, participated int eh public stations walk through downtown Ferndale and celebrated Easter resurrection.  There were retreats for men, women and teens; alter server classes for boys and girls and another Welcome Home series.  The Anniversary Mass, May Crowning of the Blessed Mother and a Mass honoring the parish’s high school graduates were celebrated.  The Detroit Council of Catholic Women recognized Mrs. Charles (Dolly) Yodhes as “Woman of the Year.”

During the summer of 1988, major repairs were made around the parish property.  The black top was repaired.  The former grade school building underwent reconstruction of the walls, floors and the heating system.  The church walls and porches were repaired and waterproofed.

July Dantzer headed an initial team from the St. James’ Religious Education Department that attended a LOGOS Administration School in Pittsburgh, PA.  The program was introduced at St. James in the fall and, by so doing, St. James became the first Catholic Parish in the United States to adopt the program.  Judy became the first coordinator.

In the fall of 1988, activity in and about the parish was flourishing.  There was an adult Halloween Costume Party.  The Rosary Altar Society hosted a Christmas Bazaar.  The children participated in an All Saints Procession.  Trips were made to the Michigan Opera Theater and to Ford Auditorium.  The LOGOS Program was in full swing and Sr. Eveleen held PRH sessions.

There was an average of 26 guests housed each night during St. James’ SOS week which involved over 100 volunteers who gave close to 800 hours of their time.  The RCIA Program was growing.  Throughout 1988, Father Wurm and Mike O’Neill continually stressed stewardship and the sharing of time and God-given talents.

There were 1,000 person/families registered in the parish to usher in the 70th Anniversary Year, 1989.  Weekly operating expenses were listed as $5,131.

Fr. Wurm welcomed the Heritage Concert Band each year which was well attended.  The Holy Thursday Seder Meal, prepared by Samira Mansor, was served in the gym.  Mass and the Aloration of the Blessed Sacrament followed in the church.  The Good Friday Service was followed by a pilgrimage on the streets of Ferndale with ecumenical stations along the way.

The women in the parish became active in forming Block Clubs in 1989.  Fr. Wurm encouraged the participation in the Ferndale Memorial Day Parade and St. James was awarded by the Memorial Association as the Best Adult Marching Unit.

October 1, 1989 marked St. James’ 70th Anniversary Year.  To commemorate the year, a Pictorial Church Directory was published and presented to registered parishioners.

The Archdiocese of Detroit introduced the Renew Program.  St. James and about 40 other parishes participated in the program.  Small Renew groups were modeled on the basic community idea.  Many understood the need for prayerful integration of the Liturgical themes into their personal lives and over 200 parishioners participated in the St. James Renew Program.  To celebrate the fall closure of Renew, a Barn Dance was held in the gym.  The 1989 Christmas collection topped $20,000 due to the generosity of St. James Parishioners and was earmarked to pay for painting the interior of the church.

At the beginning of Lent (1990) the second session of Renew began and again small groups met weekly in each others’ homes to discuss the theme of the Sunday Liturgy.

A bronze bell was procured from the Patronage of St. Joseph Parish and installed in St. James’ bell tower August 13, 1990.

Money had to be borrowed from the Archdiocese for physical plant repairs:  replacement of the school roof, parking lot resurfacing, new security doors, improvements on the heating system, repairs on the church porches, tuck pointing and waterproofing church brickwork and mortar, stained glass window repairs and installation of protective covers for some of the stained glass windows.  A pickup truck for snow removal was also purchased.  All these things added to the parish debt which now approached $300,000.

In July, 1990, Fr. Wurm and Parish Council President Jerry Pielack made a trip to Central America to visit a poor parish in Ville Nuevo, El Salvador.  The Council made the decision to “twin” with the Salvadoran Communities of Santa Marta and Ville Nuevo.  St. James’ role would be to help the 181 families with basic materials such as food, tractors, trucks and livestock.

41% of parishioners were contributing to the weekly offertory collection.  A third session of Renew began in the fall, and support groups were formed to aid children in single parent families, step families and families in painful transition.

There were no changes in the parish staff or office personnel as of January 1991.  The country was once again involved in another overseas employment of troops in the Gulf War.  Several parishioners were called into the service of their country.

St. Patrick’s Day gave the parish another chance to celebrate and the Florence and Tom Murphy Clan provided a delicious corned beef and cabbage dinner cooked to perfection.

St. James received a few new acquisitions.  An antique marble Baptismal font came from St. Stanislaus and the Rosary Altar Society arranged to have the dome re-gilded in gold.  St. James was also the recipient of a magnificant Austin Organ donated by Dr. Chester Summers.

In an effort to support the Ferndale Block Club Network, Fr. Wurm helped to organize the Lewiston Block Club.  To accommodate the youth of St. James’ Community, a teen drop-in center for junior and senior high school students was formed.  St. James’ LOGOS adopted the Rainbows for All God’s Children Program for the emotional healing of young ones who were experiencing loss through death, divorce or other family transitions.

A new sign was placed on the corner of Pearson and Woodward Avenue.  The sign was built with a Romanesque arch to compliment the style of the church building.  At 27 feet high it has a four line message board which can easily be seen by people traveling both north and south on Woodward Avenue.

The year 1992 saw no changes in the parish staff.

Robert Cissell headed a committee of ten parish members to form the Musical Organ Restoration Project.   This project was to raise the needed funds to reconstruct the Aeolian Pipe Organ in the choir loft.  This committee raised approximately $28,000.  The original organ was from the Fisher Gray-Haven Estate on the Detroit River and it had been donated to St. James by Larry Fisher in 1950 - the magnificent ornate hand carved cabinet has since been returned to the Fisher Mansion.  Over the years, the original organ had suffered severe water damage from leaks in the church rood and by dust.  Approximately one-third of the original organ was usable.  The first phase of the restoration was made possible by donations in memory of Agnes Nienberg and her family.  In the final phase, workable parts from both the Aeolian pipe organ and the newly acquired Austin organ, from Dr. Chester Summers, were used to reconstruct an instrument containing 3,000 pipes.  All of these pipes were now beautifully exposed.  For years, the other pipes had been hidden behind the walls.

For months, sections of the organ lay (3,000 pipes in all) in the back of the church while restoration and fine tuning of the grand organ took place in the choir loft. The Musical Organ Restoration Project was completed and a dedication ceremony was held October 3, 1993, with Dr. Chester Summers in attendance.  The final cost to the parish was only $9,000.

The highlight of 1993 was the World Youth Day in Denver, Colorado at which a group of young St. James LOGOS members attended the special Mass celebrated in Mile High Stadium.  They also heard the Pope’s special message to the gathering in Cherry Creek Park.  The St. James’ group represented the second largest from the Detroit area to attend this world-wide event - the largest percentage of young parishioners from any parish in the Archdiocese.  The group raised $15,500 in order to attend.

Other fall activities took place such as the St. James Community Crafters’ Arts and Craft Show, camping at Pointe Pelee, the fall semester of Renew began, the Ferndale Singers offered a concert in November.  There was a Feather Party and a Contra Dance in December.  A young single mother with two children began living in a house that was built by Habitat for Humanity on a lot donated by St. James.  Handel’s Messiah was presented by the Fred deHaven Choral at St. James and profits from the sale of note cards went to help the St. James sister parish in El Salvador.

1994 marked the parish’s 75th Anniversary and a grand celebration was planned which culminated on the first weekend of October, 1994.  The Facilities Committee spent weeks planning, building and painting in order to get the gym ready for the week long 75th Anniversary celebration that began Sunday, September 25 and continued through Sunday, October 2.  The gym was transformed!  A town-like atmosphere was created depicting the development and history of the parish and the City of Ferndale which had celebrated it 75th Anniversary the year before.  Simulated red brick streets wound through the village, and each street was bordered by grass, flowers, street lights and signs.  Structures representing the “chicken coop” chapel, the former school, eht new church, Ferndale’s City Hall, a theater, community center, a sport’s stadium, a country store, a Picket Fence Cafe, were erected along the streets.  Even a little park had been built complete with park benches.

Fran Foote and her committee had researched St. James history, gathered the memorabilia pertaining to each particular structure and arranged the displays.  A slide presentationof various parish activities, functions, and parishioners was shown in the Theater and audio tapes of the St. James Footlighters Shows were played.  The memorabilia had been collected from parishioners and the Ferndale Historical Society.  Food and beverages were available in the Picket Fence Cafe which was located in front of the stage.  While the guests enjoyed the refreshments, they were entertained by a piano player, the Ferndale Footlighters, and two members of the original Donahue family.  Throughout the day, ten parishioners dressed in clothes from the 1920’s, strolled about chatting with the guests and young paper boys distributed the daily copy of “EXTRA.”  It was estimated that over 1,000 people walked down “Memory Lane” and crossed over to “Future Boulevard.”  A sign reminded everyone that - the future is YOU.

The Church Cleaning Committee scrubbed, polished and washed every altar, pew, statue and candlestick.  The church floor was cleaned and polished and every nook was vacuumed.  New flooring was installed in the choir loft to prepare for the gala Open House celebration held on Friday night, September 30, 1994, and the Anniversary Mass on Sunday with Cardinal Maida.

Kleig lights sent rays of light into the sky symbolizing St. James as a beacon of faith and hope as the official Anniversary Celebration weekend began.  The church was beautifully decorated with banners and bouquets of flowers and greenery adorned the church.  Silver and gold tureens glistened on the refreshment tables.  Delicious hors d’oeuvres and punch were served as soft strains of harp, violin and flute music entertained the guests.  An organ recital was presented by Gerald Furi.  State and City Resolutions were presented by State Representative David Gubow and Ferdale City Councilman Pat Sullivan.  Church tours were conducted by the committee members.

The gym was once again transformed for the 75th Anniversary Dinner-Dance Saturday, October 1, 1994.  It became a lavish Banquet Hall with guests entering under a canopy as they walked along a red carpet lined with flowers.  The white linen covered tables were set with glittering sterling silver place settings and crystal glasses.  Fr. Wurm gave the Invocation.  Approximately 400 people attended.  It was a festive evening and many of the guests spent the evening meeting friends and neighbors, old classmates, former teachers, and establishing new friendships as they mingled.

The climax of the 75th Anniversary celebration took place on October 2, 1994, at the 10 AM Festival Eucharist Sunday when Cardinal Adam Maida, Archbishop of the Detroit Archdiocese celebrated and was assisted by newly-elevated Bishop Bernard Harrington along with Frs. Wurm, Courtright, Partenski and Letterman.  Michigan’s Governor John Engler and John Collins served as readers; Denise Hreha, Chuck Page and a group of parishioners read the general intercessions and the children led the gospel processional.

Under the supervision of Jerome Roska, the main altar and interior of the church were beautifully decorated with gold drapes and bouquets of flowers and greenery.  Christine Spurbeck developed seven attractive theme banners that were used in the processions and the children carried wooden poles with streamers made especially for the occasion by Bill Gallacher.  The organ music, by Geri Furi, was complemented with an orchestral group and the St. James Choir.  The Anniversary Mass Committee, chaired by Lynn Berry, orchestrated the elaborate entrance, gospel and ending processions as well as the technical arrangements needed to accommodate the large attendance.

The Refreshment Committee, chaired by Earl and Iola LeTissier, oversaw the Continental Breakfast that was served in the gym after the Mass.  Everyone was invited to attend.  It was here that Fr. Wurm introduced the man behind the happenings of the entire 75th Anniversary Celebration, Dr. Robert Locey.  The 75th Anniversary was a stunning success and the St. James’ community was strengthened.  The week long series of events had called for a great deal of support and commitment.  Other committees were as follows:  the Publicity Committee co-chaired by Christine Kole and Francine Potochnik, the Invitations Committee chaired by Bob Cissell, and the Mailing Committee chaired by Geralda Carter.

Two other committees, Remember When II and Time Capsule continued their work.  The committee decided to write a 75 year history of the parish of which much is included here.  The Time Capsule Committee, chaired by Patrick Curtin, arranged for a vault and headstone for a time capsule that is to include a copy of Remember When Volume I and Volume II.  The time capsule willbe opened by future parishioners on the parish’s 150th Anniversary in the year 2069.

Father Wurm and the Parish Council held a dinner meeting in the gym on November 15, 1994, to gain input on the direction the parishioners wanted to take during the coming years.  The consensus was that the Parish Council should re-energize and provide more encouragement to parishioners to participate as officers, members and supporters of the Council.

Through the months of planning and committee meetings, parishioners were given the opportunity to share their unique skills, ideas, and, as a result, gained respect for themselves and others.  The Anniversary celebration served not only to welcome back former members of the parish and alumni of the school but also to renew the commitment of current parishioners.

In summary, “St. James Built It’s Church!” The parish, throughout seventy-five years had seen major changes.  These changes were tied tothe nature and characteristics of the community in which the church resided.  The economic pressures that forced the parish to close the school was a major blow.  With the school closing, some families left St. James and joined the churches whose schools their children attended.

The parish was also affected by the changes within the universal Church as a result of Vatican II.

St. James currently receives financial help by renting the school buildings.

One thing that has remained constant over the seventy-five years has been the spirit of the parishioners.

In retrospect, we recall reading what our founding pastor, Msgr. O’Brien said when he addressed that handful of faithful Catholics gathered on the night of October 14, 1919 — “…the success of the parish would depend upon the amount of both spiritual and material support given.” From our Walk Down Memory Land, we are reminded that — the future is you!