A bit of history – St. Ignatius Loyola Church

From its humble and tenuous origins in 1671, the "Mission at Saint Ignace" has been a source of Christian love and inspiration to literally thousands of people. The trust, friendship, and bonds of spirituality formed between the Native peoples and the Jesuit missionaries, particularly Father Jacques Marquette (present here 1671—1673), are exemplary even to this day.

The original St. Ignatius church building, now the "Old Mission Church," was erected in 1837 by Father Bonduel of the Diocese of Detroit. It is the oldest Catholic church building still standing in Michigan or Wisconsin, being about ten years older than the oldest existing church in the Detroit area. The Old Mission Church was abandoned as a church in 1905 when the present St. Ignatius Loyola Church was constructed. The site of the Old Mission Church is now adjacent to the historic grave of Father Marquette at Marquette Mission Park on State Street in Saint Ignace and serves as the Museum of Ojibwa Culture.

From 1837 to 1873, Saint Ignace was part of a combined pastorate with Mackinac Island. A priest alternated in residence between the two, or at times Saint Ignace was served from various other missions. In November 1873, Father Edward Jacker became the first full-time pastor at St. Ignatius Loyola Parish. Bishop Baraga (1797-1868) visited and ministered at Saint Ignace on frequent visits.

In the Catholic Church's Jubilee Year 2000, Bishop James H. Garland, Diocese of Marquette, established the "Baraga Pilgrimage" during The Holy Year to the shrines of the saintly Bishop Baraga and to "some other churches of significance to our diocese." We are pleased that St. Ignatius Loyola Church was included in that tour as a pilgrimage destination. May it continue to be a special place on your spiritual journey, a place that will enrich your life each time you are here. To all who come to pray with our St. Ignatius parish family, we say "Welcome!"

The painting ...

As evidence of the unique connection our St. Ignatius Loyola Church had with Bishop Baraga, the painting of our patron, St. Ignatius of Loyola, hanging in the entry of the church is one obtained by Bishop Baraga during approximately
1838-40.
[Some notes from the "Diary of Bishop Frederick Baraga," first Bishop of Marquette MI. The book has been edited and annotated by Regis M Willing and Rev. N Daniel Rupp. It was originally translated from mostly German by Joseph Gregorich and Rev. Paul Prud'homme, S.J.]
Frederick Baraga began his missionary work in the U.P. in May 1831, became bishop in 1852. The picture now in St. Ignatius Church in St. Ignace, of St Ignatius of Loyola dedicating himself to God, dates from a journey to Europe made by Baraga about 1838-40 to solicit funds for his destitute Lake Superior mission at La Point near L'Anse. The diary covers 1852-1863.

And more of history – Immaculate Conception Church

The church – the people – of Immaculate Conception Parish are a strong, faith-filled community centered in Christ and the Eucharist. We welcome friends, relatives, and visitors, as we seek God in one another.

Our parish began as a mission on March 28, 1888 with land acquired from Mr. and Mrs. Robert Gille and two additional lots donated by Frank Becker. The original "neat little church" built that year, mainly by Mr. Otto Roggenbuck, was replaced in 1903 by a new church located between Duke's Road and the Community Center. Original families in the mission community included the Beckers, Soeltners, Brauns, Luepnitz', and Roggenbucks. In the early years our mission church was known for being dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Mary and apparently, through at least the 1920's, was called St. Mary's Church, with the name changing to Immaculate Conception sometime later. As a mission from 1888 to 1941 our "parish" was initially served from St. Ignace and then from Engadine.

Immaculate Conception Church, Moran, was established as a parish on June 20, 1941, with Father Lester Bourgeois as pastor. At that time the following missions were included in Immaculate Conception Church: Trout Lake, Gros Cap, Allenville, Brevort, Carp River, Charles, Epoufette, Ozark, Rexton, Santigo, and Strongs. Of these missions only two had churches, St. Mary's at Trout Lake and Sacred Heart at Gros Cap. The rectory in Moran was purchased by Father Bourgeois.

Following Father Bourgeois, subsequent pastors have included: Fathers James McCarthy, C.J. Reinhart, Gervais Brewer, John H. Ryan, Edward Mihelich, Patrick Frankard, Donald Hartman, Kenneth Bretl, Norbert Landreville, David Rocheleau, John Chrobak, Peter Oberto, Raymond Hoefgen, and our current pastor C. Michael Rhoades. Beginning in 1985, Immaculate Conception Parish had to begin functioning without a resident pastor. The respective pastors of St. Ignatius Loyola Parish in St. Ignace have served as our pastors and celebrated Mass with us weekly since that time.

Following his review process of Upper Peninsula parishes in 1995, Bishop James H. Garland reaffirmed the status of Immaculate Conception Church as a parish in the Diocese of Marquette. We were greatly encouraged by his decision, and we are united in our determination to pray and work for growth and renewal in all aspects of our parish life. "We have learned our faith from the generations before us, and we joyfully pass on our faith to our children." Blessed Mary, Holy Mother of God, pray for us.



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