1857-1859 Fr. John DeNeve (St. Francis)
1859-1892 Fr. John Cappon (St. Mary)
1892-1896 Fr. Daniel McGlaughlin
1896-1908 Fr. E. M. Cullinane
1908-1937 Fr. Victor Ducat
1938-1947 Fr. Joseph Rochford
1947-1948 Fr. Francis Bowen
1948-1966 Fr. Cletus Rose
1966-1983 Rt. Rev. Msgr John D. Slowey
1982-1986 Fr. John Steffey
1986-1988 Fr. Dennis Boylan
1989 Fr. George Ross
1989-1997 Fr. Stephen Naas
1997-2004 Rev. Canon Marian M. Kencik
2003-2006 Fr. Carl F. Peltz
2006-2014 Fr. David C.Otto
2014-2016 Fr. Alphonse Savrimuthu,MSFS
2016- Fr. Christian Johnston
Fr. Petit Fr. LaLumiere
Fr. Bernier Fr. Shawe
Fr. Edward Sorin Fr. F. Cointet
Fr. Shortes Fr. Shilling
Fr. Kapp Fr. Granger
Fr. I. J. Curley Fr. B. S. Force
Fr. Thomas Flynn Fr. Giers
Fr. Joseph VanWaterschoot
Fr. Charles VanquelKelberger
Fr. Frank Kennedy Fr. John T. Lovett
Fr. Victor DeBey Fr. A. R. Dooling
Fr. H. B. McCauley Fr. Anthony Bussullil
Fr. Ralph Kelly Fr. Paul L. Dillon
Fr. George P. Horkan Fr. Joseph Weiber
Fr. Frank Berger Fr. Jacob Gensterblum
Fr. Michael J. Mieko Fr. Benjamin Ginther
Fr. Joseph Whelen Fr. Gilbert H. Gruss
Fr. Francis Timmons Fr. Leo G. Zavatsky
Fr. Lawrence Davis Fr. Joe Wever
Fr. Jerome Schmitt Fr. Elmer W. Wieber
Fr. James R. Sullivan Fr. David A. Bell
Fr. Allen Theis Fr. Robert Morlino
Fr. Don Klingler Fr. Bob Flickinger
Fr. Lawrence Kroll Fr. Stanley Witek
Fr. Joseph Koma, CSC
Fr. Joseph McCormick, OSA
Fr. William Craddick, CSC
Fr. James Doll, CSC
Fr. Robert Epping, CSC
Fr. William Faiella, CSC
Fr. William Melody, CSC
Fr. Thomas Peyton, CSC
Fr. James Rigert, CSC
Fr. William Simmons, CSC
Fr. Leo Ward,.CSC
Fr. Paul Wendel, CSC
Fr. Robert Prevost, OSA
Parish Membership: We encourage all Catholic families to register with the Parish Office and to use church offertory envelopes. Please notify the Parish Office if you have a change of address, or are moving out of the Parish.
Today, our beloved St. Mary's Church, with its nearly 150 year old history, stands majestically at 203 S. Lincoln Avenue. This beautiful brick church of Italian Gothic architecture boasts a 180 ft. tower with three large bells named after the Archangels: St. Michael, St. Gabriel and St. Raphael. Its beautiful stained glass windows, interior statues, and decorative paint define its beauty and grace.
Roman Catholicism came to the Midwest via Jesuit priests from France. One of the first was Fr. Jean Claude Allouez, who died here in 1689. The Jesuits endured many hardships and remained until 1764 when they were recalled to France.
From 1773-1830, there were no resident priests here, and traveling priests only occasionally visited. In 1837 a fine brick church was built on a bluff above the St. Joseph River in Bertrand, south of Niles. Today, an Historical Landmark is located at the St. Joseph Cemetery which shared the same plot of land as the church. The church itself was torn down circa 1911, but the foundation remains. For more information on the St. Joseph Mission in Bertrand, click here.
In 1847 Fr, E. Sorin, founder University of the Notre Dame, began construction of St. Francis of Assisi Church near where St. Mary's stands today. That church was completed and blessed on April 8, 1849.
The church became a diocesan parish in 1857 and was no longer a mission of Notre Dame, but our relationship with Notre Dame continued throughout the years. The parish grew and a new, larger church was needed to serve the community. Under the direction of the parish priest at the time, Fr. John Cappon, St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception Church was built and was blessed and dedicated on December 11, 1870. In 1890, Fr. Cappon added the steeple to the church.
After completion of the new church, the old St. Francis Church was used as a school. Later on the old church building was sold and moved to another location and a new two story brick school was built. The new school was named St. Mary's School and it was dedicated and opened on October 17, 1892. The school, however, did not operate from 1902-1926 due to building repair issues as well as the turmoil of World War I, but Fr. Ducat's dedication to Catholic education motivated the reopening of the school in 1926.
In 1897, our present rectory was built. The cornerstone was blessed September 27, 1897 by Rev. Fr. O'Brien of Kalamazoo.
The church was renovated in 1908 under the direction of Fr. Victor Ducat. The ceiling was lowered, new stained glass windows, a new altar, statues of Mary and Joseph, chandeliers and stations of the cross were installed.
Over the course of time, pastors changed, but the school and church continued to serve the families in the Niles area through the Great Deperession and World War II. An extensive remodeling of the church began in 1950 under the guidance of Rev. Cletus Rose. The floor was reinforced with steel beams. The sanctuary was extended into the chapel annex with side doors into the sacristy. The old altar was dismantled and three new altars, with a crucifix over the main altar, were added, The statues of Mary and Joseph were not changed. North and south exits were added near the front of the church. Limed oak confessionals and pews and an aluminum altar rail were installed. New front doors and a new baptistry completed the work in November 1951. A new organ and chimes were purchased and were played for the first time at the Midnight Mass on Christmas Eve 1951.
During the peak commitment to Catholic education in the 50s, it was decided to build a new modern school to house the growing school population. Plans for the school included an auditorium/gymnasium with a stage, boys and girls locker rooms, a public restroom, a storage room, kitchen, eight classrooms, two offices, a music room and a combination lounge and clinic. The new school was dedicated October 18, 1953 by Bishop Joseph Albers of the Diocese of Lansing. At its peak in the early 1960s, 400 children were enrolled, including a 9th grade class that one year. The old St. Mary's School was demolished in 1959.
In July 1955, the parish was divided and St. Mark parish was created to serve those in Niles east of 11th Steet. Mass was celebrated in the Oak Manor School gym until October 29, 1957 when the new temporary church was dedicated. On December 21,1968 the current St. Mark Church was dedicated by Bishop Zaleski.
Vatican II brought many changes in the church. The Latin Mass was replaced with Mass offered in the language spoken in each country and a new altar was placed so the priest could say Mass facing the congregation.
Religous sisters teaching our children in our school lived in an old two story farm house for many years. In 1963 ground was broken for a new convent. The new structure at the corner of State St. and Elm St was completed in 1964 and the old convent was demolished. We no longer have religious sisters in residence here at St. Marys and the convent building has been converted into our Parish Center where our Parish Offices are located as well as the Good Shepherd chapel and a large meeting room.
In the summer of 1966, RIght Rev. Msgr. John Slowey was assigned as St. Mary's pastor. Five years later, St. Mary's became a part of the new Diocese of Kalamazoo, formerly of the Diocese of Lansing.
Once again, in 1976, renovations were made to St. Mary's despite high unemployment and inflation. Repairs included a new roof, repairing windows, sealing of the brick, relocation of restrooms, floor repairs, replastering and painting walls, and installing an all-new electrical system. The sacristy sanctuary and vestibule were all redecorated. In December 1976, Bishop Paul V. Donovan blessed the restored church.
In 1979, Sr. Dolora Geraghty, CSC began serving those in need via an office in the convent. In 1988, ground was broken for the new Catholic Christian Service Center at the corner of State St. and Clay St. The Center's primary mission is to provide food to those in need. The Christian Service Center (CSC) still exists today and is operated completely by volunteers with donations from parishioners, non-parishioners and community groups.
More improvements were made to St. Mary's during the term of Fr. Stephen Naas. Improvements included tuckpointing and sealing of the church masonry, re-roofing the church, replacing the rectory garage, installing a new roof on the classroom portion of the school, repairing parking lots and driveways,
Improvements continued under Rev. Canon Marian M. Kencik as the sanctuary floor was reconfigured to reduce the number of steps and to maximize the useful space. The sanctuary floor was covered with a polished ceramic tile and the rest of he church nave was carpeted. The balcony rail was raised to meet safety codes.
In 2010 The church steeple was covered in copper. It was a beautiful addition to our lovely church and should last for many years to come. Later in 2010, the sancturary was repainted with decorative elements by an artist to enhance the space. In 2012, the entire church interior was repainted, again with an artist highlighting its natural beauty.
St. Mary's continues to serve the Catholic community in Niles well. Currently there are approximately 500 familes registered in the parish. Over the past decade, the number of Latino families has increased in our parish as well as in the Niles community. We strive to make Christ present to all through the sacraments, prayer, education and service.