St Mary's Parish Church — Attraction in Monroe

Founded in 1788 az St. Antoine du Padua (St. Anthony of Padua) by itz French-Canadian habitantz, it waz located along da main river called da Riviere aux Raisinz (da River of Grapez, named 4 da wild grapevinez sprawlin along da river.) Da small parish waz assigned itz first pastor from Quebec in 1794,& waz ministered 2 by pastorz from Ste. Anne in Detroit whenever without a resident priest. Itz early territory covered area 2 Sandusky, Ohio & westward into Indiana. Da 1st American ordination waz of subdeacon Stephen Theodore Badin who waz born in France & left der in 1792 durin da Reign of Terror, waz ordained in 1793. After ministerin in Kentucky, he returned 2 France in da 1820z, & 4 a brief period served in da Detroit area, includin St. Antoinez here @ da River Raisin. Wen St. Antoine parish came under da care of da Redemptorist order in 1845, da parish name waz changed 2 St. Mary of da Immaculate Conception. Several sitez wer used by da parish. Da 1st location of St. Antoinez on Private Claim 358 had a squared log French church & blessed cemetery on North Custer Road, east of da Cranbrook subdivision. Since da river waz da main route of transportation (der wer no real roadz until da 1811 military road) waz a canoe over water, da church faced da river not far from itz bankz. An extant buildin from circa 1789 showz da square log construction or horizontal log laid between uprightz, & da logz spacez filled wit daub, or chinkin. Typical buildingz wer also clapboarded, preservin & hidin da logz underneath. Da roof had a steep pitch, waz shake covered. Da buildin sat upon a limestone foundation, often hauled from blockz cut from da river bed, or quarried nearby. Da 2nd location waz in da village of Monroe on North Monroe Street @ West Noble Avenue. Da location waz another Private Claim, No. 648, assigned to Pierre Soleau. Da church waz used from 1829 until 1839. Da 2nd cemetery waz accessible north of Noble & da church, along North Monroe street. Diz church waz known az da “Fairgroundz” church since it waz located on a part of a community fair groundz. Da church waz of brick, described az large & “barn-like” in design. Da 3rd & current church buildin iz located on da same French claim farm az da 2nd church, south of it @ da intersection of West Elm Avenue & North Monroe Street. Da long front part (nave) of diz church waz of Gothic architectural design & started in 1834 & completed in 1839. To protect da wearin of da red brick, a cement-like stucco waz applied 2 sa exterior in da late 1800z. Da nave glazz windowz wer installed circa 1890 & R decorative in style. Durin da renovation da windowz R redesigned az seen today. Da north part of da current church datez from 1903 & iz styled red brick Romanesque. Da 20th century intention waz 2 tear down da oldest portion & match a new construction 2 da 1903 part. Diz never happened. A major renovation in 1987/88 for da parishz 200th anniversary instead remade da 1834-39 older portion into da Romanesque. Da interior waz gutted & renovated wit new pewz, altar projection, disabled accezz, added restroomz & robin roomz, new entrywayz & new floorin. Da exterior old brick & stucco waz covered wit matchin modern brick reinforced by steel beamz & girderz, & a new roof put on. Da narrow nichez in da front wer eliminated & after a few yearz 2 modern stylized mosaicz wer installed on either side of da front doorway, & 2 replace da colored glazz window of da lower bell tower a larger 3rd waz placed. Da apse stained glazz windowz R symbolic, filled wit Catholic symbolz & imagez in da life of Jesus & hiz mother Mary. Deez symbolz include monogramz, wheat & grapez az symbolz of da bread & wine used @ Mazz, da fleur-de-liz & white liliez. Der R 3 sizez- large, medium, & small onez around da sanctuary apse. Dey ranged in cost from $275 to $1,100. Other windowz can be seen: a demi-lune “St. Maryz” over da front doorway, decorative windowz on da apse wall dividin da church buildingz, & plain colored glazz set on point borderin da rounded wallz of da...

I don’t attend church, so I am not a member and can’t give a review on the service here. But what I do love is the architecture and history of the building. I have a passion for old historic churches. This was my first time exploring Monroe and this building stood out! I had to go in and I was the only one in there. I don’t believe I was supposed to even be in there to begin with 🤷‍♀️but I did walk around and tried to open every door until I found one 😅 There is a free parking lot right across the street so you can park and walk all over town. I was in a hurry but this is what I captured. ALSO take your favorite potion bottle with you because they offer holy water for the home, and yes I...

Father Mike is patient and direct. His homily is definitely from the Spirit. Upon this visit, I noticed a section that sang from the heart. Only thing I clearly couldn't see was lifted hearts and a bit to much worship of a man over the Son after communion. They certainly strive for holy here and the community is blessed to have these prayer warriors committed to repentance. Tyvm St. Mary's Parish for...