St. Michael the Archangel (Livonia)

St. Michael the Archangel was established by Bishop Gallagher on July 8, 1931. Fr. John Contway was the first pastor of ten families. Shelden Land Company donated six acres for a combined church and social hall. The building was dedicated on October 21, 1931, and was incorporated into the current school building.

Felician Sisters began teaching religious education in September, 1936, and the sisters established a new Motherhouse two months later. They started with just five students but quickly increased to 75 by the end of the academic year.

The parish began raising funds for a parish school which eventually opened in September of 1942 and led by five Felician Sisters. A second level was added to the school the following year to accomodate rapid growth. 

Three more sisters joined the school in 1944-45 and enrollment was at 345 students. A gymnasium was built in 1949 and a convent the following year. Fr. Contway died in 1956 after 25 years of service to the parish. At the time, the parish has 1,425 registered families.

Fr. Thomas McMahon succeeded as pastor and oversaw construction of the current church in 1962. Enrollment at the school peaked at 1,165 students in 1965, making St. Michael the second-largest Catholic elementary school in the Archdiocese after St. Veronica.

Fr. William Tindall was installed as the parish's eighth pastor in 2003 and has served in that office since.



For more info: parish website
For more photos: AOD Film Services

Felician Motherhouse (Livonia)

St. Felix of Cantalice

Blessed Mary Angela Truszkowska

The Congregation of Sisters of St. Felix Of Cantalice Third Order Regular of St. Francis of Assisi (CSSF), was established in 1855 in Warsaw, Poland. The community borrows their name from St. Felix of Cantalice, a 16th Century Franciscan devoted to children.

Felician Motherhouse in Detroit SOURCE

In 1874, five sisters come to America and settled in  Polonia, Wisconsin, at the invitation of Fr. Joseph Dabrowski. The Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary Province was transferred to Detroit in 1882. They established a motherhouse directly across the street from St. Albertus Church, the first Polish-American parish in the area. A convent, orphanage, and Felician Academy, an all-girl high school, were all housed in the same building. Felicians would also teach at St. Stanislaus, St. Josaphat, and other Polish-heritage parishes.

SOURCE

The Felician motherhouse later moved to Livonia in 1936 but the Felician Academy remained until 1967. What remained of the convent was burned down on November 3, 1969, and was later replaced by apartments.

SOURCE

The cornerstone of the Livonia motherhouse is dated to 1935 and features an inscription that translates to "God is my all."

The building was designed in a Neo-Renaissance style, with elements of the Byzantine Revival, and completed in 1936.



A large crucifix stands near the main door.
 

Blessed Mary Angela Truszkowska, foundress of the Felicians, is portrayed in the narthex across from Our Lady of Częstochowa.
 

The Sanctus or "holy, holy, holy" is inscribed along the front of the baldachin. Images of the evangelists line the four surrounding pillars.

The Holy Spirit is depicted in the dome above the altar.

Side altars dedicated to St. Joseph (left) and St. Felix (right).

A circular window above the main doorway repeats the phrase "God is my all" and features the Franciscan Coat of Arms: the crossed hands of Jesus and Francis.

Scriptural symbols are seen throughout the stained-glass windows.

Stations of the Cross are embedded in the walls

The Agnus Dei is depicted in the gates of the altar rail

Woodwork details adorn the confessionals

Mass is at 7:30am, Monday-Saturday, and 9:00am on Sundays.

For more info: FelicianSisters.org | Wikipedia