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Historical
Facts & Historic Timeline
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Prior to 1882: For Perspective
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1641:
Jesuits Isaac Jogues and Charles Ramoaut preached to
Chippewas; named the rapids Sault Sainte Marie.
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1660: Jesuit Rene Menard opened the first regular mission in the Lake Superior region.
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1668:
Father Marquette founded Sainte Marie Mission at Sault Sainte Marie.
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1671:
Father Marquette founded St. Ignace Mission on north
shore of Straits of Mackinac.
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1701:
Fort Pontchatrain founded on present site of Detroit
and placed in command of Antoine de la Moine Cadillac.
The Chapel of Sainte Anne de Detroit established.
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1706:
Franciscan Father Delhaile killed by Indians in Detroit.
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1823: Father Gabriel Richard elected delegate to Congress from the Michigan territory; he was the first priest chosen for the House of Representatives.
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1833:
Father Frederic Baraga celebrated the first Mass in
present-day Grand Rapids; St. Andrew Parish was founded
in Grand Rapids; and the Diocese of Detroit was established.
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1843:
Western Catholic Register founded in Detroit.
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1845:
St. Vincent’s Hospital, Detroit opened by
Sisters of Charity.
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1848:
Cathedral of Sts. Peter and Paul, Detroit consecrated.
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1853:
Vicariate Apostolic of Upper Michigan established.
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1857:
Saulte Ste. Marie Diocese established; later referred
to as Marquette.
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1877:
University of Detroit established.
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1882:
and After
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1882:
Diocese of Grand Rapids established on May 19.
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1897:
Nazareth College for women established in Kalamazoo.
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1883:
Henry Joseph Richter installed first bishop of the Diocese
of Grand Rapids on April 22.
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1916: Michael J. Gallagher installed second bishop of the Diocese of Grand Rapids.
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1919:
Edward D. Kelly installed third bishop of the Diocese
of Grand Rapids.
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1926:
Joseph G. Pinten installed fourth bishop of the Diocese
of Grand Rapids; he resigned in 1940 due to health reasons.
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1937:
Detroit made an archdiocese; Lansing Diocese established.
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1938:
Saginaw Diocese established.
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1939: Diocesan Council of Catholic Women established.
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1941:
Joseph C. Plagens installed fifth bishop of the Diocese
of Grand Rapids.
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1943:
Francis J. Haas installed sixth bishop of the Diocese
of Grand Rapids.
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1946:
Archbishop Edward Mooney of Detroit consecrated Cardinal
by Pope Pius XII.
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1948: Bishop Haas launched the first newspaper for the diocese called The Western Michigan Catholic; Serra International established a club in Grand Rapids.
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1949:
Opening of St. John’s Theological (major) Seminary at Plymouth: this was the first Seminary in U.S. serving an entire ecclesiastical province (Detroit)..
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1953:
Father Hugh Michael Beahan launched a program on WOOD
TV called “Fifteen with Father;” Catholic
population of Western Michigan at 122,459.
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1954:
Allen J. Babcock installed seventh bishop of the Diocese
of Grand Rapids; Diocesan Council of Catholic Men initiated.
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1955:
The Mass is televised on Sundays on WOOD TV.
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1958:
Pope Pius XII died in October after nearly 20 years
in office.
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1962:
Vatican II began.
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1969:
Archbishop John Dearden of Detroit consecrated cardinal
by Pope Paul VI. Joseph M. Breitenbeck installed eighth
bishop of the Diocese of Grand Rapids.
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1971:
Gaylord and Kalamazoo Dioceses established.
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1978:
Pope John Paul elected, but died within 33 days of office;
Pope John Paul II elected.
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1988:
Archbishop Edmund C. Szoka of Detroit (formally of Grand
Rapids Diocese) consecrated cardinal by Pope John Paul
II; transferred to Roman Curia in 1990. Sister Patrice
Konwinski selected by Bishop Breitenbeck as the first
woman as chancellor of the diocese.
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1989:
Robert J. Rose installed ninth bishop of the Diocese
of Grand Rapids.
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1998:
Bishop Rose launches the “In the Name of the
Lord” fundraising campaign to raise $18 million
to restore the Cathedral of St. Andrew, renovate St.
Henry Hall and establish an education fund. The campaign
raised more than $24 million.
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2003:
Kevin M. Britt installed 10th bishop of the Diocese
of Grand Rapids.
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2004:
Bishop Britt dies unexpectedly in May.
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2005:
Bishop Breitenbeck dies in March.
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2005:
Pope Benedict XVI was elected.
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2005:
Bishop Walter A. Hurley was installed 11th bishop of
Grand Rapids.
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