![]() ![]() ![]() This served the congregation as a fellowship hall, plus it could seat an additional 300 for mass. Dunne oversaw the addition of an adjoining hall, 40’x 80’, called the Great Pumpkin Room, due to its color. By this time, again, summer attendance was far larger than the seating capacity, causing many members to observe mass through the windows. Andrew Dunne took over these responsibilities. Paul Gillispie was the first minister from the Oblate’s Order. Francis of DeSales were given the privilege of caring for the souls in both Our Lady of Fatima and St. In the summer if 1970, the Oblates of St. Sylvester Fedewa cared for it from 1968 to 1970. After that day, the mission was never closed and Fr. Donovan assured the parishioners that if there would be a minimum of 100 people attending weekend mass throughout the winter, he would endeavor to keep the new facility open. Due to the rapid growth of the community, Fr. This was a dream come true for the many families living in the area. With a seating capacity of 400, the first mass was held in the new building on August 20, 1967. In 1967, the new church was erected and the old chapel was closed and sold. He reported to Bishop Zaleski that the capacity was insufficient as both Sunday masses were hopelessly crowded and the building was in poor repair. ![]() Rita and in 1966 he purchased 15 acres on the southwest corner of Hayes and Jefferson as a building site. Paul Donovan, Our Lady of Fatima’s second pastor, had more time to devote to St. Hugh Conklin’s time and energies, little was left for the summer mission. ![]() Since the infant parish required most of Fr. At that time, Monsignor Frank Hardy was instructed that the pastor of the new parish in Michigan Center would take on the responsibility for the chapel on Clark Lake. Rita Mission into their care the following year. The Diocese established Our Lady of Fatima Parish in Michigan Center in 1954 and put St. Mary’s assistants continued to celebrate the Sunday Mass at St. Rita’s was given to Monsignor Eugene Cullimane at St. As the mission was located in the new diocese and the mother parish remained in the Diocese of Detroit, the pastoral care of St. Mary’s missions until the creation of the Diocese of Lansing in 1937. And building walls on sections to assemble on-site is a concept that did not come into its own until the 1990s. A building large enough to seat 200 would have required a number of wagons. For most of us today, this doesn’t seem too unusual however, in 1915, that journey alone would have taken 2 ½ days. The structure was built in sections in Manchester and hauled to Clark Lake by team and wagon. With the land acquired, they then approached other neighbors soliciting any materials available to build the mission. Graziani offered, in return, to donate the parcel for that purpose. During the request to purchase land for a church, Mr. Graziani of Covington, KY, who owned a summer home on Clark Lake. Rita Mission became a reality in the summer of 1916. With perseverance, contacts, donated land and materials, and a building concept decades ahead of its time, St. Rita Catholic Church began as a dream in the heart and mind of Fr. We are dedicated to living and sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ now and in ways not yet imagined. St Rita is an Active Catholic community that welcomes all God’s children for worship and service. We strive to be confident in our faith, comfortable in sharing that faith, dynamic in celebrating it and generous because of it. ![]()
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