About

 Polish immigrants first arrived in Michigan during the mid-1800s. Some settled in Huron Township, near the Huron River. The first Masses began in 1874 and were hosted in the home of Anthony Reiser on Sibley Road. Fr. Louis Florent Gillet, CSsR, traveled on horseback from Monroe to minister to the community. Fr. Gillet was also once of the founders of the IHM Sisters. St. Stephen Mission was soon established; a small, brick church was built and the first Mass was on November 26, 1875. However, the church was not dedicated until September 14, 1884. Fr. Edward Joos conducted the ceremony and he later became the first Detroit priest to be designated Monsignor.

The congregation was under the direction of different parishes for years from the Capuchins of St. Bonaventure Monastery, to Dearborn's Sacred Heart Parish. Later, St. Stephen was a mission of St. Joseph, Ypsilanti. After nearly 50 years as mission, Bishop Gallagher appointed Fr. Alphonse Nowogrodszki as the first resident pastor in 1920.Fr. Nowogrodzski sought to build a new church and ground was broken on September 31, 1923, and the cornerstone was laid on October 12 of that year. Built during World War I, labor and materials were very expensive at the time. The church cost approximately $23,000 at the time, or $320,000 after inflation. The pastor sought to minister to the impoverished community in nearby Belleville. Fr. Nowogrodzski bought an Episcopalian church, remodeled, and renamed it St. Anthony. He ministered to both congregations until 1942 when Fr. Francis Lukasiewicz arrived as an assistant. Fr. Nowogrodzski died on December 14, 1947, and buried four days later. The day after that, Fr. Edward Miotke was assigned pastor. Felician Sisters soon began teaching catechism classes on Saturday mornings and the parish sought to add a school. In 1949, architect Arthur DesRoisers drew plans and, on Pentecost Sunday, May 28, 1950, groundbreaking took place on the new school. Shortly thereafter, Fr. Ignatius Czapski was named pastor. Contractor Andrew Bodary built the school and it opened the next year with an enrollment of 180 students staffed by Felician Sisters. Fr. Ignatius Czapski died from a heart attack in 1959 and was succeeded by Fr. Ladislaus Golas. Fr. Golas was transferred in 1967 and replaced by Fr. Alexander Wytrwal. Fr. John Hedges has been pastor since 2005 and also serves as spiritual director for Riverview's Blue Army of Our Lady of Fatima