St. Mary - St. John the Baptist Carson City MI

Loving Christ, Loving Others

We are a welcoming Catholic community called by God to live out the message of Christ in love and service to all people. Our parish mission is:

To proclaim the Gospel of Christ to our local community in word, deed, and truth

 

Question: Is there a priest in residence?

Answer: No. For nearly a decade, St. Mary & St. John the Baptist Parishes have operated without a permanent priest in residence.

Question: Who says the Masses?

Answer: Each weekend we have visiting Sacramental Ministers (aka Priests) to celebrate Mass with us. Most of these men are retired.

Question: What if I need to be Anointed?

Answer: If you or someone you know needs to receive the Anointing of the Sick, then please contact Nancy at the parish office (989-584-6044). If it is an emergency, then she will find a priest to Anoint you immediately. Otherwise, she will bring the visiting priest out after Mass on the weekend.

Question: Can I have one of the retired priests officiate my wedding?

Answer: Maybe. Each priest is different and has different requirements before they will marry a couple. Also, it will depend on their schedule. Please speak with Nancy during your marriage preparation classes if you would like to request a specific priest for your wedding.

Question: When does the Saturday Mass schedule change?

Answer: Saturday evening Mass is at 4:00pm and will stay that way until further notice.

Question: What does 'ecumenical' mean?

Answer: The actual definition of 'ecumenical' is: 'representing a number of different Christian churches.'

Question: When is the Craft Show?

Answer: St. Mary's Annual Craft Show is always held on the fourth Saturday of October. For more information click here

Question: Can I rent the hall if I don't go to church there?

Answer: Yes! Anyone 18 years old or older can rent either one of our halls.

Question: How much does it cost to rent St. Mary or St. John the Baptist Hall?

Answer: The cost of a wedding rental for either hall is currently $700; that amount will increase to $800 effective July 1, 2023.

Question: Do I have to pay the whole amount up front?

Answer: No. To reserve your date you only need to pay a down payment of $300. Please note: this is NOT a deposit, you will not receive this money back.

Question: How many people can the halls fit?

Answer: Both halls have a capacity of 400 people.

Question: Can I use the kitchen?

Answer: To prepare your food in one of our kitchens you must have a licensed caterer in the kitchen because our kitchen is licensed. The caterer must provide a copy of their current Food Handler's License from the State of Michigan to the office.

Question: What about using roasters?

Answer: You may rent roasters and coffee pots from us for $5 a piece. Simply let us know the day you pick up the key that you would like to rent them.

Question: What does St. Mary's contract look like?

Answer: A sample contract for St. Mary's Hall can be found here:

https://irp.cdn-website.com/c2e72361/files/uploaded/St.%20Mary%20sample%20contract%207-2022.pdf

Question: What does St. John's contract look like?

Answer: A sample contract for St. John the Baptist's Hall can be found here:

https://irp.cdn-website.com/c2e72361/files/uploaded/St.%20John%20the%20Baptist%20sample%20contract%207-2022.pdf

Question: Can I rent the hall for a family gathering?

Answer: Yes. Both halls may be rented for $150 for baby showers, bridal showers, family reunions, etc. as long as no alcohol is served. A non-refundable deposit of $100 is due within 60 days of reserving the hall.

Question: Can I rent the classrooms at St. Mary?

Answer: Yes! The classrooms are available for small group events for $25. No alcohol may be served in the classrooms.

Question: How many tables and chairs does St. Mary have?

Answer: St. Mary has twenty-eight 60' round tables and approximately thirty-five 96'x30' rectangular tables. There are enough chairs to accommodate the 400 person capacity.

Question: How many tables and chairs does St. John the Baptist have?

Answer: St. John the Baptist has 24 60' round tables, 35 long tables (8'x30' and 6'x30').

Question: What do I do with my trash after my event?

Answer: All trash must be taken with you when you leave. Please do not leave any behind.

Question: Do I have to clean it afterward?

Answer: No. You are only responsible for removing all of your decorations and trash from the premises. All of the tables and chairs must be left out so they can be sanitized by our custodian. He will also clean the floors.
 

Download St. Mary - St. John the Baptist vCard with Mass Times

Click here to contact the church  

Download Pastoral Director Nancy Woodcock vCard

Click here to contact Nancy Woodcock  

Diocese of Grand Rapids  

https://www.stmarystjohn.net/  

 

 

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The History of St. Mary Church, Carson City, MI

On February 8, 1896, St. Mary-Our Lady of Help Parish celebrated their first mass in the Old Rink at the corner of Main and Second Street. Mass was offered above what was the Lockers until a church was built. Some of the Irish families from Hubbardston had moved to Carson City--James Kavanagh (1882), William O'Connell (1883), and Richard O'Connor (1884). On July 11, 1896 the cornerstone of the present St. Mary Church was laid by its first pastor, Kyran J. Whalen. On Christmas day of 1896, Fr. Whalen celebrated mass in a new St. Mary Church. His servers were William Grace and Howard Montgomery. Kyran Beahan was the first baby to be baptized in the new church and Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Kavanagh (Margaret Barrett) were the first couple to be married in the new church. Early members of the parish included the Egans, Arthur and Robert Montgomery, Richard O'Connell, William Grace, James Kavanagh, Mike O'Connell, the Mooneys, the Barretts, the McGraws, Joe Donahue, and several others. St. Mary Rectory was completed in 1898. In the year 1906-1907, St. Mary's Academy, under the direction of the Sisters of St. Dominic of Grand Rapids, Michigan, was added to the growing parish complex.

Sr. Mary Berchmans was in charge assisted by Sr. Mary Tearentia. In 1906, a clock was placed in the tower of St. Mary's Church by the citizens of the town with the only automatic angelus connection in the state of Michigan at the time. The first graduation class of St. Mary's High School was in 1911. They were Mary Dickenson, Marguerita Handlon, Helen Handlon, and Richard McCrackin (The High School was closed in 1964.) In 1948, Dennis and Catherine O'Connell gave the church a new organ. The Parish Hall was completed in 1951. In 1950, Mr. John Mooney bought a house and a lot on North Division and gave it to the parish for a convent. St. Mary's Grade School closed in June of 1967. The school was torn down soon after it closed. It had educated the children of the parish for 60 years. Under the direction of Sr. Eileen and Sr. Rose Patrice, a new program of total Religious Education was begun in September of 1967. During 2001-2002, the convent was sold and a new classroom/office area was added to the Hall. Presently, St. Mary Parish has about 225 households registered and has continued to grow and share the Catholic faith in Carson City.

A debt of gratitude is given to the priests who have served the parish since 1896. They are: Fr. Kyran J. Whalen (1896-1914); Fr. John J. Sheehan (1914-1920); Fr. P.A. O'Toole (1920-1924); Fr. Leo A. Whalen (1942-1953); Fr. Eugene Fox- Administrator (1953-1954); Fr. Ralph Kelly (1954-1966); Fr. C.J. Zawacki (1966-1968); Msgr. Russell W. Passeno (January 1969-February 1976); Fr. Pat Cawley (February 1976-July 1976); Fr. Anthony C. Bourdow (1976-1977); Fr. Paul Johnson (1977-1985); Fr. William J. Reitz (1985-2004). They are remembered for the lives that they touched and the sacraments that they administered.

Presently, the parish is served by Nancy Woodcock, Pastoral Director, under the Canonical Supervision of Msgr. William H. Duncan, Vicar General for the Diocese of Grand Rapids. Sacramental Ministers provide the weekend Eucharistic Celebrations and sacraments. As the People of God, we journey forth to share our faith and hand it on to future generations.

The History of St. John the Baptist Church, Hubbardston

A perfect example of immigrants sacrificing to build a secure religious foundation for their children is the story of our own parish beginnings. One hundred fifty-six years ago in 1849, John Cowman, the first Irish Catholic immigrant walked this fertile land of North Plains Township. One mile west of town he staked his future, our future. His converted sheep-shed was our first church and his hilltop meadow, our first cemetery. In 1855, with the help of Father Godez of Westphalia, St. John the Baptist Parish was registered with the Detroit Diocese, the only one in Michigan at that time.

"Love of life, fierce pride in national heritage, strong religious belief and a sparkling sense of humor--all of these qualities are associated with the Irish people." And they are no better represented than here in Hubbardston where seven immigrant families, the first arriving in 1849, grew to 70 families in 1868 when they erected this "architectural perfection" and called it St. John the Baptist on Fish Creek. This building, the largest in Ionia County in 1868, seating 400-600 people (by various accounts), constructed by ship-builders brought in to hand the trusses, holds the record for the church longest in continuous operation in Grand Rapids Diocese. It was built at a cost of $8000 by Irish immigrant families (Ionia Sentinel Standard, June 1868).

In 1888, the Dominican Sisters of Racine, Wisconsin arrived and our Catholic school system was established. It functioned to perfection until 1964 when vocations diminished and teaching Sisters were no longer available. A credit to our priests, these teaching Sisters and our devoted families are the fifteen priests who were ordained from St. John the Baptist Parish and the twenty-three Sisters, daughters of the parish, who dedicated their lives to their Catholic faith in various convents throughout the area.

For 156 years starting with Father Godez of St. Mary's Church in Westphalia, the only Catholic parish within 100 miles of Hubbardston, St. John the Baptist has been fortunate enough to have had a parish priest to guide the families calling "Fish Creek," "Plains," and finally "Hubbardston" their home. Because of its size (70 families in 1868), three parishes were formed from the original Hubbardston Parish.

In the late 1880's Bishop Henry Richter ordered the parishioners north of the Montcalm County line to form a new parish in Carson City and charged Dennis O'Connell of Hubbardston to be the good will ambassador convincing members that the new St. Mary's Parish could be accomplished and comfortable for the practice of their faith. Shortly after the turn of the century, the portion of St. John the Baptist Parish south of the Brick Schoolhouse Road was ordered to form a new division to be called St. Joseph's Parish of Pewamo.

In 1905, eighteen stained glass windows measuring approximately three feet by twelve feet were installed with funds secured by farmers heading into the northern woods of Michigan for work at the 'logging camps' on New Years Day each year and returning on Holy Saturday, the day before Easter Sunday.

In 1907 an $8000 Rectory was added. In 1918 a full twelve grade Catholic School was built and remained fully operational until September, 1965. In 1927 an impressive English Gothic design convent was added as a home for the teaching Sisters of St. Dominic from Racine, Wisconsin.

Father Bolte (1855-1869) was our first parish priest, followed by fourteen others; ending with Father William Reitz (1986-2004) who retired September 24, 2005 at age 82 after hip surgery limited his activity. Presently, Ms. Nancy Woodcock is our much loved, devoted and very capable parish administrator. St. John's and St. Mary's have been combined due to lack of priests and the irony is that Father Mason of St. Joseph's in Pewamo steps in on occasion to fill our priestly needs. What is old is new again, but the faith never diminishes. We are blessed as a people and a parish.

On January 18, 2001 St. John the Baptist Parish was designated a Michigan Historical Site and on September 24, 2001, the parish complex was officially listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Listing in the National Register provides recognition that this Irish Catholic Parish Complex is significant to the nation, to the state and to the community. "The National Register is the federal government's official list of properties deemed worthy of preservation because of their importance in American History and culture. Listing in the National Register provides recognition and assists in preserving our national heritage." (Bruce Conway, State Historic Preservation Officer)

--Joanne Burns Howard