A RETROSPECT BY FR. STAPLETON
From the 1931 Silver Jubilee Booklet)

When one looks back twenty-five years, it seems to be a short time, but what changes in people and things have taken place in that brief period! Where are the sterling Catholic men who gathered to greet the new pastor of Annunciation parish a quarter of a century ago? There are few to answer, "Present." Many have moved to other parts, many have passed into the great beyond. Since that time others have come and gone. Most of our people today have come to the parish within the last ten years.

Twenty-five years ago Hurlbut avenue, three blocks east of Annunciation church, was the eastern limit of the city. Today Detroit extends for miles beyond this former boundary, and Annunciation may almost be considered a downtown church. When the parish was formed it embraced the area bounded on the west by Fischer Avenue, on the north by Charlevoix avenue, on the east by Connor's Creek, and on the south by the Detroit river. Within this territory was the old village of Fairview. The parish then was made up of about four hundred families. The names of most of these charter members of the parish will be found on the list, published elsewhere in this booklet, of those who signed the petition requesting the bishop to create a new parish in this district.

On the first Sunday of May, 1906, the first holy Mass in the new parish was read in the home of the late Arthur L. Holmes on Cadillac Avenue. A church site had already been acquired on Bowen, now Parkview Avenue. For a temporary church, the old Hibbard school was purchased and moved to the property, where it served as a place of worship until the present church was built in 1912. At first many of the people wished to have the permanent church built immediately, but the late Bishop Foley insisted that a school should be erected. The need of a school was apparent when, after an announcement was made in regard to instructions, four hundred children appeared for the catechism classes. Accordingly, plans were made for an eight-room school, which was completed and opened in September, 1909. The Sisters of the Immaculate Heart of Mary took charge of it, and the excellent work of these good sisters has left a lasting impression on Catholic life in this city. Many who read these lines will recall Mother Columba, director of the school for the first ten years, a gracious, kindly religious, who knew well how to develop what was highest and best in every boy and girl placed under her care. Then there were also Mother Brigid, Mother Victorine, Sisters Evangela, Felice, Frances Edward, Laura, Antonio, and many others not to be forgotten.

The growth of Detroit at this period brought many more people to the new parish. Soon it was found necessary to add more rooms to the school. An addition containing ten rooms was built in 1915, and a complete course of twelve grades was established the following year. Before long our people had the happiness of seeing their children complete their elementary and high school courses in their own parish school. And the education they received was, to say the least, equal to that imparted by any other school in Detroit. Nineteen hundred and thirty was a banner year for the high school. Fifty-seven students, the largest senior class in the history of the institution, were graduated. Annunciation graduates are now to be found occupying no mean places in all walks of life. Among them are priests, sisters, religious, doctors, lawyers, teachers, aviators, and business men, who reflect credit upon the institution where they received their early training. Like all Catholic schools, Annunciation has always aimed to develop students morally as well as mentally, and in this she has rendered a great service to the Church and to humanity. With the blessing of God; may she continue to be a power for good in the community.

How many will remember the little old wooden building used for a church in the early days of the parish? How it used to be packed with people eager to assist at the Holy Sacrifice! Danger was imminent every Sunday. And the pastor began to get nightmares. Yet it impossible to build immediately on account of lack of funds. Good old Bishop Foley solved the problem by arranging for another loan for the new church. Plans were drawn up, and on August 11, 1911, the cornerstone of the new edifice was laid by the venerable Bishop. Along, cold winter delayed the building, but it was ready by the following spring. The first Holy Mass in the new church was said on June 5, 1912. What a welcome change from the little old building, in spite of the fact that the new house of worship was not yet finished! However, the work was completed that same year. The cost of the new structure was $84,000. It was capable of seating one thousand people, yet it was crowded to the doors at every one of the five Masses on Sundays.

The eastern part of Detroit was then growing fast, and to take care of the Catholic people moving into this section, the new Bishop of Detroit established St Rose parish, with the church on Kercheval Avenue and St. Jean Road. St. Clair Avenue was made the eastern boundary of Annunciation parish. About five years ago, Catholics living near the northern limits of the parish asked for a church of their own in that section. Their request was granted, and St. Edward's parish was formed. Although these changes have reduced the area of the parish, and although few Catholics live south of Jefferson avenue, nevertheless about three thousand people attend Annunciation church on Sunday, and there is plenty for the pastors to do. Our debt is $66,000.00, and payments are made on the principal regularly.

It is said that the life of a city parish is about twenty years. By life is meant the presence of people who are ever ready to make sacrifices for their church, and who take an active interest in its welfare. Annunciation parish has passed through that stage, but it is still in a vigorous and flourishing condition. In spite of the fact that many of the active workers of former days have died or moved away, our church societies are meeting with considerable success in interesting newcomers in the various spiritual and social activities of the parish. At the present time it is not as easy as it formerly was for the pastor to meet new parishioners, since many now live in apartment houses and are frequently not at home. Needless to say, we miss those good people whom we visited often in the early days, and who always responded to our appeals for assistance. May the good Lord bless them wherever they are?

For about eight years after the parish started, the pastors lived in the old Briggs house that stood on the site of the present church. This frame building was then moved up the street to a lot north of St. Paul Avenue, in order to make room for the new church. It served as the rectory until 1914, when the present residence was built.

The sisters in charge of the school had been living in a house at the corner of Parkview and St. Paul Avenues. The present convent was built on the same site in 1917. This was the first building the parish erected without incurring any debt. The cost was $31,000. The parish, however, was not out of debt at this time, since there was about $67,000 still due on the church and the school. The year 1921 saw all debts against Annunciation church property paid in full. A glance at the total cost of parish land and buildings will not be out of place here: the land was purchased for $17,000; the church cost $84,000; the school, $65,000; the rectory, $26,000; the convent, $31,000. This made a total of $223,000. In fifteen years this large sum was collected, and at no time did any individual offering exceed five hundred dollars. Most of it was received from parishioners who contributed regularly to the monthly and weekly collections.

From the earliest days of the parish there was a crying need for a place in which to hold social activities. This section of the city lacked a suitable assembly hall, and the young people of the parish often pleaded with their pastor to, provide them with a building where they might hold social events and become better acquainted with their fellow parishioners. For many years their appeals were made in vain. The spiritual and educational needs of the parish had to be cared for first. However, when the necessary buildings had been put up and the parish was rapidly clearing itself of debt, these demands for a recreational center were finally heeded. In September, 1918, a campaign for funds was started, and about $25,000 was subscribed. The following year the new parish of St. Rose was formed, and since Annunciation territory was thereby diminished considerably, the hall project was delayed. The site had already been secured, but building operations could not be started until 1923. Work on it was finished the next summer, and in September, 1924, the spacious Community Hall was formally opened.

The hall has served well the purpose for which it was built. It is used frequently by the various church societies and the pupils of Annunciation school for social and athletic purposes. To care for the overflow of the school, a part of the building was converted into two class rooms. Financially the hall is not self-sustaining. The yearly expense incurred in its maintenance is about six thousand dollars. But it is money well spent. Our young people have been using the hall considerably, and it is hoped that newcomers in the parish will also feel that they are welcome at all times to take advantage of its excellent recreational facilities. Ungentlemanly conduct is never tolerated by the management. A place where gatherings are held under church auspices ought to possess a reputation for maintaining order. Annunciation Hall enjoys an excellent reputation of this sort.

Since its opening, the hall has been managed by Mr. William H. Phillips. In all his dealings with the public, Mr. Phillips has been kind and courteous. He knows how to maintain the best of order. The hall is a valuable asset to the church and the school, and also to the public in general. The City Department of Recreation finds it an excellent place in which to hold various social activities for the youth of the neighborhood. May the hall ever continue giving the excellent service for which it is noted today?

In the administration of the spiritual and temporal affairs of the parish, the pastor has always been blessed with earnest and zealous assistants and prudent lay counselors. He must declare that they bore more than half of the burden these many years. Ever ready when called upon, they seemed to delight in rendering some service to God arid His Church. Supported in this manner, the pastor has seen no undertaking fail. He wants the full measure of credit to be given to everyone who assisted in making this parish a strong and vigorous force for the spiritual betterment of our people, and for the promotion of God's honor and glory.