St. Anselm Parish

It was on June 25th, 1954 that Cardinal Edward Mooney asked Father Arthur G. Reckinger to establish a parish in the vicinity of Ford Road and Outer Drive. Father was just one of eight other priests who were asked to do the same during those years when this Archdiocese was rapidly expanding. After much negotiating about the name of this parish St. Anselm of Canterbury was chosen as its patron. Anselm, a Doctor of the Church, was principally known for his holiness and strong commitment to Catholic education - a most fitting patron for a parish that would be also committed to a growth in faith and holiness and the establishment of an excellent Catholic School.

For the first year Mass was offered at the Clara B. Ford school at the corner of Ann Arbor Trail and Outer Drive. Many energetic parishioners would set up chairs, the altar and other items for Mass and take them down after Sunday Services. Almost immediately an Ushers' Club was organized with Glen Doyle as its first President. Soon after the parish slogan was adopted, "Nothing but the best for the people of St. Anselm's." Next the Sanctuary Guild was organized. By September plans for a church and school were approved and ground breaking was done in November and following May the first Mass was offered in the new church.

Soon after Father Joseph Ryder was assigned to the parish as an assistant pastor. In September of 1955 St. Anselm elementary school opened under the direction of the Sisters of Mercy. Sister Mary Therese Hynes, R.S.M. was the first Principal. Religious Education classes began immediately and Father Ryder started the Teen Towners for the youth of the parish. Soon the practice of nocturnal adoration of the Blessed Sacrament began on the First Fridays of every month.

In October, 1956, the first parish fair was held. The success of these festivals was so great St. Anselm was a school that did not charge school tuition for fifteen years. But St. Anselm's was more than buildings - it was people, organizations, events. As parish life unfolded, parishioners made their contributions in many ways. A trip down memory lane will recall older organizations, former events - all helping to nourish the life of the parish. Some are still with us, some are gone, others have evolved into new approaches and programs: The Guilds, the Circles, Holy Name Society, the Billionaires, Legion of Mary, Nocturnal Adoration Society, Knights of the Eucharist, Teen Towners, the Friendship Club and after Vatican II the Parish Pastoral Council and the many commissions.

One March 19, 1969 fire broke out and the church was completely gutted. Masses were said in the gym and a long period of repair and renovation of the church was started. Changes to the church were made which helped make St. Anselm's one of the most modern of the Post- Vatican churches.

Having completed the renovation of the church, the building of a convent for the Sisters, the addition of a second wing to the school and the construction of a very modern gymnasium, Father Reckinger retired in June 1970. During this time Fathers Joseph Trese, Joseph Gagnon, Peter Moga, Walter Burke, Fabian Weber, Francis Claerr, C.M.M. Robert Scanlan and Lawrence Doyle, Francis Reiss served as assistant pastors to Father Reckinger.

Father William X. Kienzle became the new pastor and in June, 1972, Father Eugene R. Strain joined him as co-pastor of St. Anselm's. The co-pastorate continued until June of 1974 when Father Kienzle resigned and Father Strain became pastor. Father William Murphy came to live at St. Anselm's and assist in the liturgies.

Under the direction of Father Strain the parish and school continued to grow and the directives of Synod 69, the Church, World and the Kingdom were vigorously put into effect.

In January 25th, 1978 Father James A. Moloney was appointed as pastor of St. Anselm parish. Shortly after his arrival the parish celebrated its 25th anniversary and the Mass that day was offered by Bishop Walter Schoenherr. Soon the parish was rewarded with the offering of the First Mass of one of our own, Father David Buersmeyer and the profession of vows by Sister Rita Valade as a member of the Sisters of Mercy. Some years later Father Michael Kueber would be ordained and offer his First Mass here.

The quality of Catholic education grew under the direction of Sister Michaleen Burns, R.S.M., Sister Bernadelle Grimm, R.S.M., Sister Mildred Streif, R.S.M. and Sister Mary Ann Thue, R.S.M. Sister Mary Ann Thue not only served as principal but as the pastoral associate for twenty-one years. Assisting Father Moloney were Fathers Sable, Tierney, Archambault, Zenz, Hurley and Miller.

St. Anselm parish reached its largest membership in the 1990's - eleven hundred families. There were 270 children attending our school. During this time a steeple was placed on the church, the meeting room was built, stained glass windows were added, new pews were placed in the church, a pipe organ was installed, the vestibule was enlarged, the Blessed Sacrament chapel was built and an art room, computer room and a cafeteria were added to the school.

St. Anselm's parish is much more than priests, Religious Sisters and buildings it is its people. It impossible to mention the name of all those early pioneers who worked so hard during this past fifty years to establish this parish, joined the Circles, the Guilds, ran the Ushers' Club, the Youth Groups, the Parish Fairs, taught catechism, served on the Parish Council, the Commissions, sang in the choir, assisted at Mass as Eucharistic Ministers and Lectors. It is the parents who sacrificed so much to send their children to our Catholic school, became coaches, scout leaders and room mothers.

Our parish motto today identifies them all, "It has pleased God to make people holy and to save them not merely as individuals without any mutual bonds, but by making them into a single people, a people which acknowledges Him in truth and serves Him in holiness." Vatican II.

May God bless all who have belonged, supported and served in this parish dedicated to St. Anselm for this past fifty years and hopefully for many years to come.