St. Mary Church is located at the corner of Eagle and Green Streets in Marshall, MI 49068

Office & Mailing Address:

St. Mary Church
212 W. Hanover St.
Marshall, MI 49068

Office Ph:  269-781-3949

Office Fax:  269-781-3632

Email: [email protected]

Pastor: Fr. Craig Lusk  - 269-781-3949 or email [email protected]

Deacon Mike Moreno  - 269-781-3949

Business Manager/Collaborative Bulletin Editor/Safe Environment:  Stacie Contat - 269-781-3949 or email: [email protected]

Organist/Director of Music: Dr. Tim Shewmaker - 269-781-3949 ext. 104 or [email protected]                                                                                               
Director of Religious Education:  Sara Rodgers - 269-781-5656 or email: [email protected]

Adult Faith Formation/O.C.I.A Coordinator/Lead Sacristan/Wedding Coordinator:  Carol DiBiaggio - 269-967-2919 or email: [email protected]

Director of Parish Facilities/Custodian: Gary Zink - 269-781-3949

Catholics of the Marshall area were serviced out of Northville, MI as far back as 1837. As a mission, priests came on horseback to serve the people here, priests like Fathers Morrissey, Cullen and Hennessy. Father James Hennessy became the first resident pastor in 1852, and in 1853 the first church was dedicated. Records were first kept under the second pastor, Father P.C. Koopmans.

The first baptism record was Mary Hamilton on May 27, 1855. On May 31, 1855 James Wall and Bridget Farell were the first couple whose marriage was recorded here. Under Father Koopmans, the first school opened in 1856 and the Sister of the Immaculate Heart of Mary came in 1864 to teach. Cemetery land was purchased in 1866.



One of the better known pastors was Father Peter A. Baart who came here in 1882. He opened a new school in 1883, reorganized the Altar Society, and is responsible for building the present church structure. It was dedicated on October 27, 1889. In 1900, the well-remembered Baart Hall was opened. Father Baart died in 1908 and is buried in our cemetery chapel. Father George Clarson, who was pastor from 1919 to 1932, is also buried in our cemetery.

When the parish was founded in 1852 and when the present church was built in 1889, it was part of the Archdiocese of Detroit. One of the front windows in the church was donated by Bishop Gallagher of Detroit. In 1937, Lansing became a diocese, a break with the Archdiocese of Detroit. Thus, Marshall became part of the new diocese. In 1948, under Father Patrick McGuinnes, the church was renovated. It was at this time that the Rosary Altar Society bought a new marble altar at a cost of $4,000. A small part of this altar now stands under the tabernacle in our church. During the pastorate of Father Julius Hengesbach, 1966 to 1974, as a result of liturgical changes in the Second Vatican Council, other changes were made in the church.

In 1971, the Diocese of Kalamazoo was formed, and the parish became part of the new diocese under Bishop Paul Donovan. Bishop Alfred Markiewicz was installed as our second bishop on January 31, 1995. Bishop Markiewicz was succeeded by Bishop James Murray in 1998. Bishop Paul Bradley is the current Bishop.

During the pastorate of Father Donald Wieber, 1974 to 1981, the present Parish Center was built to replace Baart Hall. Our church was renovated in 1988 and rededicated on August 13, 1988; and again in 2021, and rededicated on October 13, 2021. Click HERE to see a short video of the current renovation. Also, of interest is the Michigan Stained Glass Census where many of the windows in St. Mary Church were photographed and recorded in 1994.

It is interesting that parish history often revolves around the pastors and their buildings, but not forgotten are the people who come to a parish to be baptized, educated, married and buried.

Located at 18245 Centennial Road in Marshall, the St. Mary Cemetery dates back to 1866 when Fr. Koopmans purchased 16 acres of land on the east side of town for $800. Fr. Baart notes that Fr. Koopmans, "spent considerably more in the surveying and arranging of it, " proudly claiming that it, "is a choice spot for a cemetery and makes one of the finest in the diocese."

Today, the St. Mary Cemetery continues to be a blessed place where the bodies of the faithful departed await the day of Resurrection. Regulations were adopted so that one can express their love and loss for a loved one while preserving the appearance of the cemetery for the enjoyment of all visitors. St. Mary Cemetery assumes no responsibility for the protection or maintenance of any decorations, grave markers or flower urns.

Unsightly or prohibited decorations will be removed and disposed of during the course of normal grounds maintenance. This is for the safety of the cemetery staff. 

For more information about the St. Mary Cemetery, please click below to see our Cemetery Regulations and Fees.  If you are interested in purchasing a plot or have further questions, please call the Office at 269-781-3949.

Cemetery Regulations

Cemetery Fees