Anniversary: Celebrating 50 Years in the Diocese of Kalamazoo

The history of the Diocese of Kalamazoo

The Catholic Diocese of Kalamazoo was officially founded on July 21, 1971.

After the Second Vatican Council called for the creation of smaller dioceses so bishops could be more available to the people they serve, the five Michigan bishops, the National Council of Catholic Bishops and the Holy Father reviewed a three-year study of existing boundaries and suggestions for the realignment or development of new dioceses in Michigan. This resulted in the creation of two
new dioceses: the Diocese of Gaylord and the Diocese of Kalamazoo. On July 21, 1971, the Apostolic Delegate of the United States, Archbishop Luigi Raimondi, read the Executive Decree creating the Diocese of Kalamazoo. John Cardinal Dearden of Detroit ordained Father Paul V. Donovan as the first bishop of the new diocese.

St. Augustine was established on the same day as the Cathedral Church of the Diocese; Father Edward Crowley was the first rector.

Did you know?

The Church has a rich history in Southwest Michigan pre-dating the establishment of the diocese. Just a few significant highlights include:

1690 — The first official mission is recorded in the corner of Michigan on the shore of Lake Michigan, in the settlement of St. Joseph. It would later become St. Joseph Parish, St. Joseph, established in 1720.

1833 — 40 acres of land is deeded to the Bishop of Detroit through the Chicago Treaty of 1833 between Chief Leopold Pokagon and the United States Government. Today, Sacred Heart of Mary, Silver Creek stands on this land and celebrated its 175th Anniversary in XXXX.

1889 — Msgr. Francis O’Brien invited the Sisters of St. Joseph in Watertown, N.Y. to come to Kalamazoo, and they began Borgess Hospital, which is known today as Ascension Borgess (part of the nationwide Ascension Healthcare System).


DIOCESAN CREST:

What ’s the meaning?

The silver (white) wavy bend represents water, with blue annulets to represent bubbles. This symbolism is used to represent the English equivalent of the Native American name of “Kalamazoo,” which means “boiling pot” and describes the bubbles in the Kalamazoo River

The silver peace pipe decorated with gold feathers was called a “calumet” by the French explorers who came to the region and signifies lasting and enduring peace and suggests the totality of peace that comes to those that believe in Christ as the redeemer of the world.

The open book that displays the words “tolle lege” honors St. Augustine of Hippo, patron saint of the diocese and namesake of the Cathedral. In his Confessions, St. Augustine writes that the key moment in his conversion occurred when, as he was meditating on the Scriptures under a tree, he heard a little child say, “take and read” (Tolle Lege)