St. Stephen Catholic Church at 2711 Mackinaw , Saginaw, MI 48602-3146 US - St. Stephen - A Brief History

In July of 1950, Most Reverend Stephen S. Woznicki, D.D., Bishop of Saginaw, directed that a new parish, called Saint Stephen the Martyr, be established in the Malzahn-Mackinaw area of Saginaw. Father Charles A. Mahoney was appointed Pastor. Until the first parish building was completed in 1951, Mass was celebrated at the Court Theater. That first building provided eight classrooms on the second floor with the first floor being used as a church-parish hall facility. St. Stephen elementary school opened in September of 1952 and was staffed by seven Adrian Dominican Sisters. A House on Malzahn was purchased and remodeled to serve as a temporary convent. Building additions in 1954 and 1958 added 10 classrooms to serve the growing St. Stephen Parish. A permanent convent was constructed in 1959 to better serve the increasing staff of teaching nuns. The temporary convent was converted to a rectory. A large building addition, providing for a gymnasium and parish hall was constructed in 1962. The parish hall space was to be used as a temporary worship space until a church could be built. The former worship space was remodeled into classrooms establishing St. Stephen High School. In 1965, an elementary school building was constructed, which is now used as the Child Care Center. The convent was remodeled into a rectory and parish offices in 1987. The school underwent an extensive remodeling in 1989-91 which including new windows, new lighting and extensive insulation. Over the years, St. Stephen parishioners gathered in worship in a movie theater, in a school building, in a "temporary" church and finally, in July of 1996, with the dedication of the new church, some sense of completion to a journey was found. Fr. Tom Sutton, then pastor, wrote "Each of the years and each of the members who have joined in the journey of St. Stephen Parish has contributed as 'living stones' to the parish that exists today. In truth, the contributions of htose who started the parish, those who nurtured its growth and those who keep it alive today are no different. The challenges may have differed and the persons involved in leadership may have varied but a similar quality and spirit in response has prevailed. We do what we do today because of all the good work that has preceded us. St. Paul helps us to keep the proper perspective by reminding us 'that neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is of any special account, only God, who gives the growth.'(1 Cor. 3:7) Parish leadership has been moved by a desire to fulfill the Lord's directive to the prophet Haggai: 'Build the house that I may take pleasure in it and receive my glory.' The house of the Lord has now been built. May glory be given to God through it for generations to come."

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