And Bishop Schoenherr also stressed the importance of active participation by parishioners in the life of a parish, especially now that the Church had entered into what he called "the Age of the Laity."

Ted and Flora Chronowski have been active parishioners since the parish's very beginning. "I remember the first Mass was in the Lakeshore High School gym, and then they moved into a movie theatre before the parish's gym was built," recalled Ted Chronowski, one-time president and still a member of the Ushers Club.

Both said St. Margaret was an excellent parish in which to raise their five children. "There were a lot of young couples who had just bought G.I. houses within that neighborhood," said Flora Chronowski, long-time member of the Women's Club, which used to be called the Altar Sodality.

As much as they liked the parish way back when, they also like it today. "Fr. DeHondt has a humility about him that enables him to accomplish a lot. People will go out of their way to work with him," Ted Chronowski said.

Greg McIntosh | The Michigan Catholic Fr. Ronald DeHondt visits with those at the anniversary celebration.

Vilma Aiello has been a member for 48 years. "I've made some wonderful friends there; the people have always been very friendly," said Aiello, now a part-time parish secretary.

She said her husband, Dominic, was active in the parish before his death 21 years ago. The Aiellos raised seven children in the parish, and son Steve is currently president of the Men's Club and manages the annual Catholic Services Appeal.

Jim Dadswell, another 48-year member, recalled that there were no boys old enough to serve at the altar, so Fr. Hammell enlisted a corps of men altar servers. Then it was father-and-son altar servers for a while, until eventually there were enough boys.

Dadswell and his late wife, Margaret, raised six children in the parish, and four of them went through the parish school. Closing the school was a tough thing, but Dadswell said "the handwriting was on the wall — the money just wasn't there."

Bob Salens, a member since 1979, described St. Margaret Scotland Parish as having "an atmosphere of happiness."

He said he and his wife, Edie, "have what we feel is a family of friends through the parish."

Greg McIntosh | The Michigan Catholic Patrick MacDonald led the procession into the church for the golden anniversary.

But not just the older members love the parish. Dean and Margie Chandler have been there 16 years, and have six children, from 2 to 13 years. "We're involved in the Christian Family Movement group, and there is a youth group for teens and the Liturgy of the Word for Children at the 10 o'clock Mass," Margie Chandler said.

"Fr. DeHondt is a wonderful man, and he has taught us a lot. Mara, my oldest wrote a 'My American Hero' contest essay on him."

Dean Chandler said he likes it that "the people sing and the worship is enthusiastic."

And Fr. DeHondt said the parish has been blessed with an excellent staff, among them Deacon Ronald Channell, who has made social justice issues a priority, and Frances Brockington, the parish's music director.