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Home  / News & Publications /  Michigan Catholic News / 2008 /  Golden anniversary

by Joe Kohn of The Michigan Catholic
May 23, 2008

Joe Kohn | The Michigan Catholic Fr. Brian Chabala, pastor of St. Fabian Parish in Farmington Hills, elevates the host during a Mass to mark the 2,100-family parish's 50th jubilee.

Farmington Hills — Those who attend Mass at St. Fabian Parish don't simply "go to" the church — they "belong" to an active and involved faith community.

Such was the message given by St. Fabian pastor Fr. Brian Chabala May 18 as the parish marked the 50th anniversary of its founding with a liturgy and festivities.

"We're here to celebrate the fact that for 50 years, people came and they belonged to St. Fabian Church, and they still belong," Fr. Chabala said during his homily last Sunday. "They don't come and take and leave, but they belong because they're invested in what's going on."

The church was filled for the parish's jubilee Mass last Sunday, for which several founding parishioners and former pastor Fr. Norbert Kendzierski were on hand. After Mass, the community gathered in the parking lot to celebrate its debt-free status, ceremoniously burning its mortgage papers for $3.5 million, with which the parish expanded its school, gymnasium, youth center and religious formation offices in 1998 — the parish had paid its debt to the Archdiocese of Detroit three years early.

Joe Kohn | The Michigan Catholic Smiling parishioners watch as Fr. Brian Chabala burns the mortgage papers for the $3.5 million in updates to the school and faith formation facilities started in 1998. The parish paid its debt to the archdiocese three years early.

After that ceremony, the parishioners filed into the school building to look at historic photos and accounts of the parish, and reminisce. St. Fabian Parish was founded by Fr. Francis J. Szaniawski, who was commissioned for the job by archbishop at the time, Cardinal Edward Mooney. Many of its original parishioners had just moved out to the suburbs from Detroit, or had belonged to Our Lady of Sorrows Parish in Farmington, which was established in 1927.

Today, the parish remains a vibrant and healthy part of the community. About 2,100 families belong to St. Fabian Parish, and its school — started shortly after the parish's inception by the Bernardine Franciscan Sisters — has a student body of 496. Also, about 700 are in instruction in the parish's religious formation program.

Some at the 50th anniversary Mass still remember Fr. Szaniawski, who passed away in 1987.

"Fr. Frank was of fond memory," said Ben Rollason, who with his wife, Pearl, had been founding members of the parish. An architect, Rollason drew up the initial design for the St. Fabian Church building, built in 1959 and used to the current day.

"We got to know him very well, having done the building," Rollason said of Fr. Szaniawski.

Pearl Rollason spoke of the early parish functions, and of being among the handful of early, active parishioners.

Joe Kohn | The Michigan Catholic From left: Bernardine Franciscan Srs. Jeanne Marie Budd, Charlotte Marie Koterba and Anell Laboda.

"We used to count the (collection) money on Monday nights," she recalled. "And we used to have rummage sales — they would line up outside the church." Another couple there from the beginning were Luigi and Christine Martini — the parish's longest-married couple, who have been together 65 years. They recall having Mass at a nearby school gymnasium as the church was being built.

Over the years, they say, their lives were built around the parish.

Luigi added that the friends they've made are very dear, and have offered much help as Christine has battled poor health in recent years. "We've had a lot of people here who have done a lot of good things for us," he said.

At the liturgy, the founding parishioners, Fr. Kendzierski, former St. Fabian Deacon Bill Otto, and three members of the Bernardine Franciscans were given special recognition for their contributions to the parish.

Bernardine Franciscan Srs. Anell Laboda, Jeanne Marie Budd and Charlotte Marie Koterba represented their order, which founded the school in 1965. "I'm very proud of it because it was our sisters who built this school up, and look how it's flourishing today," said Sr. Laboda.

Many young families, too, were on hand for the jubilee celebration. Josie and Dan Hutter, who have three children — Rocco, 6, Marco, 3, and Valentina, 2 — say the parish's 50th anniversary was a way to celebrate what the parish has meant to their lives.

"For us, St. Fabian has touched every part of our lives," said Josie, who had belong to the parish since attending fourth grade at its school, and who watched Dan enter the Catholic Church through St. Fabian. "Every important part of our lives has been celebrated here."

Dan added that the community stands out because of its warmth.

"Everyone greets you as part of their own family," he said. "They love families, love kids. It gives me a feeling of home. There's a feeling of warmth all the way through the parish."

During the liturgy, Fr. Chabala led the community in thanking God for its active spiritual life, community service and youth ministry. To name just a few activities, the parish holds clothing drives, helps St. Christine's Food Pantry on Detroit's west side, hosts a Knights of Columbus council, has youths participate in mission trips, and has regular faith formation and fellowship programs for people of every age.

Fr. Chabala called it a mystery how the parish was able to grow into the special community of believers it is.

"What we do know, very clearly, is that it could not happen without the gift of the Holy Spirit, which is with us in good times and in difficult times," he said.

"We are here to say thank you to God, to celebrate and also look to the future," Fr. Chabala added. "We do not know what the future holds, but we do know that the same Spirit of God… will guide us in the years to come."