The History of St. Roch Church
The original church - first built as a school in 1867. Used by St. Roch as a mission church until 1938.
The history of Catholicism in the Caseville area goes back to the mid-1800s.
Catholics were few in number, and means of transporting priests from Port Austin and Gagetown
(where there were resident pastors), was limited and hazardous.
The first Catholic priest who periodically came on a weekday was Fr. Cornelius Roche of St. Michael Church
in Port Austin. He organized a small band of Catholics as one of his numerous missions, around 1871-1875.
At times, he was assisted by priests from Sebewaing and Gagetown.
The original Catholic Church in Caseville was a small framed building that was located on the site of the present county park. The building was later moved into town where it once served as the town hall,
and is now presently Shore Winds Gift Shop.
The original church building as it is currently located on Main Street, now Shore Winds Gift Shop.
In 1899, newly ordained Fr. Francis Hewlett was appointed pastor of St. Felix in Pinnebog, with St. Roch as its mission church. The pastor of St. Francis Borgia in Pigeon occasionally served at St. Roch.
In 1934, the Caseville Presbyterian congregation disbanded and their building was sold to the village. St. Roch Parish, then still a mission, bought this church under the pastorship of Fr. August Zylla. The building, larger than the first, served the church's needs for many years. As more Catholics came to Caseville during the summer months, the windows were left open so that people could stand outside and still participate.
The second church building, located on Ash Street. Today, it is now a private residence.
In 1955, Most Rev. Stephen Woznicki, the Bishop of Saginaw, raised St. Roch from a mission to a parish and appointed Fr. Robert G. Navarre as its first pastor on September 7, 1955.
Fr. Navarre served St. Roch from 1951-1964.
The new (and current) church, designed by Bay City architect Joseph Goddeyne,
was built and commemorated in 1995. The first Mass was offered on March 18, 1956.
In 1955, Most Rev. Stephen Woznicki, the Bishop of Saginaw, raised St. Roch from a mission to a parish and appointed Fr. Robert G. Navarre as its first pastor on September 7, 1955.
Fr. Navarre served St. Roch from 1951-1964.
The new (and current) church, designed by Bay City architect Joseph Goddeyne,
was built and commemorated in 1995. The first Mass was offered on March 18, 1956.
Postcard image of the current St. Roch church from the 1950s, as it was being built or just after it was completed.
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Postcard image of the original interior of St. Roch church from the 1950s.
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At that time, the old church was used as the parish hall.
The current rectory was built in 1960.
Many improvements have been made to the present church over the years.
In 1957, a pavilion with concrete floor and redwood roof was built in order to increase the seating capacity for summer visitors. This pavilion was screened, and adjoined to the inside church sanctuary.
The wall behind the sanctuary is moveable, so that Mass may be viewed from both sides.
Between 1981-1982, the church building was renovated.
The sacristy at that time became a Blessed Sacrament Chapel, and the choir loft was enclosed.
In 1993, the parking lot was improved, adding light poles and decorative flowered islands.
In 1995, a modular building was brought to be used as the parish center and catechism building.
In 2003, the Blessed Sacrament Chapel and sacristy were returned to their original locations in the church.
In 2006, the pavilion was enclosed and renovated to become the current parish hall, which contains
the parish office, conference room, kitchen, and library.
It is used for additional seating in the summer months and also for parish events.
In 2013, St. Roch merged with St. Francis Borgia and St. Felix of Valois
to form the new parish of Our Lady of Perpetual Help.
Priests who have served St. Roch Church:
Fr. Cornelius Roche: 1871-1875 - he organized Caseville Catholics as a mission group
Fr. Masclinio: 1885 - he purchased a school building
**1886 - the church that is now Shore Winds Gift Shop as dedicated by Bishop Borgess**
Fr. Krebs of Gagetown: 1886
Fr. John Helton of Sebewaing: 1893-1897
Fr. Joseph Herr of Sebewaing: 1897-1899
Fr. Francis Hewlett, pastor of St. Felix serves St. Roch as a mission church: 1899-1911
Fr. Hill from St. Felix: 1912-1913
Fr. William Courtney from St. Felix: 1914
Fr. Joseph Arts from St. Felix: 1918
Fr. C.P Stanton from St. Felix: 1919
Fr. Michael J. Martin from St. Felix: 1926
Fr. Carl E. Einig and Fr. Francis X. O'Donnell from St. Felix: 1928
Fr. Malachy Walker from St. Felix: 1934
**1934 - exchange of the small church for the former Presbyterian church located on Ash Street**
Fr. August Zylla from St. Felix: 1938
Fr. L. J. Culligan: 1942
Fr. Aloysius Hafner, pastor of St. Francis Borgia serves still as a mission church: 1942-1947
Fr. Alphonse Krompka: 1947
Fr. Camill Klos from St. Felix: 1947
Fr. Robert G. Navarre from St. Felix: 1951
**1956: The current church is built and dedicated**
Fr. Robert G. Navarre, pastor of St. Roch Parish - no longer a mission! 1956-1962
Fr. Stanley A. Kilar, pastor: 1962-1970
Fr. John Boguslawski, pastor: 1970-1974
Fr. Michael Wolf, pastor: 1974-1976
Fr. Joseph Schabel, pastor: 1976-1982
Fr. Theodore LaMarre, pastor: 1982-1990
Fr. Richard Mayette, pastor: 1990-1992
Fr. Dennis Kucharczyk, pastor: 1992-2001
Fr. Kenneth Yaroch, pastor: 2001-2009
Fr. Robert Pare, pastor: 2009-2013
**2013: St. Roch merges with St. Francis Borgia and St. Felix of Valois to form Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish**
Fr. Robert Pare, pastor of OLPH parish: 2013-2022
Fr. George Amos, pastor of OLPH parish: 2022-present
Did you know?
St. Roch was the first Catholic Church in Michigan to have stained glass images of the Stations of the Cross.
St. Roch was the first Catholic Church in Michigan to have stained glass images of the Stations of the Cross.
