Our Lady of the Woods Parish

Established in 1975

Ironically, it was a local Lutheran minister, Pastor Ted Menter, who first saw the need for a Catholic church in the growing Woodhaven-Brownstown area. He shared his feelings in a letter to the Archdiocese of Detroit back in 1975. On May 15th of that year, Fr. John Leo Phalen, then an associate pastor at Christ the Good Shepherd in Lincoln Park, was sent to start a parish in Woodhaven.

Between spring and fall of 1975, Fr. Phalen, with the passion of a missionary, visited over 1,300 homes, Catholic and non-Catholic alike. He was a familiar sight on his yellow, 10-speed bicycle, meandering among the homes in the new subdivisions that were springing up all over the area.

On September 6, 1975, Father Phalen celebrated his first Mass as pastor of the new parish in Bates Elementary School on Gudith. This one Mass soon grew to a total of four weekly Masses at three different locations. Two Saturday evening Masses were said at Bates School. There was a Sunday Mass at 8 am at the Center for Christian Service, located on Gudith at Carter, and another at 11 am at Cadillac School. For the next two years, he moved every single item that was needed for the worship celebrations back and forth between both locations.

Along with the first Mass came the suggestions for names for the new parish: New Jerusalem (a personal favorite of Fr. Phalen's), Prince of Peace, Jesus the Messiah, Elizabeth Ann Seaton and Our Lady of the Woods. Our Lady of the Woods was selected by a 4-to-1 margin.

In December of 1975, Fr. Phalen moved into the century-old farm house that stood on the site of the present church. The farm house was renovated to become our parish house, office and chapel. It became the spiritual center to a growing number of Catholic families in the area. During its final days, it twice brought thrills and excitement to the hearts of neighborhood children as the site of the annual Jaycees Halloween Haunted House! Father Phalen's reason for this rather strange occurrence was simple: "It brought people around and that's what I wanted."

 

Judie Caygill was hired in November of 1975 as the secretary not only for Our Lady of the Woods but also for the Lutheran Center for Christian Service down the street. Contemporary as well as traditional worship music was provided by Jerry Michaud and Pam Cohn. A parish council was formed along with an ushers group, women's group, as well as education and worship commissions. Dave LaMothe and John Zarotney were instrumental in establishing the first budget and finance committee of the parish.

By the spring of 1976, 250 families were officially registered--the minimum required by the Archdiocese of Detroit to establish a parish. The old, yellow bicycle was replaced by a red moped as Fr. Phalen continued his rounds. Community life flourished with activities like Friday night bike rides which ended with a hot dog roast. There were also community garden plots on the church property, card parties, women's bazaars, retreats, the ushers' annual parish picnic and sweetheart dance, a sharing-the-faith program, and welcoming teas. The many social events were organized to attract people to the parish and help it to grow.

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