Ss. Simon and Jude Church St. Christopher Church
St. Francis de Sales was created from the merger of two parishes-
Ss. Simon and Jude and St. Christopher on July 1st, 2014.
Ss. Simon and Jude and St. Christopher on July 1st, 2014.
Ss. Simon and Jude was born on the Feast of Epiphany, 1992 in Buena Vista. It was created from the merger of five East-Side parishes. These parishes had a long history in the city of Saginaw- Queen of the Holy Rosary (est. 1886), St. Rita (est. 1913),Our Lady of Mount Carmel (est. 1913), Our Lady Help of Christians (est.1957), Sacred Heart (est.1974).Parishioners suggested the name St. Jude for the the new parish. Ss. Simon and Jude share the feast day of October 28th.
Many items from the former churches, were used in creating the new church. Stations of the Cross, which had once hung in Holy Rosary were now a part of the new worship space. Stained glass windows and a tabernacle from former parishes became part of the chapel. Statues that once stood at each of the five parishes, along with newly purchased statues of St. Simon and St. Jude, were placed in the Courtyard. The first Mass was held on November 22, 1992 on the Feast of Christ the King. Ss. Simon and Jude celebrated its 20th anniversary in 2012. The last mass was celebrated on June 27th, 2014. |
St. Christopher was established in Bridgeport on October 11,1950. Fr. Francis Jurek was the first pastor. For 14 months parishioners met in the Bridgeport Township Hall. August 17, 1951 6 1/2 acres of land was purchased for the new church. This land included the Blue Moon Dance Hall. The men of the parish converted the dance hall into a mission-style church that seated 350 people.
As the parish continued to grow, Bishop Woznicki granted permission for a new church to be built on the grounds.The new church was dedicated in September of 1961. A classroom wing was added in 1965. In 1973, the library in that wing was converted into a chapel. 1978 saw the addition of a bell tower in front of the church. St. Christopher was renovated in 2004. A beautiful cross-shaped baptismal font was part of the renovations. The last mass was celebrated at St. Christopher Church on June 27, 2014. |