St. John Fisher Parish History

1957–1962: Shortly after the establishment of Michigan State University/Oakland Campus around 1957, Fr. Thomas Hinsberg was appointed Newman Chaplain. Mass was held in nearby buildings or a local school.

1962–1966: In October 1962, Fr. Hinsberg requested that the Archdiocese of Detroit purchase land for St. John Fisher.

On September 11, 1966, by the grace of God, St. John Fisher chapel was dedicated by His Eminence John Cardinal Dearden, Archbishop of Detroit. It was named after Bishop John Fisher, who was Bishop of Rochester, England, and Chancellor of Cambridge University, England. St. John Fisher was beheaded by King Henry VIII in 1535.

1966: Fr. John Fauser was assigned as the Newman Chaplain.

1967: Fr. Gerald O’Bee was assigned as the Newman Chaplain and the campus ministry staff was added including Sr. Mary VanGilder.

1973: Fr. Gerald Maloney was assigned as the Newman Chaplain.

1977: The Archdiocese of Detroit decided to reach out to the area community, and more property was purchased to increase the parking lot. It was expected that one day St. John Fisher Chapel could be a parish of as many as 800 families.

1983: Fr. Jerry Brzezinski was assigned as the priest Campus Minister

1988–1989: On July 1, 1989, St. John Fisher was given canonical status as a full territorial and personal parish and its name was changed to St. John Fisher Chapel University Parish. Fr. Brzezinski was now named as the pastor of the newly established parish.

2015: Fr. Jerry Brzezinski Retired and Msgr. Mike LeFevre was assigned as the pastor.

2016: St. John Fisher Chapel University Parish celebrates its 50th Anniversary.

2020: Fr. Daniel Jones became pastor with Fr. Andrew Mabee associate pastor.

2021: Fr. Daniel Jones passed away and Fr. Jim Kean was named as the administrator of St. John Fisher Chapel with Fr. John Carlin assisting.

2022: St. John Fisher joined Family of Parishes with St. Joseph the Worker and Christ the Redeemer Parishes. Fr. Jim Kean was named the Moderator in Solidum, and Fr. Steve Mateja and Fr. Bill Promesso were both named as Priests in Solidum.

2023: Pastoral Letter to the People of God written by Fr. Steve Mateja on the Feast Day of St. John Fisher, June 2023