Some one has facetiously remarked that the Catholic history of Lowell runs in cycles of fifty years. The first white man who came to Lowell and settled the present village was Daniel Marsac of Detroit. Fifty years after his coming the first Catholic church was built, and about fifty years from the construction of the church edifice the first resident pastor was appointed.

Giving the history of the Catholic church at Lowell, Prof. M.A. Leeson in his "History of Kent County, Michigan" states: "The date of this visit of the French missionaries to the Indian village at this point cannot be ascertained. The locality was visited within the pioneer times by the Rev. Frederick Baraga, the Rev. Andreas Vizoiski and the other priests of the Grand Rapids mission." (1833-1844.)

After the establishment of St. Patrick’s church at Parnell, Lowell was served successively by the pastors of that place and by the priests of St. Andrew’s in Grand Rapids. From Parnell came Revs. H. H. Rivers, P. J. McManus and P.A. Tierney.

In 1878 the Rev. James Savage became pastor of Parnell with the Lowell mission included. Early in the following year he appointed a committee composed of Allen Brown, John M. Flanagan, George Wilhelm and John Giles to gather funds for the erection of a church at Lowell. Previous to this time services were held in the homes of John Laughlin, Peter Hanberry and other residents.

In June 1879, the date inscribed on the cornerstone, the congregation which "numbered about 200,"were happy to see a fine church building dedicated to the service of Almighty God and in honor of the ever-glorious and Immaculate Virgin Mary. The building cost $3,300.

During the incumbency of Rev. Thomas D. Flannery who succeeded Father Savage, Lowell was transferred to the priests of St. Andrew’s parish in Grand Rapids. There were so many changes in the personnel of the curates of the cathedral that a very large number of priests are named among those in charge of Lowell from the beginning of the century until Father Wynne became pastor Maple Valley with Lowell as a mission. Notably among these are the Revs. M. J. Gallagher (now Bishop of Detroit), J.A. Mulvey, T.J. Reid, J. Behan, T. J. O’Connell, J. McAllister, T. Albin.

The parish has also been attended by the Revs. Chas. Bolte and J. B. Illig, from Greenville. They were succeeded by the Rev. henry Simon, of St. Joseph’s Seminary, who was in charge over five years.

In October, 1927, the Rev. Robert Bogg, who was at the time of his appointment, administrator of St. Thomas’ parish in Grand Rapids, and secretary of the diocese, was made pastor of Lowell. In December of the same year, the residence formerly owned by John Arehart, a member of the parish, was purchased, and by Christmas a resident pastor was established by Lowell.

The members of the Lowell congregation were long anxious to have a resident priest and even during the pastorage of Father Albin had raised funds for a rectory, but a priest could not then be spared and the plan was set aside.

The Rev. George Flanagan succeeded Father Boff as pastor of Lowell in Jan. 1930, but ill-health necessitated removal to a dry climate, since which parish has been administered by one who in former years had also its charge.

Yours truly,
Rev. E. J. Jewell