Saint Joseph

About Saint Joseph Shrine

Saint Joseph Shrine is a Roman Catholic parish and pilgrimage site in the Irish Hills of southern Michigan, serving the village of Brooklyn and the surrounding Cambridge Township in Lenawee County. A member of the Diocese of Lansing, it functions as an active parish with daily and weekend Masses, year-round Reconciliation and Eucharistic Adoration, a robust faith-formation program, and one of the most celebrated outdoor Stations of the Cross in the American Midwest. The campus includes the historic 1854 fieldstone church (the 'wayside church' on US-12), the Family Center at 8956 US-12, the parish cemetery dating to 1859, and the lakeside Via Dolorosa winding down to Iron Lake.

History

Saint Joseph Shrine was established in 1854 by Irish pioneer settlers, with the land deeded to Bishop Peter Paul Lefevere of Detroit in 1851 and the first Mass in the completed fieldstone church celebrated on November 14, 1863 by Father Edward Van Lauwe. For nearly a century the church had no resident pastor and was served by visiting priests from neighboring towns. Major building campaigns added the bell tower, sacristy, and stained glass in 1911; the cruciform shape, red ceramic-tile roof, and Lourdes-style interior grotto in 1928 under Msgr. Joseph Pfeffer; and the celebrated outdoor Stations of the Cross between 1932 and 1936, sculpted in Trabajo Rustico (faux-bois) wet cement by Mexican artisans Dionicio Rodriguez and Ralph Corona under architect Leo Ouelette. Father Henry Hengehold became the first resident pastor when the mission formally became a parish in 1954, the year ownership was transferred (with the surrounding counties) from the Archdiocese of Detroit to the Diocese of Lansing in 1971. Father Dave Hudgins led a 'heritage project' renovation in 2011 and is buried in the shrine cemetery after his 2022 death; Father Zachary Mabee was appointed pastor afterward and continues to serve today. The district was designated a Michigan State Historic Site in 1990 and placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2007.

• 1851 – Land deeded to Bishop Peter Paul Lefevere of Detroit
• 1853 – Visiting priests begin saying Mass in private homes
• 1854 – Construction of the fieldstone church begins
• 1859 – Earliest graves in the cemetery
• November 14, 1863 – First Mass in the new church (Father Edward Van Lauwe, five days before the Gettysburg Address)
• 1911 – Bell tower, sacristy, and stained-glass windows added
• 1928 – Cruciform plan, red tile roof, mosaic-tile interior shrine, Lourdes grotto (Msgr. Joseph Pfeffer)
• 1932–1936 – Fourteen outdoor Stations of the Cross built in Trabajo Rustico style (Rodriguez, Corona, Ouelette)
• 1954 – First resident pastor, Father Henry Hengehold; mission becomes a parish
• 1954 – West side-gable addition built
• 1971 – Property transferred to the Diocese of Lansing
• 1990 – Designated a Michigan State Historic Site (April 19)
• 2007 – Added to the National Register of Historic Places (May 4, NRHP #07000382)
• 2011 – 'Heritage project' renovation under Father Dave Hudgins
• 2022 – Death of Father Hudgins in car accident; appointment of Father Zachary Mabee
• 2024–2025 – Multi-phase restoration of the Stations of the Cross launched

Architecture and the Work of Rodriguez & Corona

The 1854 church is a single-story cruciform-plan fieldstone structure, 50 ft 6 in × 83 ft 8 in, sheathed in a red ceramic-tile hip roof with a partially engaged three-story square bell tower at the entry. The walls are built of locally sourced semi-coursed fieldstone; original construction was minimal, with the fieldstone walls and a front-gable roof. The 1911 renovation added the bell tower, sacristy, and stained glass; the 1928 renovation under Msgr. Joseph Pfeffer raised the fieldstone walls and installed a wood-framed vaulted hip roof, a new transept and sanctuary, and a small interior shrine modeled after the Grotto of Our Lady of Lourdes in France, with mosaic-tile decorations. A 1954 single-story side-gable addition with full basement extends beneath the sacristy and sanctuary on the west. The original 1928 chimney was moved from interior to exterior, and a second fieldstone chimney was added during the 1928 work.

• Architectural style: Spanish Colonial Revival / Mission Revival (with original 1854 Irish-pioneer fieldstone construction)
• Original 1854 builder: John Lambert, supervised an Irish pioneer workforce (Kelly, Egan/Agan, Nichols, Brighten, Marr, Monaghan families)
• Stained glass and bell tower: 1911
• Cruciform remodel and Lourdes grotto: 1928 (Msgr. Joseph Pfeffer)
• Mosaic-tile interior shrine modeled on the Lourdes Grotto, France
• West side-gable addition: 1954

The Outdoor Stations of the Cross (Via Dolorosa)

Conceived by Msgr. Joseph Pfeffer and built between 1932 and 1936, the fourteen Stations of the Cross descend the bluff from the church down to the shore of Iron Lake and back up to the crucifixion group, depicting the final hours of Jesus on the way to Calvary. The stations were constructed by seminarians and master craftsmen in the Trabajo Rustico (Spanish for 'rustic work') style, using wet cement sculpted to resemble stone, wood, bark, rope, and timber. The lead artisans were the renowned Mexican sculptors Dionicio Rodriguez and Ralph Corona, working under the supervision of architect Leo Ouelette. Rodriguez and Corona also collaborated on the McCourtie Estate (National Register) six miles to the west in Somerset Center, Michigan. Most of the original stations and all of the original mosaic tiles are still standing; the parish runs an 'Adopt-a-Station' stewardship program and in 2024–2025 launched a four-phase restoration plan addressing drainage, erosion, hillside stabilization, structural repair, and rebuilding of stations lost to decay — a project expected to cost into the millions.

• Fourteen stations built 1932–1936
• Trabajo Rustico / faux-bois technique: wet cement sculpted to imitate wood, stone, rope, and bark
• Lead artisans: Dionicio Rodriguez and Ralph Corona; supervising architect: Leo Ouelette
• Most original stations and all original mosaic tiles survive
• 'Adopt-a-Station' volunteer maintenance program
• Four-phase restoration underway as of 2024–2025 (drainage, erosion, hillside stabilization, rebuilding)

Faith Formation, Youth, and Adult Education

Faith Formation classes for children are held on Sunday mornings 9:30–10:45 AM in the Family Center. CAFÉ (parish adult faith formation) sessions are also held in that same window, 9:30–10:45 AM Sundays in the Family Center. The Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (OCIA / RCIA) is directed by Diane Dover, Pastoral Ministry / Director of Adult Ed. Youth Ministry and a monthly Eucharistic Encounter for Teens and Young Adults (Sunday evenings at 6:00 PM in the Church) are directed by Lisa Back, Director of Religious Education & Youth Ministry.

• Faith Formation for children: Sundays 9:30–10:45 AM, Family Center
• CAFÉ adult faith formation: Sundays 9:30–10:45 AM, Family Center
• OCIA / RCIA — Director: Diane Dover (Pastoral Ministry / Adult Ed)
• Youth Ministry & Eucharistic Encounter for Teens and Young Adults — Director: Lisa Back
• Director of Religious Education & Youth Ministry: Lisa Back (cell 517-902-7543)

Music and Liturgical Ministries

Music Ministry at the shrine is led by Debra Falk and supports the parish's traditional English-language Masses in both the 1854 church and the 1954 Family Center. Music supports the regular weekend schedule, holy days, and special observances throughout the liturgical year. Family Ministry is led by Doug and Carol McMillan, helping coordinate parish life across generations.

• Music Ministry Director: Debra Falk (517-902-2492)
• Family Ministry: Doug & Carol McMillan (517-612-8070)
• English-language liturgy (Roman Rite, Diocese of Lansing)

Parish Staff and Clergy

Saint Joseph Shrine is led by pastor Rev. Zachary Mabee, assisted by two deacons and a team of lay staff and ministry directors. The parish office is staffed Monday through Thursday 8:30 AM to 3:30 PM and can be reached at 517-467-2183; the Family Center is reached at 517-467-2106.

• Rev. Zachary Mabee — Pastor
• Deacon Todd Dahlberg — 734-604-6907
• Deacon Eugene Hausmann — 517-937-9042
• Rose Noble — Office Manager (517-467-2183)
• Elizabeth Girdham — Administrative Assistant / historic tours (517-467-2183)
• Diane Dover — Pastoral Ministry / Director of OCIA & Adult Ed (517-467-2106 / 517-438-3587)
• Lisa Back — Director of Religious Education & Youth Ministry (517-902-7543)
• Debra Falk — Music Ministry (517-902-2492)
• Paul Knapp — Facilities & Grounds
• Doug & Carol McMillan — Family Ministry (517-612-8070)

Outreach and Stewardship

The shrine runs an active food pantry ministry in partnership with the Brooklyn Food Pantry, accepting nonperishable food, toiletries, and monetary donations. The Knights of Columbus host seasonal grill-outs and the annual parish picnic (held in August). The parish participates in the Diocese of Lansing's annual Diocesan Services Appeal (DSA) and was a top first-wave performer in the diocese's $70 million Stewardship for Saints and Scholars capital campaign supporting Catholic education, with a portion of the funds earmarked for renovation of the parish's Family Center. An 'Adopt-a-Station' stewardship program invites individuals and families to take responsibility for maintenance of the outdoor Stations of the Cross.

• Brooklyn Food Pantry — ongoing collection of nonperishable food, toiletries, and monetary gifts
• Knights of Columbus — seasonal grill-outs and annual Parish Picnic
• Diocesan Services Appeal (DSA) — 2025 pledge total: $27,228 from 83 families (80% of $34,233 goal)
• Stewardship for Saints and Scholars — top first-wave performer; funds partly dedicated to Family Center renovation
• Adopt-a-Station — volunteer maintenance of the Via Dolorosa

The Cemetery

The parish cemetery, with graves dating back to February 19, 1859, predates the final construction of the church and is part of the registered historic district. It holds the graves of many founding Irish Catholic families of the Irish Hills and, in modern times, that of the late Father Dave Hudgins (d. 2022), beloved pastor and leader of the 2011 heritage project.

• Cemetery predates the finished church (graves from February 19, 1859)
• Component of the Saint Joseph Church and Shrine National Register historic district (NRHP #07000382)
• Burial site of Father Dave Hudgins (d. January 2022)

Pilgrimage and Visiting

The Diocese of Lansing has explicitly promoted St. Joseph Shrine as a summer pilgrimage destination, citing the 'peaceful, prayerful and beautiful' setting on Iron Lake west of the Irish Hills Towers. Father Zachary Mabee invites pilgrimage groups to come pray the stations, and the parish is open year-round for self-guided walks of the historic church, grotto, and Via Dolorosa at no cost. Historic tours can be arranged through the parish office; longtime staff and parishioners (including sixth-generation member and administrative assistant Elizabeth Girdham) regularly lead visitors through the church and grounds. The Annual Parish Picnic — hosted by the Knights of Columbus — typically takes place in August.

• Promoted by the Diocese of Lansing as a summer pilgrimage destination
• Open year-round; no fee to walk the grounds or visit the historic church
• Pilgrimage groups welcome (contact parish office: 517-467-2183)
• Annual Parish Picnic hosted by the Knights of Columbus (e.g., August 17, 2025)
• Parish app available via myParish (iPhone/Android)
• Bulletins available online via Masstimes.org