About St. Mary · Norway, Michigan
St. Mary Catholic Church in Norway, Michigan is a historic parish founded in 1878 that has served Catholic families of the Iron Range / Dickinson County area for more than 135 years. Originally established as the mission of Sancta Maria Immaculate (Santa Maria Immaculata), the parish grew from a small white-frame church overlooking the Norway Mine to the present 1929 building at 401 Main Street. Since 2007, St. Mary has been partnered with St. Barbara Catholic Church in nearby Vulcan, and together the two parishes form a spiritual home for approximately 475 families across Norway, Vulcan and the surrounding communities. The parish belongs to the Diocese of Marquette and offers the Mass, the sacraments, religious education for grades K–12, middle school and high school youth ministry, choirs, a Knights of Columbus council, and parish societies such as the Women of St. Mary's and the St. Barbara Women's League.
- Established
- 1878
- Patron
- The Blessed Virgin Mary, under the title of the Immaculate Conception (the parish was originally named Sancta Maria Immaculate / Santa Maria Immaculata, and the 125th anniversary Mass was celebrated on the Feast of the Immaculate Conception)
- Rector
- Rev. Fr. Abraham Mupparathara, MCBS
- Diocese
- Diocese of Marquette
Why belong here
St. Mary is a long-established Upper Peninsula parish that welcomes roughly 475 families across Norway, Vulcan and the surrounding area through its 2007 partnership with St. Barbara. It offers the full sacramental life — daily and weekend Masses in both churches, regular confession, faith formation for grades K–12, a Wednesday-night Middle School Ministries program, a high-school youth group, choirs, altar servers, lay Eucharistic ministers, a Knights of Columbus council (#9523), the Women of St. Mary's, and outreach through Feeding America. Parishioners describe it as one of the most beautiful churches in the U.P., a place that has passed the Catholic faith from generation to generation for more than 135 years.
Mass times at St. Mary
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday: 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. (St. Mary)
- Sunday: 9:30 – 9:45 a.m. (before the 10:00 a.m. Mass at St. Mary)
- Tuesday: 4:30 – 4:50 p.m. (before the 5:00 p.m. Mass at St. Mary)
Parish Overview
St. Mary and St. Barbara are partnered Catholic parishes that serve Norway, Vulcan and the surrounding area. For over 135 years their families have brought the presence of Jesus Christ to these Upper Peninsula communities, drawing on a rich heritage that also includes the former parishes of St. Mary (Quinnesec), St. Stephen (Loretto) and St. Mary (Faithorn). The two parishes provide a spiritual home for approximately 475 families and serve every generation from the unborn to the elderly through a wide range of ministries.
- Two partnered parishes since 2007: St. Mary (Norway) and St. Barbara (Vulcan)
- Approximately 475 families
- Heritage parishes: St. Mary (Quinnesec), St. Stephen (Loretto), St. Mary (Faithorn)
- Diocese of Marquette
History
Founded in 1878 and built on land donated by Carl Wendel in 1879, St. Mary was originally named Sancta Maria Immaculate. The first Mass was celebrated May 1, 1880 in a small white frame church overlooking the Norway Mine. The parish expanded under Father Martin Kehoe (1883) with a new parochial school, grew through the 1904 remodeling under Father Joisten, and in 1929 moved into its present building at 401 Main Street, dedicated by Bishop Nausbaum of Marquette. The parish school closed in 1902 but Holy Spirit Catholic School reopened in 1966 after a parishioner-elected school board (described as the first such election in a U.S. Catholic parish) raised $130,000 in pledges. The 125th anniversary was marked in 2003, and since 2007 St. Mary has been partnered with St. Barbara in Vulcan.
- Founded 1878; first Mass May 1, 1880 at Sancta Maria Immaculate
- Parochial school opened 1888 (closed 1902); Holy Spirit School opened October 11, 1966
- Present church dedicated November 1929 by Bishop Nausbaum of Marquette
- 125th anniversary celebrated in 2003 with Bishop James Garland
- Partnered with St. Barbara (Vulcan) since 2007
Building and Renovations
Through the late 20th and early 21st centuries, the parish has continually upgraded its 1929 building. In 1992 Father Peter Carli oversaw a major renovation that added an oak sanctuary, new altar, sanctuary furniture, carpet, refinished pews and repainting. An elevator was added in 1999 to make the church handicapped-accessible, and in 2003 the electrical system, plaster and full interior decoration were redone in preparation for the 125th anniversary. In 2021 the church underwent a three-month major renovation that replaced floors, pews and lighting.
- 1992 sanctuary renovation
- 1999 elevator added (handicapped accessibility)
- 2003 electrical/plaster/interior redecoration
- 2021 floor, pew and lighting renovation
Parish Staff
The parish is served by a pastor and a lay staff for liturgy, faith formation, youth ministry, music, bookkeeping, maintenance and housekeeping. The staff page lists Fr. Abraham Mupparathara, MCBS as pastor and Deacon Ronald LeMire as the parish's first married permanent deacon (ordained September 26, 2003).
- Pastor: Rev. Fr. Abraham Mupparathara, MCBS — (906) 563-9845
- Deacon: Ronald LeMire
- Secretary: Sharon Halloran
- Bookkeeping: Mary Lindstrom — [email protected]
- Faith Formation Coordinator: Jen Murvich
- Director of Music & Liturgy: Kelli McGeehan — [email protected]
- Youth Ministry / MSM Coordinator: Michelle Chartier — [email protected]
- Maintenance: Joe Menghini
- Housekeeper: Sarah Edwards
Faith Formation and Religious Education
Faith Formation for St. Mary's and St. Barbara's parishioners is held at St. Mary in the parish hall during the school year. Grades 1–4 meet on Sundays from 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. for 12 sessions; grades 5–8 meet on Wednesdays from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m. for 26 sessions; and grades 9–11 also meet on Wednesdays from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m. for 26 sessions. The parish welcomes Religious Education teachers and aides for every grade.
- Grades 1–4: Sundays 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. (12 sessions)
- Grades 5–8: Wednesdays 6:00 – 7:00 p.m. (26 sessions)
- Grades 9–11: Wednesdays 6:00 – 7:00 p.m. (26 sessions)
- RCIA inquiries directed to the Parish Office
Youth Ministry — Middle School Ministries (MSM)
Middle School Ministries is geared for students in grades 5–8 and is built around faith, fun and service. Sessions are held every Wednesday at 7:00 p.m. in St. Mary's Parish Hall, immediately following Faith Formation, and last about an hour. A point system rewards attendance, bringing friends, attending Mass and helping with MSM fundraising.
- Coordinator: Michelle Chartier — [email protected]
- Wednesdays 7:00 p.m. in St. Mary's Parish Hall
- Point system and year-end prizes
Liturgical Ministries
The parish maintains an active roster of liturgical ministries that serve both weekend and daily Masses, with published ministry schedules for lectors, Extraordinary Ministers of Communion, and servers at both St. Mary and St. Barbara.
- Altar Servers (Grade 3 and up) and Adult Altar Servers
- Extraordinary Ministers of Communion
- Greeters at Sunday Mass
- Lectors (weekend and daily Mass)
- Adult Choir and Youth Choir (Director of Music & Liturgy: Kelli McGeehan)
- Ushers
- Liturgical Season / Environment
Parish Societies and Fellowship
Long-standing parish societies help bind the community together through service and social events. The Knights of Columbus Council #9523 was founded at the parish during Father Peter Carli's tenure, and the parish guilds include the Women of St. Mary's and the St. Barbara Women's League.
- Knights of Columbus Council #9523
- Women of St. Mary's
- St. Barbara Women's League
- Funeral Dinner Workers
- Annual Spring Fling fundraiser
- Annual outdoor Mass & picnic at Marion Park
- Polka Mass tradition (introduced by Father Carli)
- Church Picnic / Meal after Corpus Christi Procession / Winter Dinner & Music
Service and Outreach
Beyond the parish grounds, St. Mary parishioners volunteer through Feeding America and serve as volunteers at Holy Spirit Catholic School. The parish also maintains a Buildings & Grounds Committee, a Pastoral Council and a Finance Council, and welcomes volunteers to help with socials, the parish pictorial, website development, and office support.
- Feeding America
- Volunteer at Holy Spirit Catholic School
- Buildings & Grounds Committee
- Pastoral / Finance Council
Pastor Succession
The parish history published by St. Mary lists its pastors from the founding era to the present. The most recent long-tenured pastor was Father Mark McQuesten, who first served at the parish as a seminarian in 1982 and became pastor in 1996; he led the parish through its 125th anniversary in 2003 and the 2007 partnership with St. Barbara. The current pastor is Rev. Fr. Abraham Mupparathara, MCBS.
- Founding era: Fathers Fox, Rousseau, Kehoe (1883), Joisten (1904), Hollinger (1916)
- 20th century: Fathers Feldhaus, Dooley (1926–1948), Maier (1948–1963), Msgr. D'Amour, Bares (1966–1981), Richards (1981–1985), Carli (1985–1992), Grambow
- Father Mark McQuesten, pastor since 1996
- Current pastor: Rev. Fr. Abraham Mupparathara, MCBS
Visiting and Contact
The parish office sits behind St. Mary's at 401 Main Street, Norway, MI 49870, and is open Monday through Thursday from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. The mailing address for both St. Mary's and St. Barbara's is 401 Main Street, Norway, MI 49870; St. Barbara's worship site is at 159 Mission Street, Vulcan, MI. Accessibility maps are linked from the parish home page, and the church has been handicapped-accessible since the 1999 elevator installation.
- Address: 401 Main St., Norway, MI 49870
- Phone: (906) 563-9845; Fax: (906) 563-7623
- Email: [email protected]
- Office Hours: Mon–Thu 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
- Accessibility maps linked on the home page
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Martin Fox1877–
Prussian priest who built the first church in Quinnesec; founder-era figure of the parish's origins.
- Father Rousseau
Replaced Fr. Fox; moved his residence to Norway and began establishing the Catholic parish there.
- Father Martin Kehoe1883–
Appointed to serve 250 families from Norway, Loretto, Vulcan, Sturgeon Mill, New York Farm; lobbied for the first parochial school.
- Father Joistenby 1904
Completed the first major remodeling: 40-foot addition, redecorating, new altars, stations of the cross and stained-glass windows.
- Father Hollinger1916–
Cleared the remaining remodeling debt; acquired the Main Street / Fourth Avenue lots and Norway Street property for the future church and rectory.
- Father Edward Feldhausafter Hollinger
Avid sports fan; transferred to Sault Ste. Marie in failing health.
- Father Erasmus Dooley1926–1948
Built and financed the present St. Mary's at 401 Main Street; died August 23, 1948 from WWI mustard-gas complications.
- Father Sebastian Maier1948–1963
German-born; new pews, church-hall and kitchen remodel, new rectory built 1952.
- Msgr. O'Neil D'Amourafter Dec 1963
Re-established a Catholic school; led feasibility study that led to Holy Spirit School.
- Father Elmer Bares1966–1981
Mentor to many assistant priests; oversaw Holy Spirit School's peak enrollment of 229 in 1970; transferred to Quinnesec.
- Father Bill Richards1981–1985
Started the Spring Fling fundraiser (1983) and the annual outdoor Mass/picnic at Marion Park.
- Father Peter 'Pete' Carli1985–1992
Major 1992 sanctuary renovation; introduced the popular Polka Mass; founded the Knights of Columbus #9523.
- Father Arnold Grambowafter 1992
Stabilized the parish following Father Carli's departure.
- Rev. Father Mark McQuesten1996–
Had been a seminarian at the parish in 1982; led the 125th anniversary and the 2007 partnership with St. Barbara.