HISTORY OF SAINT AGNES PARISH, FLINT

In 1928 General Motors, in the northwest section of Flint, began a housing development for its workers known as Chevrolet City. Bishop Michael J. Gallagher of Detroit was made aware of this and he authorized the purchase of eleven acres on Pierson Road. The new parish was to be dedicated to St. Agnes and Rev. Louis Hammer was sent as the founding pastor. The first Mass was held on July 1 in the Photoplay House on the grounds of the Flint Amusement Park. The altar was a board across two sawhorses.

A temporary frame building was soon built but was destroyed in a windstorm. It was agreed to construct a two-story structure, the second floor serving as a rectory and hall. The first floor was dedicated as a church October 29, 1930. The upper floor was converted to classrooms and the lower floor became the parish hall when a new church was dedicated in 1943.

A school was opened in the fall of 1942 and was staffed by the Sisters of St. Joseph from Nazareth. During Rev. Maurice Olk's pastorate (1944-1968) a further ten rooms were built and, a decade later, a new high school. The first high school graduating class was in 1954. In 1970 the high school consolidated with other parish schools to form Luke M. Powers High School. In 1971 St. Agnes Grade School closed. In the fall the high school building opened as Donovan North Middle School and the grade school as Maurice Olk Elementary School. Donovan and Olk combined in 1977 and closed in 1980. Since August 1980 DuKette Catholic Elementary School has been located at St. Agnes.

The urban exodus of the early seventies left St. Agnes greatly reduced in population. Joining other urban parishes in 1977 to form the Flint Catholic Urban Ministry (FCUM) was a turning point for the better. St. Agnes parish hosted many of the FCUM's revivals and missions. The theme of the 60th anniversary celebration held in 1988 was "This Far by Faith".  Bishop Kenneth J. Povish rededicated the renovated church in 1993 as the parish celebrated it 65th anniversary during Rev. John P. Klein's pastorate (1984-1998). Rev. James F. Eisele, who led the St. Agnes community from 1998 - 2004, presided over the parish's 75th anniversary in 2003.  Rev. John Rocus served as pastor from 2004 – 2007.  Rev. Steven Makranyi has served as pastoral administrator of St. Agnes since 2007.

(Living in Joyful Hope - A History of the Diocese of Lansing, Rev. Msgr. George C. Michalek)