Well, the sun shone upon the good people of Saint Mary Star of the Sea in Jackson as the parish gave thanks to God for the centenary of their magnificent parish church during Sunday Mass on May 31.
“Pope Saint John Paul II once observed that beauty stirs a ‘hidden nostalgia for God.’ Thus, it is true to say that the beauty of Saint Mary Star of the Sea’s parish church — a gem in our diocesan architectural firmament — has been stirring souls toward the things of God for a century,” said the principal celebrant, Bishop Earl Boyea.
Situated in downtown Jackson, the parish of Saint Mary Star of the Sea was founded in 1880. By the 1920s, the original church building was too small for the growing congregation. Construction of a new Romanesque Revival limestone building began in 1923 under the creative guidance of architect Frederick Spier and was completed in 1926. Auxiliary Bishop Joseph C. Plagens of Detroit officiated at the dedicatory Mass on May 31, 1926. The cost of construction was $380,000, which equates to $7.15 million today.
Distinctive features of the 180-foot structure include a 2,700-pound bell from the original church. Inside, the church features Italian Carrara marble altars, hand-painted apse mosaics, Stations of the Cross, and stained glass from Innsbruck, Austria — including the "Christ and the Battlefield" window dedicated to Jackson’s World War I veterans.
Among those concelebrating Holy Mass on Sunday were former parish pastor Monsignor Bernard Reilly, current pastor Father Tim Nelson, and Father John Vinton, who will assume the office of parish pastor next month.
“Congratulations to Father Nelson, his staff, and his parishioners upon this historic occasion,” added Bishop Boyea. “Ad multos annos!”
