Our Parish - About Us - Chronology - 1951 to 1960

1951, Jan.
Father Julius Amman (1905-1978), second pastor, begins pastoral term

1951, Sept.
Goal of parish school within 4 years; initiation of building fund for a combination school-convent

1951, Aug.14
Additional five acres on west side of McCracken Street purchased for parish property with small house for rectory

1951, Aug.16
Parish picnic expanded into festival and fund-raiser

1951, Sept.17
Parish unit of Confraternity of Christian Doctrine established

1953, Sept.
First Bernadine Sisters (Reading, PA) come to Muskegon Catholic Central and St. Francis De Sales catechetical program

1954, Jan.12
Purchase of an additional five acres with house on west side of McCracken Street

1954, March
Contribution Guide [later Fair Share Guide] formulated by William Wiseman, Sr. as early stewardship formula for parish

1954,
Spring Land clearance and ground breaking for new school, west side of McCracken, Magnuson & Sumner architects Loan of $250,000 secured from McMahon & Hoban, first major indebtedness of parish

1954, Summer
West side of McCracken first used for parish gatherings, initiation of Ice Cream Social

1955, Jan.30
First use of new school, winter carnival-open house raises money for convent furnishings; opening of convent

1955,
Spring Home and School Association organized

1955, May 8
Bishop Allen J. Babcock's first visit to parish for Confirmation

1955, June 19
Transfer of Father Amman to St. James, Montague; Father Louis LaPres (1915-1970) becomes third pastor of St. Francis De Sales Father Herman Zerfas, assistant principal at Muskegon Catholic Central, parish's first associate pastor from 1955-1960

1955, Sept.8
Opening of St. Francis De Sales School, 234 students in six grade

1956, Sept.
Grades 7 and 8 added to school

1957, Summer
Four classrooms added to school, largely work of parishioners

1958, Sept. 1
First annual appreciation party hosted by pastor and associates

1958, Dec.
Parish study of facilities and needs reported to Bishop Babcock, with subsequent authorization to build church rectory and addition to school

1959, Nov.
First contact with Marcel Breuer, New York architect of international repute, on proposed buildings

1959-1960
Six classrooms added to school

1960
Marcel Breuer presents preliminary plans to ca. 300 men of parish

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