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   Catholic Faith at "the Narrows

The community we call Lake Leelanau is situated where the southern extension of the lake of the same name forms a narrow channel before widening again into the northern portion of the lake. The early French Canadian settlers called it Sault Saint Marie de la Naro.

When Chief Peshaba migrated south from Cross Village and established the village of Peshawbestown, he was accompanied by Rev. Fr. Ignatius Mrak who built a church and school there and made regular visits to neighboring missions.

Jacob and Simon Schaub made contact with Fr. Mrak and soon he was making monthly visits to offer mass at the homes of Jacob Schaub, Joseph Gauthier, James Nolan and Eli Richard.

During the summer of 1864, with donated labor and cash from the sale of donated wheat, construction of a log church was begun near the narrows to serve the needs of the growing Catholic population.

In October Most Reverend Frederic Baraga, Bishop of Marquette, blessed the church and named it St. Mary of the Assumption.

In 1877 a frame church was completed on the site of the present parish office and rectory. A small rectory was built soon after and housed the first resident pastor, Rev. Fr. Joseph Niebling whose' parish consisted of nearly all of Leelanau County.

Under the guidance of Rev. Fr. Frederick Russmann  in 1891 construction on the present church was begun.

The parish Annual Dinner and Festival began during World War I and has continued to be held on the second Sunday in August. The entire parish family puts on a family
style chicken dinner with booths of games and handmade wares. The festivities serve as an annual homecoming for former parishioners and a day of fun for the entire community.

A stone convent and auditorium were built in the mid 1920's.

The present school building was completed in 1938.

The Church interior was remodeled following Vatican II in the mid 1960's.

When the Dominicans no longer had enough sisters to staff the school, parishioners were asked to give more generously and the Sweetheart Dinner was initiated to pay the costs of an almost all lay faculty.

Lost cutting and energy saving renovations were made to the school in the mid 1970's.

In later years the role of lay people has grown both in the school and in the church. Committees work on such things as enrollment drives and building and site. School volunteers assist in the library and classrooms as well as maintain the computers and local area network. Eucharistic ministers distribute the Blessed Sacrament at Mass and to shut-ins. Lectors read at Mass. Religious instruction is coordinated by a layperson and taught by Fr. Jerry and a group of dedicated lay people.