Here’s a groundbreaking story. Literally. Bishop Earl Boyea joined families, staff, and students at Powers Catholic High School in Flint this week to ceremonially mark the beginning of construction of the school’s new chapel. The place of worship, which is due to completed next year, will be dedicated under the title of All Saints in honor of the Flint parish of the same name which closed nine years ago and whose financial patrimony has significantly funded the new school chapel.
“We are so grateful to the parishioners at All Saints, Bishop Boyea, Monsignor Majchrowski, and the donors to the Stewardship for Saints and Scholars Campaign, for making the funds for this chapel available,” said Kate Gross, President of Powers Catholic High School, November 5.
“It is an incredible gift to our Powers Catholic community. We look forward to celebrating Mass in a sacred space, one set aside for worship, and the fruit that will bear in our lives.”
Powers Catholic High School was founded in 1970. It takes its name from Father Luke M. Powers, a Massachusetts-born Augustinian priest who served as pastor of Saint Matthew Parish in Flint for 37 years until his death in 1970. The school has over 550 students in grades 9–12 who learn within the grand, neo-classical setting of Flint’s historic Fay Hall. The Powers community moved to Fay Hall in 2013. The building was previously the Michigan School for the Deaf. At present the school has to use its gymnasium as a venue for Holy Mass.
Meanwhile, All Saints was established in 1910 as a personal parish to serve the Polish and other Slavic Catholic faithful on the north side of Flint. For much of its history, the parish was pastored by Monsignor Anthony Majchrowski who served All Saints from 1955 until his death in 2015. The parish closed in 2016 following an extinctive union with Saint John Vianney parish in Flint. The decree of closure, however, stated that assets and artifacts from parish would be used a new All Saints Chapel of Powers Catholic High School.
“Monsignor Anthony Majchowski and All Saints Parish were long time supporters of Catholic education,” said Jack and Valerie Tylus, former parishioners and historians of All Saints Church, who were present at this week’s groundbreaking ceremony.
“Many parishioners have long waited a long time for this day to arrive and the chapel to become reality. We look forward for the students to visit the house of Lord with the All-Saints name on it. The parishioners that are still living are anxious for its opening day.”
The construction of the new All Saints Chapel is being overseen by Gazall, Lewis & Associates Architects in conjunction with Lurvey Construction
