Religious artwork abounds in the sanctuary at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Erie, Michigan. The original church building was built in 1819 with the present church building having been built between 1850 and 1852 with its dedication in 1852. The artwork within the sanctuary has changed over the years and still lends itself to evangelization and catechesis through art. Using the diagram, you can identify points of interest within the church to the corresponding numbers. As generations throughout the years have used the art to tell the stories of our faith, may you share the stories of our faith by journeying through the Windows into Heaven.
Our History
Our Church is the 3rd oldest in the Archdiocese of Detroit and the 2nd oldest in Monroe County!
St. Joseph Roman Catholic Church Ancestry
The first pioneers arrived in the Settlement of Bay Creek around 1790. These pioneers were Roman Catholic and typically French Canadian. Their first task was to clear the dense walnut tree stands behind the shores of Maumee Bay, along Lake Erie. Despite many hardships, these hardy French pioneers worked and worshipped together in a small community.
Their first church was a primitive log building, built in 1819, and located on the north side of Bay Creek near Lake Erie. The log church was 25’ x 35’ in size and noted to have a high ceiling. The log church was replaced in 1826 by a frame building on the south side of Bay Creek near Lake Erie. The present brick building was built in 1851 on a more accessible site on the north side of Bay Creek, further inland from Lake Erie. The church was consecrated by Bishop Peter Paul LeFever in 1852.
Prior to 1850, this geographic area was referred to as the Settlement of Bay Creek, or La Baie, as the French called it. In fact, the church was called St. Joseph Sur La Baie in its early years. Around 1850, the Settlement of Bay Creek became known as Vienna, and then subsequently, Erie.
Fr. Gabriel Richard of Detroit was the first traveling priest to support the Catholic community from 1798 to 1820. In his last two years, Fr. Richard would celebrate Mass at the log church. From 1820 to 1833, priests from the Monroe area traveled to support the young church. In 1833, Fr. John DeBruyn became the first resident pastor.
The history of St. Joseph Catholic Parish is one of faith, education, and community life, centered on the Eucharist, guided by His Word, and strengthened through the sacraments and service to others. St. Joseph Catholic Parish is the second oldest church in Monroe County and the third oldest church in the Archdiocese of Detroit. Today, St. Joseph Catholic Parish, located in Erie, MI, continues to be a faith based community of believers who seek to make Jesus Christ known to others through discipleship and evangelization. St. Joseph Catholic Parish proudly, yet humbly, celebrates its 200th year anniversary in 2019.
Prayer to St. Joseph:
Oh St. Joseph, whose protection is so great, so strong, so prompt before the throne of God, I place in you all my interest and desires. Oh, St. Joseph, do assist me by your powerful intercession, and obtain for me from your divine Son all spiritual blessings, through Jesus Christ, Our Lord. So that, having engaged here below your heavenly power, I may offer my thanksgiving and homage to the most loving of Fathers. Oh, St. Joseph, I never weary contemplating you, and Jesus asleep in your arms; I dare not approach while He reposes near your heart. Press Him in my name and kiss His fine head for me; and ask Him to return the kiss when I draw my dying breath. St. Joseph, Patron of departing souls, pray for me.
-Amen
We just passed our 200th anniversary a few years ago! What a great achievement! Our Stained glasses window was the created logo our communications committee created to honor our 200th year. It is located above our church alter, visible from the inside during Mass and from Erie Rd at the back of our church building.
Our 200th Anniversary Celebration
View more
Windows into Heaven
Stories of the Artwork of St. Joseph Catholic Church
List of Services
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1. Blessed Mother AltarList Item 1
At this side altar look for the statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary holding a rosary. Tradition suggests this statue to be a representation of Mary under the title of Our Lady of Grace. Behind the altar you will see stencil work an Ave Maria symbol (a capital A superimposed on a capital M). You will also notice a crown, denoting Mary's titles as queen. The symbol on the altar is the Ave Maria crowned.
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2. Annunciation MuralList Item 2
We see the angel Gabriel meeting the Blessed Virgin Mary. Mary within Mary is found within a courtyard surrounded by a garden.
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3. High Altar, Crucifix and Rose WindowList Item 3
The letters IS form the first three letters of Jesus in Greek (IH2OYL). The letters are lota, Eta, and Sigma. On the tabernacle is a chalice and host (with Chi-Rho (pronounced ki-row) imprinted upon the host) surrounded by wheat and grape vines. Chi-rho is a Christogram (a picture word of Christ) formed of the first two letters of Christ (Chi and Rho), P and X. On the wall behind the high altar is a Fleur-de-Lis, wheat and grape vines, Chalice and Host, and IHS crowned with cross.
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4. St. Joseph MuralList Item 4
We see St. Joseph and the child Jesus walking.
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5. St. Joseph Altar
At this altar, we see the statue of St. Joseph. The stencil work behind the altar is of a crowned ] superimposed over two lilies (denoting Joseph and the lilies which represent his purity) longside carpentry tools.
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6. Child Jesus, the Incarnate Word and the Infant of Prague Write a description for this list item and include information that will interest site visitors. For example, you may want to describe a team member's experience, what makes a product special, or a unique service that you offer.
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7. St. John the Baptist & St. Michael
Here we see St. John holding a shell which is symbolic of baptism and St. Michael the Archangel crushing the head of the devil.
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8. St. Christopher & St. Isadore
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9. St. John Vianney & St. Issac Jugues
St. John Vianney, the patron saint of priests, is depicted here wearing a purple stole reminding us of his dedication to souls in the Sacrament of Reconciliation. St. Isaac Jogues, one of the North American martyrs and bearers of faith to the Americas, is depicted with a tomahawk (the weapon used to martyr him) and a religious text reminding us of his missionary zeal and love for the native persons.
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10. St. Joseph & Mother of Perpetual Help
Here we see St. Joseph depicted with tools of carpentry and a lily. Mary, under the title Mother of Perpetual Help, is holding the child Jesus and pointing to Him, showing us the way to Jesus.
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11. St. Cecilia & Our Lady of Guadalupe
St. Cecilia, the Our Lady of Guadalupe is depicted in a similar fashion as the image that can be found on the tilma of St. Juan Diego.
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12. Glory to God in the Highest Mural & Rose Window
(found in the steeple)
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13. St. Kateri Tekakwitha and Our Lady of Fatima
Here St. Kateri (Catherine in English), the Lily of the Mohawks, is depicted with a rosary, which she prayed often. She was from the same tribal nation that martyred St. Isaac Jogues. Our Lady of Fatima is depicted in similar fashion as she would have appeared to the children in Fatima when she asked them to pray the rosary.
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14. St. Frances Xavier Cabrini & St. Francis of Assisi
St. Frances Xavier Cabrini, known as Mother Cabrini, established hospitals and orphanages to care for the poor. St. Francis of Assisi is depicted with a rosary and religious texts denoting his evotion to the Virgin Mary and his evangelization and preaching to all peoples. St. Francis also bore the stigmata, the physical manifestation of the wounds of Christ crucified.
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15. St. Pius X & St. Vincent de Paul
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16. St. Peter & St. Paul
St. Peter is depicted holding the symbolic keys of Heaven given to him and his successors by Christ. St. Paul is depicted with a book representing his contributions to the New Testament and a sword recalling his martyrdom.
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17. St. Bernadette & St. Therese
St Bernadette and St. Therese, two French women religious are depicted here in their habits. St. Therese carries roses.
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18. St. Ann & St. Gerard Majella
St. Ann is depicted instructing the Virgin Mary as a child. St. Gerard, a Redemptorist missonary priest, is depicted here with a cross, rosary and skull to remind us of our own mortality.
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19. Main Altar
The main altar is made of marble and has the IHS symbol on the front.
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20. Ceiling & Surrounding Walls
As you look up, you will notice the walls go from a tan to a blue and finally to a white cross-imprinted ceiling tiles. This is to remind us of our eventual journey to Heaven and that the way to Heaven is also the way of the cross.. The Stations of the Cross surround the sanctuary.
Information provided by T.J. O'Brien, MA