Troy — St. Anastasia Parish in Troy celebrated 50 years of faith in southern Oakland County on June 24, a testament to decades of sacraments, sacrifice and life-giving service for members of the parish community.

Archbishop Allen H. Vigneron celebrated the anniversary Mass with a packed congregation that also included concelebrating priests from the parish’s history, a full choir and Knights of Columbus honor guard.

Celebrating at the altar, the archbishop stood beneath a 15-foot-tall bronze cross that’s come to symbolize the parish’s life over the years. The iconic artwork, commissioned in 1989 by founding pastor Fr. William Davidson, features 689 individual crosses attached to a single main cross — a representation of each individual Christian’s life as part of the body of Christ.

Asking how many parishioners had celebrated baptisms, confirmations, marriages or first Communions at the parish, Archbishop Vigneron invited the congregation to give thanks.

“At a certain point in the Mass, you will hear me say, ‘Lift up your hearts.’ And my aim is when you say, ‘We lift them up to the Lord,’ your hearts are not empty, but your hearts are filled with gratitude for the 50 years of graces given to this parish,” Archbishop Vigneron said.

The archbishop noted that he himself had once briefly been an associate pastor at St. Anastasia in 1980, joking that, “I did exactly what Fr. Davidson told me. I was very obedient.”

Archbishop Vigneron noted that the very name of the parish is a testament to the saving power of Christ.

“You know that the name of your church means ‘resurrection,’” Archbishop Vigneron said. “St. Anastasia took that as her name. It’s a wonderful Christian name. The name of your community itself is a proclamation of the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world.”

Concelebrating Mass with the archbishop were current pastor Fr. Steve Wertanen, current associate pastor Fr. Greg Piatt, former pastor Fr. J.J. Mech and former associate pastor Fr. Jim Grau, assisted by Deacons Ron Cook and Don Baross.

Originally established as a mission to Guardian Angels Parish in Clawson, St. Anastasia Parish has seen three church buildings. The current church was built in 1980, and the original church on the same site was converted to an activities building.

Fr. Wertanen noted that since the parish’s founding on June 28, 1968, there have been 6,521 baptisms, 1,640 weddings, 4,145 confirmations, 10,102 first Communions and 1,854 funerals at St. Anastasia.

“We take very seriously the plan to unleash the Gospel,” Fr. Wertanen said, referencing Archbishop Vigneron’s pastoral letter. “I believe that the upswing of the Catholic Church will happen in my lifetime. With the guidance of the Holy Spirit, we will get there.”