Waterford parish celebrates 50 years of solid service 

Waterford —The St. Perpetua Parish community in Waterford celebrated its 50th anniversary July 17, complete with a Mass of Thanksgiving celebrated with Archbishop Allen H. Vigneron.

“I’ve been here since 2008,” Fr. Jack Baker, pastor of St. Perpetua’s, told The Michigan Catholic. “The people here at this parish are very dedicated; faithful and faith-filled.”

The parish was officially established on June 24, 1964, and July 26 saw the groundbreaking for the new community, he said.

Cardinal John Dearden dedicated St. Perpetua Parish on Dec. 19 of that year: “They pushed to get in, in time for Christmas,” said Fr. Baker, adding that in 1983 the parish built and dedicated a new church building.

“The original church had 305 families in 1964, of which 35 families are still registered here and have kept their registration (updated),” Fr. Baker said. He said the people, both those who were there from the beginning as well as new parishioners, are “solid.”

“They’re generous in giving of their time and their treasure, and they’ve just been very devoted,” he said. “Many of the people here have been here for years. They have truly made St. Perpetua their home, and those that come here make it their home.”

Over the course of this year, the parish has held a special activity each month, from a pig roast to a parish mission, where Fr. Bill Casey, CPM, of the Fathers of Mercy, came to speak.

“The parish mission went extremely well; a full house every night,” remembers Fr. Baker of the event, which was held in March.

Fr. Baker expressed his gratitude in the financial solidness of the parish: “We just redid our parking lot and are re-covering the chairs.”

He credits the pastor who served before him, Fr. Richard Rakoczy, who retired in July 2008 after 13 years as pastor. Fr. Rakoczy was also present at the Aug. 17 anniversary celebration.

Parishioner and Waterford resident Barbara Thomas lives only about a mile from the church and “can walk there when it’s nice out.”

“I’m a greeter at 5 p.m. Mass,” said Thomas, noting the many out-of-town visitors to St. Perpetua who “say when they are in town they come back because we’re such a nice open church.”

Thomas said it is “such an honor” that Archbishop Vigneron came to celebrate the anniversary with the people of St. Perpetua.

She said she remembers then- Fr. Vigneron coming for the funeral Mass of St. Perpetua’s second pastor, Fr. John German, who died from cancer in 1988.

“(This is) his first time visiting as archbishop and we are so excited to have him,” she said.

Thomas is glad that after 50 years, the parish continues to be active in outreach ministries, including the Knights of Columbus, a book study, a group that attends the annual March for Life in Washington, D.C., and volunteer opportunities at a local soup kitchen.

“People say ‘hey, if you need something, go to St. Perpetua’s and they’ll help you with it!’” said Thomas. “I love my parish and I love all the priests that we’ve had. I’m really happy that I belong to this parish.”

St. Perpetua Parish

134 Airport Rd., Waterford, Michigan 48327

(248) 682-6431

Pastor: Fr. Jack Baker

Founded: 1964

Founding pastor: Fr. Bernard J. Zaglaniczny

Families:1,132

Parish organizations: Society of St. Vincent de Paul, Knights of Columbus 13600, Daughters of Isabella, Fourth degree Knights of Columbus foundation – Fr. Vincent Capodanno Council, RCIA, religious education, ecumenical events and more