1957 -
1962 |
Shortly after the establishment of Michigan State University/Oakland Campus around 1957, Fr. Thomas Hinsberg was appointed Newman Chaplain to minister to the Roman Catholic administration, faculty, staff and students. Mass was held in nearby buildings and/or a local school.
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1962-
1966 |
In October of 1962 Fr. Hinsberg requested that the Archdiocese of Detroit purchase the land that St. John Fisher presently sits on and the current church and office area was dedicated on September 11, 1966 by Archbishop John F. Dearden as St. John Fisher Chapel. It was named after Bishop John Fisher, who was the Bishop of Rochester, England and Chancellor of Cambridge University, England. He was beheaded under King Henry the VIII.
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1966 |
Fr. John Fauser was assigned as the Newman Chaplain.
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1967 |
Fr. Gerald O'Bee was assigned as the Newman Chaplain and campus ministry staff was added.
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1969 |
The new priest's residence was completed at the north end of the building.
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1973 |
Fr. Gerald Maloney was assigned as the Newman Chaplain.
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1974 |
Fr. Brian Bjorkland was assigned as the priest Campus Minister.
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1977 |
On May 27th area priests along with the Regional Bishop Joseph Imesch
and the Central Campus Ministry Office of the Archdiocese of Detroit met with the St. John Fisher staff to discuss future plans for ministering to the people in the area between Rochester and Pontiac along with the Campus Ministry to Oakland University. A decision was made to reach out to the At-Large Community and more property was purchased to increase the parking lot. One day it might be a parish of up to 800 families and reduce the amount of subsidy coming from the Archdiocese of Detroit. Staff was increased gradually to meet the needs of campus ministry and at-large members. When the norms for establishing a parish were met, it would petition for parish status.
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1983 |
Fr. Jerry Brzezinski was assigned as the priest Campus Minister.
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1986 |
The Chapel Board and its Ministries in collaboration with the chapel community developed the first St. John Fisher Mission statement to bring together the fact of SJF being a campus ministry and an at-large community which now accepted full ministerial and financial responsibility for itself and would no longer receive a subsidy from the Archdiocese of Detroit.
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1988-
1989 |
On July 1, 1989, after a year of prayer and study, St. John Fisher Chapel was given canonical status as a full territorial and personal parish and its name was changed to St. John Fisher Chapel University Parish. Fr. Jerry Brzezinski was now named as the pastor of the newly established parish. In the Fall of 1989 the St. John Fisher Chapel Board with the support of the community members, began to look at its physical needs in light of its parish status.
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1991 |
Celebration of our Twenty-Fifth Anniversary
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1992-
1993 |
In January of 1992 SJF began a three year capital campaign to expand its facilities to meet the needs of the SJF Mission and Ministry. The Ground Breaking Ceremony took place on August 21, 1992 and on September 8, 1993 the new addition (Activities Center, Gathering Space and a roughed in full lower level) was dedicated.
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1994 |
Became a full Christian Stewardship Community-tithing/sacrificial giving.
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1995 |
In Lent of 1995 the Chapel Board in collaboration with the SJF ministries and members developed a revised SJF Mission, Vision, Values and Goals, which were promulgated on Pentecost, 1995.
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1995-
1996 |
The SJF Chapel Board took on the responsibility to re-organize its leadership and staff structures to meet the needs of our newly promulgated Mission/Vision/Values. On July 1, 1996 the SJF Chapel Board became the SJF Parish Leadership Council and the 25/30 ministries were grouped under five Commissions: Campus/Young Adult, Evangelization, Faith Formation/Education, Development/Stewardship and Worship, each one headed up by a Pastoral Team Member.
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1997 |
SJF re-structured its financial approach: 1) Weekly Offertory to handle the day to day operations of its ministries; 2)"Continuing Our Development" Tri-Annual Campaign to handle program, physical and outreach developmental items.
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1998 |
Completed the lower level into meeting/class rooms, mini-activities center with kitchen. Established annual outreach program and further developed the religious education programming and staff.
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2001 |
Completed the expansion of the Gathering Space and established the Worship Space Evaluation Committee.
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2002 |
Parish Pastoral Assembly
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2003 |
Implementation of Vision
from Parish Pastoral Assembly
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2004 |
Creation of SJF Parish
Master Plan. Creation of SJF Parish Master Plan; Furthering our call to
discipleship in light of SJF Week of Renewal with Fr. Mike Crosby.
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2005 |
Completion of the Together
in Faith process which will be incorporated into the master strategic
plan for future planning in the Archdiocese of Detroit.
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2006 |
As a result of the Together
In Faith process improved collaboration and integration of leadership
between Pastoral Council as oversight and Pastoral Team as
implementation; Marked the 40th Anniversary of our facility with a photo
directory of our faith community families; Launched our Growing in
Spirit and Commitment Campaign; Replacement of the original boiler.
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