St. Mary Star of the Sea in Jackson, Michigan, is marking its 100‑year anniversary, celebrating a richly diverse parish that has endured labor strikes, KKK hostility, and demographic change while preserving striking architecture, vibrant liturgy, and strong community ties1 2.

Historical Foundations

The present church replaced an earlier building, with its cornerstone laid on 23 September 1923. Construction was delayed by a prolonged limestone‑quarry strike and the social unrest of the 1920s, including a massive 1924 KKK rally of 100,000 people that marched through Jackson. Parish tradition says Knights of Columbus kept vigil to protect the site from vandalism1 2. The church was finally completed on 31 May 1926 at a cost of $375,000, and Auxiliary Bishop Joseph C. Plagens celebrated the dedicatory Mass1 2.

Community and Demographics

Originally serving a strong Polish‑American population, the parish now includes a growing Hispanic community, which accounts for about 25 percent of enrollment at St. Mary School. The parish serves roughly 1,086 families, including the active Sacred Heart of Jesus Hispanic Community. Long‑time parishioner Mary Belknap, a fourth‑generation member, describes the church as a spiritual home that bridges social gaps1 2.

Architecture and Artistic Treasures

The Romanesque‑style edifice rises 180 feet with three spires and is famed for its Innsbruck‑made stained‑glass windows, a World‑War‑I memorial rose window, an apse mosaic of Our Lady Star of the Sea, and murals of the apostles. Carrara‑marble altars and a Communion rail were donated by George Washington Hill of the American Tobacco Co. in memory of his wife, Aquinas Heiler Hill; the altar’s green and red mosaics echo the original Lucky Strike packaging colors1 2. Recent restoration of the stained‑glass windows cost $1 million, funded by parishioners and the Eisele Family Foundation1 2.

Liturgical Life

The parish offers both Ordinary and Traditional Latin Masses each Sunday. The Traditional Latin Mass is accompanied by Gregorian chant and organ, led by student Aine Schroeder, whose Gregorian schola will chant “Ave Maria” and “Salve Regina” at the centennial concert. Pastor Father Timothy Nelson emphasizes that the Latin liturgy “continues to be lived in the present,” echoing Pope Benedict XVI’s view of continuity and renewal1 2.

Centennial Celebrations

The centennial program begins with a concert on 29 May and culminates in a solemn Mass on 31 May—exactly one hundred years after the first Mass—celebrated by Bishop Earl Boyea. Music director Mary Malewitz has organized the concert to feature adult, school, Hispanic choirs, and the Gregorian schola, with congregants joining in favorite hymns between performances1 2.

Leadership Transition

Father Timothy Nelson, age 74, will step down after fifteen years as pastor. A former cardiologist, he will become chaplain at St. Pio Medical Center in Howell, part of a Vatican‑authorized health‑care network. Father John Vinton will succeed him, continuing Traditional Latin and Spanish‑language Masses1 2.