Parish History

St. Jerome’s Parish 1956-2004

 It was Christmas Midnight Mass 1956  that St. Jerome’s officially opened its doors to serve the spiritual needs of Sault Ste. Marie’s East End.  What started out as a parish of 327 Catholic families, St. Jerome’s is now considered one of the largest Catholic parishes in the Diocese of Sault Ste. Marie, serving more than 1,600 families.

In the Beginning

After the 2nd World War, the City of Sault Ste. Marie expanded extensively in every phase of civic and industrial development with. considerable residential growth occurring in that area east of Pine Street.

In order to provide spiritual assistance for the growing number of Catholics in that new section of the city, the late Bishop Dignan established the Parish of St. Jerome’s in 1956. Father John F. Buchheit (now deceased) was appointed the first pastor and was given the responsibility of having a parish church con­structed.

On June 17, 1956, construction began on a basement church and adjoining rectory adjacent to St. Mark’s School on Hugill Street. Work was completed and the church was officially opened with the celebra­tion of Christmas Midnight Mass in 1956.

Parish Continued to Grow

As the number of families in the parish community continued to increase and the number of parochial activities continued to expand, it became evident that new and larger accommodations would be needed. In 1961, A Building Committee was formed with the mandate to (1) consider enlarging the existing church, or (2) to plan for the construction of a larger church building on a new site.

The Committee, headed by the late Fred Mills, and including such active parishioners as Dante Genetti, Walter Lukenda, Sparky Scarfone and Staff Hilt, undertook a detailed study and soon concluded that because of the limited size of the existing church property and the excessive cost of expanding existing facilities, it was desirable to purchase a new site. And so, in 1964 the present property on Carmel Road of about 3.5 acres was purchased and Architect Perry Short was engaged to prepare the plans for a new St. Jerome’s Church and rectory. His directions were to plan a place of worship in order to comply with the liturgical changes recommended by the Council of Vatican II,

The first sod was turned on September 26, 1965 by the late Monsignor J.J. O’Leary, D.P., assisted by the late Very Rev. J.F. Buchheit and assistant pastor Father Frank Folz, and witnessed by the entire Build­ing Committee.

On December 10, 1966, His Excellency the Most Reverend Alexander Carter, D,D., Bishop of the Diocese of Sault Ste. Marie, solemnly blessed and dedicated St. Jerome’s new parish church. A plaque commemorating the event is located at the south entrance of the building. The cornerstone of the original parish church is located in the wall at the north entrance.

The present church has a seating capacity of more than 650 persons. The payment for much of the furnishings and landscaping was made through contributions by parishioners. Through the generous support of its parishioners, St. Jerome’s church, rectory and property have been paid for completely. Less than 10 years after our new church was officially opened in 1966, parishioners joined with their pastor. Father Angelo Santa Maria in an impressive mortgage burning ceremony at a Mass of Thanksgiving celebrated by His Excellency, Most Rev. Bernard Pappin on June20, 1976.

Pastors:         

The Reverend John .Buchheit              1956-1973

The Reverend Angelo Santa Maria      1973-1983

The Reverend James A. Hutton           1983-2000

The Reverend Hamish Currie               2000-

1956—The late Bishop Dignan established the Parish

            of St. Jerome’s. The late Father  

            John F. Buchheit was appointed the first

            pastor, and on June 17, construction

            began on a basement church and adjoining

            rectory. The church was  officially  

            opened with the celebration of Christmas

            Midnight Mass.

1961—Alter a detailed study, a Building Committee

            headed by Fred Mills, and including

            Dante Genetti, Walter Lukenda, Sparky

            Scarfone and Staff Hill!, concluded that it

            was desirable to purchase a new site.

1964—The present property on Carmel

            Road was purchased. Architect Perry Short  

             prepared the plans for a new St. Jerome’s 

             Church and rectory in compliance with

             liturgical changes recommended by the

             Council of Vatican II.

1965—The first sod was turned on Sept. 26 by

            Monsignor J. J. O’Leary. D. P, assisted by

            Very Rev. J. F. Buchheit and assistant pastor

             Father Frank .Folz.

1966—On Dec. 10, His Excellency the Most

            Reverend Alexander Carter, D. D.., Bishop

            of the Diocese of Sault Ste. Marie, blessed

            and dedicated St. Jerome’s new parish

            church.

1976—Less than 10 years later, parishioners joined

            with their pastor, Father Angelo Santa Maria

             in a mortgage burning ceremony at a Mass

             of Thanksgiving celebrated by His 

             Excellency Most Rev. Bernard Pappin on

             June 20, 1976.

1989—On October 1 the first sod was turned  

            for the Rev. John F. Buchheit Memorial

            Hall

1990—Bishop Jean-Lois Plouffe celebrated the 

            opening of the new hall on May 13

2004—Bishop Jean-Lois Plouffe celebrated Mass 

            after which he joined Father Hamish along

            with parishioners in a  mortgage burning

            ceremony at 10:30am on Sunday May 9.