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Home  / News & Publications /  Michigan Catholic News / 2009 /  St. Genevieve celebrates golden anniversary

by Robert Delaney of The Michigan Catholic
Published Augst 21, 2009

Robert Delaney | The Michigan Catholic A beaming Olivia Colborn, 9, meets Archbishop Allen Vigneron after the 50th anniversary Mass at St. Genevieve Church last Sunday.

Livonia - Rita Morin, one of St. Genevieve Parish's founding members, said it was a "fantastic" parish in which to raise her six children, following last Sunday's 50th anniversary Mass.

She said she and her late husband, Ronald, who died in 2007, always liked founding pastor Fr. Ferdinand Wolber. "He was a very good leader and faithful pastor," she said.

And Morin added that Fr. Howard Vogan, the current pastor, is "following in Fr. Wolber's footsteps."

Martha Schultz said doesn't live within the parish boundaries anymore, but still belongs to the parish. "I call it 'our special parish,'" she said.

Miner

Daniel Miner, who will be a sophomore music education major at Michigan State University this fall, said he still takes part in the music ministry at St. Genevieve whenever he is home from school.

The choir performed a setting for the Gloria composed by Miner at last Sunday's Mass.

"I love this parish. It's a very welcoming parish, and it's always good seeing everyone," he said.

Archbishop Allen Vigneron was principal celebrant and homilist for the Mass.

Robert Delaney | The Michigan Catholic Archbishop Allen Vigneron embraces Fr. Howard Vogan, pastor at the conclusion of last Sunday’s 50th anniversary Mass at St. Genevieve Church, Livonia.

Fr. Vogan, pastor since 1998, said the greatest thing about the parish "is the faith life of the people, and how everybody is living out that faith life through their generosity."

"The people pull together beautifully and support the parish and one another," he continued.

Three years ago, St. Genevieve was clustered with nearby St. Maurice Parish, and Fr. Vogan pointed to an article in the parish bulletin that reported that its namesake, St. Genevieve of Paris, was born in St. Maurice Parish in Nanterre, France.

He said the parish elementary school is doing well, with advance registrations for this fall already higher than last year's enrollment.

"I find that phenomenal in these economic circumstances," Fr. Vogan remarked.

St. Genevieve Parish Location: 29015 Jamison, Livonia Phone: (734) 427-5220 Founded: 1959 Families: 1,200 Current pastor: Fr. Howard Vogan Founding pastor: Fr. Ferdinand Wolber Ministries and area involvement: Junior high and high school youth ministries, pre-K-8 parish school, Women's Sodality, funeral luncheon ministry, Ushers' Club, ministry to six nursing homes; food pantry; pro-life group, CYO sports, Cub Scouts. Major project: Campus renewal project, which has already resulted in larger gathering space for the church.