Holy Cross Church, Cross Village, Michigan sent Franciscan Sisters of Christian Charity an invitation to a “Rooted in Faith Celebration of Unity”, December 12, 2025. Why were we invited? In 1897 one of our Sisters, Sister Loyola Gremminger crafted a memorable creche out of a tree stump for the parish. Although Sister served twenty years among the people quite a long time ago, the creche continues to be part of the parish’s Christmas celebration today. The event was certainly one we had all hopes of accepting. Our only sadness as the day neared was our inability to be present because of winter weather conditions.
David Shimmel, who leads on communications for the parish, was kind to share images with us. The original nativity figures for the creche were made of corn husks but were in need of repair after all these years. Once again, one of our Sisters, Archivist Sister Caritas Strodthoff, was in communication with the parish and encouraged them to bring Mary, Joseph, Jesus, etc. to life again. Family members shared the heart-felt mission. The beauty and handiwork of the artisans is priceless. A blessing by the Bishop of the Diocese of Gaylord, Most Reverend Jeffrey Joseph Walsh, made the works of human hands even more precious. Pastor Father Mitchel Roman also helped to lead a procession with drummers to the social hall to celebrate the day. Tribal leaders and members of the parish marked the event together rebuilding a Christmas memory ever so dear. Click here for local television coverage of the event.
Anything else unique about this humble village? In the mid 1600s, the Jesuit Fathers were the first to establish a mission here. The Odawa called it Ahnamiwatigoning or Prayer Place by the Cross and the French called this settlement La Croix or Cross Village. It was later in 1833 that Father Frederic Baraga rebuilt the church burned in a fire that overtook the whole village in 1918. This is considered to be the oldest Christian community in lower Michigan.
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