St. Joseph Catholic Church Trenton

Since its inception, our parish has evolved from a group of staunch settlers, determined to maintain their spiritual growth by trudging to the nearest Catholic Church in Ecorse, to a strong community equally resolute in maintaining its presence in the Trenton community. In the beginning, Masses, baptisms, funerals, and weddings were celebrated in private homes. In 1873, John and Fannie Keith deede

d property to the Diocese of Detroit. Father Debever built a church, allowing the status of community to be elevated to that of a Mission. In 1895, Rev. James Cahalan was appointed as the first resident pastor and the Trenton Mission became St. Joseph Parish. Early 1900 saw men of the parish and newly appointed pastor, Father Command donning overalls and scouring the countryside, gathering, cutting and sizing fieldstone and arranging it into a new parsonage. When the early church building showed many signs of major construction problems, Father Bourke reluctantly set aside his plans for a parish community center, razed the board and batten structure and constructed a Gothic church in 1931. Appropriately, the long-dreamed-of school was dedicated on the Feast Day of St. Joseph, March 19, 1947. By 1999, the growth of our community resulted in "overflowing attendance" at Mass. A major renovation project was undertaken. In order to provide room for the expansion of the church, the rectory was demolished. Elimination of the parking lot provided room for the addition of an activity center to the school. Today, as we continue to grow, we cherish our past, embrace our present status as a vibrant faith community and enthusiastically look forward to our future.