In the 1870's the spiritual leadership of the Catholics in the Portland area was in the care of the Bishop of Detroit. Pastoral assistance was given by priests from the neighboring parishes of Ionia, Miriam and Pewamo. Frs. Grimme, Fenner, Ryan, Holten are notably remembered.
1878 - July 14, Fr. Charles G. Bolte of Ionia was authorized by Bishop Borgess of Detroit to build a church at Portland. In the late 1870's we hear of the Moriartys, the Millers, the Mathews, the Siebels, the Lawlesses, the Mannings, the Sondays, the Kilmartins and others. They were probably some of the original Irish settlers and they named the new church after the great apostle of Ireland. When St. Patrick's was made a mission of St. Johns, Fr. H. C. Koenig came every other Sunday to celebrate Mass and brought many improvements to the newly built church.
1899 - The Catholic community grew steadily with German families moving in from Westphalia. Fr. Mathias Auer succeeded Fr. Koenig and was named the first pastor of St. Patrick's. Fr. Auer made Portland his "home" in life and death. The parishioners, numbering approximately 60 families, built a rectory for him. When he died he was buried in the Portland cemetery. Photo of school and rectory.
1906 - Fr. Auer directed the construction of a new school. Approximately 80 to 90 students were enrolled. The Sisters of St. Joseph came to administer the school system and teach the children. They lived on the second floor of the school. Later, under the direction of Fr. John Koelzer, two homes located in the church block were transformed into a convent. Photo of the school in 1906.
1920 - St. Patrick's Parish soon outgrew its church building. In preparation for a larger one, Fr. Koelzer had the wooden church moved to West and Center Streets and converted it into a parish hall. In 1931 it was destroyed by fire. By 1926 the new church was built in a Gothic-Tudor style according to designs Fr. James O'Rourke had obtained from a rural church in England. Cost for the new church was $80,000. The seating capacity was approximately 550. In 1927 the pipe organ was installed, paid by church organizations at the cost of $3500. Light fixtures, altar canopy and pulpit were made of wrought iron by Fred Russman, Sr., a local blacksmith. In 1928 a bell was purchased for the new church and was dedicated in memory of Fr. H. Koenig and other founders of the Catholic community. Such names as Rose and Mary Manning, Jerry Moriarity, and Nick Lawless together with that of Fr. Koenig are inscribed on the bell. It has been preserved and is on display in the vestibule of the church. Photo of the wooden church in the 1920's.
1937 - During the pastorate of Fr. Joseph M. Rochford, St. Patrick Parish was assigned to the jurisdiction of the bishop of Lansing and in 1938 when Fr. Joseph Kohler was pastor it became part of the Diocese of Grand Rapids and remains in that diocese. Photo of the church in the 1930's.
1947 - Pastor Louis Flohe purchased property on the west side of West Street and made temporary classrooms out of two barracks. In 1951 Fr. Flohe tore down the old school and built a larger one. In 1961 he completed it with an addition and the school expanded to what it is today, kindergarten through twelfth grades. The temporary classrooms were joined together along Center Street and transformed into a convent. The old convent was demolished to make room for the church parking lot. Fr. Flohe, for all of his work, was rewarded with the title of "Monsignor." In 1946 Fr. Flohe has also purchased land from Ionia County for an athletic field on Grand River Avenue and Union Street. In 1971 the Estate of Msgr. Flohe's brother, Bert, donated $2500 to improve the field. The Knights of Columbus were instrumental in doing this work. They built the pavilion on Grove Street, now known as K of C Park, while the athletic field is now called the Fr. Flohe Field
1972 - A new rectory was constructed by Fr. Joseph Matewitz on the corner of Church and Center Streets. The old rectory on Grand River Avenue was demolished to make room for a shrine to our patron saint, St. Patrick. In 1976 under the administration of Fr. Donald Weber the sanctuary of the church was remodeled to meet the standards established by Vatican 11. In 1988, Fr. Richard VanLente started the Fr. Flohe Foundation to fund the educational programs of the parish and ensure continuity to its school.
1990 - Fr. Julian Reginato initiated a much needed renovation program of all buildings and grounds in preparation for our first centennial. Additional properties were purchased for future expansion. The convent became identified as the "Annex" and used as a center for out newly formed religious education program designed to administer all religious educational needs of parishioners, both youth and adult. Fr. Charles Hall assumed the responsibilities of pastor in late June 1997 and ensured the completion of the renovation of the interior of the church in September 1997. Photo of current church.
As of the parish centennial in 1999, the parishioners exceeded 1200 families and the school had nearly 500 students. St. Patrick's gave to the church priests and nuns, namely: Msgr. Herman Zerfas, Frs. Jacob Gensterblum, Larry Hartwig, Michael Fedewa, Dan Cook, and John Vallier. The most recent is Carl Pung who was ordained to the priesthood in 1997. Through the years, several young ladies joined the Sisters of St. Joseph and other religious congregations and served as teachers, nurses, and social workers.
