A BRIEF HISTORY

The Catholic Diocese of Saginaw was established on February 26, 1938 by Pope Pius XI. Its territory included 16 counties, carved out the Diocese of Grand Rapids and the Archdiocese of Detroit, in Michigan's "thumb and index finger." Msgr. William F. Murphy, pastor of St. David Parish in Detroit was selected by the pontiff to be the first bishop of Saginaw and the city's St. Mary Parish was designated as the diocesan cathedral.

As the first leader of the diocese, Bishop Murphy (1938 - 1950) organized many efforts to care for the region’s poor, including a strong Catholic Charities organization, which continues today as Catholic Family Service; the League of Catholic Women, a driving force behind the Catholic Social Welfare of the underprivileged; and the Mexican Apostolate, now the Office of Hispanic Ministries, to assist with caring for the spiritual needs of migrant workers.

His successor, Bishop Stephen S. Woznicki (1950 - 1968), led a golden era of growth for the diocese. He established 21 new parishes and missions and built the diocese its own seminary, St. Paul Seminary in Saginaw, which today houses Nouvel Catholic Central High School and the main diocesan offices.

Saginaw’s third leader, Bishop Francis F. Reh (1968 - 1980), became the region’s implementer of the Vatican II reforms. He also established the diocese’s lay formation program, which was unique at that time in the United States.

In 1971, the establishment of the Diocese of Gaylord in northern Michigan shifted Saginaw’s territory to the 11 counties that remian to this day: Arenac, Bay, Clare, Gladwin, Gratiot, Isabella, Huron, Midland, Saginaw, Sanilac and Tuscola.

Bishop Kenneth E. Untener (1980 - 2004) took the mid-Michigan diocese global with his legacy of "Little Books" of prayer for the seasons of Lent, Easter and Advent/Christmas. More than 3 million copies were sold worldwide in 2007 alone, with books making their way into the hands of Catholics as far away as Australia.

Bishop Robert J. Carlson was installed as fifth ordinary of the diocese in February 2005.