This story has been updated with the Diocese of Gaylord's response regarding St. Wenceslaus and St. Gertrude Catholic churches in Gill’s Pier and Northport being downgraded to limited-use:
“St. Wenceslaus and St. Gertrude have been designated a limited-use church as of July 1, 2026. “Limited use” means the church will not have regular weekend or weekday Masses. However, a limited-use church will celebrate its annual patronal Mass. Upon parishioner request and with the pastor’s discretion, parishioners’ weddings, baptisms, and funerals may also be celebrated there,” The Diocese of Gaylord said.
Several members of the St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church in Gills Pier gathered for a prayer hour as the 140-year-old parish is being downgraded to a limited-use church by the end of June.
“This place is so beautiful. I used to walk here before I was Catholic and go up into the cemetery, and I would always find peace,” parishioner Mary Leon said. “When it turned out that I was diving into the faith, I found that this parish was so welcoming, even though I wasn’t Catholic, they accepted me. This church helped me see the love of Jesus in our daily walk over the years ... I want to see that the light of this church remains lit. The candle over in the front is red, and that signifies the Eucharist ... There’s sadness that this is where we are at as a body of Christ.”
The last full-mass is slated for Sunday, June 28. St. Gertrude in Northport will face fate. Mary joined the parish in 2011 alongside her mother Susann Lederle, who’s been in the church for almost 40 years.
“We’re praying to the Holy Spirit, our Jesus, to keep our church open,” Lederle said. “This is a church of mission. It’s a church founded by farmers who worked hard, and they are the salt of the earth. It would break their hearts if we couldn’t have Mass here.”
For parishioners, although the church isn’t closing, it certainly feels like a divorce in a way.
Updated response:
The decision to designate 20 parishes as limited-use churches in the Diocese of Gaylord was complex, and there was no simple formula applied, according to the diocese.
“July 1, 2026, the Diocese of Gaylord will implement the Pastoral Plan 2026 which includes parish closures, parishes becoming limited-use churches, new parish clusters, revised vicariate boundaries and updated clergy assignments. These changes are being implemented to sustain sacramental life and strengthen the mission of the Church across all 21 counties in Northern Michigan,” The Diocese of Gaylord said in an email. "It required an in-depth analysis of diocesan and parish data—like Mass attendance, finances, geography and projections—combined with the consultative feedback gathered through the vicariate synodal process along with prayer and a vision of faithful stewardship for the gift of the Catholic Church. Currently, official canonical decrees are being written which will include more specific reasons for each parish being designated a limited-use church. Once the decrees are completed, they will be given to the parish for posting and will be on the diocesan website for review."
The Diocese of Gaylord stated that parish data, including mass attendance, finances, geography and projections, "combined with the consultative feedback gathered through the vicariate synodal process, along with the prayer and vision of stewardship for the gift of the Catholic Church."
A limited-use status will still include funerals, baptisms, and weddings, among others.
Many of the parishioners hope that if nothing happens, a group of nuns should reside in the holy place. Also, they would like to see more educational activities done at the church, if possible.
“This church started with families meeting in people’s houses and praying together. Now we are praying for our church to remain through the doors open and not be taken away from us,” parishioner Adam Begley said. “Our ancestors built this place to make this possible not just for them, but for their generations to come.”
St. Mary’s parish will take the lead on activities at St. Wenceslaus.
“The ancestors of this area put their blood, sweat, and tears into this church,” Mary Kolarik said.
At the end of the prayer hour Tuesday, the group ended with this: “Beloved Savior, see how the sins of immorality, crime and hatred are raging on all sides, like an angry sea.’
Do Thou, O Lord, command the winds and send a great calm, giving the world true peace which Thou alone can give.
Grant, by Thy grace, that men may return to a right order of life by a renewal of faith in Thee, and of justice and charity towards one another.
Give light to those who are far from Thee. May they understand that their only hope lies in loving subjection to Thy Holy Name, O Jesus.
Savior of the world, save us, we pray.”
