Then David the king stood up upon his feet, and said, Hear me, my brethren, and my people: as for me, it was in my heart to build a house of rest for the ark of the covenant of Jehovah, and for the footstool of our God; and I had made ready for the building. 1Chronicles 28:2 American Standard Version (ASV)

St Mary Catholic Church and School has been a part of Lake Leelanau before the village was called Lake leelanau. The former name of this community was the Village of Provement.

Blessed Virgin Mary Statue from the 1864 Church

In the summer of 1864, at the suggestion of Father Ignatius Mrak, the people at the Narrows built a log church on a ten-acre lot donated by Mr. & Mrs. Cornelius Jones five years earlier for a church and school.

During the October dedication ceremony, Bishop Frederick Baraga and Father Mrak announced the name they chose for the new church – St. Peter and Paul.

At this, Mrs. Jacob Schaub told them about a promise made earlier that summer.  She and her family had made a barrel of maple syrup, which she took to Buffalo, New York to sell in order to buy furnishings for the church, among them this statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

A violent storm came up on Lake Erie on her way home, and the boat was in danger of sinking.  She, the passengers and crew prayed before the statue for their survival.  She also promised to do all in her power to have the new church dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary.  The storm subsided.

Bishop Baraga therefore named the church

St. Mary of the Assumption.

The church was dedicated on October 30, 1864.

In September 2012, Bishop Hebda re-dedicated our St Mary of the Assumption School after 125 years of Catholic education on Leelanau peninsula. We continue to thrive and have added the Guardian Angels Pre-School to complete the Pre K- 12th Grade curriculum.