Saint Joseph Church and Shrine

Saint Joseph Church features a cruciform structure built with fieldstone walls, a hip roof, and a square bell tower topped with red ceramic tiles.

Irish settlers founded this missionary church in 1854, with construction continuing until 1862, resulting in an initial simple fieldstone structure without decorations.

The church grounds include fourteen outdoor stations of the cross, installed in 1932, depicting scenes of Jesus's path to Calvary along a dedicated footpath.

The church property, located at 8742 U.S. Route 12 in the Irish Hills region, maintains an active Catholic congregation and includes a cemetery from the 1850s.

Hispanic architects Leo Ouelette, Dionicio Rodriguez, and Ralph Corona designed the shrine in 1932 with elements that replicate natural stone and timber textures.

Location: Michigan

Architectural style: Spanish Colonial Revival architecture, Mediterranean Revival architecture

GPS coordinates: 42.05667,-84.16417

Latest update: March 7, 2025 03:29