In July 2023, the Diocese of Gaylord published The Students of Holy Childhood School – Harbor Springs, Michigan, 1885 – 1988. In 340 pages, the book chronicles the names of the students who attended Holy Childhood of Jesus School, including its predecessor St. Peter School, explains diocesan Chancellor Julie Erhardt.
“Most of the children who attended these schools were Native American or of Native American descent,” says Julie. “Some students were day scholars, while the other children were boarding students.”
Behind Each Name
“Through this book, Bishop Walsh wanted to bring to life the students of Holy Childhood and St. Peter schools by acknowledging each child by name, whether they are living or deceased. The stories of the school’s 113-year history are testaments to faith, courage, sacrifice, hurt and healing,” Julie continues.
“Bishop Walsh dedicated the book to ‘Each Child Who Attended the Catholic School in the Area of Northern Michigan Known as L’Arbre Croche’ with the words: ‘God remembers each one of you always, and in him so do we. May you find a measure of his comfort, whether large or small, from this book.’”
“Bishop Walsh gave a book to seven Native American tribes of greater Northern Michigan so that the tribes and the tribal members can come to know, and acknowledge with their customs and rituals, the former students at the school,” shares Julie.
“Bishop Walsh’s offerings brought a degree of peace, and we are grateful for his efforts,” reflects Nola Parkey, who serves as executive director for the Burt Lake Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians.
Origin of Book
Upon Bishop Jeffrey Walsh’s arrival in March 2022, he reached out to the faithful of his diocese to assess their spiritual needs. It was then that he learned of the tribes’ desire to have a publication remembering the names of students that attended the school.
“Members of the diocesan clergy and staff prepared this book by deriving its information from the rosters and records of the Holy Childhood School held by the Diocese of Gaylord in its archives. The staff were able to reproduce original rosters — written in longhand until 1945 — from nearly 100 of the school years,” she reflects.
The oldest record indicated the names of the students who attended the predecessor St. Peter school in the 1829-1830 school year. Over the next 10 years, responsibility for St. Peter’s was in the hands of religious order and missionary priests, including Father — now Venerable Bishop — Frederic Baraga.
After Father Baraga left in 1839, St. Peter School closed. In the 1850s, the church was re-dedicated and re-named Holy Childhood of Jesus. The school reopened in 1885 as Holy Childhood of Jesus School and stayed open until 1988.
Today, Gaylord has an apostolate for Native American ministry, which is led by Sister Susan Gardner, who says: “The book is a step in our outreach to the Native Americans of the diocese. I am always open to meeting with those who want to share their stories and move into the next steps for the people.”
