Catholic Information Center

The center was formed in Grand Rapids in 1948 when Bishop Francis J. Haas invited the Paulist fathers to open a downtown information center and chapel.

The Village of Kent. I have colored in blue the river and the canal and the approximate location of the two CIC buildings in red.
 

The Paulist fathers began in July of 1858 when four former Redemptorist  missionaries formed a new religious movement around the vision of Fr. Isaac Thomas Hecker. They were all converts and wanted to reach out to Americans in English  but were not supported by the American bishops. So they went to Rome and received permission to start a new order of priests unique to the needs of North America. The Redemptorists are at  St Alphonsus and the Paulists are at  St Andrews Cathedral.

^CCIC

It's first location in 1947 at 329 Monroe Avenue NW,
formerly Jack's Cut Rate men's and boy's clothing store.

^CCIC

I'm not sure if this interior picture is from Monroe Ave or Ionia Ave. I'll have to ask Fr. Kenny.
Fr. Kenny said this is the interior of Monroe Avenue.

There were no assessor records found for this building.

^{Sanborn Fire Insurance Map 1953}

"The entrance to the center was located on Monroe Avenue. Immediately inside was a reading room and reception area.
 In the back of the reading room was a lecture room and two offices for private consultation and individual instruction by the priests. Behind this area were stairs leading to the second floor". ^CCIC

In 1951 the main floor of the center was remodeled and and partitioned into additional private offices and a separate reception area. Another renovation to enlarge the center began in February 1953. The Diocesan offices moved out of the building and the Center's office space was again enlarged. Living quarters for the priests were also enlarged to enable a third Paulist to join the staff.

I don't remember this building at all. See why at   personal

The original chapel and center were demolished during Urban Renewal in 1964. They were  displaced by the new police department? I worked in that new police department building -  personal

There were no assessor records found for this building but there was for the building next door at 236 Ionia which photo includes the buildings converted into the CIC. It specifies the lot as W 1/2 of lots 112 & 113 Kent plat. 

 Two garages were obtained at 246 Ionia Ave NW and remodeled into a new center and chapel. Real estate cards form 1959 state that three buildings were converted to one parking garage, interconnected on all floors. Tar and gravel roof (which leaked according to Fr. Kenny). 234-246 Ionia Ave NW . Ramp to 2nd floor, built of brick. Basement under middle building. . Lots 112, 113, 126 of Kent Plat 85 x 134. Many possibilities for conversion to other uses. This real estate card shows all three buildings in 1959 but I believe only the two buildings on the left became the CIC. Maybe these buildings went all the way to Division.

  ^{real estate card    real estate card}

Ionia Ave NW                                Crescent St NW

^CCIC

It's second location on Ionia Ave NW

 Fr. Kenny also said the exterior shown in the middle photo
was made out of plywood (or something like it, I forgot exactly what he said) and when it got wet it fell off. So it was replaced by a brick front under his watch. He also said he had a little room on the second floor and the roof leaked.

^{Sanborn Fire Insurance Map 1953}

With the expansion of Butterworth Hospital, the Paulist fathers needed to find a new home. Bishop Hurley offered them the rectory now called Hecker House for St. Andrews Cathedral in return for their acceptance of parish duties and new offices/classrooms in the new Diocese Center. Although there are assessor records for Hecker House, there are none for the diocese center.

Father John Kenny was the director from 1970 to 1978. He was re-assigned to West Virginia but now he's back. And he is so amazed at their wonderful new quarters. He lived upstairs on Ionia Avenue. Now at the age of 80 he has his own private bathroom and the roof doesn't leak!

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Last modified: 08/05/11