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Diocese releases These Very Stones Cry Out

November 16, 1999

Just in time for holiday gift-giving, the Diocese of Gaylord has released a book of stories on the history of the diocese. "It's a good coffee table book," said Candace Neff, Director of the Secretariat for Communications. "It's the kind of book you leave out for people to see and that you can pick up at your leisure and read a section or two." "These Very Stones Cry Out" begins with a detailed account of the establishment of the Catholic Church in the area compiled by historian Willard M.J. Baird. Baird's chronological narrative, "From Baltimore to Gaylord" traces the genealogy of the Diocese of Gaylord from 200 years ago when all of the newly independent United States was under the control of Bishop John Carroll of Baltimore, to when the northern Lower Peninsula of Michigan received a diocese of its own in 1971 with Gaylord named as its See. The diocese's development is brought up to the present with chapters on each of the Bishops who have served in Gaylord, Cardinal Edmund Szoka, Bishop Robert Rose and current Bishop Patrick Cooney. The second section of the book features a collection of stories focusing on people, places and institutions that have helped shape the Diocese of Gaylord and the Catholic presence in northern Michigan. Included are biographical accounts of the amazing missionary priests who established the region's first parishes, such as the respected Father Ignatius Mrak, the eccentric Father John Weikamp and, the most renowned of all, Bishop Frederic Baraga. Many of the stories are illustrated with historic photos, such as the history of the Indian River Catholic Shrine which includes a photographic account of the construction and raising of the giant Cross in the Woods. Also included are some of the great stories of the past such as the secret mission of Father Francois Xavier de Charlevoix and the mystery of the missing nun of Isadore. The final section of the book contains historical stories on individual parishes of the Diocese of Gaylord, many recounted by parish members and historians, and again including several interesting photos from the past. The diocese encompasses the 21 most northern counties of Michigan's lower peninsula. The book is available in an 8-1/2 X 11 soft-cover format. The color cover features a photo of stones along a northern Michigan shoreline with the stone cross from top of the church at St. John Nepomucene in Praga (near East Jordan) superimposed on it. Cost for the books is $21.00 plus $1.50 shipping. Checks should be made out to the Diocese of Gaylord and orders may be sent to the Secretariat for Communications, 1665 West M-32, Gaylord, Michigan 49735.