In 1763, the Michigan area became part of the British Province of Quebec, forbidden from settlement by American colonists.

In 1808, Pope Pius VII erected the Diocese of Bardstown in Kentucky, with jurisdiction over the new Michigan Territory.

[2] Pope Gregory XVI formed the Diocese of Detroit on March 8, 1833, covering the entire Michigan Territory.

As bishop of Gaylord, Szoka improved the annulment consideration process, drawing from his experience in the matrimonial tribunal in Marquette.

John Paul II replaced him with Auxiliary Bishop Patrick R. Cooney of the Archdiocese of Detroit later that year.

[6] After the Detroit Free Press reported on the situation in 2003, Cooney said that Shirilla had made "some errors in judgment" but was "no threat to the well-being of our children."

His accuser was another priest who claimed that Obwaka assaulted him at the rectory of St. Ignatius Parish in Rogers City.

[7] Reverend Bryan Medlin in June 2022 was indefinitely suspended from ministry after sending inappropriate text messages to high school students.