St Joan of Arc was founded in 1927. The first parish Mass was said by Father Joseph Fillion on December 8, 1927 in the "Newberry Stores."

In 1929 a small school building, the Wheat School, was moved from Harper and Eleven Mile to house the new family of God in worship. The first parish church on the parish grounds.

In 1938, St. Joan of Arc's second pastor had been appointed -- Father Clarence Doherty -- who shepherded the flock through the difficult war years.

Father C. Jordan was appointed St. Joan of Arc's third pastor in 1944.

A twelve-room school was constructed in 1945 to accommodate 500 children.

In the fall of 1947, twelve Sisters of St. Joseph of Nazareth put the school into full operation.

In 1951 the first section of a permanent convent was completed and also in September of 1951 Notre Dame High School for boys was established in cooperation with neighboring parishes.

The parish celebrated its twenty-fifth birthday in 1953. The combination Church-auditorium was blessed by Cardinal Mooney on this occasion.

In 1955, St. Lucy's mission was built. Also this year Regina High School for girls was planned and built.

In September of 1956, Father Jordan announced plans for an addition to the convent.

In 1959, the grade school was completed and twenty-three Sisters were on the staff.

On February 23, 1964, Father Jordan, his assistants, heads of parish organizations and a sizeable crowd witnessed the ground breaking ceremonies for a permanent church.

On May 28, 1964, the cornerstone was laid for the church. On August 26, 1965, Archbishop John Dearden dedicated the new Church and celebrated the first mass in it. Even though it was a Thursday, more than 2,000 parishioners crowded into the Church for the ceremony.

Called "one of the largest and most unusual churches in the Detroit Archdiocese" by the Detroit News, it was a $1 million structure that was completely paid for by the 3,100 families in St. Joan's Parish.

The Church's 12 sides represented the apostles and the dome suggested Christ's Crown of Thorns. Entrance of the faithful into membership in the church was symbolized by the beautiful, hexagon-shaped baptistry at the front entrance.

Dominating the sanctuary was a 25-by-35 foot Florentine mosaic depicting events in the short life of St. Joan of Arc. The figure of St. Joan is 16 feet high. The new Church blended the new liturgical changes recommended by the Church with vestiges of the past, such as the reredos or mosaic behind the altar. The Church's nave has walls of Roman Travertine marble, accented by a walnut-faced light gallery and balcony. Music was provided by a new $60,000 handcrafted pipe organ.