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Fr. Smitting was succeeded by Frs. Albeers and Etschman. Fr. Daems, a Crosier Father from Bay Settlement, was appointed to care for Holy Martyrs parish in 1867. He built the first rectory and furnished it. The first resident pastor, Fr. Van Grootel, was appointed in 1869.

The first settlers in Preble were Flemish Belgians and some Germans. Peter Faenger came to America in 1844 from Rhineland, Germany. Before the township of Preble was organized in 1859, the locality was known as "Faengers." The country road in front of the church and the public grade school were named after Peter Faenger. Our parish is better known to many people as the "Finger Church." In 1883, the present church was built under the direction of a parishioner, John Vander Zanden. The lumber, from the woods of parishioners, and labor were all donated. In 1921, a furnace room was excavated beneath the church and two furnaces installed. In 1925, the church was wired for electric lights. In 1932, the swamp between the church and the park was filled in. On June 5, 1932 the Children's Choir (boys) made their first appearance. In 1940, the church steeple was dismantled and the tower repaired. Also a new furnace was installed and a chimney was built. In 1943, the church was remodeled under the pastorate of Fr. Joseph Jansen. The Parish Hall was built in 1958 and dedicated by Bishop Bona on June 29, 1959. In 1962, Mrs. Roland Dury and her daughters Patricia and Mary Jane donated an automatic Mass-Row Tower Bell System in memory of her husband and parents, Mr. and Mrs. John Verhaagh, pioneer parishioners.

On March 30, 1966 the building of the school began. A convent for eight sisters was also built. The school opened in the Fall of 1967 with grades 1 through 6. Kindergarten was added in 1985, 6th was discontinued in 1988, Pre-school was added in 1989, and all-day kindergarten began in the Fall of 1992.
Fr. Elroy Reimer established the Parish Pastoral Council on March 22, 1970. Under the pastorate of Fr. Reimer, the church was remodeled in 1979. A vestibule was added and the sacristy enlarged. In 1987, the beautiful shrine dedicated to the Holy Family and the Holy Martyrs of Gorcum was built and dedicated under the direction of Steve Havlichek, a 15-year old parishioner. A new electronic organ was installed in 1989, replacing the pipe organ purchased in 1935. An elaborate, attractive parish sign with a message board was erected in 1991. The sign was donated by Kelly Vander Kelen in memory of his wife Marlyn. On June 21, 1992 the parish held a 125th Anniversary parade, imitating the 100th Anniversary Parade held in 1967. The honored King and Queen were the parish' oldest parishioners, Mary Rentmeester (97) and Henry VanderKelen (98).

Parish social events include the annual Picnic held the second Sunday of August each year and the Pork and Beef Dinner sponsored by the Holy Name Society the third Saturday of January. Every November the parish sponsors the Holy Martyrs Auction. Another more spiritual activity of the parish, is the RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults) program to welcome new members into the Catholic Church.