About Diocese of Gaylord
The Diocese of Gaylord (Latin: Dioecesis Gaylordensis) is a Latin Church diocese of the Catholic Church covering the 21 most northern counties of Michigan's Lower Peninsula — a vast, mostly rural region of more than 11,000 square miles that stretches from the Lake Michigan shoreline across northern Michigan to the sunrise side of Lake Huron. Established by Pope Paul VI on December 19, 1970 and canonically erected on July 20, 1971, the diocese is a suffragan of the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Detroit and is pastored by its sixth bishop, Jeffrey J. Walsh. Its seat is St. Mary, Our Lady of Mount Carmel Cathedral in the city of Gaylord, and the diocese today counts 75 parishes, 16 Catholic schools, and roughly 46,000 Catholics among a regional population of about 506,000.
- Bishop
- Jeffrey J. Walsh
- Established
- 1970
- Cathedral
- St. Mary, Our Lady of Mount Carmel Cathedral
- Territory
- 21 most northern counties of Michigan's Lower Peninsula: Charlevoix, Emmet, Cheboygan, Presque Isle, Leelanau, Antrim, Otsego, Montmorency, Alpena, Benzie, Grand Traverse, Kalkaska, Crawford, Oscoda, Alcona, Manistee, Wexford, Missaukee, Roscommon, Ogemaw, and Iosco — covering about 11,171 square miles and including the cities of Gaylord, Traverse City, Alpena, Manistee and Petoskey.
- Parishes
- 75
- Province
- Archdiocese of Detroit (Ecclesiastical Province of Detroit)
Our Diocese — Mission and Identity
The Diocese of Gaylord is one of seven Roman Catholic dioceses in the state of Michigan. Its stated mission is to 'proclaim the saving message of God's love and invite missionary disciples to share that word of hope and charity to a troubled world,' carrying out that mission through parishes, schools, and institutions that celebrate and serve 'especially to the poor and to the people in Northern Michigan and beyond.' Within its 11,171 square miles the diocese counts 75 parishes, 16 Catholic schools, and many closely related institutions, served by clergy, religious sisters and brothers, and laity called through Baptism to be disciples of the Gospel.
- Established by Pope Paul VI on July 20, 1971
- Suffragan of the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Detroit
- Patroness: Our Lady of Mount Carmel
- 75 parishes, 16 Catholic schools, ~46,000 Catholics
- Covers 21 northern counties of Michigan's Lower Peninsula
St. Mary, Our Lady of Mount Carmel Cathedral
St. Mary, Our Lady of Mount Carmel Cathedral, located at 606 N. Ohio Avenue in Gaylord, is the mother church of the diocese. The parish itself was founded in 1881 — a decade before the diocese existed — with a predominantly Polish congregation. A first church was built in 1884; St. Mary's School opened in 1893 under the Dominican Sisters; and a larger brick church, for many years the largest building in the area, was constructed in 1900–01 for about $15,000. When Pope Paul VI created the Diocese of Gaylord in 1970, this Polish-founded parish became the cathedral, and the first bishop, Edmund Szoka, oversaw construction of the present modern cathedral, dedicated June 25, 1976. The old church was sold in 1985 and converted into the Mount Carmel Centre, a performing arts venue.
- Address: 606 N. Ohio Avenue, Gaylord, MI 49735
- Parish office: (989) 732-5448
- Office hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
- Old church (1901) preserved as the Mount Carmel Centre
- Cornerstone of new cathedral laid July 25, 1975; dedicated June 25, 1976
Mass Times and Sacraments at the Cathedral
St. Mary Cathedral publishes its Mass schedule on its WeConnect page and livestreams both the Saturday Vigil and daily Mass on YouTube. The Rosary is prayed half an hour before each Mass.
- Saturday Vigil Mass: 5:00 p.m.
- Sunday Masses: 9:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m.
- Weekday Masses: Mon/Tue/Thu/Fri 7:00 a.m., Wed 5:00 p.m., Sat 8:00 a.m. (Cathedral)
- Rosary: 30 minutes before each Mass
- Daily Mass livestreamed on the St. Mary Cathedral YouTube channel
- Saturday 5 p.m. Mass livestreamed on the Diocese of Gaylord YouTube channel
Bishop Jeffrey J. Walsh — Sixth Bishop of Gaylord
Pope Francis named Reverend Jeffrey J. Walsh, then a priest of the Diocese of Scranton, Pennsylvania, as the sixth bishop of the Diocese of Gaylord on December 21, 2021. He was ordained a bishop and installed at St. Mary Cathedral on March 4, 2022. Born November 29, 1965 in Scranton to Jerome and Nancy (Doud) Walsh, Bishop Walsh is a graduate of Scranton Central High School, the University of Scranton (B.A., Health and Human Resources, 1987), Mount St. Mary's Seminary in Emmitsburg (M.Div.), Creighton University (M.A., Christian Spirituality, 1999), and Marywood University (M.S.W., 2010). He was ordained a priest of Scranton by Bishop James C. Timlin on June 25, 1994, and over 27 years of priestly ministry served as a chaplain to the Deaf Community for 12 years, diocesan vocations director, Episcopal Vicar for the Eastern Pastoral Region, Episcopal Vicar for Clergy, and pastor of Saint Rose of Lima Parish in Carbondale. He records weekly video messages for the diocese to keep the faithful informed of diocesan life and his reflections as bishop.
- Installed March 4, 2022 at St. Mary Cathedral
- Sixth bishop of Gaylord
- Succeeded Bishop Steven J. Raica, who was transferred to Birmingham, Alabama in 2020
- Suffragan See was vacant June 2020–March 2022 under Apostolic Administrator Bishop Walter A. Hurley
- Holds degrees from University of Scranton, Mount St. Mary's Seminary, Creighton, and Marywood
Succession of Bishops (1971–present)
The Diocese of Gaylord has been served by six ordinary bishops since 1971, with one apostolic administrator bridging the most recent vacancy. Two of its bishops have gone on to major archdioceses: Edmund Szoka became Archbishop of Detroit (and later a Cardinal), and Bernard Hebda later became Archbishop of Saint Paul and Minneapolis.
- 1. Edmund Szoka (1971–1981) — first bishop, later Cardinal-Archbishop of Detroit
- 2. Robert John Rose (1981–1989) — later Bishop of Grand Rapids
- 3. Patrick R. Cooney (1989–2012) — died in office
- 4. Bernard Hebda (2009–2013) — later Archbishop of Saint Paul and Minneapolis
- 5. Steven J. Raica (2014–2020) — later Bishop of Birmingham, Alabama
- Apostolic Administrator: Walter A. Hurley (2020–2022)
- 6. Jeffrey J. Walsh (2022–present)
Catholic Schools in the Diocese of Gaylord
The diocesan Office of Catholic Schools oversees 16 Catholic schools serving PreK through 12th grade across the 21-county region. The Catholic Schools are 'inspired by the life of Jesus Christ and rooted in the Catholic faith' and 'foster Christian discipleship, academic excellence, self-responsibility and service to others.' Tuition-assistance and scholarship programs are coordinated by each school with its associated parishes; the diocesan office can be reached at (989) 705-3509 or [email protected].
- All Saints Catholic School, Alpena (PreK–8)
- St. Ann School, Cadillac (PreK–6)
- St. Mary School, Charlevoix (PreK–8)
- Bishop Baraga Catholic School, Cheboygan (PreK–7)
- Holy Family School, East Tawas (PreK–6)
- St. Mary Cathedral School, Gaylord (PreK–12) — only PreK–12 school in the diocese
- St. Mary-Hannah School, Kingsley (PreK–8)
- St. Mary School, Lake Leelanau (PreK–12)
- St. Francis Xavier School, Petoskey (PreK–8)
- Our Lady of the Lake, Prudenville (PreK–8)
- St. Ignatius Catholic School, Rogers City (PreK–8)
- Immaculate Conception Elementary, Traverse City (PreK–5)
- St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, Traverse City (6–8)
- St. Francis High School, Traverse City (9–12)
- St. Francis Preschool, Traverse City
- St. Joseph School, West Branch (PreK–8)
Offices and Ministries
Under the direction of the bishop, diocesan secretariats and offices assist him in spreading the Gospel and serving the people of northern Michigan. The 'Our Diocese' menu groups these offices into clusters — Bishop's Office, Faith Formation & Evangelization, Worship & Liturgy, Catholic Human Services, Development & Stewardship, the Permanent Diaconate, the Tribunal, and the Northern Michigan Catholic Foundation. A wide range of lay movements and specialized ministries are formally recognized, including Catholic organizations that serve residents regardless of religious affiliation.
- Faith Formation & Evangelization
- Worship & Liturgy
- Catholic Human Services
- Development & Stewardship
- The Permanent Diaconate
- Tribunal (Nullity Petitions, Pre-Marriage Forms, Sanation Petitions)
- Northern Michigan Catholic Foundation / 50th Anniversary Cathedral Renovation / Capital Campaign Development
- Charismatics
- Cursillo
- Ecumenical Commission
- Evangelization
- Gaylord Diocesan Council of Catholic Women (GDCCW)
- Knights of Columbus
- Native American Apostolate
- Propagation of Faith
- Society of St. Vincent de Paul
- Secular Orders and Associations
- Brews with the Bishop (vocations event)
- World Youth Day pilgrimages
Parishes Across the 21 Counties
The diocese's 75 parishes stretch from Beaver Island in Lake Michigan across the northern Lower Peninsula to the Lake Huron shore, including major worship sites in Gaylord, Traverse City, Petoskey, Alpena, Manistee, Cadillac, Cheboygan, Charlevoix, Grayling, Rogers City, and East Tawas, alongside mission parishes in tiny communities such as Peshawbestown, Cross Village, Good Hart, and Metz. Particular shrines and historic missions within the diocesan territory include the Cross in the Woods Catholic Shrine in Indian River, the Holy Childhood of Jesus mission in Harbor Springs (site of the 1829 boarding school), and St. Kateri Tekakwitha Parish in Peshawbestown on the Grand Traverse Reservation.
- Cathedral parish: St. Mary Cathedral, Gaylord
- Major regional parishes: All Saints (Alpena), Immaculate Conception / St. Francis / St. Patrick / Christ the King (Traverse City), St. Francis Xavier (Petoskey), St. Ann (Cadillac), Divine Mercy (Manistee), St. Mary-St. Charles (Cheboygan), St. Mary of the Assumption (Charlevoix)
- Shrines: Cross in the Woods (Indian River); Holy Childhood of Jesus (Harbor Springs); Our Lady of the Woods Shrine (Mio)
- Native American ministry: St. Kateri Tekakwitha (Peshawbestown)
- Island parish: Holy Cross, Beaver Island
Worship, Prayer and Vocations
The Worship & Liturgy office coordinates the spiritual life of the diocese alongside a vocations apostolate that includes the 'Brews with the Bishop' gathering, a 'Pray for Our Seminarians' and 'Pray for Vocations' devotional series, and the 'God Bless America Masses.' Resources for prayer and study — book and video resource lists — are maintained on the diocesan site.
- Daily and Sunday Mass livestreamed from St. Mary Cathedral
- Saturday 5 p.m. Mass livestreamed on the Diocese of Gaylord YouTube channel
- Pray for Vocations / Pray for Our Seminarians / Pray Daily for our Clergy and Religious
- God Bless America Masses
- Brews with the Bishop vocations event
- World Youth Day pilgrimages
Reconciliation with Native Americans
In 2021 the Diocese of Gaylord formally apologized to Native Americans — particularly members of the Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians — who had attended the Holy Childhood Indian Boarding School established in 1829 near Harbor Springs at the request of the Odawa tribe. The diocese continues to minister to Native Catholics through the Native American Apostolate and St. Kateri Tekakwitha Parish in Peshawbestown.
- 1829: Holy Childhood Indian Boarding School founded near Harbor Springs
- 1884: Franciscans reopen the school; School Sisters of Notre Dame take over in 1886
- 2021: Diocesan apology to Native American former students
- Ongoing: Native American Apostolate and St. Kateri Tekakwitha Parish (Peshawbestown)
Contact and Pastoral Center
The Diocesan Pastoral Center is located at 611 W. North Street, Gaylord, MI 49735-8349, across the parking lot from St. Mary Cathedral. The main diocesan phone line is (989) 732-5147 (fax 705-3589). The Cathedral parish office, reached at (989) 732-5448, sits in the same complex and is open Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The diocese can also be visited online at dioceseofgaylord.org and followed via its YouTube channels.
- Diocesan Pastoral Center: 611 W. North St., Gaylord, MI 49735-8349
- Main phone: (989) 732-5147
- Cathedral office: (989) 732-5448
- Website: dioceseofgaylord.org
- English/Spanish website toggle available
