About Ave Maria Parish - St. Denis · Lexington, Michigan
Ave Maria Parish in Lexington, Michigan, is a merged Catholic community formed on July 1, 2013, by combining St. Denis in Lexington, St. Mary in Port Sanilac, and St. Patrick in Croswell. It serves Sanilac County with two worship centers and emphasizes growth in holiness through prayer, sacraments, and faith formation. The parish welcomes all to its Christian family and is led by a Pastoral Administrator and a Sacramental Priest, with a mission rooted in the legacy of its three founding parishes.
- Established
- 2013
- Patron
- Mary, Mother of God
- Rector
- Sister Maria Inviolata (Pastoral Administrator)
- Diocese
- Diocese of Saginaw
Why belong here
Join a welcoming Catholic community that values prayer, sacraments, and faith formation. Participate in ministries that serve neighbors and grow in holiness. Experience the legacy of three historic parishes united under one mission to proclaim Christ’s love. You’ll find fellowship, service, and spiritual growth in a parish that embraces all as part of its Christian family.
Mass times at Ave Maria Parish - St. Denis
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- 9:15 am - 10 am on Thursday (St. Mary) and Friday (St. Denis) before Mass
- 3:00 pm at St. Denis in Lexington every Saturday
- By appointment
Adoration times
- Sunday, Tuesday - Friday at St. Mary's in Port Sanilac 4:30 pm - 5:30 pm
- No Adoration on Saturdays or Mondays
History
Ave Maria Parish was formed on July 1, 2013, by merging St. Denis in Lexington, St. Mary in Port Sanilac, and St. Patrick in Croswell, following a two-year study by the Saginaw Diocese to address declining attendance and priest shortages. The merger retained the names of the original churches as worship centers, while the parishes themselves ceased to exist. The parish was established to foster unity and growth, with Sister Maria Inviolata as the first Pastoral Administrator and Father Don Eppenbrock as the Sacramental Priest. Each original parish has its own historical roots dating back to the 19th century, with St. Denis founded in 1882, St. Mary in 1945, and St. Patrick in 1891.