About Christ the Good Shepherd · Saginaw, Michigan
Christ the Good Shepherd Parish is a Roman Catholic community in the city of Saginaw, Michigan, served by the Diocese of Saginaw. The parish was formed in 2014 through the merger of two historic Saginaw congregations: St. Andrew Church (founded in 1852 as the oldest Catholic parish in the city) and St. Helen Church (founded in 1950). The parish is now primarily housed on the St. Helen campus at 2445 North Charles Street, with St. Andrew Church at 612 N. Michigan Avenue continuing as part of the combined community. The parish mission statement reads: 'We the faithful disciples of Christ the Good Shepherd Parish, having freely responded to God's call, dedicate ourselves to know, love and serve as Jesus did.'
- Established
- 2014
- Patron
- Christ the Good Shepherd (Jesus, the Good Shepherd)
- Rector
- Rev. Christopher M. Coman
- Diocese
- Diocese of Saginaw (Vicariate 3)
Why belong here
Christ the Good Shepherd offers a close-knit Catholic community in the heart of Saginaw with daily and weekend Mass, weekly Eucharistic Adoration, and a regular schedule of Confession. Parishioners are ministered to by a long-tenured pastor and deacon supported by a pastoral minister, lay ministers, a music director, and a welcoming office staff. Worship continues in two historic church buildings — the 1963 St. Helen Church and the 1865-era St. Andrew Church — both rooted in more than 160 years of Catholic life on Saginaw's north side, and the parish offers online giving, a parish bulletin, and active social media to keep members connected.
Mass times at Christ the Good Shepherd
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 3:00 PM – 3:45 PM (St. Helen Church)
- Wednesday 7:00 PM – 8:30 PM (St. Helen Church)
Adoration times
- Wednesday 7:00 PM – 8:30 PM (St. Helen Church)
Parish Identity & Mission
Christ the Good Shepherd Parish is the unified Catholic community formed in 2014 from the merger of St. Andrew and St. Helen parishes in Saginaw, Michigan. Its mission statement, displayed prominently on the parish website, reads: 'We the faithful disciples of Christ the Good Shepherd Parish, having freely responded to God's call, dedicate ourselves to know, love and serve as Jesus did.' The parish is a member of Vicariate 3 of the Diocese of Saginaw and serves the north side of Saginaw from its principal campus at 2445 N. Charles Street.
- Parish name: Christ the Good Shepherd
- Formed: 2014
- Diocese: Saginaw, Vicariate 3
- Mission: to know, love and serve as Jesus did
History
The parish is the product of a 2014 diocesan merger of two of Saginaw's oldest Catholic communities. St. Andrew Parish, founded in 1852 by about 20 Catholic families, is the oldest Catholic parish in the city. Its current church on N. Michigan Avenue was rebuilt in 1865 under Fr. Reinerus Van der Heyden, who also founded St. Mary's in East Saginaw and St. Andrew's Academy. St. Helen Parish was carved out of St. Andrew's territory in 1950 by Bishop Stephen Woznicki to relieve overcrowding; the Rev. Ralph Richards served as founding pastor until 1970. St. Helen's original building opened in 1952 and the present church was dedicated in 1963.
- St. Andrew founded 1852 (oldest Catholic parish in Saginaw)
- St. Helen founded 1950 as a 'daughter parish' of St. Andrew
- St. Andrew Church rebuilt 1865 under Fr. Van der Heyden
- St. Helen initial building 1952; current church dedicated 1963
- Founding St. Helen pastor Fr. Ralph Richards served 1950–1970
- Merger into Christ the Good Shepherd: 2014
Worship Sites
The combined parish worships at two historic church buildings on Saginaw's north side. The principal site is St. Helen Church at 2445 N. Charles Street, home to the parish office, the regular Mass and Confession schedule, and the weekly Eucharistic Adoration. The companion St. Andrew Church at 612 N. Michigan Avenue remains part of the parish and houses the oldest continuous Catholic presence in the city.
- St. Helen Church — 2445 N. Charles St., Saginaw (primary worship site and parish office)
- St. Andrew Church — 612 N. Michigan Ave., Saginaw (historic 1865 building)
- St. Helen architecture: Joseph Goddeyne design, dedicated 1963
- St. Andrew architecture: Greek Doric portico with neo-Gothic tower and pointed windows
Parish Staff & Leadership
Christ the Good Shepherd is led by a pastor and deacon supported by a pastoral minister, music director, lay ministers, office staff, and volunteers. The full staff is listed on both the parish website and the Diocese of Saginaw's parish directory page.
- Rev. Christopher M. Coman — Pastor ([email protected])
- Deacon Dale Sisson — Deacon / Director of Maintenance ([email protected])
- Tori Little — Pastoral Minister ([email protected])
- Dave Hammond — Director of Music ([email protected])
- Cindy Sisson — Lay Minister
- Carolyn Kusowski — Lay Minister
- Lucia Kusowski — Office Manager ([email protected])
- Jenelle Watrous — Bookkeeper ([email protected])
- Nancy Baird — Office Volunteer
- Grace Newvine — Office Volunteer
- Pete Adelman — Maintenance / Custodian
Ministries & Parish Life
Parish life at Christ the Good Shepherd is supported by a Music Ministry led by a full director, a Pastoral Minister who coordinates faith-life programming, lay ministers who assist with liturgical and pastoral needs, and a corps of office volunteers. The parish also runs a modern online giving program (with QR-code access) and publishes weekly resources for parishioners through its website, the Diocese of Saginaw directory, and social media.
- Music Ministry
- Pastoral Ministry
- Lay Ministry
- Office Volunteers
- Online Giving (QR code access)
- Parish bulletin and email notifications
Sacraments
The parish celebrates the central sacraments of Catholic life on a regular schedule. The Mass schedule, Confession times, and Eucharistic Adoration hours are all posted on the parish website and the diocesan parish page.
- Sunday and weekday Mass (see Mass Schedule)
- Confession / Penance: Saturday 3:00–3:45 PM; Wednesday 7:00–8:30 PM
- Eucharistic Adoration: Wednesday 7:00–8:30 PM
Contact, Office & Visiting
The parish office is open Tuesday through Thursday from 8:00 AM to 3:00 PM, with phone coverage Monday through Thursday 8:00 AM to 3:00 PM. Visitors and parishioners can also reach the parish by email or fax, give online, and follow the parish on social media for news and updates.
- Address: 2445 N. Charles Street, Saginaw, MI 48602
- Phone: (989) 793-0618
- Fax: (989) 793-5487
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: www.saginawCTGS.org
- Office hours: Tuesday–Thursday 8:00 AM–3:00 PM
- Phone hours: Monday–Thursday 8:00 AM–3:00 PM
Notable Heritage
Christ the Good Shepherd carries forward more than 160 years of continuous Catholic worship on Saginaw's north side. Its predecessor St. Andrew Parish is the oldest Catholic parish in the city, and St. Helen's mid-century founding story — complete with Masses held at the Daniel Theater while the new church was being built — is a beloved part of parish lore. The original St. Helen campus was designed by Saginaw architect Joseph Goddeyne, and the 1865 St. Andrew Church is an architecturally eclectic landmark combining Greek Revival and Gothic Revival elements.
- St. Andrew: oldest Catholic parish in Saginaw (founded 1852)
- St. Helen founded 1950 by Bishop Woznicki; first pastor Fr. Ralph Richards
- St. Helen School closed 2010; former school now leased to Education and Training Connection
- St. Helen's initial buildings designed by Joseph Goddeyne
- St. Andrew's eclectic Greek Doric / neo-Gothic architecture
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Ralph Richards1950–1970
Founding pastor of St. Helen Parish, appointed by Bishop Woznicki in 1950. Went door-to-door to enroll Catholic families in the new parish. Served until 1970 and is remembered as the dynamic figure who gave St. Helen its identity.