About Christ the Redeemer · Lake Orion, Michigan
Christ the Redeemer is a Roman Catholic parish located at 2700 Waldon Road in Lake Orion, Michigan, serving the northern Oakland County community within the Archdiocese of Detroit. The parish worships under the patron title 'Christ the Redeemer' and today shares ministry with St. Joseph Parish in Lake Orion as part of the Bald Mountain Family of Parishes. Its mission statement on the website reads 'Sharing in the mission of Jesus to proclaim the Kingdom of God,' and the parish offers a bilingual welcome in English and Spanish (Bienvenidos a la Iglesia Católica Cristo el Redentor). Weekend Masses are celebrated Saturday evening and twice on Sunday morning, with weekday Masses on Tuesday evening and Thursday morning.
- Established
- 1977
- Patron
- Christ the Redeemer
- Rector
- Rev. Dr. William (Bill) Promesso
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Detroit
Why belong here
Christ the Redeemer offers a welcoming bilingual Catholic community in northern Oakland County, with Masses celebrated every weekend and on Tuesday evenings and Thursday mornings, plus a live-streamed Saturday vigil Mass for the homebound. The parish shares priests with St. Joseph as part of the Bald Mountain Family of Parishes, giving worshippers the wider fellowship of two congregations while keeping Christ the Redeemer's own identity. Outreach such as the parish-built Habitat for Humanity house, ministry groups, faith formation programs, and a pastoral staff that openly welcomes returning Catholics make it a place where new members and longtime faithful alike can put down roots.
Mass times at Christ the Redeemer
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 4:00 PM (before the 5:00 PM Mass)
- Weekdays by appointment
Welcome & Identity
Christ the Redeemer's homepage declares its mission as 'Sharing in the mission of Jesus to proclaim the Kingdom of God,' and its welcome page extends greetings in both English and Spanish. The parish describes itself as 'a community of faith, prayer, and love leaning into the Gospel of Christ and humbly making it known in our families and surrounding community.' It explicitly welcomes returning Catholics and offers personal conversations with staff or the pastor.
- Mission: Sharing in the mission of Jesus to proclaim the Kingdom of God
- Bilingual welcome in English and Spanish
- Returning Catholics pastoral outreach
- Fr. Bill's video updates linked from the welcome page
Our History
The parish history page traces Christ the Redeemer from a 1977 Mass station at the Lake Orion Junior High West School cafeteria, through its establishment as a Parish in Formation in 1980 under Father Frank Pollie, to permanent parish status granted on February 4, 1989, with Father Rick Macey as pastor. Father Macey delivered the famous 'Life Station Parable' at the dedication. The community moved into its current Waldon Road building in 2000 and in 2020 welcomed Father William Promesso as the new pastor after Father Joe Dailey's 31-year tenure.
- April 1977 — Mass station founded at Lake Orion Junior High West School
- July 1980 — Parish in Formation established; Fr. Frank Pollie appointed
- December 1983 — Proper School building on Baldwin Rd. purchased
- February 4, 1989 — Permanent parish status granted; Fr. Rick Macey appointed Pastor
- April 1989 — Gingell Family House donated for parish residence
- July 1989 — Fr. Joe Dailey appointed full-time pastor
- December 1996 — Habitat for Humanity house built by the parish
- August 30, 1998 — Groundbreaking at the new site
- October 21, 2000 — New building dedicated
- November 26, 2000 — Moved into the new home
- June 30, 2020 — Fr. Joe Dailey assumed Senior Priest status after 31 years
- July 2020 — Fr. William (Bill) Promesso becomes pastor
Bald Mountain Family of Parishes
Christ the Redeemer and St. Joseph in Lake Orion form the Bald Mountain Family of Parishes, sharing pastoral ministry under a covenant (a joint operating agreement). The two Priests in Solidum are Fr. Jim Kean (Moderator, at St. Joseph) and Fr. Bill Promesso (at Christ the Redeemer). Together the family offers a fuller daily Mass schedule and combined parish resources.
- Christ the Redeemer — 2700 Waldon Rd., Lake Orion (Fr. Bill Promesso)
- St. Joseph — 715 N. Lapeer Rd., Lake Orion (Fr. Jim Kean, Moderator)
- Shared covenant for daily Mass coverage
- Combined weekend Mass options across the two parishes
Staff & Office
The parish staff is listed on the Contact page of the website and includes pastoral and administrative roles for Christ the Redeemer. Office hours are Monday through Thursday 9 AM–5 PM and Friday 9 AM–12 noon.
- Rev. Dr. William Promesso — Pastor
- Sidney Johnson — staff
- Mari Reyes — staff
- Drew Peters — staff
- Karen Swietlik — staff
- Lynn Carr — staff
- Paula Klozik — staff
- Suzy Rhadigan — staff
- Carolina Castillo — staff
- Iliana Sosa — staff
- Claudia Enriquez — staff
- Judith Manza — staff
- Carol Schenten — staff
- Dawn Cejka — staff
- Carol Daprai — staff
- Ava Iulianelli — staff
- Kayla Corrion — staff
- Chris Nelson — staff
- Jim Hege — staff
- Office hours: Mon–Thu 9–5, Fri 9–12
Visiting & Getting Involved
The 'I'm New Here' page answers practical questions for first-time visitors, from what to wear to where children go. Visitors are welcomed casually, the Saturday 4:00 PM reconciliation is highlighted, and the page notes that those not receiving Communion are welcome to come forward for a blessing with arms crossed over the heart. Children under four may be taken to the Childcare Room in the Education Wing during the 11:00 AM Mass when volunteers are available.
- Casual dress welcomed; modest, conservative clothing requested
- Children under 4 — Childcare Room in Education Wing at 11:00 AM Mass
- Non-Catholics invited to come forward for a blessing
- Giving options: collection, online giving, and text-to-give
Sacraments & Returning Catholics
Christ the Redeemer offers the usual parish sacraments — Eucharist, Reconciliation, and Anointing of the Sick (offered at the 1st Thursday Mass) — and welcomes those who wish to complete sacraments they may have missed. The parish specifically reaches out to returning Catholics who may have drifted away, offering pastoral conversations with staff or the pastor and inviting those married outside the Church to consider having their marriage convalidated.
- Sacrament of the Sick at the 1st Thursday Mass
- Reconciliation Saturday 4:00 PM and by appointment
- Marriage convalidation for those married outside the Church
- Catch-up sacraments for children and adults
- Pastoral appointments via the parish office at 248-391-1621
Outreach & Community
Christ the Redeemer has a long tradition of hands-on outreach, most visibly the Habitat for Humanity house the parish community built in December 1996. The parish continues that mission today through its Family of Parishes collaboration, faith formation for all ages, and a stewardship program that supports online and text-to-give giving.
- Habitat for Humanity house built by the parish in December 1996
- Bald Mountain Family of Parishes collaboration with St. Joseph
- Online and text-to-give stewardship
- Children's Childcare ministry during 11:00 AM Mass
News, Bulletin & Media
Parish news (including funeral announcements) and current events are posted on the website. The parish bulletin, called 'The Connection,' is published weekly and archived online. Weekend Mass is livestreamed, and recorded Masses plus audio of recent homilies are linked from the homepage.
- Parish News page (funeral announcements, current events)
- The Connection bulletin (weekly, archived)
- Livestream of Saturday 5:00 PM Mass
- Recorded Masses and audio homilies available online
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Frank PollieJuly 1980 – July 1983
First pastor of the Parish in Formation.
- Fr. Rick MaceyJuly 1983 – July 1989
Served first as part-time administrator, then appointed Pastor when permanent parish status was granted on February 4, 1989. Delivered the Life Station Parable at the dedication.
- Fr. Joe DaileyJuly 1989 – June 30, 2020
Appointed full-time pastor in July 1989; led the parish through the move to the new worship building dedicated October 21, 2000. Assumed Senior Priest status after 31 years at CTR.
- Fr. William (Bill) PromessoJuly 2020 – present
Succeeded Fr. Joe Dailey as pastor; today serves as Priest in Solidum of the Bald Mountain Family of Parishes.