About Church of the Transfiguration · Southfield, Michigan
Church of the Transfiguration is a Roman Catholic parish in Southfield, Michigan, staffed by Franciscan friars (Order of Friars Minor, OFM) of the Archdiocese of Detroit. Formed in 2007 through the merger of four Southfield parishes (St. Beatrice, St. Bede, St. Ives, and St. Michael), the parish now worships in the former St. Michael church and serves a diverse, multi-background Catholic community with a strong Franciscan identity. Its mission statement — 'We are a Franciscan Body of Christ embracing all people through liturgy and service' — is lived out through an active parish life, religious education rooted in the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd, and an extensive food-distribution outreach serving thousands of Detroit-area families each year.
- Established
- 2007
- Patron
- The Transfiguration of the Lord (Christ's Transfiguration)
- Rector
- Fr. Jeffrey Scheeler, OFM
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Detroit
Why belong here
Parishioners of Church of the Transfiguration belong to a Franciscan community that actively embraces all people through liturgy and service. The parish offers a daily noon Mass Monday through Friday, a Saturday Vigil and two Sunday Masses, regular Reconciliation, monthly Eucharistic Adoration, devotions to St. Anthony and Divine Mercy, and a Religious Education program rooted in the Montessori-based Catechesis of the Good Shepherd. Its Franciscan Outreach Program feeds more than 8,000 families a year across 110 Metro Detroit zip codes, giving parishioners tangible ways to serve neighbors in need. As part of a four-parish Family with Divine Providence Lithuanian, Our Lady of La Salette, and Our Mother of Perpetual Help, Transfiguration welcomes Catholics of every background into its shared liturgical and charitable life.
Mass times at Church of the Transfiguration
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday: 12:00 PM (Noon) — doors open at 11:00 AM
- Tuesday: 10:30 AM
Adoration times
- First Wednesday of the month: 1:00 PM – 7:00 PM (Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament)
Our History as a Parish
Church of the Transfiguration was born on June 30, 2007, from the merger of four Southfield parishes: St. Beatrice (1966), St. Bede (1954), St. Ives (1964), and St. Michael (1930). The four communities celebrated their closing Masses on June 24, 2007; the following Sunday, Episcopal Vicar Msgr. John Zenz knocked on the door of the former St. Michael Church, the doors opened, and the new parish began. Holy water and oils from each of the four parishes were combined, and Fr. Robert Weakley, OFM, was installed as the first pastor. In 2008 a Prayer Garden was dedicated, gathering the patron-saint statues of the founding parishes on the grounds. The other former parish buildings continued in Catholic use: St. Ives became Our Lady of Albanians, St. Beatrice hosts a Syro-Malabar congregation, and St. Bede was eventually demolished.
- Founded: June 30, 2007
- Merged parishes: St. Beatrice, St. Bede, St. Ives, St. Michael
- First pastor: Fr. Robert Weakley, OFM
- Worship site: former St. Michael Church (built 1951)
- Prayer Garden dedicated 2008
Franciscan Identity & Clergy
Transfiguration identifies as 'a Franciscan Body of Christ embracing all people through liturgy and service.' Pastoral leadership is provided by Franciscan friars (OFM) of the Archdiocese of Detroit, with pastoral care shared across the parish's Family of Parishes.
- Fr. Jeffrey Scheeler, OFM — Pastor and Family Moderator
- Fr. Raphael Ozoude, OFM — Associate Pastor
- Br. Al Mascia, OFM — In Residence
- Br. Michael Radomski, OFM — In Residence
- Fr. John Vandenakker, CC — Weekend assistance (Sacred Heart Seminary faculty)
- Fr. Sama Muma — Assigned to the Family
Parish Staff
In addition to its clergy, Church of the Transfiguration is served by a small staff handling administration, faith formation, music, finances, and facilities.
- Sharon Myers — Parish Secretary
- Diane Klucka — Business Manager / Director of Faith Formation
- Claudia Frias — Bookkeeper
- Steve Siemion — Director of Music
- Eric Oulai — Facility Manager
- Charly Dowlatkhah — Maintenance
Sacraments
Arrangements for Baptism, Marriage, Confirmation, and Eucharist are made through the Parish Office. Priests are available for Anointing of the Sick, hospital and home visits, and funeral liturgies — families should contact the parish office to schedule.
- Baptism — by arrangement through the Parish Office
- Marriage — by arrangement through the Parish Office
- Confirmation & First Eucharist — through Faith Formation
- Anointing of the Sick — on request
- Funerals — contact the Parish Office
Religious Education & Faith Formation
The parish's catechetical program runs Sundays between the 8:00 AM and 11:00 AM Masses and uses the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd (CGS), a Roman Catholic, Montessori-based religious formation approach rooted in scripture and liturgy. Children typically begin CGS around age three and progress through three-year age-span atria: Level I (ages 3–6), Level II (ages 6–9), and Level III (ages 9–12). CGS catechists undergo personal formation plus background and security checks. For Confirmation, beginning in eighth grade and continuing for high-school teens, the parish uses Ascension Press's 'Chosen' program, with the sacrament ordinarily celebrated at the parish each year.
- Catechesis of the Good Shepherd (Levels I, II, III)
- Confirmation preparation with 'Chosen' (Ascension Press)
- Catechists — called, formed, and background-checked
- Director of Faith Formation: Diane Klucka
Becoming Catholic
Those inquiring about the Catholic faith are welcomed through a 'Becoming Catholic' pathway on the parish website, with the OCIA/RCIA process coordinated through the parish office.
Franciscan Outreach Program
Inspired by Franciscan values of respect for human dignity and care for the poor, the Franciscan Outreach Program reduces food insecurity for neighbors across southeast Michigan by providing monthly food distribution. In 2025 the program served 8,401 families (22,975 individuals) across 110 Metro Detroit zip codes, including 673 new families — many of them working moms and individuals with limited incomes. Donations are accepted through the parish's online giving system (designated 'Franciscan Outreach').
- Monthly food distribution
- 110 zip codes served in Metro Detroit
- 2025 impact: 8,401 families / 22,975 individuals
- Fundraising meals and facility tours held periodically
Parish Ministries & Groups
Transfiguration hosts a wide range of parish ministries rooted in its Franciscan charism, including prayer, service, formation, and fraternal groups.
- Secular Franciscan Order — St. Elizabeth Fraternity (meets 3rd Sunday after Noon Mass)
- Legion of Mary
- Knights of Columbus
- Altar Servers
- Parish Choir
- Men's and Women's Ministry
- Adult Education
- Unbound Ministry
- Crossroads Lunch
- Pro-Life Baby Bottle Drive
Family of Parishes
Church of the Transfiguration is part of a four-parish Family of Parishes within the Archdiocese of Detroit, alongside Divine Providence Lithuanian, Our Lady of La Salette, and Our Mother of Perpetual Help. The Family shares clergy — Fr. Jeff Scheeler, OFM coordinates the team's efforts, with Fr. Raphael Ozoude, OFM and Fr. John Vandenakker, CC also serving. The Family's vision is to foster unity, promote inclusivity, nurture growth, serve with compassion, and celebrate together. Weekday and weekend Masses are rotated among parishes so parishioners can meet all the priests over time; Reconciliation continues at Transfiguration on Tuesday mornings at 10:30 AM and Saturdays at 12:00 PM.
- Transfiguration (moderator: Fr. Jeff Scheeler, OFM)
- Divine Providence Lithuanian
- Our Lady of La Salette
- Our Mother of Perpetual Help
- Shared values: Unity, Inclusivity, Growth, Compassion, Celebration
Contact & Location
The parish office is reachable by phone at (248) 356-8787. For sacramental emergencies, callers are invited to leave a message and the office will return the call as soon as possible. The mailing address is 25225 Code Road, Southfield, MI 48033.
- Address: 25225 Code Road, Southfield, MI 48033
- Phone: (248) 356-8787
- Parish Bulletin: published weekly at transfigsfld.org/bulletins
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Robert Weakley, OFM2007–
First pastor of the newly merged Church of the Transfiguration, installed at the founding ceremony on June 30, 2007.
- Fr. William Farris, OFM
Served as pastor circa 2015, per Detroit Church Blog profile; associate pastor at that time was Fr. Jeremy Harrington, OFM, with Deacon Thomas Mohan.
- Fr. Jeffrey Scheeler, OFM
Current pastor; also serves as Moderator of the Transfiguration–Our Lady of La Salette Family of Parishes and coordinates the four-parish Family.