About Corpus Christi Parish · Bay City, Michigan
Corpus Christi Parish is a Roman Catholic community in Bay City, Michigan, belonging to the Diocese of Saginaw. Formed in 2014 through a clustering of former Bay City parishes, the parish worships at Holy Trinity Church, a church historically associated with the local Ottawa (Native American) community. The parish serves a diverse membership through weekend and weekday Masses, faith formation for children and adults, a robust music and liturgy program, and a network of service-oriented ministries including the St. Vincent de Paul Society, Knights of Columbus, Altar Sodality, sewing ministry, and a senior group. The parish office is located at 1008 S. Wenona Street in Bay City, with Masses celebrated Saturday evening, twice on Sunday, and on most weekdays.
- Established
- 2014
- Patron
- Corpus Christi (Body of Christ)
- Rector
- Fr. Robert H. Byrne (Sacramental Minister)
- Diocese
- Diocese of Saginaw
Why belong here
Corpus Christi Parish welcomes new members and offers a full sacramental life with weekend and daily Mass, Saturday confessions, baptisms, marriages, and care of the sick and homebound. Parishioners can grow in faith through a structured Faith Formation program for children and adults, including RCIA, Catechesis of the Good Shepherd, an elementary textbook program, and youth ministry for middle and high school students. The parish also offers many ways to serve — from liturgical roles (lector, Eucharistic minister, altar server, cantor, choir) to outreach through the St. Vincent de Paul Society, Knights of Columbus, Altar Sodality, Sew Creative sewing ministry, Kiesel's Pearls, Men's Group, and a 55+ senior fellowship — making it easy to find community and put faith into action.
Mass times at Corpus Christi Parish
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday at 3:30 p.m. (priest remains in the Reconciliation Room only as long as there are penitents present)
- By appointment for confessions of a more personal or lengthy nature (call the parish office)
About Corpus Christi Parish
Corpus Christi Parish is a Catholic community in Bay City, Michigan, formed in 2014 within the Diocese of Saginaw. The parish worships at Holy Trinity Church on S. Wenona Street and serves a diverse membership through weekend and weekday Mass, sacraments, faith formation, and a wide network of service and fellowship ministries. Its collaborative leadership team includes a Sacramental Minister, a Senior Priest in Residence, a Director of Parish Life, pastoral ministers (including an Adrian Dominican Sister), and a retired deacon.
- Formed in 2014 through clustering of former Bay City parishes
- Worship site: Holy Trinity Church
- Diocese of Saginaw, Vicariate 2
- Parish office at 1008 S. Wenona St., Bay City, MI 48706
History
The parish was created in 2014 under the Diocese of Saginaw when several Bay City worship sites were clustered into a single canonical parish. The parish inherited the records and community life of Holy Trinity Church — long associated with the local Ottawa Catholic community — and of St. Joseph Church, which had served the area from 1980 until its closure in 2014. The Marquette University archives reference for Catholic records about Native Americans lists Corpus Christi Parish of Bay City as a 2014-ongoing entity whose holdings include parish files and sacramental registers (baptisms, marriages, burials) inherited from these predecessor communities.
- 2014: Corpus Christi Parish of Bay City established
- Holy Trinity Church (Ottawa heritage) becomes the parish worship site
- St. Joseph Church (1980–2014) closed and folded into the new parish
- Diocese of Saginaw archive reference confirms continuity of sacramental records
Parish Staff and Clergy
The parish is led collaboratively by clergy, religious, and lay staff. Sacramental Minister Fr. Robert H. Byrne is assisted by Senior Priest in Residence Rev. Kevin N. Kerbawy and Retired Deacon David Adler. Lay and religious staff include Director of Parish Life Hank J. Messing, Pastoral Minister and Adrian Dominican Sister Sr. Joann Plumpe, Pastoral Minister Sharon Woolhiser, Business Manager/Bookkeeper Karen Polega, Office Manager Mary Ann Marciniak, Liturgist Jan Spaulding, Coordinator of Music Andrew Ratajczak, Faith Formation Coordinator Amy Dupuis, Maintenance Supervisor Roger Leppek, and Custodian Debbie Zettle. The parish webmaster is Jennifer Hodge.
- Fr. Robert H. Byrne – Sacramental Minister
- Rev. Kevin N. Kerbawy – Senior Priest in Residence
- Deacon David Adler – Retired Deacon
- Hank J. Messing – Director of Parish Life
- Sr. Joann Plumpe, O.P. – Pastoral Minister
- Sharon Woolhiser – Pastoral Minister
- Karen Polega – Business Manager/Bookkeeper
- Mary Ann Marciniak – Office Manager
- Jan Spaulding – Liturgist
- Andrew Ratajczak – Coordinator of Music
- Amy Dupuis – Faith Formation Coordinator
Faith Formation and Religious Education
Faith Formation at Corpus Christi is coordinated by Amy Dupuis and offers a full continuum of catechesis for children, youth, and adults. Programs include the RCIA process (with sponsors, dismissal catechist, team members, and aides) for adults and children entering the Church, the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd in the atrium model for younger children, an Elementary Textbook Program for grades 3–5 with catechists and aides, a Middle and High School youth catechetical program, and a Sacrament Program that prepares candidates for Baptism, Confirmation, and Eucharist. Adult small groups meet for Bible Study, Faith Sharing, Book Club, and Lenten programs, led by trained facilitators.
- RCIA – Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults
- Catechesis of the Good Shepherd (atrium-based)
- Elementary Textbook Program (grades 3–5)
- Middle and High School youth catechesis
- Sacrament Program (Baptism, Confirmation, Eucharist preparation)
- Adult small groups: Bible Study, Faith Sharing, Book Club, Lenten programs
Youth Ministry
The parish maintains a Youth Ministry program serving middle and high school students, including catechetical sessions, a youth 'Coffee House' hosted with adult chaperones, and opportunities for students to help plan and run parish events. The program leans on adult volunteers for chaperones, snack/cleanup help, and small-group facilitation.
- Middle and High School youth sessions
- Youth Coffee House with adult chaperones
- Volunteer roles: chaperones, snack/cleanup, facilitators
Music and Liturgical Ministries
Music and liturgy are coordinated by Liturgist Jan Spaulding and Coordinator of Music Andrew Ratajczak. The parish draws on lay parishioners to fill the major liturgical roles at weekend and weekday Masses. A 2019 Directory of Ministries is available on the parish website for parishioners who wish to sign up.
- Coordinator of Music: Andrew Ratajczak
- Liturgist: Jan Spaulding
- Ushers, Cantors, Choir, Musicians
- Lectors, Eucharistic Ministers, Altar Servers
- 2019 Directory of Ministries (downloadable from the parish website)
Parish Life and Fellowship
Beyond worship, the parish runs a full social and fellowship program rooted in stewardship of time, talent, and treasure. Groups meet regularly, host fundraisers, and welcome new members throughout the year.
- Altar Sodality – women of the parish, meets 6:30 p.m. on the 1st Monday (Sept–May); fundraisers include October Rummage Sale, November Pie Sale, March Card Party
- Hospitality Committee
- Knights of Columbus
- Kiesel's Pearls
- Men's Group
- Senior Group (55+) – meets the 2nd Tuesday of the month for lunch, bingo, and socializing
- Refreshment Server / Clean-up teams for parish functions
- Card Ministry
- Fish Fry
Outreach and Charity
Service to those in need is central to the parish's stewardship identity, summarized on the website by 1 Peter 4:10: 'As each one has received a gift, use it to serve one another as good stewards of God's varied grace.' Outreach is organized through a St. Vincent de Paul Society conference, a food pantry partnership, the Sew Creative sewing ministry that creates quilts, lap blankets, and pillowcases for those in need, and a Funeral Food donation ministry. The parish also partners with Bay Area Catholic Schools (989-894-8777) to support Catholic education in the area.
- St. Vincent de Paul Society
- Food pantry distribution and store volunteering
- Sew Creative – Sewing Ministry (prayerful sewing of quilts, lap blankets, pillowcases)
- Donations of supplies for the sewing ministry
- Funeral Food ministry
- Bay Area Catholic Schools partnership (989-894-8777)
Sacraments
The parish celebrates the seven sacraments according to diocesan norms. Parents seeking Baptism and engaged couples preparing for marriage are required to be registered, active members of this or another Catholic parish for at least three months before making a request — a step the parish lists explicitly on its General Information page. Reconciliation is offered weekly on Saturday afternoon. Care of the sick and homebound is provided by notifying the parish office.
- Baptism (3-month active-registration prerequisite)
- Marriage preparation (3-month active-registration prerequisite; living-arrangement expectations)
- Reconciliation – Saturday 3:30 p.m. and by appointment
- Care of the Sick and Homebound
- Funeral Liturgy planning
Stewardship
The parish frames its ministry around the biblical call to stewardship: receiving God's gifts gratefully, cultivating them responsibly, sharing them lovingly, and returning them with increase to the Lord. A 'Stewards in Action' page and a downloadable Directory of Ministries help parishioners match their time and talent with parish needs. The site also includes a Stewardship Prayer that asks God's wisdom to use TIME, TALENT, and TREASURE for the greater glory of God and the service of neighbors.
- Stewardship identity rooted in 1 Peter 4:10
- 2019 Directory of Ministries (downloadable)
- Stewards in Action page
- Stewardship Prayer focusing on time, talent, and treasure
- USCCB stewardship reference linked from the site
Visiting, Registering, and Contact
New members are welcomed to register during office hours (Monday–Thursday 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.; Friday 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.) or by calling for an appointment. The parish bulletin is published online and is the source of record for Holyday Mass times and special announcements.
- Parish Office: (989) 893-4073
- Fax: (989) 893-7087
- Faith Formation Office: (989) 893-4073
- Bay Area Catholic Schools: (989) 894-8777
- Office Hours: Mon–Thu 8:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.; Fri 8:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m.
- Address: 1008 S. Wenona Street, Bay City, MI 48706
- Email: [email protected]