About Good Shepherd · Montrose, Michigan
Good Shepherd Catholic Church is a small, friendly parish of about 210 households nestled in the northwest corner of Genesee County in the village of Montrose, Michigan. Founded in 1979 and first dedicated on May 4, 1981, the parish is part of the Diocese of Lansing and shares its pastor and parochial vicar with neighboring St. Robert Parish in Flushing. Good Shepherd offers weekend and daily Mass, the sacrament of Reconciliation, religious education, youth ministry, the Knights of Columbus Council 8669, RCIA/OCIA, and a lively parish life centered on hospitality, faith formation, and service to the surrounding small-town community.
- Established
- 1979
- Patron
- Good Shepherd (Jesus Christ, the Good Shepherd)
- Rector
- Rev. Brian Lenz
- Diocese
- Diocese of Lansing
Why belong here
Good Shepherd is a tight-knit parish of about 210 households where the pastor and deacon know you by name and visitors are genuinely welcomed. Worship is offered four days a week with weekend Masses on Saturday evening and Sunday morning plus daily Mass on Tuesday and Friday, and the sacrament of Reconciliation is readily available on Tuesday and Saturday. Active ministries span every age and stage — catechists and aides for faith formation, the GSYG youth group for grades 7–12, a vibrant Knights of Columbus council that runs the parish fish fry, OCIA for adults seeking full communion, and a full sacramental preparation program for baptism and marriage — all supported by a parish Life Center dedicated in 2008.
Mass times at Good Shepherd
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Tuesday: 6:30 PM (or by appointment)
- Saturday: 3:00 PM – 4:00 PM (or by appointment)
Adoration times
- First Friday Eucharistic Adoration following the 9:00 a.m. Mass, with Benediction at 5:00 p.m.
About Good Shepherd Parish
Good Shepherd is a small, friendly, hospitable and life-giving Catholic community of about 210 households in the village of Montrose, in the northwest corner of Genesee County, Michigan. The parish is served by a pastor and parochial vicar shared with St. Robert of Flushing, a deacon, a Director of Religious Education, a Youth Ministry Coordinator, a Music Director and a parish secretary. The community gathers for weekend Masses on Saturday evening and Sunday morning, daily Mass on Tuesday and Friday, regular Reconciliation, faith formation for every age, and a robust Knights of Columbus council. The parish mission is to celebrate and promote the Good News, minister to parishioners, and reach out to individuals, communities and beyond.
- 210-household parish in northwest Genesee County
- Diocese of Lansing
- Shared clergy with St. Robert, Flushing
- Mission: celebrate Good News, minister to parishioners, reach out beyond
History of the Parish
Founded in 1979 and dedicated on May 4, 1981, Good Shepherd grew from a mission church into a thriving small-town parish. The parish history page traces a rich timeline from Auxiliary Bishop James S. Sullivan's first Mass on February 4, 1979, through Bishop Kenneth Povish's naming of the parish on August 12, 1979, the groundbreaking on July 27, 1980, and the dedication liturgy on May 4, 1981. Subsequent decades brought a succession of pastors and pastoral coordinators, the 2007 groundbreaking and 2008 dedication of the Parish Life Center by Bishop Carl Mengling, and a steady deepening of parish life.
- Feb 4, 1979: First Mass with Bishop Sullivan and 380 parishioners
- Aug 12, 1979: Bishop Povish chooses the name 'Good Shepherd'
- Sep 1979: Parish fund drive launched
- Jul 27, 1980: Groundbreaking ceremony
- May 4, 1981: Dedication liturgy celebrated
- Oct 2, 2007: Parish Life Center groundbreaking
- Apr 20, 2008: Bishop Carl Mengling dedicates the Parish Life Center
Leadership & Staff
Good Shepherd is pastored by Father Brian Lenz, with Father Christian Salata serving as Parochial Vicar and Deacon Bryan Root assisting. Both priests also serve St. Robert Parish in Flushing; after 5 p.m. the Flushing Rectory line (810-659-8553) can be reached. The lay staff includes Lisa M. Briggs (Director of Religious Education), David Smith (Youth Ministry), Christine Morse (Music Director) and parish secretary Ann Kaczmarczyk.
- Pastor: Rev. Brian Lenz
- Parochial Vicar: Rev. Christian Salata
- Deacon: Rev. Mr. Bryan Root
- Director of Religious Ed: Lisa M. Briggs
- Youth Ministry: David Smith
- Music Director: Christine Morse
- Secretary: Ann Kaczmarczyk
- Parish Office: 810-639-7600 | Fax: 810-639-3245
Faith Formation & Religious Education
The Religious Education program serves children of the parish from the early years through Confirmation. Catechists and classroom aides are parish volunteers trained through the diocesan Virtus program and complete background checks and livescan fingerprinting. The Director of Religious Education, Lisa M. Briggs, coordinates the program from the parish office.
- Director of Religious Ed: Lisa M. Briggs
- Catechists and Aides (Virtus-trained, background-checked)
- Classes run October through May
- Sacramental preparation for First Reconciliation, First Communion and Confirmation
- Phone: 810-639-7600
Becoming Catholic — OCIA & OCIC
Adults seeking full communion with the Catholic Church journey through the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (OCIA, formerly RCIA), meeting weekly on Sundays starting in September. Each candidate is paired with a parish sponsor who attends sessions and represents the faith community, and candidates receive the sacraments of initiation at the Easter Vigil. Children over the age of 5 go through the Order of Christian Initiation of Children (OCIC), received into the Church at Easter Sunday after a year of preparation.
- OCIA Inquiry Classes (low-pressure, no commitment required)
- Weekly Sunday sessions beginning in September
- Sacrament of initiation received at the Easter Vigil
- Children over 5: OCIC program, received at Easter Sunday
Youth Ministry — Good Shepherd Youth Group (GSYG)
GSYG welcomes all high-school youth in grades 7 through 12. The group meets Sunday evenings from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. for games, activities, friendship and faith formation. Youth also participate in weekend retreats, visit other parishes to meet area teens, run service projects like Breakfast with Santa, and use resources including the Holy Bible, Catechism of the Catholic Church, and Theology of the Body for High School Teens.
- Coordinator of Youth Ministry: David Smith
- Meets Sundays 4:00–6:00 p.m.
- Open to grades 7–12
- Retreats, service projects, area parish gatherings
- My Parish App available for ongoing connection
Knights of Columbus Council 8669
Good Shepherd hosts Knights of Columbus Council 8669, with Patrick Bisson Jr. serving as Grand Knight and Doug Powell as Membership Director. The council's signature fundraiser is a Friday Fish Fry running from the Friday after Labor Day through Good Friday (4:00–7:00 p.m.), serving fish, shrimp or chicken-finger dinners. Fish-fry proceeds fund a wide range of parish and community outreach, from the parish Fall Festival and youth free-throw contest to the Montrose Food Pantry, Special Olympics, Coats for Kids, Boysville of Michigan and more.
- Grand Knight: Patrick Bisson Jr.
- Membership Director: Doug Powell
- Council meetings: 2nd Tuesday of the month, 7:30 p.m.
- Friday Fish Fry: 4:00–7:00 p.m., after Labor Day through Good Friday
- Beneficiaries: Montrose Food Pantry, Special Olympics, Coats for Kids, Boysville, Good Shepherd Family Life Center, parish Fall Festival and more
- Monthly Euchre Tournament in the Knights Hall
- Theology on Tap evenings in the Knights Hall
Sacraments
Good Shepherd prepares parishioners for all seven sacraments. Infant Baptism is celebrated during a weekend liturgy after two parent-preparation sessions, with at least one practicing Catholic godparent. Children over 5 enter OCIC and adults enter OCIA. Marriage preparation follows the Diocese of Lansing's nine-month timeline, including a diocesan marriage-prep program, FOCCUS instrument with a sponsor couple, and liturgy planning with the pastor and music director. Reconciliation is offered weekly; the parish also offers Anointing of the Sick and Communion visits to the homebound.
- Baptism (infant, child, adult)
- Confirmation
- Eucharist (First Communion)
- Reconciliation (Confession)
- Matrimony (9-month preparation process)
- Anointing of the Sick
- Holy Orders and vocations support via the diocese
Parish Life Center & Facilities
The Parish Life Center, dedicated by Bishop Carl Mengling on April 20, 2008, expanded the parish campus to host religious education classes, funeral dinners, hall rentals and a wide range of parish and community events. The adjacent Knights of Columbus Hall is also available for gatherings.
- Parish Life Center dedicated April 20, 2008 by Bishop Carl Mengling
- Used for religious education, funeral dinners and hall rentals
- Family Life Center rental: 810-639-7600
- K of C Hall rental: 810-639-8105
Stay Connected
Good Shepherd keeps parishioners in the loop through weekly bulletins (posted on the website), a parish Facebook page and Instagram, and the My Parish App. Stay-connected options are listed on the parish website under the Stay Connected page, and bulletins are archived with the most recent dated within the same week.
- Website: goodshepherdmontrose.org
- Email: [email protected]
- Facebook: facebook.com/goodshepherdmontrose
- Instagram: @goodshepherdmontrose
- My Parish App: text 88202 or search 'Good Shepherd' in your phone's app store
- Weekly bulletins posted online
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Priests from St. Robert of Flushing1979–1982
Served the mission church from neighboring Flushing.
- Fr. Jim Bettendorf1983–
First part-time pastor of Good Shepherd; joined by Pastoral Associate Connie McClanahan, D.M. in 1984.
- Sr. Josephine McNamaraFall 1991 – July 2009
Pastoral Coordinator during this period.
- Fr. Robert KolenskiSacramental Minister until July 2009
Sunday sacramental ministry.
- Fr. Gary McInnisSacramental Minister until July 2009
Saturday sacramental ministry; from St. Luke, Flint.
- Fr. Steve AndersonJuly 2009 – July 2010
Parochial Administrator.
- Fr. Michael O'BrienJuly 2010 – July 2011
Parochial Administrator.
- Fr. Roy HorningJuly 2011 – 2015
Pastor. With Fr. Louis Ekka (Associate Pastor, July 2011–2012) and Fr. Paul Schwermer (Parochial Vicar, 2012–2015).
- Fr. Gordon ReigleJuly 2015 – November 2018
Pastor. Joined by Fr. Anthony Brooks as Associate Pastor in November 2016.
- Fr. Jonathan PerrottaNovember 2018 – July 2024
Pastor. Served with Fr. Anthony Brooks (Associate Pastor, to July 2021) and Fr. Prabhu Lakra (Parochial Vicar, July 2021 – June 2024).
- Fr. Brian LenzJuly 2024 – present
Current pastor. Served with Fr. Ginu Abraham (Parochial Vicar, Aug 2024 – July 2025) and Fr. Christian Salata (Parochial Vicar, July 2025 – present).