About Good Shepherd Parish - St. John the Evangelist · Ubly, Michigan
Good Shepherd Parish of Ubly is a Roman Catholic parish of the Diocese of Saginaw serving the rural southern Huron County region of Michigan's Thumb. It was formed in 2013 as a merger of four historic mission communities — St. John the Evangelist in Ubly, St. Columbkille in Sheridan Corners, St. Ignatius in Frieburg, and St. Joseph in Argyle — and is now preparing for further canonical changes effective June 2026 under the diocese's Next Generation Parish initiative. The parish operates from the Parish Center on North Washington Street in Ubly, with weekend Masses rotating across its four worship sites.
- Established
- 2013
- Patron
- The Good Shepherd (Jesus Christ); parish church dedicated to St. John the Evangelist
- Rector
- Rev. Aruna Kumar Nagipogu (Fr. Kumar), Parochial Administrator
- Diocese
- Diocese of Saginaw
Why belong here
Good Shepherd Parish is a unified rural Catholic family of four historic worship sites that welcomes newcomers and returning Catholics alike, inviting them to register through the parish office and sign up for Flocknote updates. The community is actively working toward becoming 'missionary disciples' through six concrete evangelization goals, special Sunday liturgies (Four-Generation Mass, Welcome Back Mass, Memorial Mass), an active Faith Formation and Youth Ministry program, and a parish-wide commitment to 'rescue people' by sharing the sacraments, Scripture study, and fellowship. With weekday and weekend Masses across four churches and a dedicated Parish Center staff ready to serve, it offers both rooted Catholic tradition and a forward-looking mission.
Mass times at Good Shepherd Parish - St. John the Evangelist
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Times listed on the front of the weekly online bulletin (parish directs penitents to the bulletin for current schedule)
Parish Identity and Vision
Good Shepherd Parish describes itself as a unified Catholic community called to be 'missionary disciples' of Jesus. Its Purpose Statement commits the members, 'guided by the Holy Spirit and strengthened through sacraments, fellowship, and faith formation,' to serve as a force for good in the local community, the Diocese of Saginaw, and the wider world. The Vision Statement pictures Good Shepherd as a community 'on fire with the Truth,' strengthened through worship, the Sacraments, lifelong faith formation, study of the Word, and fellowship, and 'showing love by being the hands and feet of Christ.' These statements were discerned by the Parish Envisioning Team after months of prayer and work, often in partnership with the Catholic Leadership Institute.
- Parish Purpose Statement (mission-focused)
- Parish Vision Statement (aspirational)
- Developed with Catholic Leadership Institute
- Animated by the Parish Envisioning Team
Parish History and the 2013 Merger
Good Shepherd Parish was canonically established on July 1, 2013, when the Diocese of Saginaw, then led by Bishop Joseph R. Cistone, merged four longstanding mission churches of southern Huron County into a single new parish community. The four contributing churches — St. John the Evangelist (Ubly), St. Columbkille (Sheridan Corners), St. Ignatius (Frieburg), and St. Joseph (Argyle) — were served by Fr. Joe Griffin for the nine years surrounding the merger. Parishioners proposed a list of three new parish names, and Bishop Cistone chose 'Good Shepherd.' Looking ahead, the parish has announced new canonical changes effective June 2026 under the diocese's Next Generation Parish implementation, continuing its process of evangelization-focused renewal.
- Effective date: July 1, 2013
- Merged churches: St. John the Evangelist, St. Columbkille, St. Ignatius, St. Joseph
- Founding pastor during transition: Fr. Joe Griffin
- Announced canonical changes effective June 2026
Our Four Church Locations
The parish's four worship sites are spread across a wide rural area of southern Huron County and neighboring Sanilac County. The Parish Center and main parish church are co-located on North Washington Street in Ubly.
- St. John the Evangelist Church — 4470 N. Washington St., Ubly, MI 48475 (parish church)
- St. Joseph Church — 4960 N. Ubly Rd., Argyle, MI 48410 (about 10 miles south of Ubly)
- St. Columbkille Church — 3031 McAlpin Rd., Ubly, MI 48413 (Sheridan Corners, about 8 miles west of Ubly)
- St. Ignatius Church — 1826 Cumber Rd., Ubly, MI 48475 (Frieburg area)
Sacraments and Pastoral Care
The parish celebrates the full sacramental life of the Church, with particular care for the Anointing of the Sick and Last Rites. Parishioners facing serious illness or surgery, or caring for a loved one who is dying, are urged to call or text the dedicated rectory line at 989-658-8145 so that Reconciliation, Anointing, and Viaticum (the 'Last Rites') can be administered in good time. The Sacrament of Reconciliation is offered regularly, with current times listed on the front of the weekly online bulletin. Baptism preparation begins with an in-person visit to the Parish Office during regular office hours.
- Anointing of the Sick — call/text 989-658-8145
- Last Rites (Reconciliation, Anointing, Viaticum) — call 989-658-8145
- Reconciliation — see front of online bulletin
- Baptism — register at Parish Office (Mon.–Thurs. 8:30 a.m.–3:30 p.m.) and sign up for Flocknote
- Good Shepherd Parish Baptism Guidelines govern child baptism under age 7
Faith Formation and Youth Ministry
Faith Formation for school-aged children and a parallel Youth Ministry are coordinated across the parish by JaCie Tyrrell, the Coordinator of Faith Formation and Youth Ministry. Classes follow the local Ubly Schools calendar and are cancelled whenever Ubly Schools are cancelled for weather. The Youth Group page offers a downloadable field trip permission form and directs families to the Parish Office for current information. Adult faith formation is supported through parish-wide initiatives like the six evangelization goals and Project 99.
- Coordinator: JaCie Tyrrell — [email protected]
- Youth Group with field trip opportunities
- Faith Formation classes follow Ubly Schools weather cancellations
- Six parish-wide faith formation goals with a March 2026 target for 70% participation
Parish Staff and Leadership
Good Shepherd Parish is served by a small, dedicated staff and lay leadership team. The Parochial Administrator, Fr. Kumar, works alongside a bookkeeper, secretary, and faith formation coordinator in the Parish Center on North Washington Street. Two lay councils — the Pastoral Council and Finance Council — provide governance and oversight, with minutes published online going back to 2014.
- Parochial Administrator: Rev. Aruna Kumar Nagipogu (Fr. Kumar) — [email protected]
- Bookkeeper: Kate Winkel — [email protected]
- Secretary: Sheila Grifka — [email protected]
- Coordinator of Faith Formation & Youth Ministry: JaCie Tyrrell — [email protected]
- Finance Council Chair: Debbie Powell
- Pastoral Council Chair: Matthew Brown
- Maintenance staff also listed on the parish website
Becoming a Parishioner
The parish warmly welcomes new members and returning Catholics. Registration begins with an in-person visit to the Parish Office during office hours (Monday–Thursday 8:30 a.m.–3:30 p.m.), where staff will provide a registration form and (ideally) introduce the pastor. The second step is signing up for Flocknote, the parish's email-and-text communication tool, so newcomers can receive updates and learn about ministries without committing upfront. The same process is used for registering a child under age 7 for Baptism.
- Step 1: Stop in to the Parish Office Mon.–Thurs. 8:30 a.m.–3:30 p.m.
- Step 2: Sign up for Flocknote at GoodShepherdUbly.flocknote.com
- Baptism registration uses the same two steps plus the Baptism Guidelines
- Call ahead to confirm the pastor's availability
Pastoral and Finance Councils
Lay leadership is exercised through the Pastoral Council and Finance Council. Pastoral Council minutes are published on the parish website in a OneDrive folder, with earlier meeting minutes (going back to November 2014) also posted. The Pastoral Council is currently chaired by Matthew Brown; the Finance Council by Debbie Powell.
- Pastoral Council Chair: Matthew Brown
- Finance Council Chair: Debbie Powell
- Pastoral Council minutes archived back to November 2014
- Most recent minutes linked via OneDrive folder on the parish website
Evangelization Goals and Special Events
The parish has set six bold evangelization goals with timelines running through early 2026, working in partnership with the Catholic Leadership Institute. Special Sunday liturgies like the Four-Generation Mass, Welcome Back Mass, and Memorial Mass are designed to bring the community together across generations and to welcome those who have been away. 'Project 99 – Bringing Lost Sheep Home' is the parish's signature outreach to inactive Catholics. Other parish events include 'Babies, Baptism, and Beyond.'
- Goal: 90% report being spiritually fed through Mass participation
- Goal: 75% report growing as disciples by March 2026
- Goal: 70% participate in a faith formation opportunity annually
- Goal: every parishioner invites at least one person to Mass annually
- Project 99 – Bringing Lost Sheep Home
- Special Sunday liturgies: Four-Generation Mass, Welcome Back Mass, Memorial Mass
Communications, Calendar, and Cancellations
The parish keeps parishioners informed through its website, weekly bulletin, Flocknote email and text updates, and Facebook page. A parish calendar is published on the website. Weather cancellations follow Ubly Schools: Faith Formation classes and the Parish Office are cancelled when Ubly Schools close. Daily Masses continue with Fr. Nate unless specifically cancelled via Flocknote, while weekend Mass cancellations are broadcast by Flocknote text, Facebook, and local radio.
- Flocknote sign-up: GoodShepherdUbly.flocknote.com
- Daily Mass Attendees group: GoodShepherdUbly.flocknote.com/DailyMass
- Parish calendar published at goodshepherdubly.com/calendar/
- Weekend Mass cancellations via Flocknote, Facebook, and radio
Visit, Call, or Write
The Parish Center and St. John the Evangelist Church share the address 4470 North Washington Street in Ubly. Office hours are Monday through Thursday, 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Visitors are encouraged to stop in to meet the office team, pick up a registration form, or arrange to meet the pastor.
- Parish Office / Parish Center: 4470 N. Washington St., Ubly, MI 48475
- Office phone: (989) 658-8824
- Rectory phone for Anointing/Last Rites: (989) 658-8145
- Office email: [email protected]
- Office hours: Monday–Thursday 8:30 a.m.–3:30 p.m.
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Joe Griffincirca 2004–2013+
Pastor of the four mission churches (St. John the Evangelist, St. Columbkille, St. Ignatius, St. Joseph) for nine years leading up to and following the 2013 merger into Good Shepherd Parish