About Guardian Angels, Divine Mercy Parish · Manistee, Michigan
Divine Mercy Parish is a Roman Catholic community in Manistee, Michigan, on the eastern shore of Lake Michigan, formed on November 27, 2016 by the merger of three historic Manistee parishes: Guardian Angels, St. Joseph, and St. Mary of Mt. Carmel Shrine. Each of the original church buildings retains its name, though regular weekend Masses are now celebrated in St. Joseph Church. The parish belongs to the Diocese of Gaylord and continues a Catholic presence in Manistee that dates back to 1862, embracing the faith traditions of its founders through the Eucharist, faith formation for children and teens, and outreach to those in need.
- Established
- 1862 (Catholic presence in Manistee); Guardian Angels Parish cornerstone 1888, dedicated December 21, 1890
- Patron
- Guardian Angels (of the historic Guardian Angels Church)
- Rector
- Rev. James Bearss
- Diocese
- Diocese of Gaylord
Why belong here
Divine Mercy Parish offers the historic Catholic worship and tight-knit parish life of a small Lake Michigan community, with three beautiful church buildings — Guardian Angels, St. Joseph, and (historically) St. Mary of Mt. Carmel Shrine — and a full schedule of devotions including weekday Mass, Perpetual Help Novena on Tuesdays, all-day Eucharistic Adoration on Thursdays and Fridays, and a weekly 'Children of Light' adult prayer group. Families are served by Pre-K through 6th-grade faith formation, sacramental preparation for First Reconciliation, First Eucharist, and Confirmation, the OCIA process for adults and children, and Manistee Catholic Central School; outreach to the wider community happens through the Matthew 25:35 Food Pantry and homebound Communion visits. It is a place where, in the parish's own words, all are welcomed, loved, needed, and appreciated.
Mass times at Guardian Angels, Divine Mercy Parish
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 3:00–3:45 pm (St. Joseph Church)
- Friday 9:30–10:30 am (St. Joseph Church)
- By appointment — call the parish office at 231.723.2619
Adoration times
- Weekdays 8:00 am — church open for prayer before the Blessed Sacrament (use the Sixth Street entrance)
- Thursdays following the 9:00 am Mass until 9:00 pm
- Fridays following the 9:00 am Mass until 9:00 pm
Parish History
Catholic worship in Manistee began in 1862 with St. Mary, the city's first Catholic church on the north side of the Manistee River. A second St. Mary was built on Sycamore and Third Streets in 1874 and later replaced by St. Mary of Mt. Carmel Shrine in 1963. Waves of French, Irish, German, and Polish immigrants in the 1870s–1880s led to the founding of St. Joseph Parish in 1884 and Guardian Angels Parish in 1888. On November 27, 2016, Bishop Steven J. Raica merged all three into Divine Mercy Parish; each church building retains its name, with regular weekend Mass now celebrated in St. Joseph Church.
- 1862 — First Catholic Church (St. Mary) built in Manistee
- 1874 — Second St. Mary built on Sycamore & Third Streets
- 1884 — St. Joseph Church built; original destroyed by windstorm, rebuilt at present site
- 1888 — Guardian Angels cornerstone laid September 2
- December 21, 1890 — Guardian Angels blessed by Bishop H. J. Richter
- July 14, 1963 — St. Mary of Mt. Carmel Shrine dedicated by Bishop Allen Babcock
- December 8, 2018 — Final Mass at St. Mary of Mt. Carmel Shrine, Bishop Steven J. Raica
- November 27, 2016 — Merger into Divine Mercy Parish
Guardian Angels Church
Guardian Angels Church, at 371 Fifth Street, was built in 1888–1890 for the German and Irish Catholic community of Manistee. Designed by Chicago architect Adolphus Druiding in the German Gothic style, the brick church is anchored by a 170-foot spire intended as a beacon of safety and homecoming. Inside, a turn-of-the-century Henry Reinish pipe organ (1,600+ pipes) and a 12-bell carillon played from a keyboard in the choir loft remain signature features. The church and rectory were listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2020; today the building is a limited-use facility under Divine Mercy Parish and is not open for regular tours.
- Architect: Adolphus Druiding, Chicago
- Construction bids: Noud & Kenny / C. H. Pelton & C. A. Sathern (Grand Rapids)
- Bricks: ~60,000 from Manitowoc WI, Onekama, and Big Rapids
- Spire: 170 feet tall
- Pipe organ: Henry Reinish, completed 1909, 1,600+ pipes
- Carillon: 12 bells, donated 1910 by Carrie Filer
- Listed on National Register of Historic Places, 2020
St. Joseph Church
St. Joseph Church, at 249 Sixth Street, is the home of the present-day parish — all weekend Masses, confessions, and most devotions are celebrated in this building. Founded in 1884 by the Polish Catholic community of Manistee after splitting from the original St. Mary congregation, the original structure was destroyed by a windstorm the same year it was built and rebuilt on its present site, where it has served the parish for more than 130 years.
- Original building: 1884 (destroyed by windstorm)
- Rebuilt at present location: 1884
- Address: 249 Sixth Street, Manistee, MI 49660
- Current use: site of all regular weekend Masses and devotions
St. Mary of Mt. Carmel Shrine
St. Mary of Mt. Carmel Shrine replaced the second St. Mary Church and was dedicated by Bishop Allen Babcock on July 14, 1963. The final Mass was celebrated on December 8, 2018 by Bishop Steven J. Raica; the shrine is no longer in regular use, though the parish retains the name and its legacy as the continuation of Manistee's original Catholic parish from 1862.
- Dedicated July 14, 1963 by Bishop Allen Babcock
- Final Mass: December 8, 2018, Bishop Steven J. Raica
Mt. Carmel Cemetery
Divine Mercy Parish maintains Mt. Carmel Cemetery as part of its care for the historic Catholic community of Manistee. Inquiries about burial plots, records, or grounds are handled through the parish office until further notice.
- Contact: Parish Office, 231.723.2619
- Currently managed through the parish office
Faith Formation for Families (Pre-K – 6th Grade)
Faith formation at Divine Mercy Parish is a family-based process that begins in Pre-K and continues through 6th grade, preparing children to celebrate the Sacraments of Reconciliation (Grade 2) and Confirmation / First Eucharist (Grade 3 and older). Parents are recognized as the primary judges of their child's readiness. The program's stated goals are to build a welcoming community, celebrate the gift of life in Word and Sacrament, support growth at every stage of life, share leadership across the parish, and connect the Gospel to social concerns of justice, peace, and equality.
- First Reconciliation Request Form available
- Confirmation & First Eucharist Request Form available
- Confirmation Sponsor Form available
- Faith Formation Registration Form available
Adult Formation & OCIA (Becoming Catholic)
Adult parishioners are invited to ongoing adult faith formation programs offered throughout the year. The parish also runs the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (OCIA) for adults and children age 7 and older, welcoming Catechumens (unbaptized), Candidates for full communion from other Christian traditions, and baptized Catholics preparing to receive Confirmation and Eucharist. Sessions are held in a friendly group environment, with the Sacraments of Initiation celebrated at the Easter Vigil.
- OCIA sessions — schedule as posted in bulletin / online calendar
- OCIA for Children — ages 7 and above; unbaptized or baptized with no formal religious training
- Contact: 231.723.2619
Liturgical Ministries
Parishioners serve the liturgies of Divine Mercy Parish through a wide range of volunteer liturgical ministries. Anyone interested in serving is invited to contact the parish office.
- Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion
- Greeters
- Lectors
- Ushers
- Music Ministry / Cantors
- Altar Servers
- Sacristans
Music Ministry
The parish's Music Ministry is led by Music Director Jerry Stege and includes Cantors who serve at weekend and feast-day liturgies.
- Music Director: Jerry Stege ([email protected])
- Cantors program
Outreach & Charity
Divine Mercy Parish carries on its mission of being 'the presence of Christ to those who are in need' through direct outreach to the Manistee community, including a monthly drive-thru food pantry and homebound Communion visits.
- Matthew 25:35 Food Pantry — drive-thru, 2nd Friday each month, 9:00–11:00 am, at Manistee Catholic Central School, 1200 US 31 S
- Emergency needs: call the parish office at 231.723.2619
- Homebound Communion visits: call the parish office
Manistee Catholic Central School
Manistee Catholic Central School is associated with Divine Mercy Parish and serves as a hub for parish faith formation and outreach, including hosting the Matthew 25:35 Food Pantry distribution.
- Address: 1200 US 31 S, Manistee
- Hosts monthly Food Pantry distribution
Parish Staff & Office
The Divine Mercy Parish Office is open Monday through Friday from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm at 254 Sixth Street, Manistee. The parish is led by a pastor and parochial vicar, supported by office, maintenance, and music staff.
- Rev. James Bearss — Pastor ([email protected], Ext. 104)
- Rev. Shabu Kunnathoor — Parochial Vicar
- Ann Brown — Receptionist ([email protected], Ext. 101)
- Kristin Harvey — Office Assistant ([email protected], Ext. 108)
- Jason Horrigan — Maintenance Manager ([email protected])
- Jerry Stege — Music Director ([email protected])
- Office hours: Monday–Friday, 9:00 am – 4:00 pm
- Phone: 231.723.2619; Fax: 231.723.6827
Guardian Angels Historic Preservation Project
A volunteer group under Divine Mercy Parish, the Guardian Angels Historic Preservation Project is working to research, maintain, and develop a long-term future for the historic Guardian Angels Church. Their work led to the successful listing of Guardian Angels Church and Rectory on the National Register of Historic Places in 2020, and continues through prioritized maintenance and phased preservation planning done in collaboration with parish leadership and the Bishop of Gaylord.
- Volunteer group under Divine Mercy Parish
- Led application to National Register of Historic Places (listed 2020)
- Three-phase maintenance and preservation plan
- Church currently a limited-use facility, closed for winter season
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Father H. W. Grimme1888–1891
First pastor; took charge of the German and Irish Catholic congregation of Manistee on May 1, 1888; oversaw construction of Guardian Angels Church; died of typhoid fever in 1891.
- Father J. M. Steffes1891–~1937
Succeeded Father Grimme and shepherded Guardian Angels Parish for forty-six years; oversaw schoolhouse, convent, and rectory construction.