About Holy Name · Birmingham, Michigan
Holy Name Parish is a Roman Catholic parish of the Archdiocese of Detroit located at 630 Harmon Street in Birmingham, Michigan, about a half-mile north of downtown Birmingham in a quiet residential neighborhood. The parish was officially constituted in July 1921 out of what had been called the 'Birmingham Mission' and serves a multigenerational Catholic community in the Birmingham–Bloomfield–Troy corridor. As of 2022 it is part of South Oakland Vicariate Family 2, an in solidum grouping with Our Lady Queen of Martyrs (Beverly Hills), St. Owen (Bloomfield Hills), and St. Regis (Bloomfield Hills), pastored by Monsignor John Zenz as moderator.
- Established
- 1921
- Patron
- Holy Name (of Jesus)
- Rector
- Msgr. John Zenz
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Detroit
Why belong here
Holy Name is a long-established parish (more than a century in Birmingham) with an active parish school, a robust Faith Formation program for PreK through 8th grade, weekly school Mass, Eucharistic Adoration in the chapel, and a daily 8 AM Mass that is easy for working parishioners to attend. Its pastor leads a four-parish 'in solidum' family in the South Oakland Vicariate, and the parish explicitly weaves together Word, worship and service — meaning strong sacramental life is paired with outreach and faith formation for children and adults. Nestled on a 3.5-acre residential plot a half-mile north of downtown Birmingham, it offers a personal, neighborhood feel alongside the resources of a well-staffed parish school and Archdiocese of Detroit network.
Mass times at Holy Name
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 3:00 PM – 4:00 PM
- Wednesday 4:00 PM – 7:00 PM (Third Wednesday of each month)
- Or by appointment (call 248.646.2244)
Adoration times
- Eucharistic Adoration in the Chapel: 4th Wednesday of each month, 4:00 PM – 7:00 PM
Parish History
Holy Name traces its roots to the 'Birmingham Mission' established in 1918 on a three-hundred-foot lot at Woodland and Harmon. After being served by priests from St. Mary Royal Oak, the Mission was raised to parish status in July 1921 under its first pastor, Fr. William Ryan, with a Spanish mission-style church dedicated in 1922 and a school opened in 1928. The present church, designed by George Diehl and Associates, was built in 1954 and dedicated by Cardinal Edward Mooney the following year, and the worship space was renovated in 1984 and again around 2000–2002.
- 1918 – 'Birmingham Mission' created; lot at Woodland & Harmon purchased
- 1921 (July) – Parish constituted as 'Holy Name'; Fr. William Ryan named first pastor
- 1922 (April 30) – First Spanish mission-style church dedicated
- 1928 – Parish school opens, staffed by IHM Sisters from Monroe
- 1954 – Current church built to designs of George Diehl and Associates (capacity ~900)
- Dedicated the following year by Cardinal Edward Mooney
- 1984, 2000, 2002 – Worship-space renovations
- Parish offices/facilities expanded in 1984, 1991, 2001 and 2011
- Mother parish for St. Hugo, St. Regis, Our Lady Queen of Martyrs, and the now-closed St. Columban
From the Pastor — Msgr. John Zenz
The pastor's letter situates Holy Name as a residential parish a half-mile north of downtown Birmingham, set on 3.5 acres, and articulates four guiding principles for the parish community: the interweaving of Word, worship and service; mutual hospitality; the value of real, physical presence; and the belief that salvation is communal, not individual. Monsignor Zenz invites newcomers to 'give us a try' and experience the parish's 'positive, joyful energy.'
- Msgr. John Zenz — Pastor (also Moderator of South Oakland Vicariate Family 2)
- Four guiding principles: Word/worship/service interwoven; mutual hospitality; real presence; communal salvation
- Invitation extended to new and long-time Birmingham-area residents
Clergy & Family of Parishes
Since July 1, 2022, Holy Name has been part of South Oakland Vicariate Family 2 under the Archdiocese of Detroit's 'family of parishes' model, with Msgr. John Zenz serving as moderator of an in solidum team that includes Msgr. Michael LeFevre and Fr. John Dudek, plus weekend support from Fr. Michael Loyson. Deacons Francis King, Christopher Beltowski, and Michael McKale assist across the family.
- Msgr. John Zenz — Moderator / Pastor
- Msgr. Michael LeFevre — Priest In Solidum
- Rev. John Dudek — Priest In Solidum
- Rev. Michael Loyson — Weekend Support
- Rev. Grayson Heenan — assisting priest
- Deacon Francis King, Deacon Christopher Beltowski, Deacon Michael McKale
- Parish family also includes Our Lady Queen of Martyrs (Beverly Hills), St. Owen (Bloomfield Hills), St. Regis (Bloomfield Hills)
Holy Name Catholic School
Founded in 1928 and still operating as a parish-based Catholic school, Holy Name Catholic School serves students from Pre-K through Grade 8 in a residential Birmingham setting and is accredited by the Michigan Association of Non-Public Schools (MANS). It was recognized as a National Blue Ribbon School in 2008 and offers weekly whole-school Mass, twice-yearly opportunities for the Sacrament of Penance, CYO athletics, after-school care and enrichment, and transportation via public school buses for residents of the Birmingham School District. The principal is Mrs. DeAnn Brzezinski.
- Co-educational, Pre-K through Grade 8
- Founded 1928; located in a residential Birmingham neighborhood
- Accredited by MANS; National Blue Ribbon School (2008)
- Principal: Mrs. DeAnn Brzezinski
- Weekly whole-school Mass; Sacrament of Penance offered twice a year
- CYO athletics; after-school care and enrichment programs
- Facilities: media center, gymnasium, cafeteria, music room, art room, technology lab, science lab
- Transportation via public school buses for Birmingham School District residents
Faith Formation (Religious Education)
The parish's Faith Formation program runs from the beginning of October through the following April each year, with a $150 per-student cost and registration open through August 31. Programming is split by age: Pre-K through Grade 1 during the Sunday 10:00 AM Mass, Grades 2–5 on Monday afternoons (4:45–5:45 PM), and Grades 6–8 in the evening (6:45–7:45 PM). Registration is a two-step process using GiveButter for payment followed by a fillable PDF returned to Faith Formation Coordinator Assistant Erin Kearns ([email protected]).
- Pre-K–Grade 1: Sunday during 10:00 AM Mass
- Grades 2–5: Monday 4:45–5:45 PM
- Grades 6–8: Monday 6:45–7:45 PM
- Cost: $150/student; registration open through August 31
- Coordinator Assistant: Erin Kearns ([email protected])
Spiritual Formation & Devotions
Beyond the regular Mass and Confession schedule, Holy Name offers a rich devotional life centered on Eucharistic Adoration, the Rosary, and seasonal formation programs. The school community observes an Advent Traveling Nativity with daily reflections, a Lenten Traveling Crucifix Prayer for Vocations, and a Traveling Rosary Program invoking the intercession of the Blessed Mother for families. Daily Mass is followed by the Rosary, and a Community Rosary is also prayed via Zoom.
- Eucharistic Adoration (4th Wednesday monthly)
- Rosary after daily Mass (8:30 AM) and via Community Zoom
- Advent Traveling Nativity with Holy Name Advent Prayer and daily reflections
- Traveling Crucifix Program (Lent) – Prayer for Vocations
- Traveling Rosary Program (intercession of Blessed Mother Mary) for families
Visiting & Contact
Parishioners and visitors are welcomed at the parish office during weekday hours and at the church and chapel during the posted daily and weekend hours. Announcements and parish news are distributed through the myParish app and a text-alert system, while Masses and devotions are livestreamed for those unable to attend in person.
- Parish Office Hours: Mon–Fri 7:30 AM – 3:30 PM (closed 12:00–12:30 PM)
- Church & Chapel Hours: Mon–Fri 7:30 AM – 3:30 PM; Sat 3:00–5:30 PM; Sun 7:30 AM – 1:30 PM
- Phone: 248-646-2244
- Email: [email protected]
- myParish app: eva.us/holyname
- Text 'holyname' to 55321 for parish announcements
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. William Ryan1921–
First pastor of Holy Name when the Birmingham Mission became a parish in July 1921; oversaw dedication of the first Spanish mission-style church in 1922 and the opening of the IHM-staffed school in 1928.