About Immaculate Conception Church · Three Rivers, Michigan
Immaculate Conception Parish is a Roman Catholic parish in Three Rivers, Michigan, in the Diocese of Kalamazoo. It serves as the anchor church of a collaborative with St. Clare Mission Parish in Centreville (and, per the 2016 diocesan pastoral plan, formerly also St. Barbara Mission in Colon). The parish celebrates Mass in English on weekends and weekdays, offers Confession on Saturdays, First Friday adoration, an active K-8 Catholic school (Immaculate Conception Catholic School), and a faith-formation program with OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults). The parish identifies itself as a warm community where 'faith comes to life, where a warm smile greets you and your spirit is refreshed.'
- Patron
- Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary
- Rector
- Rev. Arul Lazar, MSFS
- Diocese
- Diocese of Kalamazoo
Why belong here
Immaculate Conception offers the full rhythm of Catholic sacramental life — weekend Vigil and Sunday Mass, daily Mass Monday through Friday, Saturday Confession, and First Friday adoration — in an English-language, welcoming small-town community. It pairs parish worship with a parish-run K-8 Catholic school (Immaculate Conception Catholic School, 'Where Christ is the Heart of Education'), an OCIA process for adults, religious education for parish youth, and a collaborative partnership with neighboring St. Clare Mission in Centreville. It's a good fit for families, retirees, and anyone seeking a traditional, close-knit Catholic parish in the Three Rivers / St. Joseph County area.
Mass times at Immaculate Conception Church
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday: 3:00 PM – 3:45 PM (at IC Church)
- Sunday: 8:00 AM – 8:20 AM (at St. Clare, Centreville)
- Or by appointment
Adoration times
- Friday: 9:00 AM – 6:30 PM (First Friday of the Month)
Parish Staff & Clergy
Immaculate Conception is currently pastored by Rev. Arul Lazar, MSFS, a member of the Missionaries of St. Francis de Sales (Fransalians) ordained April 17, 2008. He leads the IC–St. Clare collaborative. Parish support staff includes the secretary / bulletin editor / safe-environment coordinator / bookkeeper Raquel Arias ([email protected]), Director of Religious Education Mark Voege, and OCIA directors Mark and Mary Brost. CCD at the St. Clare Mission is coordinated by Mary Collins.
- Pastor: Rev. Arul Lazar, MSFS ([email protected])
- Secretary / Bulletin / Safe Environment / Bookkeeper: Raquel Arias
- DRE: Mark Voege
- OCIA Directors: Mark & Mary Brost ([email protected])
- St. Clare CCD Coordinator: Mary Collins
Immaculate Conception Catholic School
Immaculate Conception Catholic School is the parish's K-8 school, located at 601 S. Douglas Avenue, Three Rivers. Its motto is 'Faith • Knowledge • Service — Where Christ is the Heart of Education.' The school admits students of any race, color, national, or ethnic origin in keeping with the Diocese of Kalamazoo's non-discrimination policy. It has its own website at iccatholicschool.com and an active alumni outreach program ('Calling All Alumni').
- Address: 601 S. Douglas Ave., Three Rivers, MI 49093
- Levels: Preschool through Grade 8
- Motto: 'Faith • Knowledge • Service'
- Website: iccatholicschool.com
- Diocesan affiliation: Office of Catholic Schools, Diocese of Kalamazoo
Faith Formation & OCIA
The parish's Director of Religious Education (Mark Voege) oversees faith formation for parish youth. The OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults, formerly RCIA) is directed by Mark and Mary Brost and walks adults through Catholic faith and the Sacraments of Initiation. St. Clare Mission's CCD program is coordinated by Mary Collins.
- DRE: Mark Voege ([email protected])
- OCIA Directors: Mark & Mary Brost ([email protected])
- St. Clare CCD Coordinator: Mary Collins ([email protected])
Music & Liturgy
Music at Immaculate Conception and St. Clare is led by a Director of Music who serves as organist/pianist and choir director for both parishes. The role includes planning seasonal music, training cantors and choirs, and developing a children's choir. Immaculate Conception is equipped with a two-manual Allen organ (model AP-217e, 37 stops, full AGO pedalboard, four memory levels, transposer, MIDI with recording sequencer) and an Everett upright piano for choir; St. Clare has a piano only.
- Director of Music — open position (contact Fr. Mathias / [email protected])
- Allen organ AP-217e (37 stops) and Everett upright piano
- Children's choir development listed as a responsibility
Parish Collaborative
Since 2016, Immaculate Conception has been grouped with St. Clare Mission Parish in Centreville (and, at the original 2016 configuration, also St. Barbara Mission in Colon) under one pastor as part of Bishop Paul J. Bradley's 'Diocesan Pastoral Plan: A Future Full of Hope.' That plan was the first of its kind in the 45-year history of the Diocese of Kalamazoo and created 28 parish collaboratives across the diocese's nine counties.
- Collaborative partners: Immaculate Conception, Three Rivers; St. Clare Mission, Centreville; (originally also St. Barbara Mission, Colon)
- Diocesan Pastoral Plan implemented July 1, 2016
- Single pastor leads the collaborative
Safe Environment
As part of the Diocese of Kalamazoo's commitment to protecting children and vulnerable adults, Immaculate Conception maintains a Safe Environment program coordinated by parish secretary Raquel Arias, with background checks and Virtus 'Protecting God's Children' training required for staff and volunteers who work with minors.
- Coordinator: Raquel Arias ([email protected])
- Aligned with diocesan Safe Environment policies
Giving & Online Support
Online giving is available through the Diocese of Kalamazoo's OSV Hub giving portal. Donors can select Immaculate Conception or the partner parish they wish to support.
- Online giving: osvhub.com/dioceseofkalamazoo/giving/funds/parish-offertory
- Donor can choose IC or partner parish
Visit & Contact
Visitors and parishioners can reach the parish by phone at (269) 273-8953 — the same line also serves St. Clare Mission, Centreville. The parish office email is [email protected]; the pastor's email is [email protected]. The parish mailing address is 645 S. Douglas Avenue, Three Rivers, MI 49093.
- Phone: (269) 273-8953
- Parish office: [email protected]
- Pastor: [email protected]
- Mailing address: 645 S. Douglas Ave., Three Rivers, MI 49093
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Antony Rajesh, MSFSreassigned July 2016
Appointed pastor of Immaculate Conception Parish, Three Rivers; St. Clare Parish, Centreville; and St. Barbara Parish, Colon, as part of Bishop Bradley's 2016 Diocesan Pastoral Plan; a Fransalian (Missionaries of St. Francis de Sales).
- Rev. Arul Lazar, MSFScurrent (per Dec 2025 diocesan directory)
Current pastor of Immaculate Conception Parish and St. Clare Mission; ordained April 17, 2008 for the Missionaries of St. Francis de Sales; also serves as Central Deanery clergy.