About Immaculate Conception · Lapeer, Michigan
Immaculate Conception Catholic Church is a traditional, devotional parish of the Archdiocese of Detroit serving Lapeer, Michigan and the surrounding Lapeer County since 1864. The parish worships in a towering fieldstone Gothic-style church on West Nepessing Street, dedicated September 2, 1901, and is known for its reverence in celebrating the Mass, an active Latin Mass tradition, perpetual Eucharistic adoration, and a robust RCIA program. With roughly 2,100 registered families, the parish also ministers at St. Louise Chapel in Metamora and maintains Mt. Loretto Cemetery, together covering an area of about 250 square miles — among the largest geographical footprints in the Archdiocese of Detroit.
- Established
- 1864
- Patron
- Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary
- Rector
- Rev. Brian P. Hurley
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Detroit
Why belong here
Immaculate Conception is a 'full-Gospel' parish known for the reverence of its liturgy, including a regular Traditional Latin Mass, 24/7 Eucharistic adoration, and devotions such as the Marian Hour, Cenacle of Life rosary, and Confraternity for Holy Souls. With about 2,100 registered families, it offers a large and unusually active RCIA program (10–20 inquirers each year), a strong faith-formation program for grades 1–8, and ministries for every age and stage — Knights of Columbus, St. Vincent de Paul, Ladies League, youth group, Tender Hearts for bereaved parents, Welcome Ministry for returning Catholics, food pantry, and a Healing Shrine of St. Jude and St. Peregrine. The parish covers more than 250 square miles of Lapeer County, including St. Louise Chapel in Metamora and Mt. Loretto Cemetery.
Mass times at Immaculate Conception
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Tuesday — following 9:00 AM Mass
- Wednesday — following 9:00 AM Mass
- First Wednesday — 8:15 PM
- First Friday — following 9:00 AM Mass
- First Saturday — 8:15 AM
- Saturday — 3:00 to 3:45 PM
- By appointment (call the rectory)
Adoration times
- Perpetual (24/7) Eucharistic Adoration at the Sacred Heart Altar in the main church
Parish History
Long before Michigan was a state, French missionaries are believed to have passed through the Lapeer County area, named by them "la pierre" — "the stone" — for the rocky bed of the Flint River. The first Catholic settlers were Irish, including Patrick Scully in Mayfield Township (1834) and William Halpin (1838), and the earliest recorded Mass in the county was offered in the home of John Heenan near the "Scotch Settlement." Anti-Catholic prejudice was real: in 1844 visiting missionary Father Laurence Kilroy was pelted with stones, and the original 1859 churchsite on Calhoun and Oregon was chosen to keep Catholics "out of sight." The parish was formally established in October 1864 with the arrival of 25-year-old Father John Busche, who named the church after the Immaculate Conception — among the first in America to bear that title after the 1858 dogma.
- First resident pastor: Fr. John Busche (arrived October 1864)
- Original church: simple wooden Greek Revival building, 1860–1866
- Current church: fieldstone Gothic, dedicated September 2, 1901
- Piety Hill Historic District location
- 150th anniversary celebrated in 2014
The Church Building & Architecture
The current church is a towering fieldstone Gothic-style structure, dedicated September 2, 1901, built a mile south of the original wooden church. Its interior features a barrel-vault ceiling, pointed arches, and Corinthian columns; a Jerusalem Cross is inlaid in the floor before the altar. Notable stained glass includes the Lamb of God in the west transept, the Descent of the Holy Spirit in the east, and geometric-pattern windows throughout the nave. In 2013 a 7,000-pound marble altar was rescued from a closed New Jersey church and installed, and in 2023 a new composite granite roof was put on by Anderson Carpentry and Sheet Metal of Marlette, partly funded by the Knights of Columbus.
- Gothic-style fieldstone construction (dedicated 1901)
- Barrel-vault ceiling, pointed arches, Corinthian columns
- Marble altar rescued from a closed New Jersey church (2013)
- New composite granite roof installed 2023
- Marian grotto and Memorial for the Unborn between church and rectory
Healing Shrine of St. Jude and St. Peregrine
In the transepts of the church stand statues and relics of two beloved saints. The St. Peregrine shrine is in the east transept, and the St. Jude statue and relic stand in the west transept. The St. Jude statue has its own remarkable story: it was the very statue before which entertainer Danny Thomas prayed early in his career, shortly after which his career took off; in thanksgiving Thomas founded St. Jude Children's Research Hospital in Tennessee. The statue and relic were originally at St. Dominic Parish in Detroit and were transferred to Immaculate Conception when that church closed in 2005.
- St. Jude statue and relic — west transept
- St. Peregrine relic and statue — east transept
- St. Jude statue prayed before by Danny Thomas
- Relics moved from St. Dominic Parish, Detroit (closed 2005)
Clergy & Staff
Father Brian P. Hurley has served as pastor since July 2018, when he was named by Archbishop Allen H. Vigneron after 12 years as pastor of St. Anthony Parish in Temperance. He is assisted by Deacon Joseph Hulway. The parish is supported by a full lay staff for faith formation, music, youth, maintenance, bookkeeping, and office/cemetery management.
- Pastor: Rev. Brian P. Hurley ([email protected])
- Deacon: Joseph Hulway
- Office Manager / Cemetery Manager / Webmaster: Karen Dupont
- Bookkeeper: Leigh Trerice
- Director of Religious Education: Julie Allison
- Youth Coordinator: Kelsey Madrigal
- Bulletin Editor & Music: Hilary Thompson
- Maintenance: Fred Green
- Cleaning: Amanda Dupont
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Religious Education for grades 1 through 8 meets Wednesday evenings from 6:00 to 7:30 PM in the Parish Center Building (the former Bishop Kelley School). Sacramental preparation for First Holy Communion and Confirmation follows Archdiocese of Detroit norms, including sacramental retreats. A homeschool co-op also meets on Tuesdays during the school year for field trips and activities.
- Grades 1–8: Wednesdays 6:00–7:30 PM, Parish Center
- Director of Religious Education: Julie Allison — [email protected]
- Sacramental prep for First Reconciliation, First Communion, Confirmation
- Homeschoolers co-op — Tuesdays during school year
Bishop Kelley Catholic School (1950–2022)
Bishop Kelley Memorial School opened in 1950 as the parish's PK–8 elementary, partly funded by a $60,000 grant from the Extension Society established by Bishop Francis C. Kelley, the former pastor after whom it was named. Originally staffed by Dominican Republic nuns teaching nearly 100 students in four classrooms, the school grew through the decades with a gymnasium, 2010 classroom/cafeteria expansion, and a long run of lay teachers. After 72 years and a decline to just 38 K–8 students at the end of 2021–22, Pastor Fr. Brian Hurley announced the school would close at the end of that academic year. The building continues to serve the parish as the Parish Center and Community Room used for Religious Education and many parish meetings.
- Founded 1950, closed June 2022 (72 years)
- Named for Bishop Francis C. Kelley, former pastor
- Only Catholic school ever in Lapeer County
- Now functions as Parish Center / Community Room
Parish Apostolates & Ministries
Immaculate Conception offers a wide range of lay apostolates and service ministries, reflecting its traditional, devotional culture and active parish life. Outreach includes the Society of St. Vincent de Paul (distributing $500–$800/week), a parish Food Pantry (Wednesdays 1–4 PM), Knights of Columbus Council 1987, and Angels of Mercy for the elderly and homebound. Spiritual and devotional groups include the Marian Hour of Prayer, Cenacle of Life rosary, Word of Life, Mother of Perpetual Help Rosary, Confraternity for Holy Souls, and the Secular Order of Discalced Carmelites. Pastoral-care ministries include Hospital/Homebound/Nursing Home Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion and the Tender Hearts bereaved-parents group. The Welcome Ministry reaches returning Catholics and inquirers, while RCIA welcomes 10–20 new inquirers each year. Social life is fostered by the Hospitality Committee (Coffee & Donuts, Daddy-Daughter Dance, St. Patrick's Party, Lapeer Days Parade float) and the Ladies League.
- Knights of Columbus Council 1987
- Society of St. Vincent de Paul
- Food Pantry (Wed 1–4 PM)
- RCIA (10–20 inquirers/year)
- Tender Hearts (bereaved parents)
- Welcome Ministry
- Ladies League, Hospitality Committee
- Marian Hour, Cenacle of Life, Word of Life
- Mother of Perpetual Help Rosary, Confraternity for Holy Souls
- Secular Order of Discalced Carmelites
- Angels of Mercy (elderly/homebound)
- Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion (hospital/homebound/nursing home)
- Youth Group (2nd & 4th Fridays)
- Homeschoolers Co-op
St. Louise Chapel, Metamora
Seven miles south of the main church, the parish ministers at St. Louise Chapel in Metamora (3477 South Lapeer Road). The mission chapel offers an additional Sunday Mass at 10:00 AM and shares the parish's reconciliation schedule, with confessions Saturday 3:00–3:45 PM and Friday 9:30 AM at the main church.
- Address: 3477 South Lapeer Road, Metamora
- Sunday Mass: 10:00 AM
- Phone (shared): (810) 664-8594
Mt. Loretto Cemetery
Immaculate Conception Parish manages Mt. Loretto Cemetery, located about two miles south of the church, with many graves dating to the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The Office Manager (Karen Dupont) also serves as Cemetery Manager; cemetery questions are handled through the parish office.
- Two miles south of the parish
- Graves dating to late 1800s / early 1900s
- Cemetery Manager: Karen Dupont
Sacraments & Sacramental Preparation
The parish requires six months of parish registration and participation before scheduling Baptism, Confirmation, or Marriage. Baptisms require a parent preparation class, at least one Catholic godparent (fully initiated, age 16+) per Canon 874, and a Christian name (Canon 855). First Communion requires 1st-grade religious education, First Reconciliation first, and sacramental retreat. Confirmation requires 7th-grade religious education and a one-year Confirmation Prep class with no more than three absences. Marriage requires contacting the pastor at least nine months in advance, marriage prep, NFP class, and Pre-Marriage Inventory. The Anointing of the Sick is available by appointment — not only as Last Rites — and funerals must be officiated by the parish pastor or a family-member priest.
- Baptism, First Communion, Confirmation, Matrimony, Anointing of the Sick, Funerals
- Six-month parish registration prerequisite
- Pastor: Fr. Brian P. Hurley (810-664-8594)
Visiting & New Parishioners
The parish warmly welcomes visitors. Dress is 'Sunday best' — no shorts, spaghetti straps, short skirts, or low-cut tops — but the focus is on worship, not attire. Parking is on the street in front of the church or in the large lot on the north side. Children are welcome in the pews; if they grow disruptive, families are invited to step to the back of the church where a children's bookshelf of kid-friendly titles is available. Missals in each pew guide visitors through the order of Mass. Non-Catholics are respectfully asked to remain in the pew during Communion; a Spiritual Communion prayer is printed on the back cover of the Source and Summit missal. Visitors are not expected to contribute to the offering.
- Address: 814 W Nepessing St, Lapeer, MI 48446
- Parking: street frontage + north-side lot
- Children welcome; children's bookshelf in vestibule
- Source and Summit missals in every pew
Office Hours & Practical Information
Parish office hours are posted on the website. The parish bulletin, published weekly, is the main source of news, events, and spiritual reflections; bulletin articles are due by 5:00 PM Monday. Online giving is available through WeShare. The parish is currently participating in the Archdiocese of Detroit's 2026 pastorate/restructuring listening-session process under Archbishop Edward J. Weisenburger, with two Listening Sessions scheduled at the parish in June (June 8 and June 10, 7:00–9:00 PM).
- Bulletin: weekly, online at lapeercatholic.org
- Online giving: lapeercatholic.weshareonline.org
- 2026 Archdiocese of Detroit pastorate Listening Sessions: June 8 & 10, 7–9 PM
- Office hours listed on homepage
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. John Busche1864 – (long pastorate, last half of 19th c.)
25-year-old German missionary who arrived in October 1864 as first resident pastor; completed the original wooden church, founded missions at Imlay City and Davison, and named the parish Immaculate Conception of the BVM.
- Fr. Francis (C.) Kelleyturn of the 20th century
Later consecrated in 1924 as second Bishop of Oklahoma City; died 1948 and became namesake of Bishop Kelley Memorial School (founded 1950).
- Fr. Douglas Terrienc. 1994 – June 2018 (24 years)
Shepherded sesquicentennial in 2014; oversaw popular 24/7 adoration, RCIA growth, Healing Shrine, and 'Fr. Terrien's Farmer's Market.' Reassigned June 30, 2018 to Our Lady on the River Parish, Marine City.
- Fr. Brian P. HurleyJuly 2018 – present
Named pastor May 6, 2018 by Archbishop Allen H. Vigneron; previously pastor of St. Anthony Parish, Temperance (12 years). Engineer background (Ford/Saturn), traditionalist, promotes Latin Mass.