About Light of Christ (St. Alphonsus) · Deerfield, Michigan
Light of Christ Parish is a Roman Catholic community of nearly 700 families serving the southeastern Michigan towns of Blissfield and Deerfield, nine miles apart on the Ohio border, together with the surrounding villages of Petersburg, Britton, Riga and Palmyra. It was created on July 1, 2010 by the merger of St. Peter the Apostle (Blissfield) and St. Alphonsus (Deerfield), both of which had served their farming communities for generations — St. Alphonsus since 1864 and St. Peter the Apostle since 1910. The parish belongs to the Diocese of Lansing and today worships in two historic church buildings, with the parish office and administrative center located at St. Alphonsus in Deerfield.
- Established
- 2010
- Patron
- Christ the Light (parish name); buildings dedicated to St. Alphonsus (Deerfield) and St. Peter the Apostle (Blissfield)
- Rector
- Rev. Jeffrey Allen Poll
- Diocese
- Diocese of Lansing
Why belong here
Light of Christ Parish welcomes families into a close-knit rural Catholic community of nearly 700 households spread across the agricultural villages of Blissfield, Deerfield, Petersburg, Britton, Riga and Palmyra. Members worship in two historic churches — the 1896 St. Alphonsus in Deerfield and St. Peter the Apostle in Blissfield — with daily and weekly Mass schedules at both sites, plus Saturday Reconciliation and live-streamed Sunday liturgies. A full faith-formation program for preschool through high school, RCIA for adults, a Knights of Columbus council, a parish food pantry, and seasonal outreach make this a parish where newcomers can quickly find a role in worship, education and service.
Mass times at Light of Christ (St. Alphonsus)
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturdays, 3:00–4:00 PM, at the alternating Saturday Mass location
About Light of Christ Parish
Light of Christ Parish is a Roman Catholic community of roughly 700 families formed in 2010 from the merger of St. Peter the Apostle Parish in Blissfield and St. Alphonsus Parish in Deerfield. Both historic churches remain in active use as worship sites, and the parish office is housed at the St. Alphonsus campus in Deerfield at 222 Carey Street. The parish belongs to the Diocese of Lansing and serves an agricultural corner of southeastern Lenawee County, Michigan, on the Ohio border, including the villages of Petersburg, Britton, Riga and Palmyra.
- Established July 1, 2010 by decree of Bishop Paul A. Connare
- Diocese of Lansing
- Two worship sites: St. Alphonsus (Deerfield) and St. Peter the Apostle (Blissfield), nine miles apart
- Approximately 700 registered families
- Parish feast day: Solemnity of the Epiphany
History and Heritage
St. Alphonsus Parish traces its roots to 1864, founded by French and Irish Catholic settlers from the northeastern United States and Canada. Redemptorist priests and brothers served the early mission, traveling by train between Monroe and Adrian to minister to the scattered faithful. The present Deerfield church building — the third on or near the site — was constructed in 1896 through extensive volunteer labor and donated parish materials. St. Peter the Apostle Parish in Blissfield was established in 1910. In the eleven months prior to the 2010 merger, the two communities worked together under the direction of their pastor, Rev. Jack Loughran, O.S.F.S., and a joint Transition Team, producing the mission statement still guiding the parish: 'We, a Catholic community united in faith, bring the light of Christ to God's people through worship, education and service.'
- St. Alphonsus founded 1864; current church built 1896
- St. Peter the Apostle founded 1910
- Merger effective midnight June 30, 2010
- Mission statement developed by combined communities
Faith Formation & Religious Education
The parish runs a full faith-formation program for preschool through high school, with Confirmation preparation beginning in the ninth grade and celebrated in the spring of sophomore year. Programs include Children's Liturgy of the Word, Catechesis of the Good Shepherd for ages 3–5, Vacation Bible School, and the identical religion curriculum offered at both the St. Peter and St. Alphonsus campuses. Adult Faith Formation includes seasonal programs during Advent and Lent.
- DRE: Deanna Burke
- Religious Education Grades 1–8
- High School program and Confirmation (grades 9–10)
- Children's Liturgy of the Word
- Catechesis of the Good Shepherd (ages 3–5)
- Vacation Bible School
- Adult Faith Formation (Lent/Advent programs)
RCIA — Becoming Catholic
The Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults meets in the fall in the Parish Center in Deerfield at 9:00 AM, with the first several weeks serving as informational sessions for anyone exploring the Catholic faith. Those interested are invited to contact the parish office.
- Sessions: fall, 9:00 AM, Parish Center (Deerfield)
- Contact: 517-447-3500
Sacraments
The parish celebrates the full range of Catholic sacraments. Parents should contact the parish office to schedule a Baptism; engaged couples are asked to contact the pastor nine to twelve months before their preferred wedding date; those who are sick, hospitalized or homebound may call the parish office to arrange a Communion visit or the Anointing of the Sick; First Reconciliation, First Eucharist and Confirmation are prepared through the Religious Education program.
- Baptism — call the parish office
- Reconciliation — Saturdays 3:00–4:00 PM at the Mass site
- Anointing of the Sick / Communion to the homebound — by request
- Marriage — contact pastor 9–12 months in advance
- Confirmation preparation — 9th–10th grade
Parish Staff
The parish is led by its pastor with a staff of parish professionals responsible for liturgy, faith formation, music, communications, finances and facilities.
- Pastor: Rev. Jeffrey Allen Poll — [email protected]
- Director of Religious Education: Deanna Burke
- Music Director: Karen Nevins
- Music Coordinator: Rose Piotter
- Bulletin Editor & Ministry Scheduling: Leanne Goodin
- Business Manager / Bookkeeper: Susan Cousino
- Maintenance: Jeff Simpson & Logan Kastel
Music Ministry
Music Director Karen Nevins, joined by Music Coordinator Rose Piotter, plans and prepares all liturgical music at both church sites — selecting repertoire, rehearsing choirs and cantors, and coordinating accompanists. The parish has a tradition of choir, cantors, and a handbell choir, with the goal of making each liturgy a more prayerful and spiritual experience for parishioners and visitors.
- Adult choir at both sites
- Cantor program with vocal coaching
- Handbell choir (historical)
- Encouragement for new music ministers to contact the director
Parish Organizations
Light of Christ Parish supports a wide array of lay organizations and commissions that animate parish life and outreach. The parish commissions — Finance, Education, Social Ministry and New Evangelization — set the direction of parish work, while parish organizations run concrete ministries in the community.
- Finance Commission
- Education Commission
- Social Ministry / Social Concerns Commission (operates the Food Pantry)
- New Evangelization Commission
- Knights of Columbus Council 7832 (founded 1981; runs the annual Christmas food and gift basket drive for over 100 local families and the Tootsie Roll collection)
- Funeral Luncheon Committees
- Heritage Garden Club
- Women of Prayer
Outreach and Social Concerns
The parish's Social Concerns Commission runs a Food Pantry open the second Wednesday of each month from 1:00 to 2:00 PM at the Parish Center in Deerfield. Parishioners also coordinate Meals on Wheels delivery drivers from the parish several weeks each year, and the Knights of Columbus conduct an annual Christmas food and gift basket drive serving over 100 local families.
- Food Pantry — 2nd Wednesday, 1:00–2:00 PM, Parish Center, Deerfield
- Meals on Wheels delivery coordination
- Knights of Columbus Christmas baskets for 100+ families
Locations & Contact
The parish office is located at the St. Alphonsus campus in Deerfield and is open Tuesday and Thursday (regular hours 9:00 AM–5:00 PM; summer hours 8:00 AM–4:00 PM from Memorial Day through Labor Day). Mass is celebrated at both the Deerfield and Blissfield church buildings.
- St. Alphonsus Church — 222 Carey Street, Deerfield, MI 49238
- St. Peter the Apostle Church — 309 S. Lane Street, Blissfield, MI 49228
- Parish phone: 517-447-3500
- Email: [email protected]
- Office hours: Tue/Thu 9 AM–5 PM (summer 8 AM–4 PM)
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. John (Jack) Loughran, O.S.F.S.First pastor of Light of Christ Parish from 2010
Served as pastor of both predecessor parishes (St. Peter the Apostle and St. Alphonsus) and directed the eleven-month transition leading to the 2010 merger; Oblate of St. Francis de Sales.