About Mary Queen of Apostles Catholic Church · Sand Lake, Michigan
Mary Queen of Apostles is a small Roman Catholic parish in the village of Sand Lake, Michigan, in the Diocese of Grand Rapids. Originally known as St. Mary Parish, it was established in 1923 and serves the rural Sand Lake community from its church at 1 W. Maple Street. The parish is clustered with St. John Paul II Parish in Cedar Springs, sharing a pastor and many ministries. After more than a century of ministry marked by declining Mass attendance, the Diocese of Grand Rapids announced in June 2025 that Mary Queen of Apostles will merge into St. John Paul II as part of the 'Rooted in Christ' pastoral plan; meanwhile, the historic church building continues to host Monday Mass, confession, and Eucharistic adoration.
- Established
- 1923
- Patron
- Blessed Virgin Mary, under the title Mary, Queen of the Apostles (originally St. Mary, Sand Lake)
- Rector
- Rev. Lam T. Le
- Diocese
- Diocese of Grand Rapids (Kent County, Grand Rapids North Deanery)
Why belong here
Mary Queen of Apostles offers a deeply rooted, small-town Catholic community in the Sand Lake village, with Monday evening Mass accompanied by Eucharistic adoration (5:30–6:45 p.m.) and confession (6:00–6:30 p.m.). As part of the cluster with St. John Paul II in Cedar Springs, parishioners can access faith formation for children, OCIA for adults becoming Catholic, a parish book study, and shared ministries. It is a fitting parish for those who value the quieter rhythm of rural Catholic life, Marian devotion, and a personal connection with their pastor.
Mass times at Mary Queen of Apostles Catholic Church
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Monday 6:00 – 6:30 p.m.
- By appointment
Adoration times
- Monday 5:30 – 6:45 p.m. (Eucharistic Adoration, followed by Benediction at 6:45 p.m.)
Parish History & Heritage
Originally known as St. Mary Parish in Sand Lake, the community stretches back to the 1860s when Catholic settlers affiliated with parishes in Grand Rapids, Parnell, Carson City and Big Rapids. Masses were first celebrated in family homes, with a priest riding the train from Big Rapids about once a month. The congregation purchased land in 1917, built a basement church in 1923, and welcomed Father Sebastian VanGessel as its first resident pastor the same year. The upper church was dedicated on August 6, 1933, with 45 families registered. The parish was later renamed 'Mary Queen of Apostles' during the pastorate of Father Edward A. Hankiewicz to distinguish it from other diocesan parishes with the same name.
- Origins: 1860s Catholic settlers in Sand Lake area
- Property purchased: 1917
- First pastor: Father Sebastian VanGessel (1923)
- First Mass in new church: August 6, 1933 (45 families registered)
- Name change to Mary Queen of Apostles under Father Edward A. Hankiewicz
- 100 Years of Faith anniversary celebrated with Bishop David Walkowiak on August 20, 2023
- Cabrini Hall served as the on-site fellowship and religious education building
Cluster with St. John Paul II Parish
Mary Queen of Apostles is officially clustered with St. John Paul II Parish in Cedar Springs under a single pastor — since 2013, Father Lam T. Le. The two parishes share staff, faith formation, and the parish office, while Mary Queen of Apostles continues as a distinct worship site for Monday Mass, adoration, and confession. Most parish ministries (Religious Education, OCIA, the Parish Book Study) are run jointly under the St. John Paul II / Mary Queen of Apostles umbrella.
- Pastoral address: 3110 17 Mile Rd NE, Cedar Springs, MI 49319
- Shared phone: (616) 696-3904
- Shared email: [email protected]
- Website hub: jp2-mqa.org
Sacraments
Sacraments at the cluster are coordinated through the parish office (616-696-3904, [email protected]). Adults seeking Baptism, Communion, or Confirmation enter the OCIA process, while children typically prepare through the parish Religious Education program. Weddings, baptisms, and other rites should be arranged directly with the pastor.
- Baptism — contact parish office
- Marriage — contact parish office
- First Eucharist and Confirmation — via Religious Education
- OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults) — for unbaptized and uncatechized adults
Faith Formation & OCIA
Faith formation in the cluster is shared with St. John Paul II. Children in kindergarten through eighth grade attend weekly classes on Wednesday evenings from 6:00–7:30 p.m. at St. John Paul II, with the evening including Eucharistic Adoration open to parents. Adults interested in becoming Catholic participate in the OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults) program, with formation on Sundays during the 10:30 a.m. Mass at St. John Paul II and the traditional rites of Acceptance, Sending, Election, and Easter Vigil reception.
- OCIA — Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (formerly RCIA)
- Religious Education for K–8 (Wednesdays, Cedar Springs)
- Adult Faith Formation
- Parish Book Study Group (Mondays, 1:00 p.m., Office Building)
Staff & Clergy
The cluster's staff includes a pastor, coordinator of religious education, office manager, and shared bookkeeper. The diocese's directory lists Father Lam T. Le as the parish's pastor, and Deacon John Falicki assisted at the 2023 anniversary Mass. The cluster also benefits from Father Le's academic ministry as an Adjunct Assistant Professor of Theology at Aquinas College.
- Pastor: Rev. Lam T. Le
- Deacon John Falicki
- Coordinator of Religious Education: Morgan Afton ([email protected])
- Office Manager: Mary Harrison
- SJP2/MQA Bookkeeper: Annette Kogut
About Father Lam T. Le
Reverend Father Lam T. Le was born and raised in Vietnam for sixteen years before immigrating with his family to Holland, Michigan in 1991. After high school at a Catholic institution he responded to God's call, completed priestly formation for the Diocese of Grand Rapids, and during the Great Jubilee 2000 finished his theological studies at the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome while living at the Pontifical North American College. He was ordained a transitional deacon in 2003 at his home parish and ordained a priest in 2004 at the Cathedral of St. Andrew in Grand Rapids. After serving as Parochial Vicar at Holy Family in Caledonia, he became pastor of St. Mary and St. Paul Campus Parish in Big Rapids in 2006; on April 17, 2013, Bishop Walter A. Hurley appointed him the first pastor of the newly established St. John Paul II Parish, which now clusters with Mary Queen of Apostles. He also teaches theology as an adjunct at Aquinas College.
- Born: Vietnam; immigrated to Holland, Michigan, May 1991
- Roman formation: Pontifical North American College; STL from Pontifical Gregorian University
- Ordained priest: July 10, 2004, Cathedral of St. Andrew
- Prior assignments: Holy Family Caledonia (Parochial Vicar); St. Mary / St. Paul Campus, Big Rapids (Pastor from 2006)
- Adjunct Assistant Professor of Theology at Aquinas College
Contact & Visiting
Mary Queen of Apostles welcomes visitors and parishioners to its worship site in the village of Sand Lake. Because the two parishes share a pastor and staff, most inquiries — baptisms, weddings, faith formation registration, Mass intentions, bulletins — are best directed to the St. John Paul II office. The historic church building at 1 W. Maple Street is the parish's heart, while parish business mail should be sent to the Cedar Springs address.
- Worship Site: 1 W. Maple St., Sand Lake, MI 49343
- Business Address: 3110 17 Mile Rd NE, Cedar Springs, MI 49319
- Phone: (616) 696-3904
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: jp2-mqa.org/mqa/
Rooted in Christ & the Future
In June 2025, the Diocese of Grand Rapids released its 'Rooted in Christ' pastoral plan, prepared with the Catholic consulting firm Meitler after surveying 79 parishes across 11 counties. Citing a shortage of priests (only one ordained in 2024 and none in 2025, against multiple retirements and reassignments), the plan directs Mary Queen of Apostles to merge into St. John Paul II Parish. The Sand Lake church building is to continue offering Monday Mass, confession, and adoration until the merger is completed and the property sold; the parish's final regularly scheduled Saturday Mass was held in late 2025. Father Lam Le and parishioners have publicly described the transition as a difficult but prayerful moment for the rural Sand Lake community.
- Plan name: 'Rooted in Christ' (Diocese of Grand Rapids, June 29, 2025)
- Reason cited: declining number of priests available to serve parishes
- Outcome: Mary Queen of Apostles to merge into St. John Paul II Parish, Cedar Springs
- Current arrangement: Monday Mass, confession, and adoration continue at the Sand Lake site
- Final Saturday anticipated Mass at Sand Lake: late 2025
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father Sebastian VanGesselfrom 1923
First resident pastor; previously served the parish from Big Rapids.
- Father Edward A. Hankiewicz
During his pastorate, St. Mary Parish was renamed Mary Queen of Apostles.
- Father Joseph Kenshol1994 – 2012
In February 1994 appointed pastor of Mary Queen of Apostles in Sand Lake with St. Clara Mission in Coral; in July 2012 appointed pastor of St. Margaret of Scotland Mission (Harvard/Cedar Springs).
- Father Lam T. Le2013 – present
On April 17, 2013, appointed pastor of the newly established St. John Paul II Parish; serves both parishes in the cluster.