About Old St Patrick · Ann Arbor, Michigan
Old St. Patrick Catholic Church, located on Whitmore Lake Road in Northfield Township just outside Ann Arbor, Michigan, is the oldest English-speaking Catholic parish in the state of Michigan, with roots going back to 1829. The current red-brick Gothic Revival church was built by parishioners themselves and dedicated on October 20, 1878. Today the parish of about 375 families is served by Father Tom Wasilewski and is known for keeping traditional Catholic liturgical practices alive — Mass celebrated ad orientem, Gregorian chant, and a monthly Traditional Latin Mass. It is also a Michigan State Historic Site (1976) and a National Register of Historic Places listing (1982), and every Lent it hosts the long-running 'best Fish Fry' in the Ann Arbor area.
- Established
- 1829 (records); 1831 (formal parish establishment with first log church)
- Patron
- St. Patrick (originally named St. Bridget/St. Brigid before being renamed after the 1878 church)
- Rector
- Rev. Tom Wasilewski
- Diocese
- Diocese of Lansing (previously under the Diocese of Detroit and, before that, the Diocese of Cincinnati)
Why belong here
Old St. Patrick is a small, historically rich parish of about 375 families that takes seriously the traditional liturgical patrimony of the Catholic Church — daily and Sunday Mass, weekly Confession, Eucharistic Adoration, Gregorian chant, Mass celebrated ad orientem, and a monthly Traditional Latin Mass. It is also a tight-knit community: families who want their children formed in the faith can enroll them in a home-study Religious Education program with monthly meetings, adults can journey toward the Church through the OCIA (formerly RCIA), and the whole parish gathers for a beloved 40+ year Lenten Fish Fry. With a National Register-listed 1878 Gothic Revival church just minutes from Ann Arbor, it offers a rare combination of historic beauty, traditional worship, and family-friendly parish life.
Mass times at Old St Patrick
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Tuesday 5:30 – 6:40 PM
- Saturday 2:30 – 3:30 PM
- 1st Saturday 9:30 AM (following 9:00 AM Mass)
Adoration times
- Tuesday 5:30 – 6:45 PM
- 1st Friday 6:00 PM – 12:00 AM (midnight)
About Old St. Patrick Catholic Church
Old St. Patrick is a small, family-friendly Catholic parish of about 375 families serving Ann Arbor and the surrounding Northfield Township area from its historic 1878 Gothic Revival church on Whitmore Lake Road. It belongs to the Diocese of Lansing and is led by Father Tom Wasilewski, pastor since December 2016. The parish is distinguished in the diocese by its traditional liturgical life: Mass celebrated ad orientem, Gregorian chant, and a monthly Traditional Latin Mass (Extraordinary Form) celebrated on the second Sunday of each month.
- Oldest English-speaking Catholic parish in Michigan (founded 1829/1831)
- Approximately 375 registered families
- Part of the Diocese of Lansing
- Pastor: Fr. Tom Wasilewski
- Daily Mass, weekly Confession, and Eucharistic Adoration
History of Old St. Patrick
The parish was established in 1829–1831 by Father Patrick O'Kelly to serve Irish Catholic immigrants in the Northfield area, making it the first English-speaking Catholic parish in Michigan — three years before Detroit's Most Holy Trinity. Originally known as St. Bridget (St. Brigid), the parish grew from 15 founding families to about 90 by 1850. The present red-brick Gothic Revival church was built largely by parishioners' own labor between 1875 and 1878, and the parish was renamed St. Patrick at that time, allegedly after a collection-box competition between Irish and German families.
- 1829 — Fr. Patrick O'Kelly arrives to minister to Irish settlers
- 1831 — Log church built; parish formally established (as St. Bridget)
- 1837 — Original log church replaced by a second church on the present cemetery site
- 1850 — Parish reaches 90 families
- 1877 — Cornerstone of current church laid on May 31
- 1878 — Present church dedicated October 20
- 1889–90 — Rectory added
- 1917 — Storm rips roof off church and rectory
- 1976 — Designated a Michigan State Historic Site
- 1980 — Funnel cloud destroys Parish Center walls during Labor Day Festival (no injuries); rebuilt 1981
- 1982 — Added to the National Register of Historic Places
Parish Team & Clergy
Old St. Patrick is led by Father Tom Wasilewski, who was born in Szczecin, Poland, emigrated to the U.S. as a child, grew up at St. Thomas Aquinas parish and school in East Lansing, earned a B.S. in Geography and English from Central Michigan University, worked at IBM for five years, then completed an M.Div. at Sacred Heart Major Seminary in Detroit. He was ordained a priest for the Diocese of Lansing on June 11, 2010, and has been pastor of Old St. Pat's since December 2016. He speaks fluent Polish. A small staff supports the parish's worship, formation, and facilities.
- Fr. Tom Wasilewski — Pastor (since December 2016) — [email protected], ext. 24
- Debbie Welch — Office Manager (joined 2013, promoted to Office Manager; Third Order Secular Discalced Carmelite)
- Katie Jean — Director of Religious Education (DRE) & Bulletin Editor; B.A. from Madonna University, 15 years in Diocese of Lansing parishes
- John Perna — Music Director; trained as civil engineer, 12 years at Habitat for Humanity, sang with the St. Jude Men and Boy Choir in Detroit
- Ron Fuller — Facilities & Maintenance Manager; parishioner for 16 years, strong devotion to Blessed Solanus Casey
Becoming Catholic (OCIA)
Adults who are unbaptized, baptized in another Christian tradition, or baptized Catholic but not yet fully initiated are welcomed into the parish's OCIA process (the Order of Christian Initiation for Adults, formerly known as RCIA). OCIA combines catechesis, Scripture study, liturgical rites, and spiritual formation over roughly 6–12 months, normally culminating in reception into full communion with the Catholic Church at Easter. Inquiries are directed to Father Tom Wasilewski.
- OCIA (formerly RCIA) for unbaptized and already-baptized adults
- Combination of catechesis, Scripture study, liturgical rites, and spiritual formation
- Typically 6–12 months in length
- Culminates in reception at Easter
- Contact: Fr. Tom Wasilewski, pastor
Faith Formation & Religious Education
The parish runs a distinctive Religious Education program that combines home study with one in-person meeting per month on Mondays at the parish. Two tracks are offered for children — an Elementary Program (grades 1–5) and a Middle School Program (grades 6–8) — using materials chosen by the parish. Sacramental preparation for First Communion and Confirmation is handled through dedicated home-study courses, and adults who have not been confirmed are also welcome to prepare for the sacrament. Katie Jean, the Director of Religious Education, oversees the program.
- Elementary Religious Education — grades 1–5 (home study + monthly Monday meeting)
- Middle School Religious Education — grades 6–8 (home study + monthly Monday meeting)
- First Communion / First Eucharist — home-study sacramental prep
- Confirmation Home Study Program — for teens and adults
- DRE & Bulletin Editor: Katie Jean ([email protected])
Music & Liturgy
Music Director John Perna leads the parish's commitment to traditional Catholic liturgical music, with Gregorian chant a regular part of Mass. The parish is also notable in the Diocese of Lansing for celebrating Mass ad orientem (the priest facing the liturgical East / the altar) and for offering a monthly Traditional Latin Mass (Extraordinary Form) on the second Sunday of the month at 12:30 PM.
- Gregorian chant at Mass
- Mass celebrated ad orientem
- Traditional Latin Mass (Extraordinary Form) — 2nd Sunday, 12:30 PM
- Music Director: John Perna
Parish Life: Lenten Fish Fry
For more than 40 years, Old St. Patrick has been famous around Ann Arbor for its annual Lenten Fish Fry, held every Friday during Lent in the Parish Center. The menu features fried Alaskan pollock, a salad bar, a choice of potato or macaroni & cheese, beverages, and (for an extra charge) desserts. It is widely considered one of the best fish fries in the area and serves both as a beloved parish tradition and a major fundraiser for the parish community.
- Lenten Fish Fry — every Friday during Lent, 4:30–7:00 PM
- Held in the Parish Center
- Alaskan pollock, salad bar, potato or mac & cheese, beverages
- Pricing: Adults $18, Seniors (60+) $14, Children 5–12 $5, under 4 free
- Dine-in and takeout available
Sacraments at Old St. Patrick
Old St. Patrick prepares and celebrates all of the usual sacraments of the Catholic Church. Preparation for First Communion and Confirmation is conducted through parish-run home-study programs coordinated by the DRE, with adult Confirmation candidates meeting personally with Fr. Tom. Families seeking Baptism, couples preparing for Marriage, and those in need of Anointing of the Sick are invited to contact the parish office.
- Baptism — contact parish office
- First Communion / First Eucharist — home-study prep for grade-school children
- Confirmation — home-study for teens; adults meet with Fr. Tom
- Matrimony — contact parish office
- Anointing of the Sick and other pastoral needs — contact Fr. Tom
Location & Directions
The parish sits on Whitmore Lake Road at the intersection of Northfield Church Road, about 1.5 miles south of North Territorial Road, in Northfield Township just outside Ann Arbor. It is readily reachable from US-23 (exit 49) and from M-14 (exit 4). A Parish Center adjacent to the church hosts events such as the Lenten Fish Fry.
- Address: 5671 Whitmore Lake Road, Ann Arbor, MI 48105
- From US-23: Take exit 49, west on North Territorial 0.3 mi, left (south) on Whitmore Lake Road for 1.5 mi — church on the right
- From M-14: Take exit 4 (Barton Road / Whitmore Lake Road), head north 4 mi — church on the left
- On the corner of Whitmore Lake Road and Northfield Church Road
Contact & Stay Connected
Parishioners and visitors can reach the parish office by phone or email during parish hours, and stay current with parish news through the online bulletin and the parish's Facebook page. Fr. Tom Wasilewski can be reached directly at [email protected] (extension 24).
- Phone: (734) 662-8141
- General email: [email protected]
- Pastor's email: [email protected] (ext. 24)
- DRE email: [email protected]
- Online bulletin via the parish website
- Facebook: Old St. Patrick Catholic Church
- Website: https://stpatricka2.org
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father Patrick O'Kelly1829
Kilkenny, Ireland native dispatched to minister to Irish immigrants in Northfield; the founder of the parish.