About Our Lady of Hope Parish - St. Cecilia · Clare, Michigan
Our Lady of Hope Parish is a Roman Catholic community in the Diocese of Saginaw that unites three historic mission churches — St. Cecilia in Clare, St. Henry in Rosebush, and St. Charles in Leaton — under one parish family. The parish's mission, in its own words, is to 'harness beauty, goodness, and truth to draw people into or back to the Catholic Faith.' St. Cecilia Church on East Wheaton Avenue serves as the parish church for the city of Clare, and the parish runs a faith-based preschool, family faith formation, OCIA, Vacation Bible School, and other ministries that serve Clare and the surrounding Isabella and Clare County area.
- Established
- 1886
- Patron
- St. Cecilia
- Rector
- Monsignor Francis B. Koper
- Diocese
- Diocese of Saginaw (Vicariate 4)
Why belong here
Our Lady of Hope is a faithful, family-oriented Catholic community that brings together three historic mission churches — St. Cecilia in Clare, St. Henry in Rosebush, and St. Charles in Leaton — into one parish family. Worshippers can attend Saturday Vigil or Sunday Mass at St. Cecilia, weekday Masses on Tuesday and Friday, and Friday morning Adoration, while families are served by a faith-based preschool, family faith formation that meets during the 9:30 AM Sunday Mass, a robust OCIA process for those entering or returning to the Church, Vacation Bible School, and a wide range of parish ministries. For Catholics in Clare and the surrounding area, it is a warm, stable parish where generations have worshipped since 1886 and where the present-day St. Cecilia Church — built in 1988 — remains the spiritual home for the community.
Mass times at Our Lady of Hope Parish - St. Cecilia
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Half hour before all weekend Masses
- Saturday 3:00 – 3:45 PM
- Sunday 8:30 – 9:15 AM
- By appointment — contact the Parish Office
Adoration times
- Friday 9:30 AM – 12:30 PM (Adoration after 9:00 AM Mass)
About Our Lady of Hope Parish
Our Lady of Hope Parish unites three historic Catholic communities — St. Cecilia in Clare, St. Henry in Rosebush, and St. Charles in Leaton — into a single parish family in the Diocese of Saginaw. The parish's stated mission is to 'harness beauty, goodness, and truth to draw people into or back to the Catholic Faith,' and St. Cecilia Church on East Wheaton Avenue serves as the parish church for the city of Clare. The parish offices are open Tuesday through Thursday from 9:30 AM to 2:30 PM.
- Three worship sites: St. Cecilia (Clare), St. Henry (Rosebush), St. Charles (Leaton)
- St. Cecilia Church, 106 E. Wheaton Ave., Clare — parish church
- Diocese of Saginaw, Vicariate 4
- Parish Office: 989-386-9862 • [email protected]
History of St. Cecilia Church, Clare
St. Cecilia Mission Church celebrated its first Mass in 1886 in the Irish settlement that would become Clare, then part of the Diocese of Grand Rapids. The mission became part of the Diocese of Detroit in 1888, and the cornerstone of the first St. Cecilia Catholic Church was laid in 1900. The church was destroyed by fire in 1924 and rebuilt in 1925 with fireproof roof tiles, followed by the rectory. In 1950 parishioners laid the cornerstone for the St. Cecilia parochial school; the parish transferred to the Diocese of Saginaw in 1971; and the present-day St. Cecilia Church was built in 1988 to accommodate the growing congregation.
- 1886 — First Mass in Irish settlement, Diocese of Grand Rapids
- 1888 — Reassigned to Diocese of Detroit
- 1900 — Cornerstone laid for first St. Cecilia Catholic Church
- 1924 — Church destroyed by fire
- 1925 — Rebuilt with fireproof roof tiles; rectory added
- 1950 — Cornerstone for parochial school
- 1971 — Became part of the Diocese of Saginaw
- 1988 — Present church building constructed
History of St. Henry Church, Rosebush (since 1874)
St. Henry Church in Rosebush — then known as Vernon Center — began on October 15, 1874, when Fr. Richard Sweeney of St. Joseph's of East Saginaw celebrated Mass at the Bogan home and baptized five babies. The first permanent church was dedicated in 1887 by Bishop Henry Richter for his patron, St. Henry the Emperor, seated over 300, and cost $1,000. A cemetery was established in 1894, the rectory finished in 1905, and St. Henry Academy — a boarding school — opened in August 1915. The original church burned on February 21, 1922, and Mass moved into the school until a new church was partially completed across the road, just east of the cemetery, in 1923; the main body was finished in 1941.
- 1874 — First Mass by Fr. Richard Sweeney at the Bogan home
- 1887 — Church dedicated by Bishop Henry Richter for St. Henry the Emperor
- 1894 — Cemetery established
- 1905 — Rectory occupied
- 1915 — St. Henry Academy boarding school opened
- 1922 — Original church burned (February 21)
- 1923 — New church partially completed east of cemetery
- 1941 — Main body of new church completed
History of St. Charles Mission, Leaton
St. Charles Mission Leaton was built in 1906 and was originally served by Sacred Heart of Mt. Pleasant. In 1929 it became a mission of St. Henry's, and in 1942 an addition was built that included a sacristy and sanctuary. In 1966 the parish Board of Finance was established and the financial accounts and councils of St. Henry and St. Charles were formally joined — 'one parish with two churches' — which today forms part of Our Lady of Hope Parish.
- 1906 — St. Charles Mission Leaton built; served by Sacred Heart of Mt. Pleasant
- 1929 — Became a mission of St. Henry's
- 1942 — Addition added (sacristy and sanctuary)
- 1966 — Board of Finance established; St. Henry and St. Charles joined into one parish with two churches
Becoming Catholic — OCIA
The Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (OCIA), formerly known as RCIA, is the parish process for adults who wish to join the Catholic Church or complete their initiation sacraments. OCIA is for non-baptized adults seeking initiation, baptized non-Catholic Christians seeking full communion, and baptized Catholics who have not yet received religious education, Confirmation, or First Eucharist. The process begins in mid-September and continues through the Easter season the following year — about nine months of weekly prayer and study — organized in five stages: Pre-Catechumenate (Inquiry), Catechumenate, Purification and Enlightenment (during Lent), the Sacraments of Initiation (at the Easter Vigil), and Mystagogia (the period after Easter).
- Pre-Catechumenate (Inquiry) — 'come and see' time for questions
- Catechumenate — formal welcome and study of Scripture, Mass, and Catholic life
- Purification and Enlightenment — Lenten preparation for those ready for initiation
- Sacraments of Initiation — Baptism/Confirmation/Eucharist at the Easter Vigil
- Mystagogia — post-Easter deepening of faith and parish belonging
- Contact: [email protected] or Monsignor Koper at 248-891-2435
Children & Youth Faith Formation
Our Lady of Hope runs a Family Faith Formation program that meets during the 9:30 AM Sunday Mass (sessions run until 11:30 AM) and that intentionally involves parents alongside their children. The parish's Vacation Bible School, themed 'True North' for 2025, invites children to discover that they can trust Jesus in a wild world through hands-on experiments, team-building games, Bible songs, and snacks.
- Family Faith Formation sessions begin September 15, during the 9:30 AM Sunday Mass until 11:30 AM
- Registration and questions: [email protected]
- Vacation Bible School — 'True North', June 23–27, 2025, 9 AM – 12 PM
- Phone: 989-386-9862
Our Lady of Hope Preschool & Extended Care
Our Lady of Hope Preschool is a faith-based, State-of-Michigan-licensed childcare program that partners with families and the community to provide an environment of encouragement, guidance, and spiritual growth. Through a combination of effective instruction and the Gospel message, the program fosters the growth of responsible citizens and disciples of Christ. The preschool offers a 3-day class (Monday/Wednesday/Friday) from 7:50 AM to 2:50 PM, with school doors opening at 7:50 AM. Extended Care is available for children ages four to twelve after school. Pre-registration is required and enrollment is limited to 20 students; current OLH Preschool and Parish families get an early enrollment period, after which enrollment is first come, first served.
- Faith-based, State of Michigan licensed childcare program
- 3-day class: Monday / Wednesday / Friday, 7:50 AM – 2:50 PM
- Extended Care for children ages 4–12 (after school)
- Enrollment limited to 20 students; pre-registration required
- $200 non-refundable registration fee
- Director of Preschool and Extended Care: Marilyn Gray ([email protected])
Parish Staff & Leadership
Our Lady of Hope Parish is led by Monsignor Francis B. Koper as Pastor and supported by a dedicated team of parish and preschool staff and lay council leaders. Day-to-day operations are coordinated through the Parish Office on East Wheaton Avenue.
- Monsignor Francis B. Koper — Pastor ([email protected])
- Lisa Benic — Business Manager ([email protected])
- Stephanie Bell — Parish Secretary ([email protected])
- Marilyn Gray — Director of Preschool and Extended Care ([email protected])
- Erika Hoogerhyde — Parish Liturgical Coordinator ([email protected])
- Denise Cotter — Parish Catechetical Leader ([email protected])
- Stephanie Terpening — Music Director
- Wes Parker — Finance Council Chair
- Tony Sapienza — Pastoral Council Chair
- Keri Smith, Gina Forster — Preschool / Extended Care staff
- Ben Gray — Maintenance
- Colleen Schafer — Custodian
Visiting & Contact
Visitors and parishioners are warmly welcomed at Our Lady of Hope. The Parish Office is located at 106 E. Wheaton Ave., Clare, MI 48617-1322, and is open Tuesday through Thursday from 9:30 AM to 2:30 PM. Mass is celebrated at St. Cecilia Church in Clare, with another worship site at St. Henry Church in Rosebush under the same parish family.
- Address: 106 E. Wheaton Ave., Clare, MI 48617-1322
- Phone: 989-386-9862
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: http://www.olhclare.org
- Office hours: Tuesday – Thursday, 9:30 AM – 2:30 PM