About Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish - St. Francis Borgia · Pigeon, Michigan
Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish is a Roman Catholic parish in the Diocese of Saginaw that unites three historic Huron County churches: St. Roch Church in Caseville, St. Francis Borgia Church in Pigeon, and St. Felix of Valois Church in Pinnebog. The Pigeon church traces its roots back to 1879, when Father T.B. Krebs began riding by horse and buggy from Gagetown to bring Mass to area farming families; the congregation grew, built its first wooden church in 1893, and was raised to full parish status in 1941. The parish is currently led by Fr. George Amos and shares weekend Masses across its three worship sites, with a strong emphasis on faith formation for children and adults, OCIA (becoming Catholic), and Bible study.
- Established
- 1879
- Patron
- St. Francis Borgia
- Rector
- Fr. George I. Amos (Parochial Administrator, since 2022)
- Diocese
- Diocese of Saginaw
Why belong here
Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish is the spiritual home of three small Huron County churches — St. Francis Borgia in Pigeon, St. Roch in Caseville, and St. Felix of Valois in Pinnebog — that have come together to share faith, sacraments, and fellowship across the Thumb. With weekday and weekend Masses offered throughout the week, regular Bible Study on Wednesdays at St. Francis Borgia, monthly Adoration and Reconciliation on First Fridays and First Saturdays, a children's Faith Formation program, an OCIA process for adults becoming Catholic, and pastoral visits and Communion for the sick, the parish offers a real, family-sized community where people of every age and stage can grow as disciples of Jesus and put their faith into service.
Mass times at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish - St. Francis Borgia
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- 1st Friday of the month, 9:30–10:30 AM at St. Roch Church, Caseville
- 1st Saturday of the month, 9:30–10:30 AM at St. Francis Borgia Church, Pigeon
- By appointment
Adoration times
- First Friday Adoration beginning at 9:30 AM at St. Roch, before the 10:30 AM Mass
- First Saturday Adoration beginning at 9:30 AM at St. Roch, before the 10:30 AM Mass
- First Friday Adoration and Reconciliation at St. Francis Borgia, 9:30 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.
Parish Overview
Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish is a tri-site Roman Catholic community in Michigan's Thumb, in the Diocese of Saginaw. It brings together three historic worship sites: St. Roch Church in Caseville (the weekend hub while Pigeon is under renovation), St. Francis Borgia Church in Pigeon (15 Moeller Street, Pigeon, MI 48755), and St. Felix of Valois Church in Pinnebog. The parish serves about 60 founding-era families' worth of tradition from the Pigeon congregation, with current ministries, formation, and pastoral care coordinated through the parish office at 6253 Main Street, Caseville, MI 48725.
- St. Roch Church, Caseville
- St. Francis Borgia Church, Pigeon (15 Moeller Street)
- St. Felix of Valois Church, Pinnebog
- Parish Office: 6253 Main Street, Caseville, MI 48725
History of St. Francis Borgia Church in Pigeon
Catholic life in the Pigeon area began on June 21, 1879, when Father T.B. Krebs was appointed by Bishop Caspar H. Borgess as missionary for the Thumb, riding out from Gagetown by horse and buggy to celebrate Mass in local homes. The first permanent church — a wood-frame building seating about 100 — was built in 1893 at the corner of Ruppert and Nitz streets. Pigeon's Catholic community grew steadily, and on September 24, 1941, Bishop William F. Murphy of Saginaw formally erected the mission as a full parish under the patronage of St. Francis Borgia.
- 1879 — Father T.B. Krebs appointed missionary; first Masses held in the home of Mrs. Bernhardt Maier at 41 S. Caseville Rd
- 1893 — First wood-frame St. Francis Borgia Church built (corner of Ruppert and Nitz streets); parish made a mission of Sebewaing
- 1926 — Two acres purchased from Henry Moeller; new brick Spanish-Romanesque church built (architect Andrew R. Morison of Detroit)
- 1927 — Present parish hall completed under Father Gutha
- September 24, 1941 — Erected as a full parish; Fr. Aloysius Hafner named first resident pastor
- 2001 — 75th anniversary of the current brick church building
- 2013 — Merged with St. Roch (Caseville) and St. Felix (Pinnebog) to form Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish
- 2025 — Capital-campaign-funded renovations and painting begin at the Pigeon church
St. Francis Borgia Church Building & Renovations
The present St. Francis Borgia Church is a brick Spanish-Romanesque structure designed in 1926 by Detroit architect Andrew R. Morison and still in active use today. It has been refreshed by every generation of pastors: a Mission tile roof and interior redecoration under Fr. Alphonse Kromka in the late 1940s; rose tones with 23-karat gold leaf trim and sanctuary carpeting under Fr. Bernard J. Kirchman (1955–63); paneling and a moveable altar facing the people, plus church-wide carpeting, under Fr. Glenn Wm. Cronkite (1963–76); and new carpeting and a fresh coat of paint in 1997. A 2025 capital campaign has launched a new round of repairs and painting that, as of the latest parish bulletin, has temporarily shifted all liturgies to St. Roch in Caseville.
- 1926 — Brick Spanish-Romanesque church built; architect Andrew R. Morison
- Late 1940s — Mission tile roof and interior redecoration (Fr. Kromka)
- 1955–63 — Sanctuary carpeting, rose tones, 23-karat gold leaf trim (Fr. Kirchman)
- 1963–76 — Sanctuary paneling, moveable altar, full-church carpeting; parish hall renovation with redwood siding and six movable classrooms (Fr. Cronkite)
- 1997 — New carpeting, altar paneling removed, fresh paint
- 2025 — Renovations and painting begin under the parish capital campaign
Parish Staff
The parish is led by Fr. George I. Amos, Parochial Administrator, who has served since 2022. He is supported by a small team handling parish operations, communications, finances, formation, and facilities.
- Fr. George Amos — Pastor, ext. 4
- Beth Haynes — Parish Secretary, ext. 3
- Beth Connors — Bookkeeper, ext. 5
- Sarah Behaeghe — Webmaster & Office Assistant
- Lisa Schulte — Faith Formation Coordinator
- Linda Oeschger — OCIA contact for those becoming Catholic
- Tyler Chandler — Maintenance
- John Connor — Project Manager
- Lisa DiCamillo — Pastoral Council Chair
- Mary Buda — Finance Council Chair
Faith Formation & OCIA
Faith Formation at Our Lady of Perpetual Help is a lifelong journey. Family Faith Formation welcomes children for Sacramental Preparation (Level 2) covering First Communion, Reconciliation, and Confirmation — children must complete one year of Faith Formation before enrolling, and a Baptismal Record must be on file. For adults, the parish offers 'Living as Disciples of Jesus' (Levels 3–5) and the OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation for Adults) process for those unbaptized or coming from another Christian tradition who wish to enter full communion with the Catholic Church, or for baptized Catholics preparing for Eucharist, Reconciliation, and Confirmation. Linda Oeschger coordinates OCIA inquiries along with Fr. George.
- Family Faith Formation for children
- Sacramental Preparation Level 2 — First Communion, Reconciliation, Confirmation
- Adult Faith Formation — 'Living as Disciples of Jesus' (Levels 3–5)
- OCIA (RCIA) — for adults becoming Catholic or completing initiation
- Lisa Schulte — Faith Formation Coordinator
- Linda Oeschger — OCIA contact
Sacraments
The parish celebrates all seven sacraments. Parents are encouraged to schedule a Baptism appointment with the Pastor prior to birth whenever possible. First Communion, Reconciliation, and Confirmation preparation requires one year of prior Faith Formation and an on-file Baptismal Record. Weddings must be scheduled with the Pastor at least six months in advance. The Anointing of the Sick and home Communion visits for the ill or hospitalized are available by request through the parish office.
- Baptism — appointment with Pastor prior to birth; call (989) 856-4933
- Eucharist (First Communion) — Faith Formation prerequisite; Baptismal Record on file
- Confirmation — Faith Formation prerequisite; Baptismal Record on file
- Reconciliation — 1st Friday at St. Roch, 1st Saturday at St. Francis Borgia, or by appointment
- Marriage — Pastor appointment at least 6 months before the wedding
- Anointing of the Sick — request through the parish office
- Holy Communion for the sick and homebound — request through the parish office
Parish Leadership & Councils
Pastoral and financial decisions are supported by lay leadership in collaboration with Fr. George Amos. Lisa DiCamillo chairs the Pastoral Council, and Mary Buda chairs the Finance Council. The parish is part of Vicariate 1 in the Diocese of Saginaw, under Bishop Robert D. Gruss.
- Lisa DiCamillo — Pastoral Council Chair
- Mary Buda — Finance Council Chair
- Diocese of Saginaw, Vicariate 1
- Bishop Robert D. Gruss — Diocesan Bishop
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. T.B. Krebs1879–1893
Missionary for the Thumb area from Gagetown; celebrated first Masses in Pigeon homes; oversaw construction of the first wood-frame St. Francis Borgia Church in 1893.
- Fr. Aloysius HafnerNovember 1936 – June 1947
Served the Pigeon mission from Sebewaing, then became the first resident pastor when the parish was erected on Sept. 24, 1941. Built the contemporary-Georgian brick rectory; helped found the Scenic Golf and Country Club.
- Fr. Alphonse KromkaJune 1947 – April 1955
Directed the first major renovation: new Mission tile roof and interior redecoration.
- Fr. Bernard J. KirchmanApril 1955 – September 1963
Installed sanctuary carpeting and redecorated interior in rose tones with 23-karat gold leaf trim.
- Fr. Glenn Wm. CronkiteSeptember 1963 – July 1975
Remodeled sanctuary with paneling and moveable altar facing the people; church-wide carpeting; renovated parish hall with redwood siding, interior paneling, and movable walls forming six classrooms.
- Fr. James KendziorskiJuly 1975 – March 1976
Brief pastorate.
- Fr. Michael H. WolfMarch 1976 – July 1984
- Fr. Bernard SkorniaJuly 1984 – July 1991
- Fr. Barney JanowiczJuly 1991 – July 1997
1997 saw new carpeting installed, altar paneling removed, and a new coat of paint.
- Fr. Malcolm Maloney, OFM CapOctober 1997 – July 1999
Sacramental Minister.
- Fr. George SerourJuly 1999 – 2004
Sacramental Minister.
- Sr. Theresa Fox, OPOctober 1997 – 2006
Pastoral Administrator.
- Sr. Marcia Andrews, IHM2006 – 2008
Pastoral Administrator.
- Fr. John Weis2004 – 2013
Sacramental Minister.
- Fr. Robert Pare2013 – 2022
First pastor of the merged Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish.
- Fr. George Amos2022 – present
Current Parochial Administrator.