About Our Lady of Refuge · Orchard Lake, Michigan
Our Lady of Refuge is a Roman Catholic parish in Orchard Lake, Michigan, in the northwest suburbs of Detroit. It belongs to the Archdiocese of Detroit (Family of Parishes: Northwest South Oakland 7) and serves the community with weekend and weekday Masses, a parish school, Eucharistic Adoration on First Fridays, and Saturday confessions. The parish grew out of Masses held at the nearby SS. Cyril and Methodius Seminary chapel and was formally established in 1939 by Archbishop Edward A. Mooney, originally planned as 'St. Mary's of the Lake' but named Our Lady of Refuge for Sinners to avoid confusion with the seminary's St. Mary's High School. The parish celebrated its 75th anniversary in 2014 and continues as an active part of the Orchard Lake Catholic community alongside the Shrine of St. John Paul II.
- Established
- 1939
- Patron
- Our Lady of Refuge for Sinners (Our Lady of Refuge)
- Rector
- Rev. Suresh Rajaian, S.A.C. (Priest In Solidum, Primarily Responsible)
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Detroit (Family of Parishes: Northwest South Oakland 7; South Oakland Vicariate; Northwest Region)
Why belong here
Our Lady of Refuge offers a stable Catholic home in the Orchard Lake / West Bloomfield area with English-language Masses throughout the week, the ability to follow Sunday Mass by livestream, regular Saturday confessions (3:30–4:30 PM), and First Friday Eucharistic Adoration after Mass. The parish grounds host the parish school and the Mitchell Family Center, where community gatherings and historical displays bring parishioners together across generations — exactly the kind of rooted, family-friendly community the parish celebrated at its 75th anniversary.
Mass times at Our Lady of Refuge
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 3:30 PM – 4:30 PM (No Reconciliation on Saturday, December 23 or Saturday, December 30)
Adoration times
- First Friday, after Mass (Eucharistic Adoration)
Parish Identity & Patroness
The parish is named Our Lady of Refuge for Sinners — a Marian title invoking Our Lady as a shelter for those in need of God's mercy. The parish website has a dedicated 'Our Patroness' page and the parish's church is located on Commerce Road, with the parish office on Erie Drive in Orchard Lake, Michigan.
- Patroness: Our Lady of Refuge for Sinners
- Parish office: 3725 Erie Drive, Orchard Lake, MI 48324
- Church: 3700 Commerce Road, Orchard Lake, MI 48324
History & 75th Anniversary
Our Lady of Refuge traces its origin to overflow Masses at the chapel of SS. Cyril and Methodius Seminary in Orchard Lake. In 1939, Archbishop Edward A. Mooney authorized the creation of a new parish. The community had hoped to call it St. Mary's of the Lake, but to avoid confusion with the seminary's St. Mary's High School and St. Mary's College, it was named Our Lady of Refuge for Sinners instead. The parish's early decades are documented in Joseph V. Gallivan's 1968 book, 'Progress of a Parish.' In October 2014, Archbishop Allen H. Vigneron joined the community for the 75th anniversary Mass, then-pastor Fr. Gerald McEnhill — the parish's sixth pastor — recounted the parish's story, and students created a 75-year timeline pairing parish history with the wider history of the country.
- Founded: 1939, by decree of Archbishop Edward A. Mooney
- Original name considered: St. Mary's of the Lake
- Anniversary: 75th marked October 8, 2014 with Archbishop Allen H. Vigneron
- Anniversary pastor: Fr. Gerald McEnhill (sixth pastor)
- Source book: 'Our Lady of Refuge Parish, Orchard Lake, Michigan, 1941–1968: Progress of a Parish' by Joseph V. Gallivan, 1968
Clergy & Parish Leadership
Our Lady of Refuge is served by a team of priests and a deacon assigned through the Archdiocese of Detroit. Rev. Suresh Rajaian, S.A.C. is listed as the priest primarily responsible for the parish (Priest In Solidum, Primarily Responsible), working alongside fellow priests in solidum Rev. Paul Onyebuchi, Rev. Walter Ptak, Rev. Seungsoo Oh, Rev. Andrew Dawson, and Rev. Matthew Kurt, with Msgr. Timothy Hogan also assigned in a support role. Deacon Kenneth Clark serves the parish. At the 2014 75th anniversary celebration, Fr. Gerald McEnhill was identified as the parish's sixth pastor.
- Priest In Solidum (Primarily Responsible): Rev. Suresh Rajaian, S.A.C.
- Priests in Solidum: Rev. Paul Onyebuchi, Rev. Walter Ptak, Rev. Seungsoo Oh, Rev. Andrew Dawson, Rev. Matthew Kurt
- Support priest: Msgr. Timothy Hogan
- Deacon: Deacon Kenneth Clark
- Sixth pastor (as of 2014): Fr. Gerald McEnhill
Our Lady of Refuge Catholic School
Our Lady of Refuge Catholic School is associated with the parish and is listed as a connected organization through the Archdiocese of Detroit directory. The school participates in parish life and ministry — for the 75th anniversary, students created a timeline of parish history alongside national history that was displayed for parishioners and visitors.
- Parish school associated with Our Lady of Refuge Parish
- Students contributed to the 75th anniversary timeline display
Archdiocese of Detroit & Family of Parishes
Our Lady of Refuge belongs to the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Detroit, in the Northwest Region and South Oakland Vicariate. It is part of the Northwest South Oakland 7 Family of Parishes, a pastoral grouping through which several local parishes share clergy and collaborate on ministry. The parish works alongside neighboring Catholic institutions in Orchard Lake, including SS. Cyril and Methodius Seminary and the Shrine of St. John Paul II.
- Jurisdiction: Archdiocese of Detroit
- Region: Northwest Region
- Vicariate: South Oakland Vicariate
- Family of Parishes: Northwest South Oakland 7
- Local connection: Shrine of St. John Paul II, Orchard Lake
Community Life & Facilities
Parish life centers on the church at 3700 Commerce Road and the parish offices at 3725 Erie Drive. The Mitchell Family Center, on the parish grounds, is used for parish gatherings and was the site of historical displays during the 75th anniversary celebration. Sunday Mass is also broadcast via livestream for those who cannot attend in person. The parish keeps an active Facebook page under the name 'Our Lady of Refuge Catholic Church Orchard Lake, Michigan.'
- Mitchell Family Center — used for parish gatherings and anniversary displays
- Sunday 9:30 AM Mass livestreamed
- Facebook: facebook.com/olorcc.orchardlake.mi
- Phone: (248) 682-0920
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Gerald McEnhill
Identified as the sixth pastor of the parish at the 75th anniversary celebration in October 2014; recounted the parish's history for the congregation.