About Our Lady of Sorrows · Farmington, Michigan
Our Lady of Sorrows is a vibrant Catholic parish and school in Farmington, Michigan, a northwestern suburb of Detroit. Founded in 1927 by Bishop Michael Gallagher and originally serving Catholics who had previously traveled ten miles into Detroit to worship, the parish has grown from 75 families gathered in a 125-seat 'Little White Church on the Hill' to a community of roughly 3,000 families served by a 1,200-seat church, an elementary and junior-high school of about 850 students, a Family and Early Childhood Center, athletic fields, and a wide range of parish ministries. The parish motto — 'Faith, Knowledge, Community' — captures its dual parish-and-school identity, and the current pastor is Very Rev. Canon Walter J. Ptak, the parish's tenth pastor.
- Established
- 1927
- Patron
- Our Lady of Sorrows (Blessed Virgin Mary)
- Rector
- Very Rev. Canon Walter J. Ptak
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Detroit
Why belong here
Our Lady of Sorrows offers the full life of a large suburban parish: weekend and daily Mass, two weekly confession slots, a livestreamed Sunday Mass, perpetual faith formation for children through the school and Family Discipleship programs, active youth and young-adult ministry (Exercitus Mariae for fathers and sons, ESG Seniors and Young Adults, Spanish Bible Study), men's and women's groups (STIR Men's Ministry, Wake Up Women), Christian Service outreach through Bridgid Holloway's office (Sanctum House, food blessings, St. Vincent de Paul partners), and a thriving music program under a Director of Music and Assistant Director of Music. With about 3,000 families worshiping in a 1,200-seat church on a 19-acre campus that includes preschool through junior high, a Family Center, and athletic fields, newcomers can plug in at almost any level.
Mass times at Our Lady of Sorrows
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Tuesday 6:00 pm – 6:30 pm
- Saturday 3:00 pm – 4:00 pm
- By appointment with one of the priests (248-474-5720)
About Our Lady of Sorrows
Our Lady of Sorrows describes itself as 'a vibrant Catholic Church and School in Farmington, Michigan, a suburb of Detroit.' The parish's welcome page invites visitors to learn about the parish, the Catholic faith, the school, and family discipleship, and encourages in-person visits. The parish's motto is 'Faith, Knowledge, Community.'
- Motto: Faith, Knowledge, Community
- Vibrant parish-and-school community of about 3,000 families
- 19-acre shared campus with church, school, Family Center, and athletic fields
Parish History
The detailed parish history page on the parish website tells a complete story from the 1927 founding by Bishop Michael Gallagher through the present pastor. See the history field above for the full narrative, including the succession of pastors and the construction of the 1961 permanent church.
Pastor Succession
The parish's history page (and a parallel list on the school's website) names ten pastors across the parish's first century:
- Fr. Edward O'Mahoney (1927–1928) — founding pastor
- Fr. James Callahan (1928–1932)
- Fr. John Larkin (1932–1943)
- Msgr. Thomas P. Beahan (1943–1971) — fourth pastor; led post-war expansion
- Msgr. Joseph L. Imesch (1971–1977) — Auxiliary Bishop from 1973
- Fr. Kean Denis Cronin (1977–1990)
- Bishop Walter A. Hurley (1990–2003) — ordained Auxiliary Bishop 2003
- Fr. John West (2003–2005) — d. April 14, 2005
- Fr. Mark Brauer (2005–2021)
- Very Rev. Canon Walter J. Ptak (2021–present)
Meet the Clergy
The 'Meet The Clergy' page on the parish website introduces the priests and deacons by name, vocation, and brief biography.
- Very Rev. Canon Walter J. Ptak — Pastor; born in Wyandotte; St. Mary's College, Orchard Lake (B.A.); St. John's Provincial Seminary (M.Div.); ordained Nov. 14, 1987 at the Cathedral of the Most Blessed Sacrament, Detroit.
- Rev. Paul Onyebuchi — Priest Support; from the Ekwulobia Diocese, Anambra State, Nigeria; ordained Aug. 18, 2007; joined Archdiocese of Detroit 2019.
- Rev. Jim Livingston — Priest in Residence; chaplain to Ascension hospitals in Novi and Southfield; ordained June 29, 1991, Solemnity of Sts. Peter and Paul.
- Deacon Michael Heard — Permanent Deacon; born in Detroit; 37 years at Chrysler/Stellantis; ordained Oct. 1, 2022 at the Cathedral of the Most Blessed Sacrament.
- Deacon Tyler Rivard — Transitional Deacon.
Parish Staff
The staff directory on the parish website lists the lay and school staff supporting the parish's ministry and operations.
- Mrs. Katherine Ambrose — School Principal
- Mrs. Patti Bair — Administrative Assistant
- Mr. Louie Baka — Maintenance
- Mr. Erik Coules — Director of Family Discipleship
- Mr. Sean DeWitt — Maintenance
- Mrs. Kim Dziewit — Administrative Assistant
- Dr. Noriko Ernst — Director of Music
- Mrs. Bridgid Holloway — Director of Christian Service
- Miss Shannon McLaughlin — Family Discipleship Admin Assistant
- Mr. James Nordbeck — Business Manager
- Mr. Chris O'Donnell — Technology Coordinator
- Mrs. Grace Papa — Associate Director of Family Discipleship
- Mrs. Karen Paterson — Administrative Assistant
- Mrs. Tori Polhill — Director of Youth Discipleship
- Mrs. Mary Sheltrown — Athletic Director
- Ms. Sue Siemiesz — Facilities Coordinator
- Mrs. Esther Szafranski — Assistant Director of Music
Devotions
The parish calendar shows ongoing devotions celebrated through the year.
- Divine Mercy Novena
- Holy Thursday Procession and Adoration
- Easter Vigil
- Liturgy of the Lord's Supper (Holy Thursday)
- Easter Sunday Liturgy
Faith Formation & Family Discipleship
Faith formation at Our Lady of Sorrows spans children, youth, and adults. Family Discipleship is led by Director Erik Coules with Associate Director Grace Papa and Administrative Assistant Shannon McLaughlin, and includes OCIA (formerly RCIA), religious-education classes, Vacation Bible School, and enrichment programs such as LIFE and M.O.M.S. that were launched in the 1980s.
- Family Discipleship (Director Erik Coules)
- Religious Education / Faith Formation
- OCIA / RCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults)
- Vacation Bible School
- LIFE (Life Involves Family Enrichment)
- M.O.M.S. (Meeting Other Mothers for Support)
Youth & Young Adult Ministry
Youth Discipleship for middle and high school students is led by Director Tori Polhill. Middle-school students meet twice monthly (small-group discipleship on the 1st Thursday and community night on the 3rd Thursday), and a dedicated fathers-and-sons ministry called Exercitus Mariae runs alongside.
- Middle School Ministry (small group 1st Thursday, community night 3rd Thursday)
- High School Youth Ministry
- Exercitus Mariae — free fathers-and-sons ministry for grades 6–12
- ESG Young Adults
- ESG Seniors
- Flocknote email/text communication tool for families
Adult & Parish Community Life
Parish life for adults includes men's and women's faith groups, social gatherings (the parish picnics were reinstated under Fr. Brauer), and a parish pictorial directory. The Parish Finance Council is also a key lay-leadership body.
- STIR Men's Ministry (Saturday 6:00–7:30 am)
- Wake Up Women Group
- Welcome Retreat
- Parish Gardeners
- Parish Finance Council
- Parish picnics and social functions
Christian Service & Outreach
Christian Service is led by Director Bridgid Holloway. The parish has long-standing partnerships with organizations that feed, shelter, and accompany those in need, and an active Stephen Ministry. Named Christian Service activities include Sanctum House craft nights, food blessings, blood drives, and the South Oakland Shelter (SOS).
- St. Vincent de Paul Society Conference (since 1927)
- Christian Service Office (Bridgid Holloway, Director)
- Sanctum House ministry
- St. Leo's Soup Kitchen
- Stephen Ministry
- Respite Care
- CROP Walk
- South Oakland Shelter (SOS)
- Food collections and Blood Drives
Music & Liturgy
Music Ministry is led by Director of Music Dr. Noriko Ernst and Assistant Director of Music Esther Szafranski. The first 'Candles and Carols' program was held in December 1971 to mark the arrival of the parish organ.
- Director of Music — Dr. Noriko Ernst
- Assistant Director of Music — Mrs. Esther Szafranski
- Parish Choir
- Candles and Carols program (begun December 1971)
Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic School
The parish school, opened with a three-room building in 1935 on land donated by Mrs. C.F. Smith and built by her son Henry, has grown into one of the largest parish-run Catholic schools in the Archdiocese of Detroit. The 19-acre campus includes a 900-seat church, Family and Early Childhood Center with preschool, kindergarten, and chapel; elementary and junior-high classrooms; cafeteria with hot-lunch program; networked and air-conditioned classrooms; interactive classroom technology; a full-size gymnasium; and athletic fields. Current enrollment exceeds 850 students.
- Founded 1935; over 850 students (K–8) currently enrolled
- Family and Early Childhood Center with preschool and kindergarten
- Athletic Director: Mrs. Mary Sheltrown
- Principal: Mrs. Katherine Ambrose
- Situated on a 19-acre shared campus with the parish
- Hot-lunch program, networked classrooms, interactive classroom technology
Campus & Facilities
Improvements under recent pastors have reshaped the campus: under Msgr. Hurley the new Family Center was added (chapel, multi-purpose gym, meeting rooms, early-childhood center); under Fr. Brauer the school windows were replaced, the church received new pews, and a new church boiler was installed; and Msgr. Beahan's junior-high building continues to be used for grades 7–8.
- 1,200-seat permanent church (dedicated 1961 by Archbishop Dearden)
- Family Center (chapel for small funerals and weddings, gym, meeting rooms, early childhood center)
- Free-standing sculpture of Jesus playing with children in front of the school
- New church pews and church boiler (under Fr. Brauer)
- New windows throughout the school (under Fr. Brauer)
- Connector added between the two school sections in 1999; older gym (once a temporary church) demolished 1999
Getting Involved
The parish lists many ways to participate, from liturgical ministries (choir, ushers, lectors, sacristans, EMHC) to faith formation, Christian Service, men's and women's groups, school volunteering, and athletics.
- Family Discipleship (Erik Coules) — faith-formation roles
- Christian Service (Bridgid Holloway) — outreach programs
- Music Ministry (Dr. Noriko Ernst) — choir
- Youth Discipleship (Tori Polhill) — adult mentors
- Athletics — CYO and school sports
- STIR Men's Ministry, Wake Up Women
Contact & Visit
Parish contact information as published on the website:
- Address: 23815 Power Road, Farmington, MI 48336
- Phone: (248) 474-5720
- Web: https://church.olsorrows.com/
- School web: https://school.olsorrows.com/
- Mass livestream: Sunday 11:30 am (linked from the Mass Schedule page)
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Edward O'Mahoney1927–1928
Founding pastor, appointed by Bishop Michael Gallagher.
- Fr. James Callahan1928–1932
Named pastor in September 1928; same year a church addition doubled seating.
- Fr. John LarkinMarch 1932–1943
Began religious-education classes; oversaw three-room school built by Henry Smith.
- Msgr. Thomas P. BeahanOctober 26, 1943 – September 1, 1971
Fourth pastor; led post-war expansion (school 1948, gym-church 1948, permanent church 1961); formed parish council in 1955; became Right Reverend Monsignor in 1959; junior high named in his honor.
- Msgr. Joseph L. Imesch1971–1977
Succeeded Msgr. Beahan; became Auxiliary Bishop of Detroit in 1973 while remaining pastor.
- Fr. Kean Denis CroninJune 28, 1977 – June 1990
Led facility improvements and growth of faith-formation programs (RCIA, VBS, LIFE, M.O.M.S., CYO).
- Bishop Walter A. HurleyJune 1990 – 2003
Pastoral years saw parish grow from 2,600 to 3,100 families; built new Family Center; ordained Auxiliary Bishop August 12, 2003.
- Fr. John WestDecember 7, 2003 – April 14, 2005
Theologian with archdiocesan ecumenical/interfaith duties; died suddenly of a heart attack at age 52.
- Fr. Mark BrauerAugust 27, 2005 – July 2021
Ninth pastor (16 years); drove pictorial directory, parish picnics, new school windows, new pews, new church boiler.
- Very Rev. Canon Walter J. PtakJuly 2021 – present
Tenth and current pastor; ordained Nov. 14, 1987 at the Cathedral of the Most Blessed Sacrament, Detroit.