About Our Lady on the River (St. Catherine) · Algonac, Michigan
Our Lady on the River Parish is a Roman Catholic community in the Archdiocese of Detroit, formed on March 6, 2007 by the merger of three historic St. Clair River congregations: Holy Cross Church in Marine City, St. Catherine of Alexandria Church in Algonac, and St. Mark Chapel on Harsens Island. Worship is offered across all three sites, with the parish office located at the Holy Cross campus in Marine City and St. Catherine of Alexandria serving as the parish's Algonac home at 1103 Washington Street. The merged parish operates Holy Cross Catholic School, hosts a regional food pantry, sustains an extensive volunteer organization of ministries, and is served by Pastor Rev. John Dumas, Associate Pastor Rev. Johny Suseela, and Deacon Michael Oldani.
- Established
- 1869 (first St. Catherine church); 1894 (resident pastorate); parish as Our Lady on the River formed 2007
- Patron
- St. Catherine of Alexandria (Algonac site); Blessed Virgin Mary invoked as Our Lady on the River
- Rector
- Rev. John Dumas
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Detroit (Blue Water Vicariate, Northeast Region, Northeast Blue Water 2 Family of Parishes)
Why belong here
Our Lady on the River is a single Catholic community sustained across three worship sites along the St. Clair River, so newcomers can find a Mass time and style that fits — Saturday vigil and Sunday morning in Algonac, two Sunday morning Masses in Marine City, and a Sunday morning Mass on Harsens Island. The parish is anchored by Holy Cross Catholic School, a regional food pantry, a Knights of Columbus council, a Legion of Mary praesidium, the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, a Prayer Chain and Prayer Group, Christian Service, and a youth group led by the Director of Religious Education — giving every age a place to serve and be served.
Mass times at Our Lady on the River (St. Catherine)
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- St. Catherine Church, Algonac: Tuesdays 5:00 PM – 6:00 PM (before 6 PM Mass)
- St. Catherine Church, Algonac: Saturdays 3:00 PM – 4:00 PM (before 4 PM Vigil Mass)
- Holy Cross Church, Marine City: Fridays following 9:00 AM Mass
- St. Mark Chapel, Harsens Island: Following Sunday Mass, by request
- By appointment: call the parish office at 810-765-3568
Adoration times
- St. Catherine Church, Algonac: Tuesdays at 5:00 PM (Holy Hour, before 6 PM Mass)
- Holy Cross Church, Marine City: 1st Fridays following 9:00 AM Mass (Eucharistic Adoration continues until 11:00 AM)
- Reconciliation Holy Hour and Confession at St. Catherine: Fridays 9:30 AM – 10:30 AM (per AOD Finder)
About Our Lady on the River Parish
Our Lady on the River is a Roman Catholic merged parish in the Archdiocese of Detroit formed on March 6, 2007 from Holy Cross (Marine City), St. Catherine of Alexandria (Algonac), and St. Mark (Harsens Island). The parish's mission statement, published on its website, declares: 'We the people of Our Lady on the River Parish state in a common voice that we are a united Catholic community, bringing together three unique sites, each one being essential to the whole… We welcome all people into our community. We support the human and spiritual needs of each person with dignity, which strengthens our bond as members of one Body sustained by the Eucharist. Guided by the Holy Spirit, we commit ourselves to the formation in our Catholic faith at all ages. We will provide a deep and firm foundation for our youth through Catholic education and good example. We reach out to the greater community through our acts of service and prayer through the intercession of Mary, our Blessed Mother.' The parish is in the Archdiocese of Detroit's Blue Water Vicariate, Northeast Region, Northeast Blue Water 2 Family of Parishes (parish #665).
History
Each of the three worship sites of Our Lady on the River has more than a century of Catholic heritage along the St. Clair River, going back to the earliest missionaries of the diocese.
History of St. Catherine Church (Algonac)
Algonac is listed as a mission of Marine City in the Catholic Directory of 1873, and the deed of the original church property is dated September 4, 1866. Father Aloysius Lambert built the first church on St. Clair Boulevard in 1869 and named it for St. Catherine. Father Francis Kemper became the first resident pastor in 1894; the original church burned on November 30, 1895. Father Benoit Gery built the present Fruit Street church and served until Easter 1924. Successors include Father Walter Hardy (until 1934), Father John Sullivan (until 1942), Father James J. O'Mara (built school/convent 1951, new church 1959; retired 1965), Father Cyril Keating (1965–1978, closed school 1970), Father Raymond Donahue (1978–1994, reopened school 1980, built Activity Center early 1990s), Father Leo Broderick (1994–1998), Father Douglas Bignall (launched 'Restore the Dream' campaign), Father Timothy Birney (October 2004), and Father James Lopez (July 2007).
History of Holy Cross Church (Marine City)
Holy Cross traces its founding to Father Gabriel Richard's 1824 purchase of a peninsula at the confluence of the St. Clair and Belle Rivers, with a grant signed by President John Quincy Adams on April 1, 1825 — the land known as Catholic Point. A 60-by-35-foot frame church built on Bridge Street in 1846 was dedicated to St. Agatha. Under Father August Lambert (1859–1875) the church was enlarged, given a steeple and side wings, and renamed the Finding of the Holy Cross. The present church was built in 1903 by Father Peter Ternes at a cost of $33,333.33 from shipbuilder Matthew Sicken, with parishioners donating leaded windows, Stations of the Cross, and the heating and lighting. Holy Cross School opened in October 1869, taught by three IHM sisters.
History of St. Mark Chapel (Harsens Island)
On June 1, 1887, land on the South Channel of the St. Clair River was purchased from William C. and Patricia A. Bennett by Peter Dederich, A.F. Fisher, and Ferdinand Kuhn as a site for a church. Bishop John B. Foley granted permission to erect a mission of St. Catherine, named St. Mark after 'Mark the Evangelist.' The first service was held in July 1897; Father Gery added the island mission to his duties and remained pastor of St. Mark for 27 years.
The 2007 Merger
On March 6, 2007, Holy Cross, St. Catherine of Alexandria, and St. Mark officially merged into Our Lady on the River Parish, retaining all three worship sites under a single pastor and parish staff.
Parish Staff and Clergy
Our Lady on the River is led by Pastor Rev. John Dumas, with Associate Pastors Rev. Johny Suseela and Rev. Louis Lapeyre, and Pastor Emeritus Rev. Douglas Terrien. Permanent Deacon Michael Oldani assists. Lay staff include Business Manager/Bookkeeper Judith Beauvais, Secretary Mary Shackett, Bulletin Editor Nancy Stockwell, Director of Religious Education & Youth Ministry Cassidy Johnson, and Director of Music Beatrice Wassenberg.
- Rev. John Dumas — Pastor
- Rev. Johny Suseela — Associate Pastor
- Rev. Louis Lapeyre — Associate Pastor ([email protected], ext. 30)
- Rev. Douglas Terrien — Pastor Emeritus
- Rev. Mr. Michael Oldani — Permanent Deacon
- Judith Beauvais — Business Manager/Bookkeeper
- Mary Shackett — Secretary
- Nancy Stockwell — Bulletin Editor
- Cassidy Johnson — Director of Religious Education & Youth Ministry
- Beatrice Wassenberg — Director of Music
Faith Formation and Youth Ministry
Our Lady on the River offers faith formation for children in grades 1–8 on Monday evenings at Holy Cross Catholic School from September through May. Adults seeking the Sacraments of Initiation (Baptism, Confirmation, Eucharist) are welcomed into the Order of Christian Initiation for Adults through Cassidy Johnson, Director of Religious Education & Youth Ministry. The Youth Group, also led by Cassidy Johnson, meets through the parish.
- Children's Faith Formation — grades 1–8, Monday evenings, Holy Cross Catholic School (Sept–May)
- OCIA / RCIA — Adults seeking Baptism, Confirmation, or Eucharist: contact Cassidy Johnson at 810-765-8300 or [email protected]
- Youth Group — contact Cassidy Johnson at 810-765-3568 or [email protected]
- EMHC, Lector, and Altar Server training — contact the parish office at 810-765-3568
Catholic Schools
Our Lady on the River is closely tied to two Catholic schools that share the Catholic Point campus in Marine City. Holy Cross Catholic School is the parish's grade school, and Cardinal Mooney High School sits next door on the same grounds.
- Holy Cross Catholic School — 610 S. Water St., Marine City, MI 48039; phone 810-765-3591; fax 810-765-9074; www.HolyCrossOnline.net; [email protected]; Principal Mrs. Betsy Davenport
- Cardinal Mooney High School — 810-765-8825; fax 810-765-7164; www.cardinalmooney.org; Principal Mrs. Jennifer Stachelski
Parish Ministries, Service, and Outreach
Our Lady on the River sustains a deep bench of lay organizations and service ministries across all three worship sites. The parish operates a Food Pantry, runs a WeekEND Backpack program for schoolchildren, ministers to the homebound, supports a parish-wide Knights of Columbus council, and is active in the Archdiocese's anti-human-trafficking effort. The parish bulletin (March 9, 2025) lists dozens of contact persons for each ministry.
- Altar Society (Holy Cross) — Diane Bowden 810-765-4824
- Ladies Guild (St. Catherine) — Aggie LaCombe 810-794-1716
- Women's Guild (St. Mark) — Sherron Schultz 810-580-1519
- Knights of Columbus #856 (OLR Parish) — Scott Brickner 586-850-5174
- Knights of Columbus Ladies Auxiliary — Rose Rzeppa 810-794-3187
- Daughters of Isabella — Mary Patrick 810-765-5654
- Legion of Mary — Mary Agnes Simons 810-765-5444
- Christian Service — Jan Long 810-531-2021 / Rose Rzeppa 810-794-3187
- Food Pantry — Mary Agnes Simons / Wendy Klik 810-765-4908
- Homebound Communion — Jill Block 586-854-7092
- OLR Parish Against Human Trafficking — Rose Rumball 810-512-8035
- Right to Life (Holy Cross) — Daughters of Isabella Circle #419, 586-260-7653
- Society of St. Vincent de Paul — Holy Cross 810-765-3568; St. Catherine 810-794-3301
- Prayer Chain — Barb Hendrick 810-734-3303
- Prayer Group — Judy Wallis 810-531-6875
- Ushers (Holy Cross) — Jim McPhee 810-531-5859
- Ushers (St. Catherine)
- Worship Commission — Cheryl Tatro 810-794-0114
- Tuesday Night Bingo — Parish Office 810-765-3568
- SCRIP (Holy Cross School) — 810-765-3591
- WeekEND Backpack — Betty Babel 586-909-3046
Parish Devotions and Special Events
The parish gathers for Eucharistic Adoration on Tuesday evenings at St. Catherine and on First Fridays at Holy Cross, and offers a Lenten Fish Fry every Friday of Lent in the St. Catherine Activity Center. Adult Bible Study on St. Paul's Letter to the Romans is offered during Lent, with a Wednesday morning study and a St. Mark Chapel on Harsens Island study that includes ferry pickup from the mainland.
- Tuesday Holy Hour — 5:00 PM at St. Catherine, Algonac
- First Friday Adoration — following 9:00 AM Mass at Holy Cross, Marine City (to 11:00 AM)
- Lenten Fish Fry — every Friday of Lent, 4:00–7:00 PM, St. Catherine Activity Center (Adults $17, Seniors 65+ $15, Children 7–12 $10, 6 & under free; Carry Out $17; benefits OLR Parish and Holy Cross School)
- Adult Bible Study: St. Paul's Letter to the Romans — Wednesdays 9:30–11:00 AM in the parish fellowship hall during Lent
- St. Mark Chapel Bible Study — Wednesdays during Lent; ferry pickup on the island side at 9:00 AM; study guide $11.00 (contact Jane at 586-612-9351)
Cemeteries and Grounds
The merged parish maintains two historic Catholic cemeteries along the St. Clair River, supported by the Garden Angels volunteer beautification campaign. Donations can be made in memory of or in honor of a loved one to either cemetery through the parish office.
- Holy Cross Cemetery — 1345 Chartier, Marine City
- St. Catherine Cemetery — 9455 Stone, Algonac
- Garden Angels — cemetery beautification volunteer program
- Donations: checks payable to 'OLR' with 'Donation to Holy Cross Cemetery' or 'Donation to St. Catherine Cemetery' on the memo line
Contact and Office Information
The unified parish office sits on the Catholic Point campus in Marine City at 610 S. Water Street. Office hours run Monday through Thursday 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM and Friday 9:00 AM to 12:00 noon. Bulletin submissions are due two weeks prior to publication; the bulletin is also available online at ourladyontheriver.net.
- Parish Office — 610 S. Water Street, Marine City, MI 48039
- Phone — 810-765-3568
- Fax — 810-765-2974
- Email — [email protected]
- Bulletin — [email protected] (Nancy Stockwell); deadline two weeks prior to publication; bulletin available online at ourladyontheriver.net
- Office Hours — Mon–Thu 9:00 AM–4:00 PM; Fri 9:00 AM–12:00 Noon
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father Francis Kemper1894–1895
First resident pastor of St. Catherine, Algonac.
- Father Benoit Gery1895–1924 (Easter)
Rebuilt St. Catherine after 1895 fire on Fruit Street; also shepherded St. Mark mission on Harsens Island for 27 years.
- Father Walter Hardyuntil 1934
Succeeded Father Gery at St. Catherine.
- Father John Sullivan1934–1942
Succeeded Father Hardy at St. Catherine.
- Father James J. O'Mara1942–1965
Built the first parish school and convent (1951) and the new St. Catherine church on St. Clair Boulevard (1959).
- Father Cyril Keating1965–1978
Closed St. Catherine school in 1970.
- Father Raymond Donahue1978–1994
Re-opened the school in 1980; built the Activity Center in the early 1990s; designed the 1994 Centennial Banner.
- Father Leo Broderick1994–1998
Succeeded Father Donahue at St. Catherine.
- Father Douglas Bignall1998–2004
Oversaw the 'Restore the Dream, Prepare for the Next Century' capital campaign.
- Father Timothy BirneyOctober 2004 – 2007
Succeeded Father Bignall.
- Father James LopezJuly 2007 –
Arrived the year of the parish merger.
- Rev. John Dumaspresent
Current Pastor of Our Lady on the River Parish.