About Our Lady on the River(Holy Cross) · Marine City, Michigan
Our Lady on the River Parish is a Roman Catholic community in St. Clair County, Michigan, formed on March 6, 2007, by the merger of three historic worship sites: Holy Cross Church in Marine City, St. Catherine of Alexandria Church in Algonac, and St. Mark Chapel on Harsens Island. The parish belongs to the Archdiocese of Detroit's Blue Water Vicariate (Northeast Region, Family of Parishes: Northeast Blue Water 2) and is led by Fr. John Dumas as Pastor alongside Associate Pastor Fr. Johny Suseela and Permanent Deacon Michael Oldani. Its roots reach back to the 1820s mission established by Fr. Gabriel Richard on land known as Catholic Point, and today the parish sustains a K-8 Catholic school, faith formation programs, and outreach to the wider river communities of Marine City, Algonac and Harsens Island.
- Established
- 2007
- Patron
- Our Lady on the River (parish title); original site: the Finding of the Holy Cross
- Rector
- Rev. John Dumas
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Detroit (Blue Water Vicariate, Northeast Region — Family of Parishes: Northeast Blue Water 2)
Why belong here
Our Lady on the River offers something rare in the Archdiocese of Detroit: one Catholic family of faith spanning three distinct worship sites — historic Holy Cross on the Marine City waterfront, St. Catherine of Alexandria in Algonac, and St. Mark Chapel on Harsens Island. Parishioners can raise children through Holy Cross Catholic School (founded 1869) and the parish's 1st–8th grade faith formation program, grow through the Order of Christian Initiation for Adults (OCIA/RCIA), and serve neighbors through the parish Food Pantry (contact Wendy Klik, 810-765-4908) and other outreach ministries. With daily and weekend Mass across three chapels, weekly adoration, and a clergy team led by Fr. John Dumas, the parish is a genuine 'one Body sustained by the Eucharist' for the river communities of St. Clair County.
Mass times at Our Lady on the River(Holy Cross)
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- St. Catherine Church — Tuesdays 5:00 PM until 6:00 PM Mass
- St. Catherine Church — Saturdays 3:00 PM until 4:00 PM Mass
- Holy Cross Church — Fridays following 9:00 AM Mass
- By appointment: call the parish office at 810-765-3568
Adoration times
- St. Catherine Church — Tuesdays 5:00 PM
- Holy Cross Church — 1st Fridays following 9:00 AM Mass (Adoration begins after Mass and continues until 11:00 AM)
Our Lady on the River Parish — Overview
Our Lady on the River Parish is a three-site Catholic community in St. Clair County, Michigan, formed in 2007 from the merger of Holy Cross (Marine City), St. Catherine of Alexandria (Algonac), and St. Mark (Harsens Island). The parish belongs to the Archdiocese of Detroit and is led by Fr. John Dumas (Pastor), Fr. Johny Suseela (Associate Pastor), and Deacon Michael Oldani, with a staff that includes a Director of Religious Education & Youth Ministry, Business Manager, Bulletin Editor and Secretary.
- Formed March 6, 2007
- Archdiocese of Detroit — Blue Water Vicariate
- Three worship sites: Holy Cross, St. Catherine, St. Mark Chapel
- Parish Office: 610 S. Water St, Marine City, MI 48039
- Phone 810-765-3568 — [email protected]
History
The parish traces its origins to a 1796 mission of Fr. Michael Levadeaux from Ste. Anne's, Detroit, and the 1824 land purchase by Fr. Gabriel Richard at the confluence of the St. Clair and Belle Rivers. President John Quincy Adams granted the land on April 1, 1825, creating Catholic Point. The cornerstone of Holy Cross Church was set in 1843; the present cruciform church was built in 1903 under Fr. Peter Ternes. Companion missions grew into St. Catherine of Alexandria (Algonac, 1894) and St. Mark (Harsens Island, 1897), and all three merged on March 6, 2007 to become Our Lady on the River Parish.
- 1796 — Fr. Levadeaux begins visiting by canoe
- 1824 — Fr. Gabriel Richard purchases Catholic Point for $82.33
- April 1, 1825 — John Quincy Adams grants the land in trust for St. Agatha's
- 1843 — cornerstone of Holy Cross Church laid
- 1859–1875 — Fr. Joseph August Lambert opens the first school (1869)
- 1903 — present Holy Cross Church built under Fr. Peter Ternes
- 1894 — St. Catherine of Alexandria founded (Algonac)
- 1897 — St. Mark founded (Harsens Island)
- March 6, 2007 — three parishes officially merge
Worship Sites
The unified parish retains all three historic worship sites, each considered essential to the whole community. Together they give the parish a weekly Mass schedule that covers every day Monday through Sunday.
- Holy Cross Church — 610 S. Water Street, Marine City, MI 48039
- St. Catherine of Alexandria Church — 1103 Washington Street, Algonac, MI 48001
- St. Mark Chapel — 4200 Green Drive, Harsens Island, MI 48028 (reached by ferry)
Parish Staff & Clergy (Our Team)
The parish is served by a Pastor, Associate Pastor, several Priests In Solidum within the Family of Parishes, a Permanent Deacon, and lay staff handling faith formation, business, communications and parish office administration.
- Rev. John Dumas — Pastor
- Rev. Johny Suseela — Associate Pastor
- Rev. Charles White IV — Priest In Solidum
- Rev. Joseph Esper — Priest In Solidum
- Rev. Raymond Arwady — Priest In Solidum
- Rev. Michael Zuelch — Full-Time Priest Support / Priest In Solidum
- Deacon Michael Oldani — Permanent Deacon
- Judith Beauvais — Business Manager / Bookkeeper
- Nancy Stockwell — Bulletin Editor
- Mary Shackett — Secretary
- Cassidy Johnson — Director of Religious Education & Youth Ministry
Faith Formation & Religious Education
The parish provides faith formation for children in grades 1–8 on Monday evenings at Holy Cross Catholic School from September through May. The same office coordinates adult sacramental preparation through the Order of Christian Initiation for Adults (OCIA / RCIA), the parish's youth ministry, and sacramental preparation for First Eucharist and Confirmation.
- Faith Formation for grades 1–8 — Monday evenings, September–May, Holy Cross Catholic School
- Director: Cassidy Johnson — 810-765-8300 — [email protected] / [email protected]
- Youth Ministry contact: Cassidy Johnson
- OCIA / RCIA — adult inquiry, Baptism, Confirmation, and Eucharist
- First Holy Communion preparation through 1st–5th grade Faith Formation
- Confirmation preparation during 7th and 8th grade years
- Volunteers working with minors must complete background check and PGC training
Sacraments
Preparation for the sacraments is coordinated through the parish office and the Director of Religious Education. Infant baptism is arranged through the parish office; older children and adults seeking baptism are directed to the Faith Formation office for catechumenate formation.
- Baptism of infants — contact parish office (810-765-3568)
- Baptism for children over 6 or adults — contact Cassidy Johnson (810-765-8300)
- First Eucharist / First Communion — through Faith Formation or adult OCIA
- Confirmation — 7th/8th grade Faith Formation or adult OCIA
- Marriage and Anointing of the Sick — contact parish office for preparation
Ministries & Outreach
The parish invites parishioners to participate in liturgical ministries and outreach. Training is offered for Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion, Lectors, and Altar Servers. A parish Food Pantry serves neighbors in need.
- Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion (EMHC) — training available
- Lectors — training available
- Altar Servers — training available
- Parish Food Pantry — Wendy Klik, 810-765-4908
Catholic Schools on Campus
Two Archdiocese of Detroit schools share the parish's Marine City campus on South Water Street. Holy Cross Catholic School (K–8), founded in 1869 under Fr. Joseph Lambert, is one of the oldest Catholic schools in Michigan. Cardinal Mooney Catholic High School serves area teenagers in faith-centered secondary education.
- Holy Cross Catholic School — 618 S Water St, Marine City, MI 48039 — 810-765-3591 — www.holycrossonline.net — Principal: Mrs. Betsy Davenport
- Cardinal Mooney Catholic High School — 660 S Water St, Marine City, MI 48039 — 810-765-8825 — www.cardinalmooney.org — Principal: Jennifer Stachelski
- Founded 1869 — Holy Cross is the fifth-oldest private Catholic school in Michigan
Parish Mission Statement
Our Lady on the River articulates its identity in four pillars drawn from the parish website: unity across three sites, welcome and dignity for all, formation across all ages, and Marian outreach in service and prayer.
- 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 and support the human and spiritual needs of each person with dignity, as one Body sustained by the Eucharist.
- Guided by the Holy Spirit, we commit ourselves to the formation of our Catholic faith at all ages and provide a deep, 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.
Contact & Visit
The parish office is the hub for all three sites and can be reached by phone, email, or in person at 610 South Water Street, Marine City. Faith Formation inquiries can be directed to the Director's separate line and email.
- Parish Office — 610 South Water Street, Marine City, MI 48039
- Phone — 810-765-3568
- Email — [email protected]
- Faith Formation / Youth Ministry — Cassidy Johnson — 810-765-8300 — [email protected]
- Website — http://www.ourladyontheriver.net/
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Michael Levadeaux1796+
First pastor of Ste. Anne's Detroit; responsible for outlying missions including the future Catholic Point; visited by canoe.
- Fr. Gabriel Richard, S.S.1824–1832
Acquired Catholic Point land in 1824; secured the 1825 John Quincy Adams land grant; died 1832.
- Fr. Joseph August Lambert1859–1875
Expanded parish as population swelled; opened the first school in 1869 with IHM sisters; built a convent south of the church.
- Fr. Peter Ternesearly 1900s
Built the present Holy Cross Church in 1903 with shipbuilder Matthew Sicken's bid.
- Fr. Lawrence Kilroy
Ministered at the parish; future Bishop Frederic Baraga also served here as a young priest.
- Fr. Douglas Terrienarrived July (pre-2018)
Previously at Immaculate Conception, Lapeer; arrived as Pastor (per Detroit Church Blog 2018).
- Fr. David BechillAssociate Pastor ~2016–2018
Algonac native who attended St. Catherine as a child.