About Our Lady Queen of Apostles · Hamtramck, Michigan
Our Lady Queen of Apostles is a Roman Catholic parish in Hamtramck, Michigan, established in 1917 as the second Polish Catholic church in the city to serve the booming Polish immigrant community of northeast Hamtramck. Today the parish belongs to the Central Genesis 1 Family of Parishes within the Archdiocese of Detroit and continues to celebrate Mass in both English and Polish, while welcoming Polish, Nigerian, Bangladeshi, and Hispanic families. Its current church building, completed in 1952 and richly decorated with mosaics and a Casavant pipe organ, is the spiritual home of about nine pastors' worth of faithful history and remains an active, multicultural worshipping community.
- Established
- 1917
- Patron
- Our Lady Queen of Apostles (Blessed Virgin Mary)
- Rector
- Rev. Janusz Iwan
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Detroit (Metropolitan Archdiocese of Detroit) — Genesis Vicariate, Central Region; Family of Parishes: Central Genesis 1
Why belong here
Our Lady Queen of Apostles is a century-old parish that has kept its Polish Catholic character alive while opening its doors to new neighbors — today the pews include Nigerian, Bangladeshi, and Hispanic Catholics alongside long-established Polish families. With bilingual English/Polish Masses, a stunning 1952 mosaic-filled church, a Casavant organ, active sodalities like the Rosary Society and Christian Mothers, ongoing religious education for preschoolers and public-school students, and Eucharistic Adoration with regular Reconciliation, it offers the spiritual depth of a historic parish and the warmth of a multicultural, family-centered community.
Mass times at Our Lady Queen of Apostles
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Sunday 7:30 AM – 7:55 AM (before 8:00 AM Mass)
- Sunday 9:00 AM – 9:20 AM (priests speak English and Polish)
- Saturday 4:00 PM – 4:25 PM (before 4:30 PM Mass)
Adoration times
- Thursday 9:00 AM – 10:00 AM
- First Friday of the month following the 9:00 AM Mass
Parish History & Founding
Our Lady Queen of Apostles traces its origin to a letter dated April 24, 1917, in which Bishop John S. Foley of Detroit appointed Rev. Roman Klafkowski as first pastor of a new Polish parish carved from the northeastern portion of St. Florian. The first Mass was celebrated on the Feast of Pentecost in a two-story house on Prescott Street, with only 25 families making up the new community. The original church building was a wooden structure bought from the Polish National Church at Conant and Belmont and hauled by a team of horses to the spot where the sanctuary now stands. By May 1918, an eight-classroom school was already in use, and 32 parcels of real estate had been assembled for parish growth.
- Authorization letter signed April 24, 1917 by Bishop John S. Foley
- First Mass: Feast of Pentecost 1917, in a two-story house on Prescott Street
- First church building moved from Conant & Belmont by horse team
- 8-classroom school opened May 1918
- 32 parcels of real estate acquired under first pastor
The Church Building
The present beautiful church building was constructed during Fr. Ladislaus Szok's pastorate at a cost of $750,000 over two years, and was blessed by Cardinal Edward Mooney on November 23, 1952. Its interior is highlighted by a $20,000 sanctuary screen behind the main altar and $38,000 of mosaic work in the sanctuary, side altars, and chapels. A Casavant pipe organ with 2,187 pipes — one of the finest in the Detroit area — was installed in the choir loft. The colorful mosaics and paintings were restored for the parish's 100th anniversary in 2017.
- Construction cost: $750,000 over two years
- Blessed by Cardinal Edward Mooney, November 23, 1952
- Sanctuary screen: $20,000 behind the main altar
- Mosaic work in sanctuary, side altars, and chapels: $38,000
- Casavant pipe organ with 2,187 pipes
Parish School
The Felician Sisters staffed the parish grade school from October 1917 until it closed in 2003, joined by lay teachers in later years. During the Depression years (1929–1930) enrollment peaked at 1,566 students, and over the school's 86-year history more than 58,400 students received their education at Our Lady Queen of Apostles. The present school building dates to 1927, built under Fr. Stanislaw Wasielewski together with the temporary church. Boy Scout Troop #101, one of the school's popular extracurricular activities, produced 21 Eagle Scouts.
- Felician Sisters staffed the school 1917–2003
- Peak enrollment 1,566 students (1929–1930)
- Over 58,400 students educated in the parish school
- Present school building constructed 1927 under Fr. Wasielewski
- Boy Scout Troop #101 produced 21 Eagle Scouts
- 15 priestly, 1 missionary, and 19 nun vocations from alumni
Organizations & Parish Life
Parish organizations have worked devotedly for the spiritual development of their members and the material advancement of the parish for over a century. The oldest is the Third Order of St. Francis, joined by longstanding sodalities such as the Rosary Society, Christian Mothers, the Arch Confraternity of the Sacred Heart, the Altar Society, the Holy Name Society, the Choir, the Ushers' Club, and the Senior Citizens Club. Religious Education continues for preschoolers and public-school students.
- Third Order of St. Francis (oldest)
- Rosary Society
- Christian Mothers
- Arch Confraternity of the Sacred Heart
- Altar Society
- Holy Name Society
- Parish Choir
- Ushers' Club
- Senior Citizens Club
- Religious Education for preschoolers and public-school students
Spiritual Life & Devotions
Sunday and weekday Masses are attended by a joyful, participating congregation, and additional services such as Novenas, Lenten and Marian Devotions, Forty Hour Devotions, First Communions, Confirmations, and Easter and Christmas celebrations retain much of the old fervor and style the earliest founders brought from Poland. The parish has also embraced new venues such as synods, discussions and adult education courses, conferences, folk Masses, retreats, and Bible studies.
- Novenas
- Lenten Devotions
- Marian Devotions
- Forty Hour Devotions
- First Communions and Confirmations
- Easter and Christmas celebrations
- Folk Masses, retreats, and Bible studies
Clergy & Staff
The parish is currently pastored by Rev. Janusz Iwan (2013–present), who also serves St. Hyacinth in Detroit. As a member of the Central Genesis 1 Family of Parishes under the Archdiocese of Detroit's family-of-parishes model, Our Lady Queen of Apostles shares clergy and deacons with neighboring parishes.
- Rev. Janusz Iwan — Pastor
- Rev. Andrew Wesley — Moderator / Priest In Solidum
- Rev. Gregory Tokarski — Priest In Solidum
- Rev. Ryszard Czerniak, S.Chr. — Priest In Solidum
- Rev. Edward Traczyk, S.Chr. — Full-Time Priest Support
- Deacon Paul Stevens
- Deacon Michael McCrandall
Parish Mission & Identity
The parish mission statement, as published by the Archdiocese, reads: 'Queen of Apostles is an inclusive Catholic community of faith which lives by the values of the Gospel and gives witness to God's love for all by works of charity, justice and compassion. Together we strive to discern God's Will and respond to it with trust and generosity.' Today the parish reflects its multicultural Hamtramck neighborhood, with Nigerian, Bangladeshi, and Hispanic families joining long-established Polish Catholic roots.
- Mission: inclusive Catholic community witnessing God's love through charity, justice, and compassion
- Polish Catholic heritage preserved through bilingual liturgy
- Welcomes Polish, Nigerian, Bangladeshi, and Hispanic families
- Parish nicknamed 'Q of A' by parishioners
Visit & Contact
Our Lady Queen of Apostles is located at 3851 Prescott Street, Hamtramck, MI 48212, at the corner of Conant and Prescott streets near Caniff. The parish office can be reached at (313) 891-1520 or by email at [email protected]. The Archdiocese of Detroit listing and a community Wix site provide current information on Mass times, devotions, and parish events.
- Address: 3851 Prescott Street, Hamtramck, MI 48212
- Phone: (313) 891-1520
- Email: [email protected]
- AOD parish listing: aod.org/parishes/locations/Our-Lady-Queen-of-Apostles-Parish-ID-240/
- Community site: qofaparish.wixsite.com/qofa/
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Roman Klafkowski1917–1922
First pastor; appointed by Bishop John S. Foley; oversaw purchase of 32 parcels and construction of first school, convent, temporary church, and rectory.
- Rev. Zygmunt Dziatkiewicz1922–1925
- Rev. Stanislaw Wasielewski1925–1940
Built the present school building and the temporary church in 1927.
- Rev. Ladislaus Szok1940–1967
Completed the rectory, built the Sisters' Convent, made major school repairs, and constructed the present church (1952).
- Rev. Alphonse Madeja1967–1969
- Rev. Thaddeus Blaszczyk1970–1993
Longest-tenured pastor after Szok; served when the parish numbered about 1,850 families.
- Rev. Gary Michalik1993–1998
- Rev. Bogdan Milosz1998–2013
- Rev. Janusz Iwan2013–present
Current pastor; also serves St. Hyacinth in Detroit.