Our Lady Queen of Heaven-Good Shepherd Catholic Community

Parish Overview

Our Lady Queen of Heaven–Good Shepherd Catholic Community is a Roman Catholic parish of the Archdiocese of Detroit, rooted in two proud lineages that joined on January 11, 2016. The parish is currently part of the Trinity Family of Parishes in Northeast Detroit and is led by pastor Rev. Dr. Michael C. Nkachukwu, with associate pastor Rev. Tyrone Robinson and SSJ (Society of St. Joseph) support from Rev. Francis Asomkase and the recently ordained Rev. Charles Nwamadi, along with Deacon Justus Ihemawulotu. The community gathers at 8200 Rolyat Street on Detroit's northeast side, where the historic OLQH complex and its Mary-themed stained glass provide a beautiful setting for worship and fellowship.

History of Our Lady Queen of Heaven

Founded in 1929 by Fr. Albert Mrowka for Polish Catholic families moving into the Van Dyke/Seven Mile/Outer Drive area, OLQH grew from a 125-family congregation worshipping in two Van Dyke storefronts into a major parish complex. After the Great Depression and WWII years, parishioners built a permanent church dedicated November 11, 1959, topped by a bell tower and baptistry in 1963. The school peaked at 960 students in 1944, later closed, and was leased to Dove Academy. The parish endured shifting demographics through the late 20th century and merged with Good Shepherd in 2016, joining its multicultural life with the older Polish-rooted community.

• 1929 — founded by Fr. Albert Mrowka on land from the Hafeli farm
• 1931 — combination church/school built
• 1935 — expansion and new auditorium
• 1944 — school enrollment peaks at 960 students
• 1959 — permanent church dedicated November 11
• 1963 — bell tower and baptistry added
• 2016 — Good Shepherd officially merges with OLQH (Jan 11)

History of Good Shepherd (Annunciation Lineage)

Good Shepherd traces its roots to the Church of the Annunciation, organized in April 1906, which built a Romanesque church on Parkview near Jefferson designed by Donaldson & Meier and lavishly painted by muralist A. Z. Bellante of Newark, NJ (dedicated Christmas Day 1912). Through successive mergers — Our Lady of Sorrows joining in 2000, and St. Anthony of Padua closing in 2006 to form Good Shepherd — the parish was led by Msgr. Wilbur Suedkamp (until his death in 1987), Fr. Valentine Gattari, and Fr. Michael Chidi Nkachukwu. On January 11, 2016, Good Shepherd merged into OLQH; the main worship site moved to 8200 Rolyat while the historic Annunciation/Good Shepherd church remains available for weddings, funerals and special occasions.

• 1906 — Annunciation parish organized
• 1912 — Romanesque church dedicated Christmas Day with Bellante murals
• 2000 — Our Lady of Sorrows joins Annunciation
• 2006 — St. Anthony of Padua closes, Good Shepherd is formed
• 2016 — Good Shepherd merges with OLQH (January 11)

Pastor & Staff

The parish is led by Rev. Dr. Michael C. Nkachukwu, who became pastor in 2025 and previously shepherded the Good Shepherd/Annunciation community through its mergers. Rev. Tyrone Robinson serves as Associate Pastor. The Society of St. Joseph (SSJ) provides pastoral support through Rev. Francis Asomkase, SSJ and Rev. Charles Nwamadi, SSJ (ordained May 31, 2025). Deacon Justus Ihemawulotu, SSJ assists. The parish office is staffed by office manager Mrs. Angela Vann.

Mass & Worship Schedule

The community gathers for Mass in the chapel on weekdays and in the main worship space on weekends. Saturday Vigil Mass is celebrated at 4:00 PM on the 1st and 2nd Saturdays of each month at OLQH-Good Shepherd, and on the remaining Saturdays at St. Raymond–Our Lady of Good Counsel. Sunday Mass is at 9:00 AM. The 3rd Sunday of every month features a Mass in Igbo. Weekday Masses are offered Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday at 10:30 AM in the Chapel. Holy Day Mass is at 11:30 AM or as announced.

• Saturday Vigil: 4:00 PM (1st & 2nd Saturdays at OLQH-GS; other Saturdays at St. Raymond-OLGC)
• Sunday: 9:00 AM
• Igbo Mass: every 3rd Sunday
• Weekdays (Mon, Tue, Thu, Fri): 10:30 AM in Chapel

Sacraments

The parish celebrates all the usual sacraments, with pastoral guidance and preparation tailored to each. Baptisms are scheduled in advance, with parents expected to attend two preparatory sessions. Marriages must be arranged at least six months in advance. The Sacrament of Reconciliation is offered regularly and by appointment. The priests and Special Ministers of the Eucharist visit the sick and homebound on request.

• Baptism — advance arrangements, two prep sessions for parents
• Marriage — at least six months advance notice
• Reconciliation — see confession schedule or by appointment
• Visitation of the Sick / Communion to homebound — call the rectory

Ministries & Organizations

The parish supports a robust mix of liturgical and social ministries. Christian Service coordinates outreach to those in need; the parish choir leads worship; the Social Club and the annual Good Times Festival bring the community together; and Bible Study meets Wednesdays at 1 PM. Liturgical volunteers serve as lectors, ushers and greeters, and altar servers, while the historic St. Ann Sodality (founded 1929), Holy Name Society, Young Ladies Sodality and League of Catholic Women continue the parish's long tradition of lay apostolate. Pancake Breakfast fundraisers and other volunteer-driven events happen throughout the year.

• Christian Service
• Choir (Music Ministry)
• Social Club
• Annual Good Times Festival
• Bible Study (Wednesdays 1 PM)
• Lectors, Ushers & Greeters, Altar Servers
• St. Ann Sodality, Holy Name Society, Young Ladies Sodality, League of Catholic Women (legacy groups)

Architecture & Sacred Art

The OLQH church is notable for its Marian-themed stained-glass windows, including a unique window of 'Our Lady of the Skies' showing Mary watching over a modern airplane — a tribute to founding pastor Fr. Mrowka's love of aviation and the parish's location near what is now Coleman A. Young International Airport. Chevron motifs appear on the high altar, in the windows and throughout the architecture; the tabernacle rests at a side altar and a statue of the Blessed Mother stands above the main doorway. The historic Good Shepherd/Annunciation building, by contrast, is in the Romanesque style, with murals by A. Z. Bellante of Newark, NJ completing the interior.

• Our Lady of the Skies stained-glass window (unique Marian devotion)
• Chevron motifs on altar, windows and architecture
• Romanesque-style Good Shepherd/Annunciation church
• Bellante murals (Newark, NJ) in the Annunciation/Good Shepherd interior

Trinity Family of Parishes & Recent Restructuring

OLQH–Good Shepherd is one of three parishes that form the Trinity Family of Parishes in Northeast Detroit, alongside St. Raymond–Our Lady of Good Counsel (20103 Joann) and St. Jude. The Archdiocese of Detroit directory lists OLQH–Good Shepherd in the Genesis Vicariate, Central Region, Family of Parishes: Central Genesis 2. In May 2026, Archbishop Edward Weisenburger decreed that the OLQH church building at 8200 Rolyat would be relegated to secular but not unbecoming use effective July 1, 2026, with the parish community continuing to be served primarily by St. Raymond Church and St. Jude Church. The parish's website and ministries remained active in the lead-up to that transition.

• Trinity Family of Parishes in Northeast Detroit
• Part of Archdiocese of Detroit's Genesis Vicariate / Central Genesis 2
• May 2026 decree: OLQH church building to secular use effective July 1, 2026
• Parish community to be served by St. Raymond and St. Jude churches

Visit & Contact

Visitors are warmly welcomed. The parish office is open Monday through Wednesday from 9 AM to 4 PM, and Thursday from 9 AM to 2 PM. Office manager Mrs. Angela Vann can be reached by calling ahead. The parish mailing address is 8200 Rolyat Street, Detroit, MI 48234; phone (313) 891-4553; fax (313) 891-5782; email [email protected]; website https://ourladyofgoodshepherd.org.