About Our Mother of Perpetual Help in Ferndale · Oak Park, Michigan
Our Mother of Perpetual Help Parish is a welcoming Roman Catholic community in Oak Park, Michigan, part of the Archdiocese of Detroit. It was formed on January 1, 2014, through the merger of Our Lady of Fatima Parish (Oak Park) and St. James Parish (Ferndale), two communities that had been clustered together since 2012. The unified parish is served by Fr. Paul F. Chateau, who has shepherded the community since 1977, and continues a mission of prayer, service, and outreach to the surrounding communities of Oak Park, Southfield, Berkley, Ferndale, and Detroit.
- Established
- 2014
- Patron
- Our Mother of Perpetual Help (Blessed Virgin Mary)
- Rector
- Fr. Paul F. Chateau
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Detroit
Why belong here
Our Mother of Perpetual Help is a small but deeply rooted Catholic community of about 327 households in northern Oakland County, distinguished by the long, steady pastoral care of Fr. Paul Chateau (since 1977) and a tangible commitment to neighborhood outreach—partnering with Oak Park, Southfield, Berkley, Ferndale, and Detroit each Thanksgiving to serve those in need. Worshippers are welcomed into a parish where the Eucharistic table, the rosary at the Fatima Shrine, and cherished sacred art (mosaic icon and stained glass rescued from closed sister parishes) all nourish daily life. As part of the South Oakland Vicariate Family 5 alongside Transfiguration, Divine Providence, and Our Lady of La Salette, the parish offers a tight-knit home for anyone seeking prayer, formation, and service in the Archdiocese of Detroit.
Mass times at Our Mother of Perpetual Help in Ferndale
Weekly Mass schedule
Our Story: Two Parishes Become One
Our Mother of Perpetual Help was created through the 2014 union of Our Lady of Fatima (Oak Park) and St. James (Ferndale), two parishes that had been clustered together since 2012. Their predecessor communities stretch back more than a century, to farmhouse Masses in southern Royal Oak Township and to the 1950 founding of Our Lady of Fatima by Fr. George Parzych. In 2024, after a season of prayerful discernment led by a parish transition team, St. James Church was closed by decree of Archbishop Allen Vigneron, and the unified community now worships at the former Our Lady of Fatima Church on Oak Park Blvd.
- St. James Parish founded 1919 in Ferndale
- Our Lady of Fatima Parish founded June 15, 1950 by Fr. George Parzych
- Clustered July 1, 2012
- Merged January 1, 2014 — Solemnity of Mary, Holy Mother of God
- St. James Church closed November 3, 2024
Our Lady of Fatima Church — A Fire, A Rebuild, A Legacy
Just six years after Fr. George founded Our Lady of Fatima, a devastating fire on February 17, 1956 destroyed the original church building. Guided by Fr. George's resilient spirit, plans for a new church moved quickly: the community gathered for the first Mass in the present building on Christmas Eve 1957. The current rectory followed in 1962. The Sisters of St. Joseph from Garfield Heights, Ohio had arrived in 1954 to teach in the parish school and continued their ministry for nearly two decades.
- 1950: Parish founded; Masses first held in Clinton School House
- 1954: Sisters of St. Joseph arrive to teach in the school
- February 17, 1956: Original church destroyed by fire
- Christmas Eve 1957: First Mass in the new church
- 1962: Current rectory added
Our Mother of Perpetual Help Icon and Sacred Art
As is customary in the Archdiocese of Detroit, sacred items from closed churches may be entrusted to other parishes. A parishioner informed Fr. Paul Chateau that St. Louis the King Church had housed a mosaic icon of Our Mother of Perpetual Help, the beloved patroness of the parish. After a formal request to the Archdiocese, the mosaic was delivered to Our Lady of Fatima Church. Master craftsman and carpenter Al Majewski designed and built a niche in the church's northeast corner near the musicians to house the icon, creating a visual prayer and reminder of Our Mother's loving presence.
- Mosaic icon originally from St. Louis the King Church
- Installed in a custom niche in the northeast corner of the church
- Craftsmanship by Al Majewski
Stained Glass: Memory Made Visible
The stained-glass windows in Our Lady of Fatima Church carry a story of faith, heritage, and heartfelt dedication. They were originally part of St. Thomas the Apostle Parish in Detroit—a vibrant Polish-American community founded in 1914, built in 1923, and listed on the National Register of Historic Places before closing in 1989. Fr. Paul Chateau lovingly acquired several of those windows and invited parishioners to help bring them to life in the new worship space, repairing the glass and building custom light boxes. Later, after St. Dennis Parish in Royal Oak closed, Fr. Paul obtained four additional windows—also originally from St. Thomas—depicting the Four Evangelists.
- St. Thomas the Apostle (Detroit) windows rescued and restored
- Volunteers: Jim Podzikowski, Aaron Chateau, Frank Czarnecki, Michael Palcyznski, Art Lowry, Joe Rappazini, Frank Gosztyla
- Four Evangelist windows from St. Dennis Parish (Royal Oak)
- Installed by Aaron Chateau, John Armstrong, and others
Mass and Worship Schedule
The parish celebrates the Eucharist on weekends at the Oak Park Blvd church, with a Saturday Vigil Mass on Saturday afternoon and one Sunday morning Mass. Weekday Mass is offered on Tuesday and Thursday mornings, with an additional evening Mass on the first Thursday of each month. Parishioners are also invited to pray the Rosary on selected Wednesdays at the Fatima Shrine on Oak Park Blvd or in the parish Chapel.
- Saturday Vigil Mass — 4:30 PM
- Sunday Mass — 10:00 AM
- Tuesday Mass — 9:00 AM
- Thursday Mass — 9:00 AM
- First Thursday of the Month — 7:00 PM
- Rosary — selected Wednesdays at the Fatima Shrine or Chapel
Parish Staff and Leadership
Fr. Paul F. Chateau leads the parish as Priest in Solidum with Primary Responsibility. He is supported by a dedicated team of lay ministers and staff who oversee music, finance, office administration, facilities, and maintenance.
- Fr. Paul F. Chateau — Priest in Solidum with Primary Responsibility
- Ms. Mary Ann Shirley — Finance
- Ms. Vicki Mazurek — Music Director
- Mr. Michael Chateau — Maintenance Support
- Ms. Julie Hines — Office Administrative Support
- Mr. Al Mayer — Facilities Management Liaison
Parish Outreach and Community Partnership
Outreach to the surrounding communities is at the heart of parish life. Each Thanksgiving, Our Mother of Perpetual Help partners with neighboring communities—Oak Park, Southfield, Berkley, Ferndale, and Detroit—to serve those in need. The parish reports approximately 327 households, 1,207 individuals, including 512 children and 317 seniors, served by its ministries.
- Thanksgiving outreach with Oak Park, Southfield, Berkley, Ferndale, and Detroit
- 327 households served
- 1,207 individuals including 512 children and 317 seniors
Sacraments
The parish prepares and celebrates all seven Catholic sacraments: Baptism, Eucharist (First Holy Communion), Confirmation, Reconciliation (Confession), Anointing of the Sick, Marriage, and Holy Orders. Teaching on each sacrament draws from the United States Catholic Catechism for Adults. Families seeking information about sacramental preparation are invited to contact the parish office at 248-545-2310.
- Baptism
- Eucharist / First Holy Communion
- Confirmation
- Reconciliation (Confession)
- Anointing of the Sick
- Marriage
- Holy Orders
Family of Parishes — South Oakland Vicariate Family 5
Since July 1, 2021, Fr. Paul Chateau has served as Family-Pastor of South Oakland Vicariate Family 5, an In Solidum team that includes the parishes of Church of the Transfiguration (Southfield), Divine Providence (Southfield), Our Lady of La Salette (Berkley), and Our Mother of Perpetual Help (Oak Park). The parishes share events, prayer opportunities, and pastoral collaboration as they minister together across northern Oakland County.
- Church of the Transfiguration Parish, Southfield
- Divine Providence Parish, Southfield
- Our Lady of La Salette Parish, Berkley
- Our Mother of Perpetual Help Parish, Oak Park
Visit, Join, and Support
The parish office is open Monday through Friday from 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM, and the parish welcomes new members and visitors. Generous supporters can give during Mass, mail a donation to the parish office, or donate online. The parish mission statement reads: "Our Mother of Perpetual Help Parish is a welcoming and nurturing Catholic community building up the Body of Christ through prayer and service. United in Faith, Love, and Service to Others."
- Office hours: Monday–Friday, 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM
- Phone: 248-545-2310
- Address: 13500 Oak Park Blvd, Oak Park, MI 48237
- Online giving available
- Website: http://www.omoph.org/
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. George Parzych (Fr. George)1950–
First pastor of Our Lady of Fatima Parish, appointed by Cardinal Mooney on June 15, 1950. Built the original rectory/convent and led the parish after the 1956 fire, with the new church opening Christmas Eve 1957.
- Msgr. John Bradley1968–1971
Served Our Lady of Fatima with deep devotion until his untimely passing in 1971.
- Fr. Tom Flynn & Fr. Paul Chateau1972–1977
Appointed Co-Pastors of Our Lady of Fatima in 1972.
- Fr. Paul F. Chateau1977–present
Has shepherded the parish continuously since 1977; led the community through the 2014 merger and the 2024 closure of St. James Church. Appointed Family-Pastor in Solidum for South Oakland Vicariate Family 5 effective July 1, 2021.