About Saint Stephen · East Grand Rapids, Michigan
Saint Stephen Parish is a Roman Catholic community in the Diocese of Grand Rapids that has served East Grand Rapids and southeast Grand Rapids, Michigan for nearly a century, since it was carved out of the Cathedral parish in 1924. Today the parish is clustered with St. Thomas the Apostle Parish in Grand Rapids and is led by a Canonical Administrator. Weekday Mass is celebrated on Thursday evenings and Confession is offered before Mass; weekend Masses are no longer celebrated at the site. Saint Stephen is known for its strong faith formation program (including Catechesis of the Good Shepherd), a sacred music tradition, Eucharistic ministry, and its nearly 100-year-old parish school, which closed in August 2023 after generations of service.
- Established
- 1924
- Patron
- Saint Stephen
- Rector
- Fr. Stephen J. Durkee (Canonical Administrator, July 2025–present)
- Diocese
- Diocese of Grand Rapids
Why belong here
Saint Stephen offers a small, friendly Roman Catholic community in the heart of East Grand Rapids where active members and outreach ministries are at the center of parish life. The parish maintains a robust faith formation program that spans pre-K through high school and includes Catechesis of the Good Shepherd (a hands-on, Montessori-style atrium program for children), sacramental preparation for First Reconciliation and First Communion, and youth ministry for middle and high schoolers. A sacred music tradition is led by Director of Sacred Music Fred Vipond, and parishioners are invited into liturgical service as Eucharistic Ministers. As a clustered worship site with St. Thomas the Apostle Parish, Saint Stephen keeps a close-knit weekly rhythm of Thursday evening Mass and Confession.
Mass times at Saint Stephen
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Thursday 5:45 – 6:45 pm
Parish Story
Saint Stephen Parish was established in 1924 on Rosewood Avenue in East Grand Rapids when Bishop Edward D. Kelly carved the new community out of the Cathedral parish. Father Leo J. Farquharson, a former seminary professor, built and opened the original combination church-school that May. Through the Depression, wartime service (honored by a 1943 Memorial Shrine), post-war growth past 600 families, two parish-school expansions, and the liturgical changes of Vatican II, Saint Stephen remained a close-knit parish. In the 1990s it embraced the Stewardship model of Time, Talent, and Treasure, and in 2023 — after nearly a century of Catholic education — Fr. Scott T. Nolan announced the closure of Saint Stephen School. The parish now operates as a clustered worship site with St. Thomas the Apostle Parish, with a Canonical Administrator guiding it forward.
Founding & Early Years (1923–1936)
Bishop Edward D. Kelly purchased land on Rosewood and Franklin Avenues in 1923; construction of the original combination church-school building opened in May 1924 under founding pastor Fr. Leo J. Farquharson. A Women's Guild and Holy Name Society were founded early on, and parishioners worked through the Depression to retire the original $88,353.14 building debt.
- Original site had two houses, a barn, four hobos' shacks, a pond and a goat
- Fr. Farquharson was the founding pastor
Growth & Post-War Expansion (1936–1966)
Under Msgr. Robert W. Bogg, Msgr. James A. Bryant and Msgr. Arthur LeRoux, the parish grew past 600 families. A 1951 capital campaign raised $400,000 to add classrooms, a gym, a convent, a church extension and school equipment; further expansions in 1959–1960 added eight more classrooms. The 1941 rectory and 1943 WWII Memorial Shrine date from this era.
- Capital campaign raised $400,000 (1951)
- 1943 Memorial Shrine honors WWII parishioners
Vatican II Era & Satellites (1966–1985)
Msgr. Edward N. Alt guided the parish through post-Vatican II upheaval, and Saint Stephen began Saint Paul the Apostle as a satellite in 1963 (Immaculate Heart of Mary had spun off in 1948; both became independent parishes). Bishop Joseph C. McKinney, an auxiliary bishop of Grand Rapids, served as pastor from 1971 to 1977, followed by Fr. George J. Fekete (1977–1982).
- Satellites: Immaculate Heart of Mary (1948), St. Paul the Apostle (1963)
- Bishop Joseph C. McKinney served as pastor 1971–1977
Stewardship & the 21st Century (1985–Present)
Under Frs. Vesbit, Przybysz, Milanowski, Brown, and Nolan, the parish celebrated 75 years in the 1990s and embraced the Stewardship model of Time, Talent, and Treasure. Fr. Nolan announced the closure of Saint Stephen School in July 2023, ending nearly 100 years of parish education. Fr. Troy Nevins served as Canonical Administrator from July 2024 to July 2025, with Fr. Stephen Durkee succeeding him in July 2025.
- Stewardship model adopted in the 1990s
- Saint Stephen School closed August 10, 2023
Clergy, Staff & Pastoral Succession
Saint Stephen has been led by 13 pastors across its history; today it is served by a Canonical Administrator rather than a residential pastor. Parish staff include the Canonical Administrator, a Director of Sacred Music / Parish Administrative Assistant (Fred Vipond), and Business Office staff Shane Rider and Kevin Singer.
- Fr. Stephen J. Durkee — Canonical Administrator (July 2025–present)
- Fr. Troy Nevins — Canonical Administrator (July 2024–July 2025)
- Fr. Scott T. Nolan — Pastor (July 2016–July 2024)
- Fred Vipond — Director of Sacred Music / Parish Administrative Assistant
- Shane Rider & Kevin Singer — Business Office
Worship & Sacraments
Weekday Mass is celebrated on Thursday evenings, and Confession is offered beforehand on Thursdays. Weekend Masses are no longer celebrated at St. Stephen; for weekend Mass, parishioners are directed to St. Thomas the Apostle Parish. Sacramental preparation for First Reconciliation and First Communion takes place during the 2nd grade year.
- Thursday Mass at 7:00 pm
- Thursday Confession 5:45–6:45 pm
- No weekend Masses currently offered on site
- First Reconciliation (late Jan / early Feb)
- First Holy Communion (first Sunday in May)
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Faith formation is offered for all ages from pre-K through high school, and includes the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd — a hands-on, Montessori-style atrium program for children ages 3–9 that uses Scripture, Liturgy and the Magisterium to introduce the great mysteries of the faith. Sacramental preparation, middle school and high school youth ministry, and adult faith formation round out the program.
- Pre-K through 5th Grade Faith Formation
- Catechesis of the Good Shepherd (Levels I, II, future Level III)
- Middle School Youth Ministry
- High School Youth Ministry
- Adult Faith Formation
- Catechist formation
Sacred Music & Liturgical Ministry
Sacred Music is directed by Fred Vipond, who also serves as Parish Administrative Assistant. The parish invites confirmed teens and adults to serve as Eucharistic Ministers (Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion), typically twice a month, with training available and self-scheduling through an online portal.
- Director of Sacred Music: Fred Vipond
- Eucharistic Ministers (training provided; ~twice a month)
Saint Stephen School (1925–2023)
Saint Stephen School was founded in 1925 by Fr. Farquharson together with the founding families and the Dominican Sisters, who provided the teaching staff. For nearly a hundred years the school was a steady presence in the East Grand Rapids and Ottawa Hills neighborhoods, partnering with parents in whole-person Catholic formation. After fifteen years of declining enrollment — and with Mass attendance in the Grand Rapids area down roughly 25% over seven years — Fr. Nolan announced on July 14, 2023 that the school would close at the end of summer camp on August 10, 2023.
- Founded 1925 by the Dominican Sisters
- Closed August 10, 2023
- Closure announced July 14, 2023 by Fr. Scott T. Nolan
Outreach & Parish Life
Saint Stephen describes itself as 'a small, friendly church with lots of active members, outreach ministries, and a solid faith formation program.' The parish continues to invite parishioners to discern the charisms the Holy Spirit has given them and to assist the parish in its ongoing work of evangelization.
- Active outreach ministries
- Parish-wide activities and fellowship
Visit, Contact & Cluster
The parish office at 723 Rosewood Ave. SE is open Monday, Wednesday and Thursday from 8:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. and by appointment. Business and administrative correspondence is now handled through the clustered St. Thomas the Apostle Parish office at 1449 Wilcox Park Dr. SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49506.
- Office: 723 Rosewood Ave. SE, East Grand Rapids, MI 49506
- Office phone: (616) 459-4662 / (616) 243-8998 Ext 201
- Fax: (616) 245-7360
- Email: [email protected]
- Clustered with St. Thomas the Apostle Parish, Grand Rapids
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Leo J. FarquharsonMay 1924 – September 1936
First pastor; former seminary professor who built the original church-school building.
- Msgr. Robert W. BoggSeptember 1936 – July 1950
- Msgr. James A. BryantJuly 1950 – June 1961
- Msgr. Arthur LeRouxJune 1961 – May 1966
Died in office.
- Msgr. Edward N. AltJuly 1966 – September 1971
Led parish through post-Vatican II upheaval; later became associate pastor.
- Bishop Joseph C. McKinneySeptember 1971 – June 1977
Also an auxiliary bishop of the Diocese of Grand Rapids.
- Fr. George J. FeketeJune 1977 – June 1982
- Fr. Thomas S. VesbitJune 1985 – July 1995
- Fr. Mark C. PrzybyszJuly 1995 – July 2003
- Fr. Paul A. MilanowskiJuly 2003 – July 2012
- Fr. Thomas J. BrownJuly 2012 – July 2016
- Fr. Scott T. NolanJuly 2016 – July 2024
Announced closure of Saint Stephen School in July 2023.
- Fr. Troy NevinsJuly 2024 – July 2025
Canonical Administrator.
- Fr. Stephen DurkeeJuly 2025 – present
Canonical Administrator.