About Saints Cyril and Methodius · Wayland, Michigan
Ss. Cyril & Methodius Catholic Church is a rural Roman Catholic parish in Wayland, Michigan that serves the Greater Gun Lake area in the southwestern corner of the state. It is part of the Diocese of Kalamazoo and is currently yoked in a parish collaborative with neighboring St. Thérèse of Lisieux Parish in Wayland. The parish celebrates Mass in both English and Spanish and identifies its mission as sharing the Word of God, celebrating the sacraments, worshiping as a faith community, and offering loving service to neighbors in need.
- Patron
- Saints Cyril and Methodius
- Rector
- Rev. Maximilian Nightingale
- Diocese
- Diocese of Kalamazoo
Why belong here
SS. Cyril & Methodius offers a small, rural parish community with bilingual liturgy — a Sunday evening Mass in Spanish alongside English Sunday and Saturday Masses — making it a gathering place for both English-speaking Gun Lake residents and Spanish-speaking families in the area. It is paired with St. Thérèse of Lisieux Parish in Wayland in a single pastoral collaborative, so families have access to weekly Masses, Reconciliation, Eucharistic Adoration, and faith-formation programs through St. Thérèse Catholic School. Visitors can find a full calendar, current Mass times, and contact information at sscmparish.org.
Mass times at Saints Cyril and Methodius
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 3:00 PM – 3:45 PM
- 1st Sunday of every month 6:00 PM (before the Spanish Mass)
Adoration times
- Wednesday 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM (2nd and 4th Wednesday)
- Thursday 6:30 PM – 7:30 PM (2nd and 4th Thursday)
Parish Identity & Mission
Ss. Cyril & Methodius Catholic Church identifies itself as 'a rural parish community serving the Christian needs of the global community and in particular the Greater Gun Lake area.' Its published mission states: 'To share, live and perpetuate the proclamation of the Word of God, the celebration of the Sacraments of the Catholic Church, the worship of this believing community of faith, and to offer loving service to our neighbors in need.' The parish's stated vision is for all parishioners 'now and into the future, fully understand, embrace and be motivated to Go and make disciples of all… so that all are saved.'
History of the Parish
Ss. Cyril & Methodius is part of the Diocese of Kalamazoo and serves the rural Gun Lake region of Allegan County. In January 2016, Bishop Paul J. Bradley announced a sweeping diocesan pastoral plan — 'A Future Full of Hope' — that grouped the diocese's parishes into 28 new Parish Collaboratives. SS. Cyril & Methodius was placed in a two-parish collaborative with St. Thérèse of Lisieux Parish in Wayland, sharing priests and pastoral staff across both communities under six-year pastoral terms. The parish continues to serve both English-speaking and Spanish-speaking Catholics in the area.
- 2016 — Bishop Bradley's 'Diocesan Pastoral Plan: A Future Full of Hope' creates a St. Thérèse of Lisieux (Wayland) / SS. Cyril & Methodius (Gun Lake) collaborative.
- 2020 — Rev. Evelio Ramírez appointed Pastor of the collaborative (effective November 2020).
- 2023 — Rev. Maximilian Nightingale appointed Pastor of the collaborative effective July 5, 2023, also retaining his role as a Judge of the Diocesan Tribunal.
Sacraments & Devotions
Reconciliation is offered every Saturday afternoon before the vigil Mass, and on the first Sunday of every month before the Spanish Mass. The parish also offers periodic Eucharistic Adoration on the second and fourth Wednesdays and Thursdays of the month. Other sacraments (Baptism, Marriage, Anointing of the Sick) are arranged through the parish office.
- Saturday 3:00 PM – 3:45 PM — Confessions
- 1st Sunday 6:00 PM — Confessions (before the 5:00 PM Spanish Mass, per catholicmasstime.org)
- Wednesday 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM — Adoration (2nd and 4th Wednesday)
- Thursday 6:30 PM – 7:30 PM — Adoration (2nd and 4th Thursday)
Faith Formation & School
Faith formation for children at Ss. Cyril & Methodius is provided through the shared regional Catholic school. The parish is one of two feeding parishes into St. Thérèse Catholic School, the local Catholic elementary school serving the Wayland area. School Masses are part of the parish calendar and are listed on the parish website.
- St. Thérèse Catholic School — shared regional Catholic school for St. Thérèse and SS. Cyril & Methodius parishes
- School Masses — listed weekly on the SSCM parish calendar
Parish Life & Outreach
The parish describes itself as part of both the local Gun Lake community and the wider 'global community.' It participates annually in the Diocese of Kalamazoo's Bishop's Annual Appeal. Its published calendar has included seasonal events such as 'Advent by Candlelight,' a Christmas Brunch, exercise class gatherings, and other community-building activities. The parish collaborates closely with neighboring St. Thérèse of Lisieux Parish, sharing Mass and Reconciliation schedules on the St. Thérèse Catholic School website so that families can plan around either church.
- Bishop's Annual Appeal (BAA) — annual diocesan fundraising campaign
- Advent by Candlelight
- Parish Christmas Brunch
- Weekly parish Exercise Class (listed on calendar)
Contact & Social Media
Parishioners and visitors can reach the parish office by phone during business hours, by email, or via its official Facebook page. The church shares a wider Catholic online footprint with the St. Thérèse Catholic School and with sister parishes within the Diocese of Kalamazoo collaborative.
- Website: http://www.sscmparish.org/
- Facebook: facebook.com/SS.CyrilandMethodiusCatholicChurchGunLake
- Phone: (269) 792-3543
- Email: [email protected]
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Alphonse Savarimuthu, MSFS2016 –
Appointed Pastor of the St. Thérèse of Lisieux / SS. Cyril & Methodius collaborative under Bishop Bradley's 2016 diocesan pastoral plan.
- Rev. Christian Johnston, V.F.
Listed as pastor of both St. Therese and SS. Cyril & Methodius in parish directories during the collaborative era.
- Rev. Evelio Ramírez2020 – 2023
Appointed Pastor of the St. Thérèse of Lisieux, Wayland / SS. Cyril & Methodius, Gun Lake collaborative effective November 2020.
- Rev. Maximilian Nightingale2023 –
Appointed Pastor of the same collaborative effective July 5, 2023, succeeding Fr. Ramírez; also remains a Judge of the Diocesan Tribunal.