About SS. John and Paul · Washington, Michigan
SS. John and Paul Parish is a Roman Catholic parish in Washington Township, Michigan, in the northern part of Macomb County, officially established as a canonical parish on February 29, 1980. It belongs to the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Detroit and sits within the North Macomb Vicariate, and since July 1, 2022 is pastored as part of the In Solidum team known as North Macomb Vicariate Family 3. Today the parish offers weekend Masses in English on Saturdays and Sundays, an active faith formation program for children and adults, and a broad range of liturgical, service and youth ministries serving several hundred families in this once-rural community that is now a suburban bedroom community.
- Established
- 1980
- Patron
- Saints John and Paul (Roman brothers martyred c. 362 A.D.)
- Rector
- Rev. Festus Ejimadu (In Solidum moderator serving primarily at SS. John and Paul since July 1, 2022)
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Detroit (North Macomb Vicariate, Family 3 — In Solidum team with St. Clement of Rome, Romeo and St. John Vianney, Shelby Township)
Why belong here
SS. John and Paul offers the rhythms of a warm, mid-sized suburban parish: a strong sacramental schedule (four weekend Masses plus daily Mass on Monday evening and Tuesday and Wednesday mornings), Saturday confession from 3:00 p.m., and a clear path into parish life through its Registration Sundays in January, May and September. Families are formed together in the inter-generational G.R.A.C.E. faith formation program (Pre-K through 9), while adults are welcomed into Encounter small groups, Scripture reflection for men and women, and seasonal Bible studies. A parish that grew up from a 'Mass station' in an elementary school in 1977 still wears its volunteer heart on its sleeve — liturgical ministers, Christian Service outreach, a youth ministry program and a music ministry led by a Director of Music Ministry and Liturgy all run on parishioner involvement.
Mass times at SS. John and Paul
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 3:00–4:30 p.m.
- After the 5:00 p.m. Saturday Mass (speak with the priest at the end of Mass)
- By appointment — call the parish office at 586-781-9010
- Additional communal celebrations and times during Advent and Lent (announced in 'New and Noteworthy')
Adoration times
- Exposition and Adoration offered to parents during the third-Sunday G.R.A.C.E. faith formation session (6:30–8:00 p.m.)
Parish History
Saints John and Paul Parish was officially established on February 29, 1980, after several years as a Mass station and then a parish-in-formation that began in June 1977 under the sponsorship of St. Clement in Romeo. The community chose its name to honor two Roman brothers martyred around 362 A.D. and to echo the recent succession of popes named John and Paul. For its first six years the parish worshipped in schools and a loaned parish house before building its own church on 28 Mile Road west of Campground, with Archbishop Edmund Szoka approving a $475,000 construction loan on April 19, 1983. The full written history compiled for the parish's 25th anniversary in 2005 is available as a PDF on the parish website.
- 1977 — Archdiocese creates a Mass station at Washington Elementary School under St. Clement
- December 1978 — Fr. Ronald E. Sayes appointed by Cardinal John Dearden
- February 29, 1980 — Canonical parish established (Leap Day)
- April 12, 1980 — Fr. Sayes installed as founding pastor
- September 1980 — Sunday liturgy moves to Powell Junior High School
- 1983 — Approval and construction of the present church on 28 Mile Road
- October 1990 — Fr. Sayes leaves for St. Perpetua, Waterford
- December 1, 1990 — Fr. Arthur J. Bell installed as second pastor
- July 1, 2002 — Fr. David Buersmeyer arrives from Christ the Good Shepherd, Lincoln Park
- 2005 — 25th anniversary history published
- July 1, 2022 — Parish enters In Solidum team North Macomb Vicariate Family 3
Parish Staff
The parish is served by a pastoral moderator, a weekend associate, a permanent deacon, a pastoral associate, parish administrators and office staff, a director of music ministry and liturgy, a faith formation director, a Christian Service coordinator, a youth ministry lead, a bookkeeper, and maintenance staff. Together they staff the parish office, plan liturgy, run formation programs and coordinate outreach for the whole community.
- Rev. Festus Ejimadu — Pastoral Moderator (In Solidum, serving primarily at SSJP)
- Rev. Art Baranowski — Weekend Associate
- Deacon Aleksander Stanaj
- Kristin Staroscik — Pastoral Associate
- Caroline Seidel — Director of Music Ministry and Liturgy
- Kathy Mieszczak — Faith Formation Director ([email protected])
- Andrea Brook — Christian Service Coordinator
- Ed Polzin — Youth Ministry
- Karen Hessler — Parish Administrator
- Raymond Staroscik — Bookkeeper
- Ray Sterner — Office Support Staff
- Maintenance staff
Faith Formation — G.R.A.C.E. (Pre-K through 9)
G.R.A.C.E. — Growing and Responding As Catholics Everyday — is the parish's inter-generational, whole-community catechetical program for children from age 4 through 9th grade. Sessions meet on the first and third Sunday evenings of each month from September through April/May, beginning with 5:00 p.m. Mass (on the first Sunday), a family meal at 6:00 p.m. and formation from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. Sacramental preparation for First Reconciliation and First Eucharist is integrated into the program with three parent formation meetings and parent/child retreats in 2nd grade; Confirmation preparation is a two-year 8th-and-9th-grade track culminating in the sacrament in the fall of 9th grade.
- Sessions: 1st and 3rd Sundays, 6:30–8:00 p.m. (September–April/May)
- 1st Sunday includes 5:00 p.m. Mass, 6:00 p.m. family meal, then formation
- 3rd Sunday: students only; Exposition and Adoration offered to parents
- Tuition: 4–5 year-olds $35; Grades 1–8 $110/child or $155/family
- Sacramental fee $15 (First Communion candidates)
- Confirmation candidate fee $25 (9th grade) or $35 (high school)
- Contact: [email protected] or (586) 781-9488
Adult Faith Formation — Encounter and Scripture Groups
Adults are invited into Encounter, a monthly small-group program with coffee, dessert and discussion that runs on the first Sunday of the month from October through April, beginning with the 5:00 p.m. Mass and 6:00 p.m. meal before the 6:30 p.m. program. The Encounter series typically walks through a video-based study (most recently 'The Wild Goose' with Fr. Dave Pivonka) and is bundled with the G.R.A.C.E. family meal for parents of formation children. Separate bi-weekly Scripture reflection groups for men and women, seasonal thematic Bible studies, and 'The Chosen' watch parties with group discussion round out adult formation offerings.
- Encounter — 1st Sundays, Oct–Apr, 6:30 p.m. (after 5:00 p.m. Mass and 6:00 p.m. meal)
- Bi-weekly Scripture reflection groups for men and women
- Seasonal thematic Bible studies
- The Chosen watch parties with group discussion
- Encounter + meals registration: $30; Encounter only: $10
Youth Ministry
The parish's youth ministry supports adolescents from Confirmation onward through ongoing youth group meetings, retreats and formation events. Confirmation candidates in 9th grade are required to attend youth group meetings per their Confirmation Requirement Form, plus a Confirmation rehearsal prior to reception of the sacrament. Youth ministry is coordinated through Ed Polzin.
- Confirmation preparation — two-year track (8th and 9th grade)
- Required youth group meetings for 9th-grade Confirmation candidates
- Confirmation rehearsal prior to the sacrament
- Contact: [email protected]
Liturgy and Music
Liturgy is shaped by the Worship Commission with the Director of Music Ministry and Liturgy (Caroline Seidel). Parishioners serve as lectors, Eucharistic ministers, altar servers, ushers and choir members — a tradition that goes back to the parish's first year, when the very first ushers' meeting was held in May 1979 and music at weekend liturgies was supplied entirely by volunteers.
- Director of Music Ministry and Liturgy — Caroline Seidel
- Volunteer choirs, cantors, and musicians for weekend Masses
- Lectors, Eucharistic Ministers, Altar Servers, Ushers
Christian Service and Outreach
Christian Service is one of the original five commissions that organized the parish in 1979, alongside Religious Education, Worship, Administration and Youth. Today the Christian Service Coordinator (Andrea Brook) organizes the parish's outreach ministries — supporting parishioners in need, collaborating with neighboring Catholic parishes and the broader Archdiocese of Detroit charitable network, and inviting parishioners to put faith into action through corporal works of mercy.
- Christian Service Coordinator — Andrea Brook
- Outreach to parishioners in need
- Works in cooperation with North Macomb Vicariate parishes
Sacraments
The Sacramental life of the parish centers on Baptism, First Reconciliation and First Eucharist (prepared within G.R.A.C.E. in 2nd grade), Confirmation (two-year preparation, usually received in 9th grade), Marriage, Anointing of the Sick, and Funeral liturgies. The Pastoral Associate (Kristin Staroscik) coordinates most pastoral sacraments, while the Faith Formation Director handles Baptism and Confirmation preparation, with Reconciliation heard Saturday afternoons.
- Baptism — Pastoral Associate
- First Reconciliation & First Eucharist — within G.R.A.C.E., 2nd grade
- Confirmation — two-year preparation, fall of 9th grade
- Marriage — Pastoral Associate
- Reconciliation — Saturdays 3:00–4:30 p.m. and by appointment
- Anointing and Funeral liturgies by request
Becoming a Parishioner
New parishioners may register at the parish office during any office hours, by mailing, faxing or dropping a Parish Registration Form into the Sunday collection, or by completing the printable form in advance. A member of the Evangelization/Hospitality Commission follows up by phone. In January, May and September the parish holds special 'Registration Sundays' to encourage registration, and these are advertised in the parish's 'New and Noteworthy' section.
- Register at the office during office hours
- Mail, fax, or place the form in the Sunday collection
- Registration Sundays in January, May, and September
- Follow-up contact from the Evangelization/Hospitality Commission
Visiting and Office Information
The parish office is open Monday, Tuesday and Thursday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Wednesday from 8:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m., and Sunday from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.; the office is closed Friday and Saturday. The parish is part of North Macomb Vicariate Family 3, which also includes St. Clement of Rome in Romeo and St. John Vianney in Shelby Township.
- Address: 7777 28 Mile Road, Washington Township, MI 48094
- Phone: (586) 781-9010
- Office: Mon/Tue/Thu 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m.; Wed 8:30 a.m.–7:30 p.m.; Sun 9:00 a.m.–1:00 p.m.
- Closed Friday and Saturday
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Ronald E. SayesDec 1978 – Oct 1990
Founding pastor; appointed by Cardinal John Dearden as parish-in-formation; installed as first pastor April 12, 1980; led parish for 12 years before transfer to St. Perpetua, Waterford. Returned to SS. John and Paul in 2001 as priest in residence with senior priest status; died Nov. 15, 2022 at age 88.
- Rev. Arthur J. BellDec 1, 1990 – c. 2002
Transferred from St. Roch, Flat Rock; installed at the 5:00 p.m. Mass on Dec. 1, 1990. Shortly after arrival won the 'John Farrell Award' and spent nearly three months on sabbatical in Rome; Fr. Jim Henning served as temporary administrator in his absence.
- Fr. John HallSpring 2002 (interim)
Senior priest from St. Lawrence, Utica, assigned as temporary administrator after Fr. Bueche's departure; helped steady the parish during a difficult transition.
- Rev. David BuersmeyerJul 1, 2002 – Jul 1, 2022
Came from Christ the Good Shepherd, Lincoln Park; led the parish through a season of healing and growth for twenty years before being appointed (effective July 1, 2022) to the In Solidum team pastoring Holy Name, Our Lady Queen of Martyrs, St. Owen and St. Regis parishes (South Oakland Vicariate Family 2).