About SS Peter and Paul · Ionia, Michigan
SS. Peter & Paul Parish is a Roman Catholic parish in Ionia, Michigan, in the Diocese of Grand Rapids, with weekend liturgies celebrated in both English and Spanish. Founded in the 1860s by Father Charles Bolte as a mission church serving four counties, it now worships at 434 High Street in a Romanesque Revival sandstone-and-brick church built in 1882. The parish operates Saints Peter and Paul Catholic School (Preschool through 8th grade), a faith formation program, a youth group, an active liturgical ministry corps, and is clustered with St. Edward Parish in Lake Odessa.
- Established
- 1863
- Patron
- Saints Peter and Paul (Apostles)
- Rector
- Rev. Eugene T. Batungbacal
- Diocese
- Diocese of Grand Rapids
Why belong here
SS. Peter & Paul is a bilingual English/Spanish parish with more than 160 years of Catholic life in Ionia, set inside a striking 1882 Romanesque Revival church built of local sandstone. It welcomes newcomers through weekly Inquiry Sessions (Tuesdays 1–2 p.m. or 5:30–6:30 p.m.) and offers a Preschool–8th grade Catholic school, full faith formation (Preschool through 9th grade), an active youth group, RCIA, Communion calls to the homebound and to Heartland Health Care Center and Green Acres Retirement Living, and a Cemetery at Mount Olivet dating to 1862. It is a community that intentionally seeks and welcomes all people, expressed in its mission statement: 'Through our faith we will actively seek and welcome all people in a community that expresses God's love.'
Mass times at SS Peter and Paul
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 3:00 – 3:45 p.m.
- Wednesday 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Adoration times
- Wednesdays 6:00 – 7:00 p.m. in the church
About the Parish
SS. Peter & Paul Parish is a bilingual Roman Catholic community in Ionia, Michigan, belonging to the Diocese of Grand Rapids and clustered with St. Edward Parish in Lake Odessa. The parish's mission statement reads: 'As God's people, we, the members of the Roman Catholic Church and Saints Peter and Paul Parish, dedicate ourselves to proclaiming and revealing God's presence through his son, Jesus Christ. Through our faith we will actively seek and welcome all people in a community that expresses God's love. Empowered by the Holy Spirit and strengthened by prayer and the sacraments, we participate in the saving work of Jesus Christ.' Weekend liturgies are offered in English on Saturday evening and Sunday morning, and in Spanish on Sunday afternoon; a Wednesday evening Mass is also offered in Spanish.
- Worship site: 434 High St., Ionia, MI 48846
- Diocese of Grand Rapids, East Deanery, Ionia County
- Clustered with St. Edward Parish, Lake Odessa
- Phone 616-527-3610 • Fax 616-527-3697
- Established 1860 (parish records); first resident pastor 1863
History
Visiting priests celebrated Mass in Ionia homes as early as the 1840s. In 1861 Peter Hackett donated an acre of land, and in 1863 Father Charles Bolte became the first resident pastor and dedicated a small wooden frame church, St. Peter's, on November 1, 1863. Father Bolte went on to found twelve mission churches across four counties. The present Romanesque Revival church of local sandstone and VanderHeyden brick was built in 1881–82 from designs by Peter Dederich of Detroit, and Bishop Caspar Borgess of Detroit dedicated it on New Year's Day, 1882. The parish was part of the Archdiocese of Detroit, transferred to the Diocese of Lansing in 1937, and to the Diocese of Grand Rapids in 1938. Fourteen pastors have served the parish since its founding.
- 1861 — Peter Hackett donates land for a Catholic church in Ionia.
- 1862 — Mount Olivet Cemetery is established.
- 1863 — Father Charles Bolte becomes first resident pastor; first church (frame, St. Peter's) dedicated November 1, 1863.
- 1863 — First baptism: Daniel Gerick (Oct. 21, 1863).
- 1864 — First marriage: James Cotter and Bridgett Dwyre (May 10, 1864).
- 1882 — Current Romanesque Revival church dedicated by Bishop Caspar Borgess, Jan. 1, 1882.
- 1901 — Lyon and Healy Tracker Organ installed.
- 1916 — Extensive remodel: transept wings and large stained-glass windows from Munich Studio, Chicago, added for $35,000.
- 1937 — Parish transferred from Archdiocese of Detroit to Diocese of Lansing.
- 1938 — Parish transferred to the Diocese of Grand Rapids.
- July 1, 2025 — Father Eugene T. Batungbacal officially appointed pastor.
Pastoral Leadership & Staff
The parish is currently shepherded by Father Eugene T. Batungbacal, who was officially appointed pastor on July 1, 2025. He is assisted by Permanent Deacon Zenon Cardenas. The parish office team includes Office Manager Adam Rewa, Parish Secretary Cecilia Luke, Music Director Whitney Crooks, and Coordinator of Mission and Discipleship Vanessa Booth. School Principal Jenny Leik leads Saints Peter and Paul Catholic School; Matt Lang handles maintenance and Aaren Perry serves as Cemetery Sexton of Mount Olivet Cemetery.
- Pastor: Rev. Eugene T. Batungbacal — [email protected], ext. 12
- Permanent Deacon: Zenon Cardenas — 616-527-8942
- Office Manager: Adam Rewa — [email protected], ext. 11
- Parish Secretary: Cecilia Luke — [email protected], ext. 10
- Music Director: Whitney Crooks — [email protected], ext. 30
- Coordinator of Mission and Discipleship: Vanessa Booth — [email protected]
- School Principal: Jenny Leik — [email protected], ext. 18
- Maintenance: Matt Lang
- Cemetery Sexton: Aaren Perry
Becoming Catholic — RCIA & Inquiry
Anyone interested in learning more about the Catholic faith is invited to weekly Inquiry Sessions held on Tuesdays, either 1:00–2:00 p.m. or 5:30–6:30 p.m. These sessions form the parish's inquiry / RCIA pathway, walking inquirers through the Catholic faith and eventually into the sacraments of initiation.
- Weekly Inquiry Sessions: Tuesdays 1:00–2:00 p.m. and 5:30–6:30 p.m.
- Contact: parish office, 616-527-3610
Liturgical Ministries
SS. Peter & Paul offers a broad range of liturgical roles for parishioners of all ages who wish to serve at Mass. Youth altar servers (grade 5 and above) assist the priest on a rotating monthly basis, while adults serve at funerals and other special liturgies. Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion (open to confirmed Catholics 16 and older) distribute Communion at weekend Masses and bring the Eucharist to the homebound and to residents at Heartland Health Care Center and Green Acres Retirement Living. Lectors, greeters, ushers, sacristans, cantors, and the Adult Choir round out the parish's liturgical life.
- Altar Servers (youth grades 5+, and adults)
- Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion
- Extraordinary Ministers to the Sick & Homebound (Mary Ziegler, 616-902-5683)
- EMs to Heartland Health Care Center
- EMs to Green Acres Retirement Living
- Lectors and Greeters (Toni McKay)
- Ushers (Dave O'Mara, 616-527-9237)
- Sacristans (Cecilia Luke)
- Cantors and Adult Choir (Whitney Crooks)
- Music Ministry rehearses weekly and sings for Christmas, the Easter Triduum, and First Communion
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Faith Formation classes are offered to children from Preschool through 9th grade, held on Sunday mornings, mid-September through April, from 9:00–9:55 a.m. in the parish school. Retreat days supplement preparation for the Sacraments of Reconciliation, First Eucharist, and Confirmation. Families must be registered members of the parish; parents are expected to attend at least one parent/candidate meeting, and students must attend the scheduled retreats. The parish emphasizes the 'domestic church' — the role of parents as the first educators of their children in faith.
- Preschool–9th grade Faith Formation, Sundays 9:00–9:55 a.m. in the school
- Sacramental preparation for Reconciliation, First Eucharist, and Confirmation
- Retreat days for each sacrament
- Parent/candidate meetings
- Contact: Vanessa Booth, Coordinator of Mission and Discipleship
Youth Ministry
All middle-school and high-school youth are welcome to participate in the parish's youth group, facilitated by parishioner Kevin Heinlein. The group keeps parishioners informed of meetings and events through the bulletin and its Facebook page 'Ygroup Peter-Paul'. Youth Faith Formation links are posted on the parish website for registration and information.
- Open to all middle and high school youth
- Facilitator: Kevin Heinlein
- Facebook page: Ygroup Peter-Paul
- Updates posted in the parish bulletin
Saints Peter and Paul Catholic School
Saints Peter and Paul Catholic School has been part of the Ionia community for over 150 years, serving students Preschool through 8th grade, including an all-day Developmental Kindergarten program. The school welcomes students of all faiths and follows the curriculum standards of the Office of Catholic Schools in the Diocese of Grand Rapids. Its pedagogy is structured around the diocesan Encounter–Grow–Witness framework, integrating faith across all subject areas. The school offers a 1:1 technology ratio for students in Kindergarten through 8th grade, and a 1:15 staff-to-student ratio. Students participate in Mass, the sacraments, and a range of service activities — from trunk-or-treat and the Ionia Free Fair to Living Stations of the Cross and visits to homebound parishioners.
- Preschool through 8th grade, plus all-day Developmental Kindergarten
- Diocesan Office of Catholic Schools curriculum (Encounter–Grow–Witness)
- 1:1 technology for K–8
- 1:15 staff-to-student ratio
- Open to students of all faiths
- Principal: Jenny Leik, 616-527-3561 ext. 18
- Enrollment open for the 2026–2027 school year
- School website: ssppcatholic.com
Outreach & Care for the Sick
Bringing Holy Communion to those who cannot attend Mass is a long-standing outreach of SS. Peter & Paul. Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion lead Scripture and Communion services at Heartland Health Care Center each week and visit Catholics in their rooms, and ministers also bring the Eucharist to homebound parishioners and to residents at Green Acres Retirement Living. Coordinators Mary Ziegler and Toni McKay schedule these ministers on a rotating basis.
- Heartland Health Care Center — weekly Scripture and Communion services and visits (contact Toni McKay)
- Homebound visits — Communion brought to parishioners at home (contact Mary Ziegler, 616-902-5683)
- Green Acres Retirement Living — weekly Communion visits (contact Mary Ziegler)
Mount Olivet Cemetery
Mount Olivet Cemetery was established in 1862 as part of the parish's original mission. It remains a working cemetery under parish care, with Aaren Perry serving as Cemetery Sexton. The first burial — that of Charles Joseph Rohler — was recorded on November 30, 1863, the same year the parish's first church was dedicated.
- Established 1862
- Cemetery Sexton: Aaren Perry
- Contact through the parish office, 616-527-3610
Visit, Contact & Location
The parish worship site and parish hall are located at 434 High Street in Ionia, Michigan. Both the church and parish hall are handicapped accessible. Parishioners and visitors can reach the parish office at 616-527-3610 (fax 616-527-3697), email [email protected], or contact the pastor directly at [email protected].
- Address: 434 High St., Ionia, MI 48846
- Phone: 616-527-3610 • Fax: 616-527-3697
- Email: [email protected]
- Handicapped-accessible church and parish hall
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Charles G. Bolte1863 – c. 1881+
First resident pastor; founded SS. Peter & Paul and twelve other mission churches across four counties; built the 1863 frame church and began the 1882 Romanesque Revival church.
- Subsequent pastors (13 more)After Bolte – 2025
In total, fourteen pastors have served SS. Peter & Paul since its founding (the parish's Brief History states this without listing all names).
- Rev. Eugene T. Batungbacal2025 – present
Officially appointed pastor on July 1, 2025; serves SS. Peter & Paul in Ionia as a cluster with St. Edward Parish in Lake Odessa.