About SS. Peter and Paul - Westside · Detroit, Michigan
SS. Peter and Paul Parish – Westside Detroit is a personal parish in the Archdiocese of Detroit serving the Polish Catholic community and the surrounding Warrendale neighborhood on Detroit's far west side. Founded in 1923 by 40 Polish families migrating toward the new Ford Rouge plant, the parish has marked 100 years of Catholic tradition (1923–2023) and today continues to celebrate Mass in both Polish and English each Sunday. The current church, built in the late 1950s, is a contemporary two-level structure designed to seat more than 2,000 across its upper and lower worship spaces, and it remains a hub of Polish heritage, sacramental life, and outreach on Grandville Avenue.
- Established
- 1923
- Patron
- Saints Peter and Paul
- Rector
- Rev. Jaroslaw (Jerry) Pilus
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Detroit
Why belong here
SS. Peter and Paul is a welcoming personal parish with deep Polish Catholic roots and a diverse modern congregation. Sunday Mass is offered every week in both Polish (10:00 a.m.) and English (12:00 p.m.), weekday Mass is offered Monday through Friday (with the exception of Tuesday), and a robust schedule of Eucharistic Adoration, Benediction, the Rosary, Our Lady of Perpetual Help devotions, and First Friday/First Saturday devotions make this church feel like a spiritual hub. Faith formation is offered for preschool through grade 8 along with RCIA, outreach is served through the St. Vincent de Paul Conference, and Polish heritage is kept alive through a Polish language school, two Polish dance ensembles, a music/concert series, and a stained-glass window of Our Lady of Czestochowa.
Mass times at SS. Peter and Paul - Westside
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday: 3:00 p.m. (before the 4:30 p.m. Vigil Mass)
- Wednesday: during Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament, 5:00–7:00 p.m.
- First Friday: 6:00 p.m. (before the 7:00 p.m. Mass)
- First Saturday: 8:30 a.m. (before the 9:00 a.m. Mass)
- By appointment via the Parish Office (313-846-2222)
Adoration times
- Wednesday: 5:00–7:00 p.m. Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament, with Rosary at 6:30 p.m. and Benediction at 7:00 p.m.
- First Friday: Exposition and Adoration following the 7:00 p.m. Mass, concluding with Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament
- First Saturday: Exposition and Adoration following the 9:00 a.m. Mass, concluding with Benediction
Parish Overview
SS. Peter and Paul Parish – Westside Detroit is a personal parish in the Archdiocese of Detroit rooted in the Polish Catholic tradition. Located at 7685 Grandville Avenue in the Warrendale neighborhood of Detroit's far west side, it serves a primarily Polish-heritage congregation alongside a diverse English-speaking community. The parish celebrated 100 years of Catholic tradition in 2023.
- Patrons: Saints Peter and Paul
- Feast day: June 29 (Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul)
- Founded: 1923
- Mailing address: 7685 Grandville Ave., Detroit, MI 48228
History
Forty Polish Catholic families organized the parish in 1923 as their neighbors migrated from Detroit's east side toward the rumor of a major Ford plant on the Rouge River. Within months a small brick chapel stood at Tireman and Warwick, the first Mass was celebrated there on Christmas Day 1923, and successive pastors built the 'little white wooden church,' a brick school, and eventually the contemporary two-level church that stands today. Archbishop John F. Dearden dedicated the present church on December 22, 1959, and the parish marked its centennial on June 25, 2023.
- 1923: Parish founded; first Mass in temporary chapel on Christmas Day
- Mid-1920s: Relocated to Sawyer/Grandville site; 'little white wooden church' and 4-classroom brick school built
- 1938: Permanent church completed; school expanded 1942
- 1948: New convent built
- 1953: New rectory built
- 1957: Groundbreaking for current church (built by Krieghoff, $987,815)
- 1959: Lower church opens (June); upper church completed; Solemn Dedication by Archbishop Dearden on December 22
- 1962: Final school building addition
- 1970: First Parish Pastoral Council formed
- 2000–2001: Parish school (Sisters of Francis) closes; building now houses a charter school
- 2010: Rev. Jaroslaw Pilus arrives as administrator; made pastor in 2012
- 2023: Centennial celebrated June 25 with Bishop Robert J. Fisher
Mass & Worship Schedule
Daily Mass is celebrated Monday through Friday (except Tuesday), and Sunday Mass is offered in both Polish and English. Eucharistic Adoration is offered Wednesday evenings and on First Fridays and First Saturdays, each concluding with Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament. For the most up-to-date weekly schedule, the parish directs worshippers to its Facebook page.
- Monday 9:00 a.m. Holy Mass
- Tuesday: No Mass
- Wednesday 5:00–7:00 p.m. Exposition & Adoration • 6:30 p.m. Rosary • 7:00 p.m. Mass, followed by Our Lady of Perpetual Help Devotion and Divine Mercy Chaplet
- Thursday 12:15 p.m. Holy Mass
- Friday 9:00 a.m. Holy Mass (except First Friday)
- First Friday 6:00 p.m. Confession • 7:00 p.m. Mass, then Sacred Heart Devotion, Adoration, and Benediction
- First Saturday 8:30 a.m. Confession • 9:00 a.m. Mass, then Immaculate Heart of Mary Devotion, Adoration, and Benediction
- Saturday 3:00 p.m. Confession • 4:30 p.m. Vigil Mass
- Sunday 10:00 a.m. (Polish) • 12:00 p.m. (English)
- Holy Day of Obligation: 9:00 a.m., 12:15 p.m., and 7:00 p.m. (English & Polish)
Sacraments
The parish celebrates and prepares parishioners for all seven sacraments. Sacramental preparation generally requires that a family be an active, registered member of the parish for at least six months — meaning weekly Mass attendance, use of parish envelopes, and involvement in parish life — before preparation begins.
- Baptism
- Confirmation
- Eucharist
- Penance / Reconciliation
- Anointing of the Sick
- Holy Orders
- Matrimony – arrangements begin through the Parish Office (313-846-2222)
Faith Formation
SS. Peter and Paul offers a faith-formation program for children and adults alike, designed to support families in passing on the Catholic faith in a culture that often runs counter to it. Families enrolled in the program must be practicing Catholics who attend weekly Mass and are registered at the parish, though families from other parishes are also welcome.
- Preschool religious formation
- Religious Formation for Grades 1–8
- Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) – for catechumens and unbaptized or uncatechized candidates seeking full communion with the Church
- Call the Parish Office (313-846-2222) for information on registration and scheduling
Polish Heritage & Community Life
Polish identity is woven throughout the parish's life. A Polish flag flies in front of the church, a large stained-glass window depicts Our Lady of Czestochowa, weekly Mass is celebrated in Polish, and the community sustains a Polish language school and two Polish dance ensembles. In 2014 the parish hosted the Icon of Our Lady of Częstochowa during its North American pilgrimage, with bilingual devotions running from arrival through Benediction the next morning. The parish hall, located in the converted lower church, hosts Polish dinners and other gatherings (including the post-Mass Polish dinner after the 2023 centennial Mass).
- Weekly Polish Mass: Sundays at 10:00 a.m.
- Polish language school on site
- Two Polish dance ensembles
- Stained-glass window of Our Lady of Czestochowa
- 2014 visit of the Icon of Our Lady of Częstochowa
- Music ministry / ongoing concert series
Outreach: St. Vincent de Paul Conference
The parish is home to a St. Vincent de Paul Conference, one of the oldest Catholic charitable organizations in the United States. The conference coordinates local assistance to neighbors in need and can be reached through the parish office.
- St. Vincent de Paul Conference – 313-846-2222, ext. 107
Parish Staff & Contact
The parish is led by Pastor Rev. Jaroslaw (Jerry) Pilus and supported by a Pastoral Associate and a St. Vincent de Paul Conference. The parish office is open by appointment only on weekdays. The parish can be reached by phone (313-846-2222) or email ([email protected]).
- Pastor: Rev. Jaroslaw (Jerry) Pilus – ext. 102
- Pastoral Associate: Anna Clougherty – ext. 100
- St. Vincent de Paul Conference – ext. 107
- Parish Office Hours (by appointment only): Mon 10:00 a.m.–1:00 p.m.; Tue closed; Wed 9:00 a.m.–1:00 p.m.; Thu 9:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m.; Fri 10:00 a.m.–1:00 p.m.; Sat/Sun closed
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: https://ssppdetroit.net
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Adalbert Zadala1923–1924
Founding pastor, also remained pastor of Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary; celebrated the first Mass on Christmas Day 1923.
- Rev. Raphael Chrzaszcz1924–1925
Assigned by Bishop Gallagher; died in 1925 while simultaneously pastor of St. Barbara (Dearborn).
- Rev. John Hewelt1925–c.1930s
Moved parish to its current Sawyer/Grandville site; built the 'little white wooden church' and the original four-classroom brick school in 1926.
- Rev. Vincent Borkc.1930s
Parsonage and church/school building construction era; new permanent church completed in 1938.
- Fr. Francis Gramzac.1938–1968
Served 30 years as pastor; oversaw school expansion (1942), convent (1948), 1950 building expansion, and rectory (1953).
- Rev. Francis Maliszewski1968–1981
Completed and dedicated the activities building in honor of Fr. Francis Gramza.
- Rev. Richard Steiber1981–1984
Short pastorate.
- Rev. Sigismund Kowalczyk1984–1993
- Rev. Francis Reiss1993–1998
Since ordained an auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of Detroit.
- Rev. Stan Tokarski1998–2010
Parish school was closed during his pastorate due to low enrollment (after the 2000–2001 academic year).
- Rev. Jaroslaw (Jerry) Pilus2010–present
Appointed administrator in 2010; made pastor in 2012. Led 100th-anniversary celebrations in 2023.