About St. Ambrose · Parchment, Michigan
St. Ambrose Parish is a Roman Catholic parish in the city of Parchment, Michigan, in the Diocese of Kalamazoo (Central Deanery). The parish community celebrates Mass on Saturday evenings, Sunday mornings, and Sunday late-morning, with the Saturday 5:00 PM and Sunday 9:00 AM Masses live-streamed on Facebook. Its stated mission is to be "Called by the Holy Spirit to Develop a Family of faith in Christ" — knowing, loving, and serving God within their hearts, homes, and world community. The parish lives out that mission through Christian Service ministries such as Food Lift, Rosie's Garden, a parish blood drive, ministry to the sick and homebound, and an active prayer line.
- Established
- 1954
- Patron
- St. Ambrose
- Rector
- Very Rev. Albert Kemboi Tuitoek, VF
- Diocese
- Diocese of Kalamazoo
Why belong here
St. Ambrose is a small, family-oriented parish with a clear mission to develop a family of faith in Christ. It offers daily and weekly Mass (with Saturday and Sunday Masses live-streamed on Facebook for the homebound), a Children's Mass at 11:15 AM, Eucharistic Adoration on Fridays, Saturday confessions, and a vibrant Music Ministry under Director Beth McElhone. Beyond the liturgy, parishioners put their faith into action through Food Lift (monthly food delivery to about 15 Parchment-area families), Rosie's Garden (a community vegetable garden feeding refugees and the hungry), a parish blood drive, ministry to the sick and homebound, a Prayer Line, Vacation Bible School, and a Youth Group for grades 7–12. It is a welcoming place where volunteers — ushers, lectors, choir members — are actively recruited, and where every member is invited to grow in Christ within their heart, home, and community.
Mass times at St. Ambrose
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 4:00 PM – 4:45 PM (or by appointment)
Adoration times
- Friday 9:45 AM – 10:00 AM (immediately following the 9:15 AM Mass)
About St. Ambrose Parish
St. Ambrose is a Roman Catholic parish in the Diocese of Kalamazoo (Central Deanery), located at 1628 East G Avenue in Parchment, Michigan. The parish describes itself with the mission statement: "Called by the Holy Spirit to Develop a Family of faith in Christ, the people of St. Ambrose Parish embrace Christ's call to know, love, and serve God within our hearts, in our homes, and in our world community." The community is served by a pastor and a senior priest in residence, supported by a Parish Council, Finance Council, music director, and an active corps of lay volunteers.
- Diocese: Diocese of Kalamazoo (Central Deanery)
- Rite: Roman (Latin)
- Patron: St. Ambrose (feast day December 7)
- Parish tagline: "Love Grows Where People Serve."
Parish History
The Catholic community of St. Ambrose was founded in December 1954 in Parchment, a small city just north of Kalamazoo. The parish marked its 70th anniversary on the Feast of St. Ambrose, December 7, 2024, in a celebration referenced by the Music Ministry newsletter. Today the parish is led by Very Rev. Albert Kemboi Tuitoek, VF, as pastor, and is honored to count among its priests Monsignor Michael Hazard — the second priest ever ordained for the Diocese of Kalamazoo — as Senior Priest in Residence.
- Founded: December 1954
- 70th Anniversary: December 7, 2024
- Listed in the Diocese of Kalamazoo since at least the 1970s
Clergy & Staff
The parish is led by Very Rev. Albert Kemboi Tuitoek, VF, as pastor, and by Monsignor Michael Hazard as Senior Priest in Residence. Msgr. Hazard, born and raised in Kalamazoo, was ordained April 15, 1972, as the second priest of the new Diocese of Kalamazoo, and has served in roles including director of vocations, Vicar General, and nearly 30 years as pastor of St. Joseph Parish. Marilyn Thornburg serves as Administrative Assistant and coordinates several ministries.
- Very Rev. Albert Kemboi Tuitoek, VF — Pastor
- Monsignor Michael Hazard — Senior Priest in Residence (also hospital chaplain at Ascension Borgess)
- Marilyn Thornburg — Administrative Assistant
Music Ministry
The Music Ministry is led by Beth McElhone, Director of Music, and supports Sunday celebrations, Holy Days, funerals, and other church activities. The parish choir rehearses on Thursdays at 6:00 PM (every other Thursday during the summer), and seasonal choirs are formed for Christmas and Easter. A Children's Choir for grades 3–8 is also being developed. Singers and instrumentalists are welcome to join.
- Director of Music: Beth McElhone
- Thursday rehearsals at 6:00 PM
- Seasonal choirs for Christmas and Easter
- Children's Choir for grades 3–8
Faith Formation & Religious Education
St. Ambrose offers Religious Education for Children and a Vacation Bible School each summer. Vacation Bible School 2025 runs July 24–27 from 5:00 to 6:30 PM for children in grades 1–7, with registration coordinated through the parish office and led by Sarah Orr. Families may also participate in Adult Bible Study, Teen Bible Study (offered via Zoom by a diocesan staff member, focused on the upcoming Sunday's Gospel), and Sunday-By-Sunday Bible Study.
- Religious Education for Children (registration form on parish website)
- Vacation Bible School — July 24–27, 2025, 5:00–6:30 PM (Grades 1–7); contact Sarah Orr
- Adult Bible Study
- Teen Bible Study (diocesan, via Zoom)
- Sunday-By-Sunday Bible Study
Youth Ministry
The parish Youth Group is open to students in grades 7–12, with 6th-grade siblings of current members also welcome. The group focuses on social and community activities, including service events, parade preparation, and gatherings in the Parish Activity Hall. Teen volunteers are especially needed for Vacation Bible School and other parish events.
- Open to grades 7–12 (6th-grade siblings welcome)
- Call the parish office (269-385-4152) to join or propose an activity
Christian Service & Outreach
Outreach is at the heart of St. Ambrose's identity. Food Lift delivers two bags of groceries monthly to about 15 Parchment-area families, with donations collected in the wicker basket in the church vestibule. Rosie's Garden — a 60-by-60-foot community vegetable garden planted in partnership with Lemkin House, Samaritas, Russell Farms, and the Sisters of St. Joseph — produced approximately 40 pounds of vegetables weekly for refugees in Kalamazoo and, during the COVID pandemic, for Loaves and Fishes and Gospel Mission. The parish also hosts American Red Cross blood drives in its parish hall and supports the Caring Network Playpen through its Right to Life ministry.
- Food Lift — Coordinators: Carol King, Coleen Crabiel (Giving Tree Project)
- Rosie's Garden — Contacts: Paul Rahn, Carmelie Miado
- Refugee Assistance
- Blood Drive — Coordinator: Marilyn Thornburg
- Right to Life / Caring Network — Coordinator: Marilyn Thornburg
Care for the Sick, Homebound & Grieving
Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion and other volunteers visit parishioners who are hospitalized, in nursing homes or assisted living, or homebound, distributing the Eucharist and offering connection to the parish community. The Arimathean Ministry offers supportive visits, calls, cards, and group meetings for those grieving the loss of a loved one. Because HIPAA regulations prevent facilities from contacting the parish directly, families are encouraged to call the Rectory to arrange a priestly visit or Anointing of the Sick.
- Ministry to the Sick and Homebound — Coordinators: Msgr. Mike Hazard and Father Albert
- Arimathean Ministry (bereavement) — Coordinator: Father Albert
- Sick/hospitalized visits — call Rectory (269) 385-4152
Parish Life & Volunteer Opportunities
St. Ambrose is sustained by a large network of lay volunteers. The parish is actively recruiting ushers for the 5:00 PM, 9:00 AM, and 11:15 AM Masses, as well as lectors for the 11:15 AM Children's Mass. The Parish Council, chaired by Jim Cousino, and the Finance Council help guide the mission of the parish, which is described on the website as "a treasure of a parish… a singing parish who support the efforts of the musicians who gather to lead the music for Sunday celebrations."
- Ushers needed at 5:00 PM, 9:00 AM, and 11:15 AM
- Lectors needed at 11:15 AM
- Parish Council Chair: Jim Cousino; Vice-Chair: Dave Rutten
- Annual Golf Tournament fundraiser at Eastern Hills Golf Club
Giving & Online Donations
Parishioners and visitors can support St. Ambrose through Vanco Online Giving, with a QR code provided on the parish website. The parish also participates in the annual Bishop's Appeal for the Diocese of Kalamazoo and supports Catholic Relief Services' urgent appeals, such as response efforts in Ukraine.
- Vanco Online Giving (QR code on parish site)
- Bishop's Annual Appeal (Diocesan)
- CRS Urgent Appeals (e.g., Ukraine response)
Contact & Location
St. Ambrose Parish is located at 1628 East G Avenue, Parchment, Michigan 49004, on the south side of East G Avenue, west of Sprinkle Road and east of Riverview Drive. The Rectory office can be reached by phone at (269) 385-4152 or by email at [email protected]. The parish publishes bulletins, a summer/fall newsletter, livestreamed Mass archives, and Flocknote weekend memos.
- Address: 1628 East G Avenue, Parchment, MI 49004
- Phone: (269) 385-4152
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: stambroseparchment.com
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. James O'Leary
Listed as pastor in older online directories; no longer serving St. Ambrose per the current parish website.
- Very Rev. Albert Kemboi Tuitoek, VF
Current pastor; named on Parish Council page.