About St. Athanasius · Harrison, Michigan
St. Athanasius Parish is a Catholic parish of the Diocese of Saginaw located at 310 S Broad St. in Harrison, Michigan. It is twinned with Sacred Heart Parish in Gladwin under one pastor, Rev. J. Marcel Portelli, forming a two-parish family serving Clare and Gladwin Counties in central Michigan. The parish offers Sunday Mass at 11:00 a.m., Eucharistic Exposition on Wednesdays from 10:00–11:00 a.m., and Reconciliation on First Sundays at 12:15 p.m. Its mission is rooted in forming intentional disciples through the sacraments, faith formation, music, and outreach, with the wider community also supported by the Sacred Heart Mission, a 501(c)(3) charitable outreach that has served Gladwin County residents for over 40 years.
- Patron
- St. Athanasius
- Rector
- Rev. J. Marcel Portelli
- Diocese
- Diocese of Saginaw
Why belong here
St. Athanasius welcomes visitors and parishioners into a Christ-centered community shaped by the Eucharist, faith formation for all ages, and a strong tradition of lay involvement. The parish is led by Fr. J. Marcel Portelli and an active team of directors for music, faith formation, and OCIA (the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults). Together with sister parish Sacred Heart in Gladwin, members support the Sacred Heart Mission, a 40-plus-year outreach that helps neighbors in need with food, clothing, utilities, prescriptions, and emergency aid — putting Catholic faith into concrete action across Clare and Gladwin Counties.
Mass times at St. Athanasius
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- First Sundays: 12:15 PM until all are heard
- Or by appointment
Adoration times
- Wednesdays: 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM (Eucharistic Exposition at St. Athanasius)
About St. Athanasius Parish
St. Athanasius is a Catholic parish of the Diocese of Saginaw located in the small northern-Michigan city of Harrison. It is twinned administratively with Sacred Heart Parish in Gladwin under one pastor, Rev. J. Marcel Portelli, with a shared website at gladwinharrisoncatholic.com. The parish sits in Vicariate 4 of the diocese and follows the two-parish family model common in rural parts of the Saginaw diocese, pooling staff and resources to serve Clare and Gladwin Counties.
Parish Staff and Leadership
The parish is led by Pastor Rev. J. Marcel Portelli, supported by a lay team that coordinates faith formation, music, finances, and parish operations. Nikki Wolfgang serves as Director of Faith Formation, Kathy Rettelle as Director of Music, Jill Witkowski as Business Manager, and Joanne Hunter as Parish Secretary. Angie Benincasa coordinates OCIA, Terri Koehler serves as Lay Minister, and Richard Kindermann is the parish Sexton. Pastoral Council is chaired by Tony Gennette and Finance Council by George Short.
- Rev. J. Marcel Portelli — Pastor
- Nikki Wolfgang — Director of Faith Formation
- Kathy Rettelle — Director of Music
- Jill Witkowski — Business Manager
- Joanne Hunter — Parish Secretary
- Angie Benincasa — OCIA Coordinator
- Terri Koehler — Lay Minister
- Richard Kindermann — Sexton/Facilities
Faith Formation and OCIA
Faith Formation at St. Athanasius serves children, young people, and vulnerable adults, with Nikki Wolfgang as Director. Adults seeking full initiation into the Catholic Church are welcomed through OCIA — the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults — coordinated by Angie Benincasa. The parish's broader formation effort, described in its About/Mission Statement, aims to help good Catholics become holier Catholics, bring former Catholics home, and lead non-Catholics into the fullness of the Faith.
- Faith Formation for children, young people, and vulnerable adults
- OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults)
- Adult Initiation & Ongoing Formation
- Evangelization
Liturgical Ministries
St. Athanasius relies on a strong tradition of lay liturgical ministry. Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion assist with distribution of Communion during Mass and bring Communion to the sick and homebound; they undergo initial and ongoing formation. Lectors proclaim the readings at liturgy. The Music Ministry, under Director Kathy Rettelle, supports the parish's sung worship.
- Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion (EMHCs)
- Lectors
- Music Ministry
- Rosary before Mass
Sacred Heart Mission — Outreach Partner
Although the Mission itself is based in Gladwin, it is a joint charitable outreach of the Sacred Heart / St. Athanasius parish family and serves residents of Gladwin County in need. Founded over 40 years ago when several women of Sacred Heart Parish began mission work, the Mission now operates from the former VFW Hall at 220 S. James Robinson Drive in Gladwin. Guided by Fr. J. Marcel Portelli and a volunteer board, it provides food, clothing, household items, and emergency financial assistance for utilities, propane, water, prescriptions, energy bills, and auto repair, and also responds to fire losses. Fr. John Cotter, a former pastor of Sacred Heart, has called it 'Christian action at its best.'
- Thrift Store: Mon–Thu 9:00 AM – 3:30 PM, Fri 9:00 AM – 2:30 PM
- Assistance & Donations: 9:00 AM – 2:00 PM
- Phone: 989-426-4661
- Address: 220 S James Robertson Drive, Gladwin, MI 48624
- Mailing: P.O. Box 556, Gladwin, MI 48624
- Email: [email protected]
Visit, Contact, and Stay Connected
Parishioners and visitors can reach St. Athanasius at the parish office (989-539-6232), open Monday through Thursday from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM, or by email at [email protected]. The church itself is open for private prayer on Wednesdays from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM. The parish uses Evangelus for email and SMS communications and offers the free myParish app for smartphone access to the calendar, daily readings, prayers, and the Bible. Pastoral emergencies (including Last Rites) are handled at 989-426-7154 x210.
- Office hours: Mon–Thu, 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM
- Phone: 989-539-6232
- Email: [email protected]
- Pastoral emergencies: 989-426-7154 x210
- myParish app and Evangelus email/text updates