About St Augustine · Howell, Michigan
St. Augustine Catholic Church is a historic rural parish in Howell, Michigan, in the Diocese of Lansing, that styles itself as the 'Little Church with the Big Heart.' Founded in 1843 by Irish Catholic settler families in what was then wilderness Livingston County, the parish worships in a High Victorian Gothic church built in 1895 that is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Today it serves as a small but active faith community offering weekend and weekday Mass, the Sacrament of Reconciliation, First Friday adoration, family faith formation, youth ministry for grades 6–12, the Knights of Columbus, a Sisterhood of Catholic Women, a St. Vincent de Paul conference, and a long-running on-site Catholic cemetery.
- Established
- 1843
- Patron
- St. Augustine
- Rector
- Fr. Gregg A. Pleiness
- Diocese
- Diocese of Lansing
Why belong here
St. Augustine is a close-knit, historic Catholic community tucked into rural Livingston County that prides itself on being 'the Little Church with the Big Heart.' Parishioners gather for weekend and weekday Mass, Saturday confession, and First Friday adoration, and serve one another through a St. Vincent de Paul conference, the Knights of Columbus, a Sisterhood of Catholic Women, a Martha Ministry, and active family faith formation and youth ministry for grades 6–12. The parish's 1843 founding story, its 1895 National Register-listed Gothic Revival church, and its on-site historic cemetery give it a rootedness that newer parishes rarely have, while small-parish friendliness keeps new families quickly known by name.
Mass times at St Augustine
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 4:00 PM
- By appointment
Adoration times
- First Friday 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Welcome to St. Augustine Catholic Church
St. Augustine is a small, rural Catholic parish in the Diocese of Lansing that bills itself as 'the Little Church with the Big Heart.' The parish gathers at 6481 Faussett Road in Howell for weekend Mass on Saturday evening and twice on Sunday morning, with weekday Mass on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday mornings. Weekend confession is heard Saturday afternoons, and First Friday adoration runs through the day. The parish office is open Tuesday through Friday, 9:00 AM – 2:00 PM, and closed Mondays.
- Weekend Mass: Saturday 5:00 PM; Sunday 8:00 AM & 10:30 AM
- Weekday Mass: Wednesday, Thursday, Friday — 8:30 AM
- Confession: Saturday 4:00 PM or by appointment
- Adoration: First Friday 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
- Parish Office: Tues–Fri 9:00 AM – 2:00 PM (closed Mondays)
- Free parish Formed.org account: staugustinehowell.formed.org
Our History
The parish was founded in 1843 by the Rev. Patrick O'Kelley with thirteen Irish families and was first known as Saints Peter and Paul. Around 1870 it was renamed St. Augustine. The current High Victorian Gothic church was built in 1895 under Fr. George J. Maurer to a design by Detroit architect Harry J. Rill, replacing the original 1846 frame structure. The church and its on-site cemetery were placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1996, and the parish marked its 175th anniversary in 2018.
- 1843 — Rev. Patrick O'Kelley founds the parish (as Saints Peter and Paul) with 13 Irish families; land for church and cemetery purchased.
- 1846 — First frame church built; earliest known burial in the cemetery.
- 1857 — Rectory built on adjacent land.
- c. 1870 — Parish renamed St. Augustine.
- Early 1890s–1895 — Fr. George J. Maurer builds the present Gothic church, designed by Harry J. Rill; dedicated December 8, 1895.
- 1963 — Enclosed stone vestibule added using salvaged Lansing church stone and local fieldstone.
- 1996 — Church and cemetery listed on the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP #96000802) and designated a Michigan State Historic Site.
- 2018 — 175th anniversary celebrated.
Parish Staff & Clergy
The parish is led by Fr. Gregg A. Pleiness, Pastor, assisted by two deacons and a small lay staff who handle faith formation, youth ministry, parish engagement, finances, the bulletin, and health ministry. The parish directory also notes separate phone lines for the Pastor's Parish House and for each deacon.
- Fr. Gregg A. Pleiness — Pastor
- Rev. Mr. Bill Sirl — Deacon
- Rev. Mr. Jeff Southerland — Deacon
- Shannon Scherba — Pastoral Associate / Family Faith Formation
- Tim Asher — Coordinator of Youth Ministries (Grades 6–12)
- Mike Terry — Parish Engagement Coordinator
- Robert Kehn — Bookkeeper
- Carole May — Bulletin Editor
- Christinna Masters, RN, MSN, FP-C — Parish Health Ministry
Sacraments
St. Augustine prepares parishioners for and administers the seven Catholic sacraments through its parish office, Family Faith Formation program, and the pastor and deacons. Baptisms, marriages, and anointings are arranged by calling the Parish House; first Communion and Confirmation are prepared through Family Faith Formation; reconciliation is offered weekly and in special Holy Week services.
- Baptism — call the Parish House
- Reconciliation — Saturdays 4:00 PM, by appointment, and a special Holy Week service
- First Holy Communion — through Family Faith Formation
- Confirmation — through Family Faith Formation (candidates prepared in person and online; celebrated in the Fall)
- Marriage — call the Parish House
- Anointing of the Sick — as requested
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Family Faith Formation, led by Pastoral Associate Shannon Scherba, is the parish's main vehicle for handing on the faith to children and families, including preparation for First Communion and Confirmation. The bulletin shows a hybrid model with both in-person sessions and online components, and family-centered activities like bonfires for confirmation candidates.
- Family Faith Formation — children and family sacramental prep
- Confirmation preparation — in-person and online segments
- Children's bulletins and family take-home activities
- Vocation Basket — family-based vocation promotion
Youth Ministry (Grades 6–12)
Middle- and high-school youth nights are held on the first, second, and fourth Fridays of the month from 6:00 to 8:00 PM in the youth room (with comfy sofas and a Zoom option). Activities have included bonfires, white-elephant gift exchanges, movie nights, and game tournaments such as Super Smash Bros or Mario Kart by popular vote.
- Coordinator: Tim Asher
- Meeting nights: 1st, 2nd, and 4th Fridays, 6:00–8:00 PM
- In-person plus Zoom hybrid format
- Contact Deacon Jeff Southerland (810-730-9444) for info
Parish Organizations & Outreach
The parish website lists three core lay organizations — Sisterhood of Catholic Women, Knights of Columbus, and St. Vincent de Paul — alongside other parish groups such as the Martha Ministry, Needleworkers, Men's Fellowship, the Parish Health Ministry, and Troop 381 (Boy Scouts). Together they cover spiritual life, fellowship, outreach to the poor, health, and youth character formation.
- Sisterhood of Catholic Women
- Knights of Columbus
- St. Vincent de Paul Conference (help line: 810-220-9741)
- Martha Ministry
- Needleworkers
- Men's Fellowship / Men's Retreat
- Parish Health Ministry (Christinna Masters, RN)
- Troop 381 (Boy Scouts)
Devotions & Prayer Life
Beyond Mass and the sacraments, the parish sustains a regular prayer life through First Friday adoration, a weekly parish Rosary on Zoom on Wednesdays at 6:30 PM, special Lenten and Holy Week reconciliation services, and seasonal devotional opportunities such as the Worldwide Marriage Encounter weekend and men's retreats.
- First Friday Adoration — 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM
- Parish Rosary — Wednesdays 6:30 PM via Zoom
- Holy Week Service of Reconciliation — in the parish hall
- Anointing of the Sick — as requested
- Worldwide Marriage Encounter and Men's Retreat events
St. Augustine Catholic Cemetery
The parish maintains a historic Catholic cemetery on the same two-acre tract purchased by Fr. O'Kelley in 1843, with burials dating back to 1846. The oldest section lies on the corner opposite the church. The cemetery is part of the same 5-acre St. Augustine Catholic Church and Cemetery historic district placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1996.
- Established 1843; earliest burial 1846
- Adjacent to the 1895 church on Faussett Road
- Part of the National Register historic district (NRHP #96000802)
Giving, Communications & Getting Involved
Parishioners and visitors can support St. Augustine through WeShare online giving, by picking up a weekly bulletin (in print or online), or by joining one of the parish organizations or ministries. The parish also provides a free Formed.org account so families can grow in faith together at home between parish events.
- Online giving via WeShare: wesharegiving.org/app/giving/WeShare-2629
- Weekly bulletin (print and online; bulletin editor Carole May)
- Free Formed.org parish account: staugustinehowell.formed.org
- Parish office: 517-546-9807; [email protected]
- St. Vincent de Paul help line: 810-220-9741
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Patrick O'Kelley1843–
Founder; Irish-born missionary priest serving all of Livingston and Oakland counties; organized the original Saints Peter and Paul parish with thirteen Irish families and acquired the church/cemetery land in 1843.
- Rev. George J. Maurerearly 1890s–1895+
Oversaw construction of the present Gothic Revival church, hiring Detroit architect Harry J. Rill; the new building was dedicated December 8, 1895.