About St. Augustine · Richmond, Michigan
St. Augustine Parish is a Roman Catholic parish located at 68035 Main Street in Richmond, Michigan, a small farming community in northern Macomb County within the Archdiocese of Detroit. The parish is part of The Merciful Love of Jesus Family of Parishes, together with Holy Family Parish in Memphis and St. Mary Mystical Rose Parish in Armada, sharing clergy and ministries across the three communities. Currently pastored by Fr. Mark Livingston (Administrator since July 1, 2023) with associate pastor Fr. Anthony Camilleri and Deacons Alan Gwozdz and Arvin Stephenson, the parish also operates St. Augustine Catholic School, a PreK-8 elementary school next door.
- Established
- 1880
- Patron
- St. Augustine of Hippo (Doctor of the Church, 354–430 AD)
- Rector
- Rev. Mark Livingston (Administrator — the role is titled Pastor in the parish bulletin — appointed July 1, 2023)
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Detroit (Northeast Region, Blue Water Vicariate, Northeast Blue Water 1 Family of Parishes)
Why belong here
St. Augustine offers a rooted, family-sized Catholic community in northern Macomb County with a celebrated fieldstone landmark church, an active PreK-8 parochial school on adjacent grounds, and the sacramental rhythm of frequent Mass and Confession times. As part of The Merciful Love of Jesus Family of Parishes it shares a sizable lineup of ministries — Knights of Columbus, Altar Sodality, Bible studies, a men's 'Into the Breach' group, a food pantry, prayer-shawl and rosary-making groups, AA and Al-Anon, and a Health Ministry — so newcomers can find a ready-made network of faith, service, and fellowship.
Mass times at St. Augustine
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Tuesday 6:15 PM (Holy Family, Memphis — Family of Parishes schedule)
- Thursday after 8:15 AM Mass (St. Augustine)
- Saturday 3:00 PM (Holy Family, Memphis — Family of Parishes schedule)
- Saturday 7:00 PM (St. Augustine)
Adoration times
- Wednesday following 9:00 AM Mass at St. Mary Mystical Rose (Family of Parishes)
- First Friday following 8:15 AM Mass at Holy Family, Memphis (Family of Parishes)
History of St. Augustine Parish
Catholics began settling the Lenox-Richmond area in the mid-19th century and were first served by missionary priests traveling from St. Clair, New Baltimore, and Mt. Clemens. In the late 1870s Mary McCarthy opened her Lenox Township home as a chapel, and the Mission of St. Augustine was officially established in July 1880. A wooden frame church at the corner of Main and Howard streets was begun in 1887, dedicated that same year by Bishop Foley at a cost of about $5,000, with even non-Catholic neighbors contributing generously.
- Mission of St. Augustine established July 1880 under Rev. Schenkelberg of Anchorville
- Wooden frame church founded 1887, dedicated by Bishop Foley, cost ~$5,000
- St. Michael Cemetery land donated by Michael Schindler, 1889
- First resident priest Rev. Fr. Thomas J. Ryan appointed April 21, 1892
- Parish reached about 200 families by the turn of the 20th century
The Fieldstone Church (1913)
By the early 1900s the frame church was too small, and in 1905 Rev. Edward Schrauder began a pastorate that would last until his death in 1934. He commissioned architect Peter Dederichs — designer of Detroit's 1885 St. Mary's — and oversaw a 29-year building campaign. Construction began in 1912 and the new stone church was dedicated on Thursday, December 11, 1913. Because only one of the 200 registered families owned a motor vehicle, parishioners excavated, hauled, and delivered more than 1,000 loads of cobblestones and fieldstones from their own fields.
- Architect: Peter Dederichs
- Pastor leading the campaign: Rev. Edward Schrauder (1905–1934)
- Construction began 1912; dedicated December 11, 1913
- William Zuelk inspected and organized every stone used
- Old frame church later moved to make room for the parking lot
Architecture & Interior
The present church is stone and cross-shaped, with three-staged twin towers, a triple entrance, buttressed walls, a terra cotta roof, and low pointed-arched windows in the northern Italian Gothic mode. Although the architect specified cut stone, the walls were built of cobblestones and fieldstones gathered locally, giving a high-style design a vernacular character that the Society of Architectural Historians calls 'a delightful vernacular work of architecture that sings native Michigan.' Inside, stained-glass windows depict Gospel scenes and include a small round window above the altar depicting the Crucifixion — donated by Fr. Schrauder — and rose windows in each transept.
- Twin three-stage towers with triple entrance
- Northern Italian Gothic pointed-arch windows
- Cobblestone/fieldstone walls (architect had specified cut stone)
- Rose window of the Blessed Virgin Mary (left transept)
- Statue of St. Augustine and St. Anthony of Padua (right transept)
- Side altars to the Blessed Virgin Mary and St. Joseph
St. Michael Cemetery
St. Michael Cemetery, located in Lenox Township just south of Richmond, has been parish-owned since 1889, when Michael Schindler donated the original tract. The cemetery was expanded in 1920 and again in 1965, when Thaddeus Swartz and his wife donated an additional 3.5 adjacent acres, effectively doubling its size. It remains under the care of St. Augustine Parish and is a work-of-mercy site for Catholic burial of the deceased.
- Original land donated by Michael Schindler in 1889
- First expansion 1920
- 3.5 additional acres donated by Thaddeus and wife Swartz in 1965
The Merciful Love of Jesus Family of Parishes
St. Augustine is one of three parishes in The Merciful Love of Jesus Family of Parishes, formed under the Archdiocese of Detroit's restructuring and joined administratively on July 1, 2023. The family also includes Holy Family Parish in Memphis (79780 Main Street) and St. Mary Mystical Rose Parish in Armada (24040 Armada Ridge Road). Fr. Mark Livingston serves the family as Administrator/Pastor, with Fr. Anthony Camilleri as Associate Pastor and Directors of Music, Worship, Evangelization, and Communications serving all three sites.
- Holy Family Parish, Memphis — 79780 Main St, (810) 392-2056
- St. Mary Mystical Rose Parish, Armada — 24040 Armada Ridge Rd, (586) 784-5966
- Family hub website: mloj.org
- Family Facebook: facebook.com/mljfamily
- Family Instagram: @mljparishfamily
Clergy
The parish is staffed by Fr. Mark Livingston (Pastor/Administrator, appointed by Archbishop Weisenburger effective July 1, 2023, previously serving at the National Shrine of the Little Flower Basilica in Royal Oak), Fr. Anthony Camilleri (Associate Pastor), Deacon Alan Gwozdz (Family Ministry), Deacon Arvin Stephenson, and weekend support priest Rev. Jeffrey Allan.
- Rev. Mark Livingston — Pastor / Administrator
- Rev. Anthony Camilleri — Associate Pastor
- Rev. Jeffrey Allan — Weekend Priest Support
- Deacon Alan Gwozdz — Family Ministry
- Deacon Arvin Stephenson
Sacraments
The parish prepares Catholics for and celebrates all seven sacraments. Sacramental preparation for First Reconciliation, First Eucharist, and Confirmation happens through St. Augustine Catholic School (2nd grade and 7th/8th grade respectively). Adults enter through OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults), coordinated across the Family of Parishes by Susan Finley.
- Baptism — coordinator Susan Finley
- First Reconciliation & First Eucharist — 2nd grade (school)
- Confirmation — 7th & 8th grade (school)
- Matrimony — contact the parish office
- Anointing of the Sick — by appointment, hospital or home visits
St. Augustine Catholic School (PreK–8)
Adjacent to the parish at 67901 Howard Street, St. Augustine Catholic School serves preschool through 8th grade with a mission to 'Navigate a Christian course, Educate body, mind, & spirit, Worship the Lord, & Serve others' (N.E.W.S.). Students are active participants in parish Mass as altar servers, lectors, and gift bearers; pray together each morning and before lunch; and prepare for the Sacraments of Reconciliation and Eucharist in 2nd grade and Confirmation in 7th/8th grade. Principal Emily Lenn, with 26 years in education, leads the school since 2018.
- PreK-8 elementary school, 67901 Howard Street, Richmond, MI 48062
- Phone (586) 727-9365
- Principal Mrs. Emily Lenn (since 2018)
- Faith formation contact: Jeff Domsic ([email protected])
- Latchkey (before/after-school) program available
- Extracurriculars include Academic Olympics, Catholic Schools Week, Student Council, Spelling Bee, Science Olympiad, Lego Robotics, Safety Patrol, Rosary Club, Book Club, Bible Journaling, Cheer Club, Youth Choir, and Christian service projects
Parish Ministries & Groups
St. Augustine hosts a wide range of parish ministries — service, prayer, music, formation, and support. The Knights of Columbus and Altar Sodality maintain two of the longest-running parish organizations; contemporary and choral music ministries rehearse weekly; a men's Into the Breach Bible Study meets twice monthly; and AA & Al-Anon meet every Monday evening.
- Knights of Columbus (general meeting 2nd Tuesday, officers 4th Tuesday)
- Altar Sodality — 1st Tuesday 6:30 PM
- Into the Breach Men's Bible Study — 1st & 3rd Tuesdays 7:00 PM
- AA & Al-Anon — Mondays 8:00 PM
- Contemporary Music Rehearsal — Tuesdays 7:00 PM
- Adult Choir Rehearsal — Thursdays 7:00 PM
- Christian Service Committee — 2nd Thursday 11:00 AM
- Health Ministry at St. Augustine
Family-Wide Devotions & Events
Beyond Sunday Mass, the Family of Parishes hosts recurring devotions and formation events — Rosary and Chaplet of Divine Mercy, Prayer Shawl and Blanket ministries, Rosary Making, the Fragrant Rose Prayer Group, Cursillo/Ultreya, and Faith and Mercy Nights (a monthly teaching and prayer event that rotates among the three parishes and is led, as in September 2024, by priests like Fr. Sal Palazzolo, then Judicial Vicar of the Metropolitan Tribunal).
- Rosary and Chaplet of Divine Mercy — 2nd Saturday at Holy Family
- Faith and Mercy Nights — 3rd Wednesday, rotating
- Prayer Shawl Ministry — Tuesdays at St. Mary Mystical Rose
- Rosary Making Ministry — 4th Wednesday at Holy Family
- Macomb County Food Distribution — 1st Thursday at Holy Family
Visit, Contact & Hours
Parish office hours are Monday through Thursday 9:00 AM–11:30 AM and 1:30 PM–5:00 PM, and Friday 9:00 AM–11:30 AM. The church is at 68035 Main Street, Richmond, MI 48062. Family-of-Parishes communications are handled at [email protected] and Fr. Livingston can be reached directly at [email protected] or (586) 244-8504.
- Address: 68035 Main Street, Richmond, MI 48062
- Phone: (586) 727-5215
- Pastor direct line: (586) 244-8504
- Bulletin submissions due Thursdays at noon for the following weekend
Centennial & Recent Milestones
The parish celebrated the 100th anniversary of the dedication of the current church building on December 11, 2013. In 2023, St. Augustine joined Holy Family and St. Mary Mystical Rose in forming The Merciful Love of Jesus Family of Parishes under Archbishop Weisenburger's restructuring of the Archdiocese of Detroit.
- Church building centennial: December 11, 2013
- Family of Parishes formed: July 1, 2023
- Fr. Mark Livingston appointed first Administrator of the new family
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Schenkelberg (of Anchorville)1880–c.1892
Mission priest who oversaw construction of the wooden frame church dedicated by Bishop Foley in 1887; visited the mission about once a month.
- Rev. Fr. Thomas J. Ryan1892–
First resident priest of the parish, appointed April 21, 1892 from Kalamazoo.
- Rev. Edward Schrauder1905–1934
Led the 29-year building campaign that produced the present fieldstone church dedicated Dec. 11, 1913; donated the round Crucifixion window above the altar; died in office.