St. Basil the Great

Mission and Identity

St. Basil the Great Catholic Church is a Roman-Latin rite parish in the Archdiocese of Detroit, located in the working-class community of Eastpointe, Michigan. Its stated mission is 'the salvation of souls for Jesus Christ in and through His Bride the Holy Roman Catholic Church.' In his welcome message on the parish website, Pastor Fr. Eric Fedewa invites all visitors, emphasizing that through the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, the sacraments, and the power of the Holy Spirit, parishioners 'participate in bringing Jesus' message of repentance, love, and salvation to a world that never knew Him or has abandoned Him.'

Parish History

The parish takes its name from St. Basil the Great, the 4th-century Bishop of Caesarea in Cappadocia, monastic reformer, and Doctor of the Church. IRS nonprofit records for St. Basil Parish list an exempt-status ruling date of March 1946, marking the parish as an organized religious entity from that era. In more recent decades, the parish has been led by a succession of priests including Fr. Sidney J. Eckert (pastor 1983-1989), Fr. Anthony Sulkowski (pastor 2007-2017), and Fr. Eric Fedewa (administrator from November 2017, named pastor in July 2019).

• 1946 — Parish recognized as a religious organization (IRS ruling date)
• 1983-1989 — Fr. Sidney J. Eckert serves as pastor
• 2007-2017 — Fr. Anthony Sulkowski serves as pastor
• 2017-2019 — Fr. Eric Fedewa serves as parish administrator
• 2019-present — Fr. Eric Fedewa serves as pastor

Patron Saint: St. Basil the Great

Born at Caesarea of Cappadocia in 330 AD, St. Basil was one of ten children of St. Basil the Elder and St. Emmelia, several of whom are also honored among the saints. He studied at Caesarea, Constantinople, and Athens — where he befriended St. Gregory Nazianzen — and briefly opened a school of oratory before deciding to become a monk. He founded a monastery in Pontus, directed it for five years, and wrote a monastic rule that has proved the most lasting of those in the East. He later became Bishop of Caesarea, where he was renowned for his vast learning, constant activity, genuine eloquence, and immense charity. His feast day is January 2, and he is honored as a Doctor of the Church and patron of hospital administrators.

• Born 330 AD in Caesarea of Cappadocia
• Bishop of Caesarea, monastic reformer, Doctor of the Church
• Feast day: January 2

Parish Staff

The parish is staffed by a small, dedicated team of clergy and lay ministers who support worship, faith formation, music, administration, and facility care.

• Rev. Eric Fedewa — Pastor (ext. 110, [email protected])
• Amanda Ross — Director of Religious Education (ext. 150)
• Carolyn Mikula — Director of OCIA (ext. 101)
• Dominic Arkenburg — Director of Music
• Angela Moyers — Office Administrator and Bulletin Editor (ext. 100)
• Nita Brown — Bookkeeper
• Bill Ceccacci — Maintenance
• St. Vincent de Paul contact (ext. 104)

Faith Formation and Religious Education

Faith formation is led by Director of Religious Education Amanda Ross, with a separate Faith Formation Office phone line at (586) 772-5434. The parish runs religious education programs for children not enrolled in a Catholic school and welcomes inquiries from families about sacramental preparation, Confirmation, and ongoing catechesis.

• Director of Religious Education: Amanda Ross (ext. 150, [email protected])
• Faith Formation Office: (586) 772-5434
• Inquiries handled via the parish contact form under 'Religious Education'

OCIA — Order of Christian Initiation of Adults

The parish's OCIA (formerly known as RCIA) program, directed by Carolyn Mikula, walks alongside adults exploring the Catholic faith, those baptized in another Christian tradition who wish to come into full communion, and baptized Catholics who have not yet received First Holy Communion or Confirmation. Inquiries can be made through the parish office or contact form.

• Director of OCIA: Carolyn Mikula (ext. 101)
• Inquiry option on parish website contact form

Liturgical Ministries

St. Basil's liturgical life is supported by a roster of lay volunteers who serve at the altar, proclaim the Word, sing, and welcome the faithful into the church. The parish website lists dedicated pages for Altar Boys, Lectors, Choir, and Ushers, each inviting men, women, and young people to serve.

• Altar Boys — boys typically begin after First Communion and serve at the altar
• Lectors — proclaim Scripture at Holy Mass
• Choir — led by Director of Music Dominic Arkenburg
• Ushers — greet, seat, assist with collections and Communion flow, distribute bulletins, and host parish events like the annual Breakfast with Santa

St. Vincent de Paul and Outreach

The parish hosts a local chapter of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, a Catholic lay organization dedicated to serving those in need through home visits, material assistance, and spiritual support. Parishioners wishing to assist neighbors facing hardship can reach the St. Vincent de Paul conference at the parish's ext. 104.

• St. Vincent de Paul conference (ext. 104)
• Volunteer inquiries via parish office

Parish Groups and FORMED

Beyond the named liturgical and outreach ministries, the parish website lists a general 'Parish Groups' section and provides free access to FORMED.org — a Catholic digital platform with thousands of movies, audio talks, and e-books — for all parishioners. Sign-up instructions are posted on the parish homepage.

• FORMED.org access provided through the parish
• Parish Groups listed on the website
• Parish Listening Sessions advertised as a sign-up option

Contact, Office Hours, and Facilities

The parish office is located at 22851 Lexington Avenue, Eastpointe, MI 48021, with main phone (586) 777-5610 and fax (586) 779-3341. Office hours are Monday through Wednesday from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM (closed 12:00-1:00 PM for lunch) and Thursday and Friday from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM. The parish contact form offers inquiry categories for becoming a member, volunteering, religious education, OCIA, sacraments, or other needs. Driving directions: from I-94, take 9 Mile Road west, then turn right onto Schroeder; the church is on the right side of the street.

• Parish Office: (586) 777-5610 / Fax (586) 779-3341
• Faith Formation Office: (586) 772-5434
• Office hours: Mon-Wed 9:00 AM-5:00 PM (closed 12-1 PM); Thu-Fri 9:00 AM-12:00 PM
• Driving directions via I-94 → 9 Mile west → Schroeder