About St. Blase · Sterling Heights, Michigan
St. Blase Catholic Church is a Roman Catholic parish in Sterling Heights, Michigan, belonging to the Archdiocese of Detroit. Founded on June 21, 1967 by Cardinal John Dearden, the parish has grown from an initial 224 families to a thriving community in the heart of Macomb County. Its mission statement reads: 'We are a welcoming Catholic community where the love of Jesus Christ is learned and lived, sung and shared.' Today St. Blase is part of the Central Macomb Vicariate Family 4, a collaborative 'In Solidum' team of parishes including St. Ephrem, St. Martin de Porres, and St. Michael, with Father Randall Phillips serving primarily as pastor of St. Blase since 2003.
- Established
- 1967
- Patron
- St. Blase (Saint Blaise)
- Rector
- Rev. Dr. Randall Phillips (Priest in Solidum, serving primarily at St. Blase since 2003)
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Detroit
Why belong here
St. Blase offers a complete Catholic life in one parish: weekend and weekday Masses (with livestreamed Saturday Mass), a children's faith formation program for early childhood through grade 8, sacramental preparation, a full music ministry for adults and youth, and an active Christian Service outreach. The community feeds the homeless through MCREST, collects cereal monthly for the Macomb County Emergency Food Program, crochets plastic-bag sleeping mats for the homeless, and sustains a Haiti Outreach Mission — all while living out the parish's simple mission to be a place where the love of Jesus Christ is 'learned and lived, sung and shared.'
Mass times at St. Blase
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturdays at 3:00 PM
- Wednesdays at 7:45 PM
- By appointment with Fr. Randy Phillips
Adoration times
- First Friday of the month, 12:00 PM – 3:00 PM
History of St. Blase Parish
St. Blase was established on June 21, 1967 by Cardinal John Dearden, with Father George Schrauder as founding pastor and 224 registered families. The parish grew at a remarkable pace in the booming suburbs of Sterling Heights, expanding to 2,234 families in its first seven years and triggering a major 1976 building enlargement. Five pastors have served the parish in turn: Fr. Schrauder, Msgr. Gerald Flanigan, Fr. Joseph Killeen (with longtime associate Fr. Ron Anderson), Msgr. Michael LeFevre (with Fr. Tom Kirwan), and the current pastor, Father Randall Phillips, who arrived in 2003. The community's history is marked by physical growth — the 1976 expansion, the 1991 social center, and the 1999 renovation — and by a deepening outreach identity, including the founding of the Haiti Outreach Mission with sister parish St. Gerard during Msgr. LeFevre's tenure.
- Founded June 21, 1967 by Cardinal John Dearden
- First Masses in the gym of Haitema Elementary School (now Bozimowski Center)
- 224 founding families, growing to 2,234 within seven years
- Original 1967 'Gumbleton Box' style church expanded in 1976 (dedicated Dec 18, 1976)
- Social center built in 1991; major renovation in 1999
- Haiti Outreach Mission co-founded with sister parish St. Gerard (now Corpus Christi)
Parish Staff & Clergy
The parish is led pastorally by Fr. Randall Phillips (Priest in Solidum) with the support of Deacon Ed McLeod (Deacon and Spiritual Director) and Dr. Mary Dumm (Pastoral Associate). A large lay staff coordinates faith formation, music, communications, service outreach, and parish operations.
- Rev. Dr. Randall Phillips — Priest in Solidum ([email protected])
- Deacon Ed McLeod — Deacon, Spiritual Director ([email protected])
- Dr. Mary Dumm — Pastoral Associate ([email protected])
- Lisa Grembi — Christian Service Coordinator
- Diann Chase — Director of Religious Education
- Kelly Sakorafos — Early Childhood Coordinator (P3–K5)
- Christina Willson — 1st Eucharist / 1st Reconciliation
- Anthony Howell — 1st Eucharist / 1st Reconciliation
- Susie Taylor — Co-Director of Music Ministry
- David Taylor — Co-Director of Music Ministry
- Alicia Bryson — Director of Youth Music Ministry
- Sarah Richard — Media & Communications
- Tom Haas — Maintenance Supervisor
- Jennifer Mathis — Bookkeeper
- Linda Wilkins — Secretary
- Angelica Ramirez — Secretary
Faith Formation & Religious Education
St. Blase runs a multi-tiered faith formation program partnering with families to pass on the Catholic faith to children from pre-school through eighth grade. Children in Grades 1–6 meet twice a month on parish grounds with two home sessions in between; Grades 7–8 (Young Adolescent Program) meet twice a month on Wednesday evenings. The early childhood program serves P3 through Kindergarten. The parish also welcomes children with special needs comfortable in a classroom setting, and home schooling is available with DRE approval.
- Director of Religious Education: Diann Chase ([email protected])
- Early Childhood Coordinator: Kelly Sakorafos
- Grades 1–6: twice monthly Tuesday sessions + twice-monthly home sessions
- Grades 7–8: Young Adolescent Program on Wednesday evenings
- Special needs welcome; home-school option available
- Catechist and catechist-aide volunteer opportunities listed on the parish Catechist Corner
Sacraments at St. Blase
The parish prepares children, teens, and adults for the sacraments of initiation and supports them through the journey of Christian life. First Reconciliation is typically celebrated beginning at age seven, with three parent-child preparation sessions beginning in October; First Eucharist preparation begins in January with four parent-child sessions, with First Eucharist always celebrated the Third Week of Easter. Confirmation preparation is offered for older youth, and the RCIA process welcomes unbaptized adults and children, as well as returning Catholics seeking formation.
- First Reconciliation: age 7+, by 4th grade; Sign of the Cross and Act of Contrition must be memorized
- First Eucharist: age 7+; Sign of the Cross, Our Father, Hail Mary, and Glory Be memorized
- Confirmation: all five basic prayers memorized
- RCIA for adults and children; sponsor opportunities available
- Returning Catholics: facilitated by Dr. Mary Dumm, Pastoral Associate
- Baptism, Marriage, and Anointing of the Sick by appointment through the parish office
Music & Liturgical Ministries
Music is central to the parish's identity — its mission statement promises that the love of Christ is 'sung and shared.' The Music Ministry is co-directed by Susie Taylor and David Taylor, with a separate youth program led by Alicia Bryson, Director of Youth Music Ministry. The parish also offers a wide range of liturgical ministries and supports a Technology & Communications Committee that livestreams and records Mass and parish events.
- Adult Music Ministry: Co-Directors Susie and David Taylor
- Youth Music Ministry: Director Alicia Bryson
- Livestreamed Mass every Saturday at 4:00 PM on the parish YouTube channel (SaintBlaseChurch)
- Worship aids and bulletins published weekly online
- Technology & Communications Committee — volunteers needed during Mass times
- Liturgical ministry opportunities for adults, teens, and children
Outreach & Christian Service
Christian Service is coordinated by Lisa Grembi and is woven into the parish's identity. The flagship program is MCREST (Macomb County Rotating Emergency Shelter Team), for which St. Blase hosts a full week each summer (late July) of food preparation, delivery, and cleanup for the homeless of Macomb County. Other ongoing efforts include the monthly Cereal Collection benefiting the Macomb County Emergency Food Program, and Plastic with a Purpose, a group that crochets plastic shopping bags into sleeping mats for the homeless. The Haiti Outreach Mission, co-founded with sister parish St. Gerard, has long supported an orphanage, medical care, and construction in Haiti.
- MCREST host week — late July; contact Lisa Grembi (586) 268-2244
- Cereal collection — second weekend of each month (except Nov & Dec) at all Masses
- Plastic with a Purpose — first Monday of each month, 1:30–3:00 PM (no crochet experience required)
- Haiti Outreach Mission — supports an orphanage, offers medical care and construction assistance
Becoming a Parishioner & Communication
St. Blase welcomes new parishioners through a 'Become a Parishioner' link on the website and a detailed Newcomer Packet that introduces the parish, staff, ministries, and faith formation programs. Primary communications are email and the parish Facebook page; the parish also uses 'Remind' for faith formation updates (text @stblasef to 81010). The weekly bulletin, called 'The Flame,' and the parish website carry full schedules and announcements.
- Newcomer Packet (PDF) available on the parish website
- Parish email list sign-up via the homepage
- Weekly bulletin 'The Flame'
- Remind app: text @stblasef to 81010 for faith formation updates
- Parish office: [email protected] / (586) 268-2244
Worship Aids, Bulletin & Livestream
Each Sunday the parish posts a digital worship aid (typically via Google Drive) and the weekly bulletin online, so that the homebound and traveling parishioners can follow the liturgy. Past Masses, homily podcasts, and special event videos are archived on the parish YouTube channel.
- Saturday 4:00 PM Mass livestreamed on YouTube (SaintBlaseChurch)
- Worship aid published each weekend
- Weekly bulletin 'The Flame' published online
- Past Masses and homily podcasts archived on YouTube
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father George Schrauder1967 – late 1969
Founding pastor; celebrated first Masses at Haitema Elementary School gym
- Monsignor Gerald Flaniganlate 1969 – c. 1977
Second pastor; oversaw expansion from 224 to 2,234 families and the 1976 church enlargement
- Father Joseph Killeenlate 1977 – early 1993
Third pastor; with longtime Associate Pastor Fr. Ron Anderson, oversaw growth of many new ministries
- Monsignor Michael LeFevreJune 1993 – c. 2003
Fourth pastor; with Fr. Tom Kirwan led the 1999 renovation; helped found Haiti Outreach Mission with sister parish St. Gerard
- Father Randall Phillips2003 – present
Fifth pastor; appointed to In Solidum team of Central Macomb Vicariate Family 4 on July 1, 2022, serving primarily at St. Blase