About St. Catherine · Ravenna, Michigan
St. Catherine of Alexandria is a Catholic parish in Ravenna, Michigan, in the West Deanery of the Diocese of Grand Rapids. Founded in 1908 by Bishop Henry J. Richter and nineteen founding fathers, the parish is today clustered with St. Francis Xavier in Conklin and St. Joseph in Wright, sharing a single pastor, Fr. Andrew M. Ayers, and a common website at ourcluster.org. From its original 1908 church the parish grew to build a rectory, school, convent, parish hall, and the present-day church dedicated in 1965, and celebrated its centennial in 2008.
- Established
- 1908
- Patron
- St. Catherine of Alexandria
- Rector
- Rev. Andrew M. Ayers
- Diocese
- Diocese of Grand Rapids
Why belong here
St. Catherine's offers weekly Sunday Mass (9:00 AM) and a Thursday morning Mass, weekly Eucharistic Adoration on the first Thursday of each month (7:00–8:00 PM), and a complete sacramental life including Baptism, Confirmation, Matrimony, Confession, and Anointing of the Sick. As part of a three-parish cluster with St. Francis Xavier and St. Joseph, parishioners share resources, faith formation (directed by Jeannie Sokolowski), and worship with neighboring rural communities — a welcoming setting for families across northern Muskegon County.
Mass times at St. Catherine
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 10:00 – 11:00 AM (at St. Francis Xavier, Conklin)
Adoration times
- First Thursday of the month, 7:00 – 8:00 PM (at St. Catherine)
History of St. Catherine of Alexandria
St. Catherine's traces its roots to 1908, when Bishop Henry J. Richter and nineteen founding fathers built and dedicated the original church in Ravenna on October 28 of that year. The 1930s brought a rectory and the parish's first resident pastor, and by the 1950s the parish had added a school, convent, and parish hall. The present church replaced the original in 1964–65, and the parish celebrated its centennial in 2008 before joining with St. Francis Xavier and St. Joseph to form a three-parish cluster in 2012.
- 1908: Church dedicated October 28 by Bishop Richter
- 1934: Rectory built; Fr. John Szydlowski first resident pastor
- 1951: School and convent open September 6 with 118 students
- 1955: Parish hall built ($66,000)
- 1957: Peak school enrollment of 270 students
- 1964: First Mass in new church, Christmas Eve, by Fr. Betka
- 1965: Church dedicated March 28 by Bishop J. Allen Babcock
- 2008: Centennial celebrations
- 2012: Cluster formed under Bishop Walter Hurley with Fr. Fred Brucker
Parish Cluster — Our Cluster of Catholic Churches
Since 2012 St. Catherine's has been clustered with St. Francis Xavier in Conklin and St. Joseph in Wright under one pastor. The three parishes share a common website (ourcluster.org), a single cluster secretary, and combined faith formation programs. The cluster's first pastor was Fr. Fred Brucker; the current pastor is Fr. Andrew M. Ayers.
- St. Catherine of Alexandria — Ravenna (this parish)
- St. Francis Xavier — 2044 Gooding Rd, Conklin (est. 1892)
- St. Joseph — 18784 8th Ave, Wright
Mass & Worship Schedule
St. Catherine's offers two regular Masses each week. The cluster also shares additional Mass times at St. Francis Xavier and St. Joseph, and St. Francis Xavier hosts Saturday confession.
- Sunday Mass at St. Catherine: 9:00 AM
- Thursday Mass at St. Catherine: 8:30 AM
- Saturday Vigil at St. Francis Xavier: 4:00 PM
- Monday–Friday morning Masses rotate across the cluster (see ourcluster.org/mass-times)
Sacraments
All seven sacraments are available through the cluster. Couples are asked to contact Fr. Andrew at least six months before a desired wedding date, and the parish provides 'Together for Life' (wedding readings) and 'Through Death to Life' (funeral liturgy) booklets to assist families.
- Baptism — contact DRE Jeannie Sokolowski ([email protected])
- Confirmation — contact DRE Jeannie Sokolowski
- Eucharist (First Communion) — through Religious Education program
- Reconciliation (Confession) — contact Fr. Andrew Ayers or the parish office
- Anointing of the Sick — by appointment; available for the homebound and hospitalized
- Matrimony — schedule with Fr. Andrew at least 6 months in advance
- Holy Orders — contact Fr. Andrew for discernment guidance
Religious Education & Sacramental Preparation
Religious education is coordinated cluster-wide by Jeannie Sokolowski, who can be reached at [email protected] or (616) 899-2286. The program prepares children and adults for the sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation, First Eucharist, and Matrimony, and also hosts baptism preparation classes for parents at St. Francis Xavier.
- Religious Ed Program Coordinator: Jeannie Sokolowski
- Email: [email protected]
- Phone: (616) 899-2286
- SFX Baptism Prep Classes scheduled periodically (see cluster homepage for upcoming dates)
Staff & Clergy
St. Catherine's is served by one pastor for the entire cluster, supported by a part-time cluster secretary. Fr. Andrew holds office hours at the St. Catherine's parish office on Thursdays by appointment.
- Pastor: Rev. Andrew M. Ayers — available at St. Catherine's office on Thursdays by appointment
- Cluster Secretary — available by phone Mon/Wed at 616-899-2286; in-office Tue/Thu at St. Catherine's
- Religious Education Coordinator: Jeannie Sokolowski
Parish Office & Contact
Parish business is handled at the St. Catherine's office on Tuesdays and Thursdays, 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM. A cluster cell phone (616-215-9181) and shared email ensure reachability throughout the week.
- Office phone: 231-853-6222
- Cell phone: 616-215-9181
- Fax: 231-853-2664
- Email: [email protected]
- Office hours: Tuesday & Thursday, 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM
- Cluster secretary phone hours: Monday & Wednesday, via 616-899-2286
Patron Saint — St. Catherine of Alexandria
The parish is named for St. Catherine of Alexandria, an early Christian virgin and martyr (d. c. 305) and one of the Fourteen Holy Helpers. Her feast day is November 25. She is venerated as patron of philosophers, scholars, students, unmarried girls, and apologists, and is traditionally invoked for protection against sudden death.
- Patron: St. Catherine of Alexandria
- Feast Day: November 25
- One of the Fourteen Holy Helpers
Visiting & Accessibility
St. Catherine's is located at 3376 Thomas St. in Ravenna, Muskegon County. The church is handicapped accessible per the Diocese of Grand Rapids listing. Visitors are warmly welcomed at the Sunday 9:00 AM Mass or at any of the cluster Masses.
- Worship Site & Mailing Address: 3376 Thomas St., Ravenna, MI 49451
- Handicap accessible
- Located in the Diocese of Grand Rapids, West Deanery, Muskegon County
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. John Szydlowski1934 –
First resident pastor of St. Catherine's.
- Fr. Stanislaus Betka1936–1945, 1949–retirement
Served two stints; celebrated first Mass in the new church on Christmas Eve 1964.
- Fr. Fred Brucker2012–
Named in 2012 by Bishop Walter Hurley as the first pastor of the cluster parishes of St. Catherine, St. Francis Xavier, and St. Joseph.
- Fr. Andrew M. Ayers
Current pastor of the cluster; available at the St. Catherine's office on Thursdays by appointment.