About St. Christopher · Marysville, Michigan
St. Christopher Catholic Church is a Roman Catholic parish located at 1000 Michigan Avenue in Marysville, Michigan, serving the Blue Water area along the St. Clair River in St. Clair County. Founded in 1936 as a mission church of the Archdiocese of Detroit, it has grown from 60 founding families into a parish of more than 1,000 families, now part of the Northeast Blue Water 3 Family of Parishes within the Blue Water Vicariate. The parish's mission is to "Transform Lives in Jesus Christ Through the Power and Freedom of the Gospel," and it offers weekend Masses, daily Mass Monday through Saturday, the Sacrament of Reconciliation, Eucharistic Adoration, religious education, youth ministry, and a busy Knights of Columbus council — all centered on fostering a personal encounter with Jesus Christ.
- Established
- 1936
- Patron
- St. Christopher
- Rector
- Rev. James F. Arwady (named pastor July 1, 2015); the parish is now part of the Northeast Blue Water 3 Family of Parishes, served together with Priests In Solidum including Rev. Zbigniew Zomerfeld (Primarily Responsible), Rev. Bradley Forintos, Rev. Lee Acervo, and Deacon Alan Pionk.
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Detroit (Blue Water Vicariate, Northeast Blue Water 3 Family of Parishes)
Why belong here
St. Christopher offers a full schedule of parish life for a Blue Water-area Catholic: two Sunday Masses (8:30 AM and 11:30 AM), a daily 9 AM Mass Monday through Friday (no daily Mass on Wednesdays), Saturday morning Mass, weekly Saturday confession, and monthly Eucharistic Adoration on the third Thursday. Families can enroll children in Religious Education and High School Formation, send kids to Vacation Bible School, join the Marysville Knights of Columbus Council #9526 (with its own Ladies Auxiliary), serve as a lector or Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion, help with hospitality, or assist with coffee and donuts after Sunday Mass. The parish sees itself as a community that shares life around a table — not just a crowd around a stage — and encourages volunteers to make that real through service.
Mass times at St. Christopher
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday: 3:00 PM – 4:00 PM
- Anytime by request
Adoration times
- Thursday: 7:00 PM – 8:00 PM (Third Thursday of the month)
Parish History
The Most Rev. Michael Gallagher, Bishop of Detroit, established a Catholic church in Marysville in November 1936 and named Fr. Leo J. Trese as its first pastor. With just 60 founding families, the parish took the name St. Christopher. The first Mass was celebrated November 22, 1936 and the first Baptism on November 29, 1936. The community grew rapidly: the old Morton School was purchased for $500 and rolled to the parish grounds, the Sisters of St. Joseph arrived from Nazareth to open the school in 1939, and new church/school facilities were built in 1951. The current sanctuary was constructed in the mid-1980s under Fr. Joseph Gagnon after a two-month pledge drive raised more than $423,000 from 426 families, and the building was marked by the 1986 Golden Jubilee with 700 families on the roll.
- 1936 — Parish founded November 1936 by Bishop Michael Gallagher; first pastor Fr. Leo J. Trese
- 1937 — Old Morton School purchased for $500 and rolled to the parish grounds; first Mass in the renovated building June 27, 1937
- 1939 — Sisters of St. Joseph arrive from Nazareth; St. Christopher's school opens September 7 with 80 students
- 1951 — New church/school building dedicated by Auxiliary Bishop Allen J. Babcock
- 1961 — Silver Jubilee; parish has 400 families
- 1984 — Capital campaign raises $423,355 from 426 families for a new church
- 1986 — Golden Jubilee celebrated November 15–16; parish reaches 700 families
- 1993 — St. Christopher School closes in June due to declining enrollment
- 1994 — Parish membership reaches 1,006 families
- 1999–2002 — New altar, ambo, presider's chair, crucifix and candle holders installed, all designed by a local artist
- 2003 — Bronze statue of Our Blessed Mother dedicated in the west courtyard
- 2006 — Blessed Sacrament moved from chapel into a new alcove in the main sanctuary
- 2015 — St. Christopher statue placed in the Church; Church Sanctuary renovated; Fr. James F. Arwady named pastor July 1
Staff & Clergy
The parish is led by Rev. James F. Arwady (named pastor July 1, 2015) and is now part of the Northeast Blue Water 3 Family of Parishes, with Rev. Zbigniew Zomerfeld listed as Primarily Responsible priest for the family alongside fellow Priests In Solidum Rev. Lee Acervo and Rev. Bradley Forintos, and Deacon Alan Pionk. The parish staff includes a Director of Maintenance, a Coordinator of Music Ministry and Religious Education (Greg Crachiolo), a Coordinator of Youth Ministry and Young Adults (Suzy DeVeny), a Parish Secretary (Shelley Senyk), a Bookkeeper (Pam LaMilza), and Don McNeill.
- Rev. James F. Arwady — Pastor (since July 1, 2015); Chaplain, Marysville K of C Council #9526
- Rev. Alan Pionk — listed as Pastor on the parish staff page
- Deacon Alan Pionk
- Rev. Zbigniew Zomerfeld — Priest In Solidum (Primarily Responsible for the Family of Parishes)
- Rev. Lee Acervo — Priest In Solidum
- Rev. Bradley Forintos — Priest In Solidum
- Greg Crachiolo — Coordinator of Music Ministry & Coordinator of Religious Education ([email protected])
- Suzy DeVeny — Coordinator of Youth Ministry / Young Adults
- Shelley Senyk — Parish Secretary ([email protected])
- Pam LaMilza — Bookkeeper
- Don McNeill — Director of Maintenance
Religious Education & Youth
The parish's Religious Education program follows the tagline "Encounter, Grow, Witness" and serves children of the parish with weekly formation classes. A separate High School Formation track continues faith formation for teens, and a Youth Ministry / Young Adults ministry (led by Coordinator Suzy DeVeny) provides ongoing engagement. Each summer, Vacation Bible School is offered to children of the parish and the wider community; registration is published on the parish website.
- Religious Education — weekly classes for children; 'Encounter, Grow, Witness'
- High School Formation — ongoing teen faith formation
- Youth Ministry / Young Adults — coordinated by Suzy DeVeny ([email protected])
- Vacation Bible School — held each summer (e.g. July 20–23 in the most recent cycle); online registration
Liturgical Ministries
Liturgical life is supported by a Music Ministry led by Coordinator Greg Crachiolo and by lay liturgical ministers who volunteer at Mass. The parish invites parishioners to serve as Lectors, Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion, and Hospitality Ministers, as well as to help with the Coffee/Donuts fellowship after Sunday Mass.
- Lectors
- Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion
- Hospitality Ministers
- Coffee and Donuts fellowship
- Music Ministry — Coordinator Greg Crachiolo
Marysville Knights of Columbus Council #9526
The Marysville Knights of Columbus Council #9526 is chartered at St. Christopher and operates under the principles of Charity, Unity, Fraternity and Patriotism. The Council's chaplain is Fr. James Arwady; membership meetings are held on the second Monday of the month at 7:00 PM in Room 7 at St. Christopher's, with an open business meeting on the fourth Monday. A Ladies Auxiliary meets the second Monday at 7:00 PM in the parish social hall and is open to women 18 and older. The Council sponsors activities such as a monthly Lunch Bunch, officer elections, council scholarships, Corporate Communion Sundays, and coffee-and-donuts service after Mass.
- Chaplain: Fr. James Arwady
- Grand Knight: Joe Vargo
- Deputy Grand Knight: Mark Privette
- Chancellor: Roger McClelland
- Recorder: Dave Tokarski
- Treasurer: Steve Ginther
- Financial Secretary: Wayne Steinhaus
- Lecturer: Ron Baranowski
- Advocate: Terry Carl
- Warden: Mike O'Brien
- Inside Guard: Ron Baranowski
- Outside Guard: Robert Hunt
- 1st Year Trustee: Bruce Rinke
- 2nd Year Trustee: Dave Huxhold
- 3rd Year Trustee: Scott Heim
- Ladies Auxiliary — meets 2nd Monday at 7:00 PM in the parish social hall; contact Linda King at 810-990-8025
- Council #9526 scholarship program ($1,000 scholarships offered)
- Monthly Lunch Bunch gatherings
Sacraments
St. Christopher prepares parishioners for and celebrates the full range of Catholic sacraments. First Reconciliation instruction is offered through the Religious Education program (a calendar is published each year on the parish website), and First Holy Communion classes are part of parish formation. Baptisms are scheduled through the parish office; weddings are coordinated with the pastor; and Reconciliation is heard Saturday afternoons or by request. Anointing of the Sick and funeral Masses are arranged through the parish office.
- Baptism — contact the parish office to schedule
- First Reconciliation — annual preparation calendar posted on stchrismi.org
- First Holy Communion — prepared through Religious Education
- Marriage — coordinated with the pastor
- Reconciliation — Saturdays 3:00 – 4:00 PM, or by request
- Anointing of the Sick and Funeral Masses — contact the parish office
Parish Mission & Identity
St. Christopher anchors itself in the Archdiocese of Detroit's mission to "Unleash the Gospel" and has adopted its own parish mission: "Transform Lives in Jesus Christ Through the Power and Freedom of the Gospel." The parish vision is to "Foster a Personal Encounter with Jesus Christ." In the parish's own words, "Church is not only a crowd gathered around a stage, but a Community sharing life around a table. One of the central ways we grow as disciples of Jesus is by having intentional relationships with people who share the same goal."
- Archdiocese of Detroit Mission: To Unleash the Gospel
- St. Christopher Parish Mission: Transform Lives in Jesus Christ Through the Power and Freedom of the Gospel
- Parish Vision: Foster a Personal Encounter with Jesus Christ
Getting Involved & Volunteering
The parish actively invites parishioners to volunteer and "Join a Community" through its ministries. Opportunities include liturgical service (Lectors, Extraordinary Ministers, Hospitality), formation service (Religious Education teachers, Youth Ministry, VBS), outreach (Knights of Columbus, Ladies Auxiliary), and fellowship (Coffee/Donuts teams). Contact the parish office at (810) 364-4100 to learn more about any ministry.
- Liturgical ministries (Lector, Eucharistic Minister, Hospitality)
- Music Ministry and Youth Ministry
- Knights of Columbus Council #9526 and Ladies Auxiliary
- Religious Education and Vacation Bible School volunteers
- Coffee and Donuts fellowship teams
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Leo J. Trese1936 – 1941
First pastor; named by Bishop Michael Gallagher. Founding membership: 60 families; first Mass celebrated November 22, 1936.
- Rev. Raymond Buhl1941 – 1945
Named pastor November 21, 1941.
- Rev. Frederick E. George1945 – 1953
Named pastor September 1945.
- Rev. Thomas Curran1953 – 1958
Named pastor June 26, 1953.
- Rev. Paul C. Zelaff1958 – 1959
Named pastor September 1958.
- Rev. James Fitzgerald1959 (Administrator)
Administrator of the church in 1959.
- Rev. Joseph P. McElgunn1959 – 1982
Named pastor April 7, 1959. Celebrated 40 years as a priest and his 20th year as pastor of St. Christopher's in May 1979 with a Solemn High Mass and Open House.
- Rev. Joseph GagnonOctober 1982 – 1988
Initiated the 1984 capital campaign and 1986 building of the new church; marked 25th anniversary of priesthood in June 1986; oversaw the 1986 Golden Jubilee.
- Rev. H. Thomas JohnsonJuly 1988 – 1996
Named pastor in July 1988; led the parish through the 1993 closing of St. Christopher School; membership grew to 1,006 families by 1994.
- Rev. Arthur Baranowski1996 – June 2015
Named pastor January 26, 1996; retired June 2015.
- Rev. James F. ArwadyJuly 1, 2015 – present
Named pastor July 1, 2015; Chancellor of Marysville Knights of Columbus Council #9526.