About St. Clement of Rome · Romeo, Michigan
St. Clement of Rome Parish is a Roman Catholic parish in historic Romeo, Michigan, belonging to the Archdiocese of Detroit (Northeast Region, North Macomb Vicariate, and a member of the 'Northeast North Macomb 3' Family of Parishes). Its mission, as stated on the website, is to be 'empowered by the Holy Spirit' in welcoming, embracing, and uniting the many faces of Christ who worship with the community, deepening faith through prayer and good works. The parish serves both English-speaking and Spanish-speaking faithful, offering a Sunday Mass in Spanish alongside three English weekend Masses, and operates the Agape Center food pantry on its campus.
- Established
- 1939
- Patron
- St. Clement of Rome (Pope Clement I, ~AD 35–99), a companion of Ss. Peter and Paul who served as the fourth Bishop of Rome from AD 91 and whose Letter to the Corinthians is one of the earliest Christian documents outside the New Testament.
- Rector
- Rev. Christopher Talbot
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Detroit (Northeast Region, North Macomb Vicariate; member of the Northeast North Macomb 3 Family of Parishes).
Why belong here
St. Clement of Rome offers a deeply rooted Catholic community with over a century of history in northern Macomb County, anchored by an architecturally distinctive circular church built by local craftsmen. Parishioners can worship in either English or Spanish, join one of dozens of ministries — from the on-site Agape Center food pantry to Stephen Ministers, Knights of Columbus, parish nursing, funeral luncheons, and CYO athletics — and find formation programs for every age, including a children's Religious Education program (grades 1–8) and ongoing Adult Faith Formation. The parish's welcoming identity, stated on its own homepage, invites all the 'many faces of Christ' to belong, deepen their faith, and serve together.
Mass times at St. Clement of Rome
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 3:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. (per Mass Finder, immediately before the 5:00 p.m. Mass)
Adoration times
- Eucharistic Adoration: 10:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m. (per CatholicClocks directory listing)
Parish Identity & Mission
St. Clement of Rome is a Roman Catholic parish in historic Romeo, Michigan, in the Archdiocese of Detroit. The parish states its mission on the home page: 'Empowered by the Holy Spirit, we welcome, embrace, and unite the many faces of Christ who worship with us. As a family, we deepen our faith and seek God through prayer and good works.' The parish identifies as a welcoming family of believers serving both English-speaking and Spanish-speaking Catholics in northern Macomb County, and is administratively part of the Northeast Region, North Macomb Vicariate, in the 'Northeast North Macomb 3' Family of Parishes.
- Archdiocese of Detroit — Northeast Region, North Macomb Vicariate
- Member parish of the Northeast North Macomb 3 Family of Parishes
- Bilingual: English and Spanish
A Brief History of the Parish
Catholic life in Romeo traces to about 1921, when several families asked Bishop Michael Gallagher of Detroit for permission to celebrate Mass locally. Fr. Carroll came monthly from Rochester; Mass was offered in homes and halls. The Catholic Extension Society loaned $1,000 and the community was organized as a mission of Lapeer under Fr. Thomas Carey of Immaculate Conception. In 1924, on a lot at Freemont and West Lafayette, the first St. Clement church was built under Fr. Thomas Gorman. On July 5, 1939, St. Clement was formally established as a separate parish with 87 families, and Fr. Henry Koelzer became its first resident pastor.
- 1921 — first Masses offered monthly by Fr. Carroll from Rochester
- 1920s — mission of Lapeer, funded by Catholic Extension Society ($1,000 loan)
- 1924 — first St. Clement church built (Freemont & W. Lafayette), Fr. Thomas Gorman
- July 5, 1939 — established as a parish with 87 families; first resident pastor Fr. Henry Koelzer
Building the Parish, 1940s–1960s
By 1949 the parish had reached 237 families. A house and lot at 332 South Main Street was acquired as a rectory, the parish school opened on September 17, 1951, and church quarters in the school building came into use on December 14, 1951. In 1965, the parish purchased twenty adjacent acres. In 1966, plans were drawn for the circular church that stands today — designed by Farmington architect Charles Hannan with stones hand-split by Edward Mandeville and boulders gathered by Leo Juip. The new church was dedicated in 1968.
- 1949 — 237 families; rectory at 332 S. Main Street
- 1951 — parish school opens; church quarters in school building
- 1965 — 20 adjacent acres purchased
- 1966–68 — circular church designed and dedicated; designed by Charles Hannan
Architecture, Stained Glass & The Bells
The 1968 church is one of the more architecturally and liturgically distinctive Catholic churches in the region. Its exterior and part of the sanctuary floor are clad in hand-split local field stone, with massive fieldstones serving as baptismal font, holy water font, and main altar. Stained glass is by Gabriel Loire of Chartres (France), and tapestries inside are by Romeo artist Eileen Auvil. A 23-rank, two-manual Casavant organ from Quebec was installed in the early 1970s. In 1978 the parish dedicated its bell tower: bells cast in Holland of 80% copper / 20% virgin tin, tuned to A=440 Hz, donated by the Women's Guild, Men's Guild, and Mr. John Sweeney, and installed by the I.T. Verdin Company.
- Stained glass — Gabriel Loire, Chartres, France
- Tapestries — Eileen Auvil, Romeo
- Stonework — Edward Mandeville (local stonemason); boulders by Leo Juip
- Casavant organ (Québec) — 23 ranks, two manuals; installed early 1970s at $86,000
- Bells cast in Holland; tuned to A=440 Hz; installed by I.T. Verdin Co., dedicated 1978
The 2000–2001 Remodel and Addition
In the year 2000, the parish decided to remodel the church and construct a major addition. Completed in 2001, the project added a Religious Education Center, parish offices, a chapel, overflow seating, a gymnasium, a social hall, and a gathering area — much of the physical infrastructure in which the present-day parish life now unfolds.
- Religious Education Center
- Parish offices
- Chapel
- Overflow seating
- Gymnasium (used for CYO and parish athletics)
- Social hall and gathering area
Clergy & Parish Staff
The current pastor is Rev. Christopher Talbot, who serves primarily at St. Clement of Rome while also providing Full-time Priest Support to SS. John and Paul Parish (Washington Township) and St. John Vianney Parish (Shelby Township) in the Northwest Macomb Family of Parishes. He succeeds Fr. Stephen C. Reckker, who pastored the parish from 1982 to 2025. Two deacons — Deacon Kurt Godfryd (ordained October 4, 2008 by Cardinal Adam Maida) and Deacon Michael Houghton — assist. Sr. Valerie Knoche, IHM, coordinates the Hispanic Ministry, and Fr. Joe Smetana, OFM, CAP, handles Spanish/English translation of parish documents.
- Rev. Christopher Talbot — Pastor (2025–present)
- Deacon Kurt Godfryd — ordained 2008; Associate Dean at University of Detroit Mercy School of Law
- Deacon Michael Houghton
- Sr. Valerie Knoche, IHM — Hispanic Ministry Coordinator
- Fr. Joe Smetana, OFM, CAP — Document Translator (Spanish ↔ English)
Faith Formation & Religious Education
The parish Religious Education Office (tel. 586-752-6591), under Director Mrs. Lee Bova, runs a children's program for grades 1–8 from October through March, with parents choosing Monday or Tuesday at 4:30 p.m. or 6:30 p.m. Sixteen weeks of on-site classes are intended to assist parents as the primary formators of their children. Adult Faith Formation is offered as a lifelong process of growing in relationship with God, with programming and resources listed on the parish website.
- Children's Religious Ed: grades 1–8; Mondays or Tuesdays at 4:30 or 6:30 p.m.; Oct–Mar; 16 weeks on-site; tuition $100/family + $25/child
- Director: Mrs. Lee Bova — phone (586) 752-6591
- Adult Faith Formation — ongoing programs for adult parishioners
- Hispanic Education (Oficina de Educación Religiosa) under Madre Valeria Knoche, IHM
Christian Service, Outreach & the Agape Center
Christian Service has been central to the parish from the beginning. The on-campus Agape Center food pantry, located in northern Macomb County, stocks canned goods, meat, fresh produce, and personal care items, and assists sponsoring churches with clients facing shut-off and eviction notices. Staffed by caring volunteers, it treats every client with dignity and respect.
- Agape Center — on-campus emergency food pantry
- Community Outreach / 'HIS' Table — joined with neighboring parishes to help one another
- Stephen Ministry — one-to-one Christ-centered care
- Ministry to the Sick — cards, homebound and nursing-home visits, Holy Communion
- Funeral Luncheon Ministry
Hispanic Ministry
The Hispanic Ministry tends to the spiritual and material needs of the Spanish-speaking Catholic community at St. Clement and is supported through the Archdiocesan CSA Collection. Beyond the weekly 1:00 p.m. Spanish Sunday Mass, the ministry offers English-language learning opportunities for Hispanics and produces translated parish documents. Fr. Joe Smetana, OFM, CAP, serves as the official translator.
- Coordinator: Sr. Valerie Knoche, IHM
- Weekly Spanish Sunday Mass at 1:00 p.m.
- English Language Learners for the Hispanic community
- Official translation of parish documents (Fr. Joe Smetana, OFM, CAP)
Parish Life, Athletics & Hospitality
The 2001-added gymnasium is the main venue for parish athletics and is reserved primarily for parish-sponsored activities. The parish fields CYO Basketball teams for boys and girls, plus adult Men's Basketball (25+ and 40+) and Women's Basketball programs. Hospitality volunteers host the after-Mass coffee-and-donuts fellowship, while the Parish Nursing / Health Ministry, in partnership with St. Joseph Mercy of Macomb's Parish Nursing Network, brings medical and non-medical volunteers into service of the parish family's physical, spiritual, emotional, and psychological health.
- Gymnasium (2001) — primary use for parishioners, Religious Ed, and sponsored athletics
- CYO Basketball (boys & girls)
- Men's Basketball — 40 and over
- Men's Basketball — 25 and over
- Women's Basketball
- Parish Nursing / Health Ministry (in partnership with St. Joseph Mercy of Macomb)
- Hospitality Ministry — coffee & donuts after Sunday Masses
- Adult Choir
- Life After Loss bereavement support group
Knights of Columbus
The parish hosts a Knights of Columbus council, part of the fraternal benefit society founded in 1882 by Fr. Michael J. McGivney to render financial aid to members and their families and to offer mutual aid and assistance to the sick, disabled, and needy members — guided by its founding principles of charity, unity, and fraternity.
- Founded in principle by Fr. Michael J. McGivney
- Three founding principles: Charity, Unity, Fraternity
- Local St. Clement of Rome council active in the parish
Contact & Visit
The Parish Office is open Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., at 343 S. Main Street, Romeo, MI 48065. The main line is (586) 752-9611 and the office email is [email protected]. Mass, confession, and adoration times listed on the website.
- Address: 343 S. Main Street, Romeo, MI 48065
- Phone: (586) 752-9611
- Email: [email protected]
- Office hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
- Religious Ed Office: (586) 752-6591
- Website: https://www.stclementromeo.org/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SCofR/
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Henry Koelzer1939–1942
First resident pastor after the parish was established as a separate entity on July 5, 1939 with 87 families.
- Rev. Thomas O'Rourke1942
- Rev. Bernard Hoey1942–1945
- Rev. John McMillan1945–1966
Longest tenure; oversaw the 1951 school opening and the purchase of 20 adjacent acres in 1965.
- Rev. William J. Dowell1966–1973
Built the current circular church (designed 1966, dedicated 1968).
- Rev. Ronald Kurzawa1973–1982
- Rev. Stephen C. Reckker1982–2025
Longest-tenured pastor in parish history (43 years); oversaw the 2000–2001 remodel and addition.
- Rev. Christopher Talbot2025–present
Current pastor; previously Moderator of an In Solidum team serving several Detroit parishes.