About St. Cyprian · Riverview, Michigan
St. Cyprian Catholic Church is a Roman Catholic parish in Riverview, Michigan, founded in 1955 in the Downriver region southwest of Detroit. As part of the Archdiocese of Detroit, the parish now belongs to the South Downriver 3 'Family of Parishes,' sharing pastoral leadership with Sacred Heart (Grosse Ile), St. Joseph (Trenton), Our Lady of the Woods (Woodhaven), St. Roch (Flat Rock), and St. Timothy under the In Solidum model. Worship is centered on a weekly schedule of weekday and weekend Masses, the Sacrament of Reconciliation on Saturday afternoons, and a strong program of liturgical, faith-formation, and outreach ministries serving the local community.
- Established
- 1955
- Patron
- St. Cyprian of Carthage
- Rector
- Rev. Marc Gawronski (Priest In Solidum, Primarily Responsible)
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Detroit
Why belong here
St. Cyprian offers a welcoming, mid-sized parish home in the heart of the Downriver community where parishioners can worship, serve, and grow in faith together. Members can join an active Liturgical Choir, Handbell Ensemble, cantors, or instrumentalists; serve at the altar as servers, lectors, sacristans, or extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion; or take Communion to the homebound and to residents of local nursing and assisted-living facilities. A vibrant Christian Service commission feeds neighbors through the parish Food Pantry, the St. Vincent de Paul Society, the All Saints Soup Kitchen, USDA food distributions, and a Holiday Giving Tree, while Family Faith Formation walks PreK–5th graders, EDGE middle-schoolers, and Confirmation candidates through the Catholic tradition.
Mass times at St. Cyprian
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 4:15 p.m. (or by appointment)
Parish History
St. Cyprian was founded in 1955 in the Downriver suburbs of Detroit. The parish's timeline is marked by the founding pastor Fr. Eugene Fedewa, the opening of St. Cyprian School in 1958, a 28-year Crosier era beginning in 1976, a major 1996–99 Capital Campaign that refreshed the church interior, and the parish's return to diocesan leadership under Fr. William Promesso in 2004. The community celebrated its 50th Jubilee in 2005–06, closed its school in 2007, and entered the Archdiocese's Family of Parishes model in the 2020s.
- 1955: First Eucharist celebrated at A.E. Smith Auditorium with founding pastor Fr. Eugene Fedewa
- 1956: First Mass in the new Pennsylvania Road building
- 1958: St. Cyprian School opens grades 1–4 with four IHM Sisters from Monroe
- 1967: First Parish Council and Commissions established
- 1970s: Church remodeled and rededicated; Fr. Walter Hurley serves with Crosier seminarians
- 1976: Cardinal Dearden invites the Crosiers to lead the parish
- 1996–99: Two-phase Capital Campaign — baptismal font, Blessed Sacrament Chapel, gathering space, stained glass, accessibility
- 2000–02: Statues of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, St. Therese, Mary and Joseph, and icon of Fr. Solanus Casey installed; new Stations of the Cross
- 2003: New electronic organ dedicated
- 2004: Crosiers return parish to the Archdiocese; Fr. William Promesso named pastor
- 2005–06: 50th Jubilee celebrated
- 2007: St. Cyprian Parish School closes after 49 years
- 2008–12: Parish expands service to the poor during the recession
- 2013: Parish pays off its debt
Clergy & Parish Leadership
St. Cyprian is shepherded under the Archdiocese of Detroit's In Solidum model, in which a team of priests share pastoral responsibility across several parishes in the South Downriver 3 Family of Parishes. Fr. Marc Gawronski is the priest primarily responsible for the parish and serves as Moderator of the family.
- Rev. Marc Gawronski — Priest In Solidum, Primarily Responsible; Moderator of South Downriver 3 Family of Parishes
- Rev. Robert Johnson — Priest In Solidum
- Rev. Gregory Banazak — Weekend Priest Support
- Parish Pastoral Council — consultative body to the pastor; standing committee on Evangelization
- Finance Council — oversees parish finances, budget, and stewardship
South Downriver 3 Family of Parishes
Since 2021 St. Cyprian has been part of the South Downriver 3 Family of Parishes, one of the Archdiocese of Detroit's 'families of parishes' organized under the In Solidum model first described in a 2020 instruction from the Holy See. The family shares priests, staff, and resources so the six parishes can collaborate on mission in the Downriver region.
- Sacred Heart Parish, Grosse Ile (21599 Parke Lane)
- St. Cyprian Parish, Riverview (13249 Pennsylvania Rd)
- St. Joseph Parish, Trenton (2565 Third St.)
- Our Lady of the Woods Parish, Woodhaven (21892 Gudith Road)
- St. Roch Parish, Flat Rock (25022 Gibraltar Rd.)
- St. Timothy Parish
Worship & Music
The Worship Commission oversees every aspect of St. Cyprian's liturgical life — from the altar and the music area to greeters and the worship environment — and is led by Director of Liturgy & Music Mason Koch. A wide range of volunteer ministries keep each Mass running smoothly, and the parish is home to a vibrant music program with multiple choral and instrumental ensembles.
- Liturgical ministries: Altar Assistants, Altar Linen Team, Altar Servers, Art & Environment, Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion, Funeral Ministry, Greeters, Lectors, Sacristans, Wedding Ministry, Ushers
- Music ensembles: Liturgical Adult Choir, Resurrection Choir, Cantors & Psalmists, Instrumentalists, Piano Accompanist, Handbell Ensemble (two octaves of Malmark Handbells & Handchimes, ringing seasonally)
- Director of Liturgy & Music: Mason Koch — 734-283-1366 x120 / [email protected]
Christian Service & Outreach
St. Cyprian's Christian Service commission, directed by Patty Saenz, organizes a robust network of outreach to the homebound, the hungry, and families in need throughout the Downriver area. The parish serves as the city of Riverview's monthly USDA food distribution site and operates its own food pantry, a St. Vincent de Paul Conference, and seasonal giving programs.
- Visitation of Nursing Homes and Assisted Living Facilities — weekly Communion services to residents
- Visitation of Homebound — weekly visits and Communion to parishioners at home
- All Saints Soup Kitchen
- St. Vincent de Paul Society — St. Cyprian Conference meets monthly; weekly food distributions; rent/utility/medical assistance and referrals
- Food Pantry — first and third Wednesday of each month, 10:00 a.m.–11:00 a.m.; fresh produce from the Trenton Community Garden in summer
- Holiday Giving Tree — special baskets distributed during the holidays
- Plastic Bag Recycling
- USDA Food Distribution — monthly Riverview distribution site
- Christian Service Director: Patty Saenz — 734-283-1366 x114
Family Faith Formation
Faith formation at St. Cyprian is offered collaboratively across the South Downriver 3 Family of Parishes, so children and teens have age-appropriate programs alongside their peers at neighboring parishes. Programs span early childhood through the Confirmation year and are supported by the parish's family-formation coordinator.
- PreK–5th Grade — family ministry and weekly formation offered across the family of parishes
- EDGE Middle School — meets twice a month at Sacred Heart or Our Lady of the Woods
- Confirmation Preparation — shared with St. Roch; contact Sean Calvin ([email protected] / 734-818-3005)
- Family Faith Formation Coordinator: Sarah Hogan — 734-283-1366 x118 / [email protected]
Contact & Visit
Parishioners and visitors can reach St. Cyprian by phone, email, or in person at the Pennsylvania Road church. Office hours, Mass times, and directions are also published on the parish website at stcyprian.com.
- Address: 13249 Pennsylvania Road, Riverview, MI 48193
- Phone: (734) 283-1366
- Email: [email protected]
- Office Hours: Monday–Thursday 9:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.; Friday 8:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m.; closed weekends and holidays
- Website: http://www.stcyprian.com
- Located two blocks east of Fort Street on the south side of Pennsylvania Road
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Eugene Fedewa1955
Archdiocesan-appointed founding pastor; celebrated first Eucharist with members at A.E. Smith Auditorium.
- Fr. Walter Hurley1970s
Led parish during 1970s transition; assisted by in-service seminarians from the Crosier House of Studies.
- Canons Regular of the Holy Cross (Crosiers)1976–2004
Religious order invited by Cardinal Dearden to take leadership of St. Cyprian; served 28 years.
- Fr. William Promesso2004
First diocesan priest to serve the parish in 28 years, after the Crosiers returned leadership to the Archdiocese.