St. Cyril

Welcome to St. Cyril Mission Parish

St. Cyril of Jerusalem Parish in Nashville, Michigan is a mission of St. Rose of Lima Parish in Hastings. The parish shares its pastor, three permanent deacons, and parish staff with St. Rose, and invites all to come and worship. Father Jeff Hanley, the pastor, extends a personal invitation through the parish website and offers a live-stream link to Masses at St. Rose for those unable to attend in person. The parish's guiding tagline — 'a place to believe, belong, and become' — captures its identity as a small, close-knit rural Catholic community.

Parish History

St. Cyril Catholic Church was founded in 1882 by Catholic families in the Nashville, Michigan area. In its earliest days the founding members did not yet have a church building of their own and gathered for Mass in private homes scattered around the community. As the parish grew it developed into a distinct worship site, and over time its mission status has been tied to St. Rose of Lima Parish in Hastings. According to the history published by St. Rose of Lima, the St. Cyril of Jerusalem mission was returned to St. Rose from Lake Odessa in 1974 and continues under St. Rose's pastoral care today.

• Founded in 1882
• Original Masses held in private homes
• Mission historically tied to St. Rose of Lima Parish, Hastings
• Returned to St. Rose of Lima from Lake Odessa in 1974

Our Patron Saint — St. Cyril of Jerusalem

The parish is named for St. Cyril of Jerusalem, the revered fourth-century bishop and Doctor of the Church best known for his Catechetical Lectures preparing baptismal candidates for initiation into the Christian faith. His feast day is celebrated on March 18. The parish maintains a dedicated page on its website describing the patron and his legacy as a teacher and shepherd of the early Church.

• St. Cyril of Jerusalem, Bishop and Doctor of the Church
• Feast Day: March 18

Clergy & Parish Staff

The mission is served by clergy and staff who jointly minister to St. Cyril and to its mother parish, St. Rose of Lima in Hastings. Father Jeff Hanley serves as pastor of both communities. He is assisted by three permanent deacons and a small lay staff handling faith formation, sacred music, administration, and building maintenance.

• Rev. Jeff Hanley — Pastor
• Dc. Gene Haas — Deacon
• Dc. Jim Mellen — Deacon
• Dc. Phillip Green — Deacon
• Samuel Cary — Parish Administrator
• Vickie Reid — Director of Religious Education
• Sue Dunham — Director of Sacred Music
• Joe Sejat — Director of Building Maintenance

Religious Education / CCD

At St. Cyril of Jerusalem, faith formation is designed to support and nurture the faith life of each family, recognizing parents as the first and foremost educators of their children by example and instruction. Because St. Cyril is a mission of St. Rose, catechism classes for the parish's children are offered through St. Rose of Lima School, the Roman Catholic parish school located in Hastings, Michigan. CCD is available for all children in grades K–8, and the formation program meets on Sunday mornings from 9:00 AM to 10:30 AM from October through the end of April. Catechists and catechetical aides are always needed, and volunteer positions may require Virtus training.

• Grades K–8
• Sunday mornings, 9:00–10:30 AM, October through April
• Contact: Sam Cary
• Partnered with St. Rose of Lima School, Hastings

Music Ministries

St. Cyril Church encourages parishioners to be involved with the parish's music ministry, developing a community committed to making music an engaging and exciting aspect of the liturgy. Participation can include singing, accompanying, playing instruments in the choirs, cantoring at Masses, or planning musical events. The music ministry's goal is to raise hearts and minds to God through active participation in music and song, enabling the sung prayer of the whole assembly while adding the unique contribution of harmony and instruments. Anyone interested in joining the choir is invited to go up to the choir loft and speak with the talented and wonderful choir members. Sue Dunham serves as Director of Sacred Music.

• Choir and cantoring opportunities
• Instrumental accompaniment welcomed
• Director of Sacred Music: Sue Dunham

Faith Formation & Online Learning

Parishioners of St. Cyril have free access to FORMED, a Catholic digital content platform from the Augustine Institute in collaboration with Ignatius Press, offering award-winning studies, audio content, movies, e-books, and family-friendly programming. In addition, the Diocese of Kalamazoo offers free online training courses through the Franciscan University Catechetical Institute in both English and Spanish; parishioners can register, create a sign-in, choose 'Kalamazoo' as their diocese, and find St. Rose of Lima and St. Cyril of Nashville listed together in the parish directory.

• FORMED — Catholic movies, e-books, audio, and family programming
• Franciscan University Catechetical Institute — free online faith courses
• English and Spanish options available

Sacraments

St. Cyril's website offers a section on the Seven Sacraments, presenting them as ceremonies that point to what is sacred, significant, and important for Catholic Christians — special occasions for experiencing God's saving presence. The parish encourages a sacramental life as worship and praise of God. Sacramental preparation and celebration is coordinated through the parish office and the mother parish, St. Rose of Lima in Hastings.

• Baptism
• Confirmation
• Eucharist
• Penance (Confession)
• Anointing of the Sick
• Holy Orders
• Matrimony

Parish Life & Community

Beyond the sanctuary, St. Cyril supports a number of gatherings that build community life — Bible Study at the parish hall, Knights of Columbus meetings, and shared activities with St. Rose of Lima in Hastings. The parish notes that it is handicap accessible and welcomes all who wish to come and worship. Father Jeff Hanley actively invites feedback and ideas from parishioners via email and describes the parish as a fellowship of believers made in God's image and called as disciples of Christ to share the Good News through learning, listening, praying, and working together.

• Bible Study at St. Cyril Parish Hall
• Knights of Columbus meetings
• Handicap accessible
• Welcomes all

Visiting & Contact Information

St. Cyril of Jerusalem Mission Parish is located at 203 North State Street, Nashville, Michigan 49073. Because it is a mission church, day-to-day contact and pastoral needs are routed through the St. Rose Parish office at 269-945-4246 during normal business hours. Father Jeff Hanley can be reached by email at [email protected]. Visitors are encouraged to call ahead for confessions by appointment or to confirm Holy Day and special Mass times.

• Address: 203 North State Street, Nashville, MI 49073
• Phone: 269-945-4246 (St. Rose Parish office)
• Email: [email protected]
• Website: https://stcyrilofjerusalem.com/