About St Damien of Molokai- St. Michael the Archangel Church · Pontiac, Michigan
St. Damien of Molokai Parish is a bilingual (English and Spanish) Roman Catholic parish in Pontiac, Michigan, belonging to the Archdiocese of Detroit (Pontiac / South Oakland Vicariate). It was formed on October 11, 2009 through the merger of three historic Pontiac parishes — St. Vincent de Paul, St. Michael the Archangel, and St. Joseph — and operates today across two worship sites: St. Vincent de Paul Church on Woodward Avenue and St. Michael the Archangel Church on Lewis Street. The parish takes its name from St. Damien of Molokai, the Belgian missionary priest canonized that same October 11, 2009, making the Michigan community one of the very first Catholic parishes in the world named in his honor. It serves a diverse, largely Hispanic Catholic community with daily Mass, perpetual Eucharistic adoration, weekly Mercy Nights, sacramental preparation, vibrant youth and young-adult ministry, and an active food pantry.
- Established
- 2009
- Patron
- St. Damien of Molokai (Father Damien de Veuster, SS.CC.), the Belgian missionary who ministered to people with leprosy on the Hawaiian island of Molokai and was canonized on October 11, 2009 — the same day the merger parish was created.
- Rector
- Rev. Jacob VanAssche (Pastor; serves as part of an In Solidum team with Rev. Nicholas Brown, who was ordained to the priesthood on May 18, 2024, and assigned to live and serve primarily at St. Damien of Molokai Parish)
- Diocese
- Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Detroit (Pontiac / South Oakland Vicariate 3 / Northwest Region)
Why belong here
St. Damien of Molokai is one parish serving two worship sites in the heart of Pontiac, with a deeply bilingual, family-friendly Catholic community. Parishioners can attend a daily 12 pm Mass, sit in 24/7 Eucharistic adoration at the St. Michael site, come to a Spanish-language Mercy Night at St. Vincent on Friday evenings with adoration and confession, walk alongside new Catholics through OCIA, send children to faith formation at St. Michael, or join a young adult or youth group. Whether you are drawn by the historic 1895 Gothic sanctuary of St. Vincent de Paul, the larger 1953 church of St. Michael the Archangel, the parish food pantry, or simply the bilingual witness of a community that has welcomed multiple generations of Pontiac Catholics since 2009, there is a place at St. Damien of Molokai Parish.
Mass times at St Damien of Molokai- St. Michael the Archangel Church
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Monday–Friday, 11:15 AM – 11:45 AM (in English and Spanish)
- Friday 5:30 PM – 7:30 PM during Mercy Nights at St. Vincent (in English and Spanish)
- Saturday 3:00 PM – 3:45 PM (typical Saturday afternoon slot at St. Vincent)
- And by appointment through the parish office at 248-332-0283
Adoration times
- Perpetual (24/7) Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament at the St. Michael Church site (120 Lewis St.)
- Friday Mercy Nights, 5:30 PM – 7:30 PM at St. Vincent de Paul Church (46408 Woodward Ave.)
Parish Identity & Two Church Sites
St. Damien of Molokai Parish is 'Two Churches, One Community.' The parish was formed in 2009 by merging St. Vincent de Paul, St. Michael the Archangel and St. Joseph of Pontiac under the patronage of St. Damien of Molokai. St. Joseph was closed in 2013 and is now the separately operated St. Joseph's Chapel and Shrine of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, leaving two active worship sites today: St. Vincent de Paul Church (46408 Woodward Ave., built 1895, Gothic-style, seats ~400) and St. Michael the Archangel Church (120 Lewis St., current structure 1953, seats ~800). The parish office is at 46352 Woodward Ave., next door to St. Vincent.
- St. Vincent de Paul Church — 46408 Woodward Ave., Pontiac, MI 48342
- St. Michael the Archangel Church — 120 Lewis St., Pontiac, MI 48342
- Parish Office — 46352 Woodward Ave., Pontiac, MI 48342
- Phone: 248-332-0283
- Email: [email protected]
- Office Hours: Monday–Thursday, 9:00 AM–12:00 PM & 1:30 PM–4:30 PM
History: The 2009 Merger
On October 11, 2009, three historic Pontiac parishes — St. Vincent de Paul (founded 1851), St. Michael the Archangel (founded 1919) and St. Joseph (founded 1923) — merged under Archbishop Allen Vigneron into a single parish community named for St. Damien of Molokai on the very day Father Damien was canonized in Rome. A Pontiac delegation attended the canonization Mass with founding pastor Fr. James Kean. Shifting demographics and the cost of maintaining three aging buildings drove the merger; the smallest of the three, St. Joseph, was closed in July 2013 and sold to Terra Sancta Ministries in 2015.
- St. Vincent de Paul — founded 1851, church built 1895
- St. Michael the Archangel — founded 1919, current structure 1953
- St. Joseph — founded 1923, closed July 2013
- Three-way merger effective Oct. 11, 2009
- St. Joseph property sold to Terra Sancta Ministries, March 25, 2015
- Parish renamed from 'Blessed Damien' to 'St. Damien' on canonization day
Faith Formation & Sacramental Preparation
The parish's Faith Formation program is 'an ongoing journey that deepens year after year,' serving children, teens, and adults in 'a living, personal relationship with Jesus Christ.' Programs include K–6 Children's Formation, Middle School Molokai Seek, High School Molokai Youth and Confirmation prep, First Communion, Vacation Bible School, OCIA (formerly RCIA), Adult Formation/Bible Studies, Young Adults and Molokai Tots. The Faith Formation offices are based at the St. Michael site.
- K–6 Children's Formation
- Middle School (Molokai Seek)
- High School (Molokai Youth)
- Confirmation
- First Communion
- OCIA (Christian Initiation of Adults)
- Vacation Bible School (VBS)
- Molokai Tots
- Young Adults
Parish Ministries & Groups
Through ministries and volunteer opportunities, 'parishioners live out their call as members of the Body of Christ, serving one another and the wider community.' Active groups span prayer (Bible Studies, Prayer and Life Workshops, Charismatic Prayer Group, Eucharistic Adoration), family life (Mentor Couples, Natural Family Planning, Quinceañeras, Respect Life, Walking With Moms in Need, Homebound Ministry), and outreach (Food Pantry, Media Ministry, OLG Society, FAMA). Spanish-language groups include OLG Society (Our Lady of Guadalupe), FAMA, and the Charismatic Prayer Group.
- Men of Faith / Women of Faith
- Bible Studies & Prayer and Life Workshops
- Charismatic Prayer Group (Spanish)
- Our Lady of Guadalupe (OLG) Society — Spanish
- FAMA — Spanish ministry
- Mentor Couples
- Natural Family Planning Workshops
- Quinceañeras — Spanish
- Homebound Ministry
- Media Ministry
- Respect Life
- Walking With Moms in Need
- Food Pantry
Clergy & Parish Staff
The parish is led by Rev. Jacob VanAssche as Pastor, supported by Rev. Nicholas Brown (Associate Pastor / Priest In Solidum, ordained May 18, 2024 and assigned to live and serve primarily at St. Damien) and Deacon Michael Merlo. Karina Ramirez handles Mass intentions, calendar events and appointments (ext. 101, [email protected]). Guadalupe Guzman coordinates Baptisms, Funerals and OCIA (ext. 103, [email protected]). Maria del Carmen (Carmen) Ochoa is Faith Formation Director (ext. 104, [email protected]) and is assisted by Lizbeth Trusty and Miguel Leyva (Youth Minister). The parish belongs to South Oakland Vicariate 3, an In Solidum team that also pastors Sacred Heart (Auburn Hills), St. Benedict (Waterford), St. Hugo of the Hills (Bloomfield Hills) and St. Thomas More (Troy).
- Rev. Jacob VanAssche — Pastor
- Rev. Nicholas Brown — Associate Pastor (ordained 2024)
- Deacon Michael Merlo — Permanent Deacon
- Karina Ramirez — Parish Secretary (Mass Intentions, Calendar, Appointments) — ext. 101
- Guadalupe Guzman — Baptisms, Funerals, OCIA — ext. 103
- Maria del Carmen Ochoa — Faith Formation Director — ext. 104
- Lizbeth Trusty — Faith Formation Assistant — ext. 105
- Miguel Leyva — Youth Minister ([email protected]) — ext. 105
Sacraments
All seven Catholic sacraments are celebrated at St. Damien of Molokai Parish — Baptism, Reconciliation, Holy Eucharist (First Communion), Confirmation, Marriage, Holy Orders, and Anointing of the Sick — with OCIA offered for adults seeking full initiation into the Church. Parish office staff coordinate preparation and scheduling.
- Baptism
- Reconciliation
- Holy Eucharist (First Communion)
- Confirmation
- Marriage
- Holy Orders
- Anointing of the Sick
- OCIA
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. James Kean2009–(unknown end date; served as pastor at the time of the 2009 merger and through the 2013 St. Joseph closure / 2015 sale to Terra Sancta Ministries)
Founding pastor of the merged St. Damien of Molokai Parish; led a Pontiac delegation to Rome for St. Damien's canonization on Oct. 11, 2009.