About St. Daniel · Clarkston, Michigan
St. Daniel Parish is a Roman Catholic parish in Clarkston, Michigan, in the northwest suburbs of Detroit. It belongs to the Archdiocese of Detroit and, in the archdiocese's current 'Family of Parishes' model, is grouped into the Northwest Lakes 1 Family within the Lakes Vicariate (Northwest Region). The parish's patron is the Old Testament prophet Daniel, 'The Lord is Justice,' whose story of faithfulness in prayer and courage under persecution the parish holds up as its model. St. Daniel celebrates Mass in English, runs a full faith-formation program (children and adult), maintains a Knights of Columbus council and a St. Vincent de Paul conference, and serves the Clarkston community from its site on Valley Park Drive.
- Patron
- St. Daniel (the prophet Daniel, 'The Lord is Justice')
- Rector
- Rev. Scott Thibodeau (Priest In Solidum and Moderator)
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Detroit (Lakes Vicariate, Northwest Region; Northwest Lakes 1 Family of Parishes)
Why belong here
St. Daniel is a mid-size parish where a single parishioner can really plug in: weekday and Sunday Masses are scheduled every day, with Reconciliation before Saturday Vigil and a full schedule of adult faith-formation classes, a youth group, a men's group (Men of St. Daniel), That Man is You, a Scripture Study, and a Caregiver Encouragement Group. Outreach is concrete and local through the parish's St. Vincent de Paul conference and Knights of Columbus Council #15967, while devotional life is supported by First Friday Devotion, Evening Prayer, Holy Hours with Adoration and Benediction, the Divine Mercy Chaplet, and a Rosary led by the Knights. It is the kind of parish where a new family or visitor can find a ministry, a small group, and a priest who knows their name.
Mass times at St. Daniel
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 4:00 PM (or by appointment)
Adoration times
- Monday 7:00 PM – Holy Hour with Adoration and Benediction (meet at church for the first half, then proceed to the Cushing Center)
About St. Daniel Parish
St. Daniel is a Roman Catholic parish in Clarkston, Michigan, a community in the northwest suburbs of Detroit within Oakland County. The parish belongs to the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Detroit and, under the archdiocese's current pastoral structure, is part of the Northwest Lakes 1 Family of Parishes in the Lakes Vicariate (Northwest Region). Its mailing address is 7010 Valley Park Drive, Clarkston, MI 48346, and the parish office can be reached at (248) 625-4580.
- Address: 7010 Valley Park Drive, Clarkston, MI 48346
- Phone: (248) 625-4580
- Website: stdanielclarkston.org
- Diocese: Archdiocese of Detroit (Lakes Vicariate, Northwest Lakes 1 Family of Parishes)
Who is St. Daniel?
The parish takes its name from the Old Testament prophet Daniel, whose name means 'The Lord is Justice.' According to the parish website, 'Daniel: Model of Hope and Courage' was one of the great prophets of the Old Testament. The Book of Daniel strengthened and comforted the Jewish people during persecution by teaching that people of faith can resist temptation and conquer adversity. Daniel himself remained faithful in prayer and trusted God, and through that trust was able to influence others to worship the one true God — including the Babylonian king who, after Daniel was miraculously saved from the lions' den, decreed that all in his kingdom were free to worship Daniel's God. The parish draws on this story as an inspiration for its worshipping community.
- Name meaning: 'The Lord is Justice'
- Source text cited by the parish: A Saint For Your Name by Albert J. Nevins, M.M.
- Biblical source: Book of Daniel
Clergy & Staff
St. Daniel is currently served by a team of priests as part of the Archdiocese of Detroit's 'Priests in Solidum' model, with one priest designated as Moderator. The parish office can be reached at (248) 625-4580 for staff and sacramental inquiries.
- Rev. Scott Thibodeau — Priest In Solidum and Moderator (current pastor)
- Rev. David Blazek — Priest In Solidum
- Rev. Craig Marion — Priest In Solidum
- Rev. Yongli Chen — Full-Time Priest Support
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Faith formation at St. Daniel runs across ages. Adult Faith Formation meets on Sunday at 12:30 PM and on Wednesday evenings. Children preparing for First Communion take part in practice sessions and a retreat, with First Communion celebrated in spring; Confirmation Class is scheduled separately for teens preparing for that sacrament. A Vacation Bible School has been a regular part of parish family life.
- Adult Faith Formation (Sunday 12:30 PM and Wednesday 7:00 PM)
- Youth Group (Wednesday 6:30 PM)
- Confirmation Class
- First Communion preparation, practice, and retreat
- Vacation Bible School (e.g., VBS 2021)
Small Groups & Ongoing Formation
The parish maintains a robust small-group and study ministry. Sunday by Sunday, Doing What MATters, and Regnum Christi offer ongoing formation; Scripture Study meets on weekday mornings and Tuesday evenings; That Man is You is the parish's men's program; Men of St. Daniel is a men's fellowship group; and a Caregiver Encouragement Group supports those caring for loved ones.
- Sunday by Sunday
- Doing What MATters
- Regnum Christi
- Scripture Study (morning and Tuesday 7:00 PM)
- That Man is You (men's program)
- Men of St. Daniel
- Caregiver Encouragement Group
- Support Group
Parish Choir & Liturgical Music
Music at St. Daniel is supported by a parish choir that rehearses on Wednesday evenings at 7:15 PM, undergirding the sung liturgy at weekend and holy-day Masses.
- Choir rehearsal: Wednesday 7:15 PM
Parish Outreach & Service
Service to neighbors in need is built into parish life through two long-standing Catholic apostolates. The St. Vincent de Paul Conference meets regularly to assess and assist local needs. The Knights of Columbus – St. Daniel Council #15967 meets on the third Tuesday of the month at 7:00 PM and runs faith and service projects for the parish and the wider Clarkston community. Fundraisers such as Bingo Night support the parish's outreach to neighbors in need.
- St. Vincent de Paul Conference (meets periodically)
- Knights of Columbus Council #15967 — Grand Knight Gregory Ebejer; meets third Tuesday at 7:00 PM
- Bingo Night fundraisers (e.g., May 1 in the St. Daniel Social Hall, benefiting neighbors in need)
Sacraments
St. Daniel prepares parishioners for and celebrates each of the seven sacraments through its office, formation programs, and scheduled celebrations. Baptisms are typically celebrated after the 11:00 AM Sunday Mass; Reconciliation is offered weekly on Saturdays and by appointment; First Communion and Confirmation are prepared through the parish's family-formation tracks; and weddings are scheduled through the parish office with required rehearsal times.
- Baptism (typically after the 11:00 AM Sunday Mass)
- Reconciliation (Saturday 4:00 PM or by appointment)
- First Communion (with preparation, practice, and retreat)
- Confirmation (with Confirmation class)
- Marriage (preparation and rehearsal scheduled)
- Anointing of the Sick / Caregiver support available
Facilities: Cushing Center & Social Hall
Beyond the church itself, the parish operates two key gathering spaces. The Cushing Center, adjacent to the church, hosts overflow Mass seating and is used as the second half of the weekly Monday Holy Hour; the St. Daniel Social Hall is the venue for parish social events such as Bingo Night and group meetings.
- Cushing Center – overflow Mass seating; second half of Monday Holy Hour
- St. Daniel Social Hall – Bingo Night, parish events
Visiting & Getting Involved
Newcomers and visitors are warmly invited to register through the parish and to explore any of the ministries listed on the 'Get Involved' page. Whether a family is looking for faith formation for their children, a small group for adults, a service apostolate such as St. Vincent de Paul or the Knights of Columbus, or simply a quiet hour of Adoration, the parish calendar offers multiple on-ramps into parish life. The parish motto, drawn from the Archdiocese of Detroit's Unleash the Gospel pastoral letter, frames the call: 'Every person in the Archdiocese is called to encounter Jesus anew, to grow daily as his disciple, and to give witness to the power of his mercy.'
- Parish office: (248) 625-4580
- Website: stdanielclarkston.org
- Livestreamed Masses: Saturday 5:00 PM and Sunday 11:00 AM
- Knights of Columbus contact: gk15967mikofc.org (Grand Knight) and christianservicestdanielclarkston.org
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Francis A. Weingartz1969–1977
Pastor of St. Daniel Parish, Clarkston (1969–77), before going on to parishes in Detroit, Port Huron, Warren and Memphis. Ordained June 5, 1954, in Detroit; granted senior priest status in 1998.