About St. Edward · Mendon, Michigan
St. Edward the Confessor Catholic Church is a historic parish in Mendon, Michigan, serving the Catholic faithful of St. Joseph County as part of the Diocese of Kalamazoo. The parish is more than 150 years old and is recognized as the first Catholic Church established in St. Joseph County. The current fieldstone chapel was erected in 1908 and remains a beloved historic sacred place of worship for the community. Today the parish is led by Msgr. Thomas Martin with Parish Coordinator Bridget VanDam and an active Altar Society, offering Mass in English on weekends and select weekdays, with live-streamed Sunday services alternating with neighboring St. Martin of Tours Parish in Vicksburg.
- Patron
- St. Edward the Confessor
- Rector
- Msgr. Thomas Martin
- Diocese
- Diocese of Kalamazoo
Why belong here
St. Edward the Confessor offers a small, historic Catholic community rooted in more than a century and a half of faith in St. Joseph County. Parishioners enjoy a simple weekly schedule of Masses, regular Saturday confessions, First-Wednesday adoration, and an active Altar Society, plus a parish subscription to FORMED for faith-at-home devotions, daily reflections, and family resources. It is a welcoming place to celebrate the Eucharist, support the upkeep of a beloved 1908 fieldstone chapel and its cemetery, and belong to the first Catholic parish founded in the county.
Mass times at St. Edward
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday: 2:30 PM to 3:30 PM
- Wednesday: 6:30 PM to 7:30 PM (First Wednesday at St. Edward, Third Wednesday at St. Martin of Tours)
Adoration times
- Wednesday: 6:30 PM to 7:30 PM (First Wednesday of the month at St. Edward, Third Wednesday at St. Martin of Tours)
About St. Edward the Confessor Parish
St. Edward the Confessor Catholic Church is a small, historic parish in Mendon, Michigan, and is recognized as the first Catholic Church established in St. Joseph County. Part of the Diocese of Kalamazoo, the parish has served local Catholics for more than 150 years and continues to worship in its 1908 fieldstone chapel.
- Diocese of Kalamazoo
- First Catholic parish in St. Joseph County
- 150+ year history
History of the Parish and Building
The parish predates the present church building by decades, with roots in the early Catholic life of southwest Michigan. The current fieldstone chapel was erected in 1908 — construction began in 1906 and cost about $10,000. The walls are three feet thick at the base and the steeple rises 110 feet to the top of the cross, giving the small-town parish a distinctive presence in Mendon.
- Fieldstone chapel erected 1908
- Construction began 1906
- Approximate build cost: $10,000
- Three-foot-thick base walls
- 110-foot steeple to the top of the cross
Patron: St. Edward the Confessor
The parish is named for St. Edward the Confessor, the 11th-century King of England renowned for his piety and his foundation of Westminster Abbey. His feast day is celebrated on October 13.
- St. Edward the Confessor
- Feast day: October 13
Clergy and Parish Staff
St. Edward is served by Monsignor Thomas Martin as Pastor, with Bridget VanDam as Parish Coordinator and Sue Opalewski as Altar Society President. Together they keep the parish's liturgical, administrative, and devotional life running week to week.
- Msgr. Thomas Martin — Pastor (269-649-1629, tmartindiokzoo.org)
- Bridget VanDam — Parish Coordinator (269-496-3525, stedwardchurchmsn.com)
- Sue Opalewski — Altar Society President (269-365-2250)
Ministries and Parish Life
Parish life centers on the weekly liturgy and the long-standing Altar Society. The parish also subscribes to FORMED, giving all parishioners free access to a Catholic library of videos, audio talks, and family devotions such as the Rosary, Divine Mercy Chaplet, Way of the Cross, and short daily reflections.
- Altar Society (monthly meetings)
- FORMED parish subscription — daily reflections, Rosary, Divine Mercy Chaplet, Way of the Cross, children's cartoons, family movie night
- Live-streamed Sunday Mass ministry (shared with St. Martin of Tours)
Sacraments Offered
The parish regularly offers the Eucharist, Reconciliation, and Eucharistic Adoration. For information about baptism, marriage, anointing of the sick, or other sacraments, parishioners are encouraged to contact the parish office.
- Eucharist (weekday and Sunday Mass)
- Reconciliation (Saturday and select Wednesdays)
- Eucharistic Adoration (First Wednesdays)
Facilities, Cemetery, and Building Care
Beyond the 1908 fieldstone chapel, the parish maintains an adjoining cemetery as part of its ministry. The parish has publicly identified ongoing stewardship needs including tuck-pointing the rock exterior, interior plaster repairs, general building maintenance, cemetery maintenance and grounds, and ministry programming.
- 1908 fieldstone chapel
- Parish cemetery
- Stewardship priorities: tuck-pointing rock exterior, plaster repairs, building maintenance, cemetery care