About St. Elizabeth Ann Seton · Bark River, Michigan
St. Elizabeth Ann Seton is a Roman Catholic parish in Bark River, in Michigan's Upper Peninsula, that belongs to the Diocese of Marquette. It was created by consolidating the former St. George Church, Bark River, with other nearby parishes, and today serves the surrounding Delta County farming community from its location on 12th Road. The parish is staffed by a small team led by Fr. Darryl J. Pepin and offers two Sunday Masses, a Saturday Vigil, daily weekday Masses, Saturday confessions, faith formation for children, and a St. Vincent de Paul conference for local outreach. It is twinned with St. Joseph Mission in Foster City under the same pastor.
- Patron
- St. Elizabeth Ann Seton
- Rector
- Rev. Darryl J. Pepin
- Diocese
- Diocese of Marquette
Why belong here
St. Elizabeth Ann Seton is a welcoming Upper Peninsula parish where daily Mass and a Saturday Vigil keep the Eucharist at the center of parish life, and where families with school-age children can hand their kids off for Wednesday-evening Faith Formation (CCD) classes knowing the faith is being passed on. A parish St. Vincent de Paul Conference provides a direct line for parishioners to serve neighbors in need across Bark River and the surrounding Delta County farmland. Add in a choir and organ led by dedicated musicians, a parish hall that hosts community meals like the pastor's birthday potluck, and highway-litter pickups along US 2 & 41, and you have a small but active parish where a new face quickly becomes a familiar one.
Mass times at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 4:00 PM – 4:45 PM
Adoration times
- Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration is prayed at St. Francis Hospital Chapel (adore-partners are recruited for Sun 3, 4, 5, 6 PM; Mon 8 AM, 4 PM; Tue 9 AM, 6 PM; Wed 4 PM; Fri 4 PM, 6 PM — most hours already have at least one adorer)
Parish Overview
St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church is the Catholic parish serving Bark River and surrounding Delta County in Michigan's Upper Peninsula, and it sits inside the Diocese of Marquette. The parish is led by Fr. Darryl J. Pepin, pastor, with a small staff of parish secretary, bookkeeper, religious education coordinator, maintenance, organist, and musician. Its page on the Diocese of Marquette website lists Mass times in English, Saturday confessions, and links to recent bulletins. The mailing address is P.O. Box 187, Bark River, MI 49807, with the church building at 1216 12th Road, and the parish office can be reached at (906) 466-9938 or [email protected].
- Pastor: Rev. Darryl J. Pepin ([email protected])
- Parish Secretary: Cynthia DeFiore
- Bookkeeper: Bonnie Cowell
- Religious Education Coordinator: Kelley VanLanen
- Maintenance: Ray Viau
- Organist: Colleen Knauf (466-2872)
- Musician: Ruth VanEnkevort (280-1422)
History & Origins
St. Elizabeth Ann Seton was formed by consolidating the earlier St. George Church, Bark River, with other nearby parishes in the Diocese of Marquette. The resulting community has been, throughout its history, a predominantly non-Native American parish. Diocesan priests from the former St. George's had also attended the Potawatomi St. Kateri Tekakwitha Church / St. James Mission on the Harris/Hannahville Reservation in Menominee County, and the sacramental registers for that mission are now part of the parish's archived records (held in cooperation with St. Isaac Jogues Church, Sault Sainte Marie).
- Created by consolidating St. George Church, Bark River with other nearby parishes
- Holds sacramental records of St. Kateri Tekakwitha / St. James Mission (1972–1982); earlier 1946–1960 St. James records kept at St. Isaac Jogues, Sault Sainte Marie
- Located in Delta County, Michigan's Upper Peninsula
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Religious Education (CCD) is run by Kelley VanLanen and meets on Wednesday evenings in the parish's education wing. Classes are organized into two tracks: elementary K–4 from 3:00–4:30 PM and grades 5–9 from 7:00–8:30 PM. Bulletin announcements are also used to recruit substitute catechists.
- Elementary K–4: Wednesdays 3:00–4:30 PM
- Grades 5–9: Wednesdays 7:00–8:30 PM
- Pickup and dismissal through the SEAS Main Entrance parking lot
- Contact: Kelley VanLanen at the Parish Office (466-9938) to register
Music & Liturgy
Sunday and weekday liturgies are supported by a long-standing team of musicians. Colleen Knauf serves as organist and Ruth VanEnkevort as musician for the parish. Together they accompany congregational singing at Mass and at parish liturgies, holy days, and funerals.
- Organist: Colleen Knauf (906-466-2872)
- Musician: Ruth VanEnkevort (906-280-1422)
Outreach & Charity
The parish hosts a St. Vincent de Paul Conference as its primary vehicle for direct charitable outreach. A published phone line (906-466-9050) connects parishioners and neighbors in need with the conference. Once a year the parish also organizes a highway litter pickup along US 2 & 41 east of Bark River (the 4-lane stretch), with volunteers gathering in the church parking lot for instructions before fanning out — most recently advertised as a 6:00 PM meeting on a Monday in early May.
- St. Vincent de Paul Conference — 906-466-9050
- Annual highway litter pickup along US 2 & 41 (east of Bark River)
- Civic / community service by parish volunteers
Sacraments
Sacramental preparation is coordinated through the Parish Office. Parish bulletins note that anyone seeking a sponsor certificate for Baptism, Confirmation, or Marriage is normally expected to be a registered, active parishioner; registration is handled by calling (906) 466-9938. Confession is offered weekly on Saturday from 4:00 PM to 4:45 PM, and the Saturday Vigil Mass and two Sunday Masses fulfill the Sunday obligation.
- Baptism — contact Parish Office
- Confirmation — sponsor certificates issued to registered parishioners
- Marriage — contact Parish Office
- Confession — Saturday 4:00 PM – 4:45 PM
- Anointing of the Sick — by request through the Parish Office
Parish Life & Community
Beyond the regular schedule, the Parish Hall is the social center of the parish. Recent bulletins show it being used for community events such as Fr. Darryl's 70th birthday potluck (held after the 5:00 PM Saturday Mass with sign-up sheets in the Gathering Area). Bulletins are published weekly, and the deadline for submissions is the Tuesday preceding the weekend of publication.
- Parish Hall used for community meals and birthday celebrations
- Weekly bulletin published by the parish office
- Bulletin submission deadline: Tuesday before each weekend edition
Contact & Visit
St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church is located at 1216 12th Road, Bark River, MI 49807; the parish mailing address is P.O. Box 187, Bark River, MI 49807. Phone the parish office at (906) 466-9938 or email [email protected] to register, ask about sacraments, or inquire about parish programs. The parish's online home is a page hosted by the Diocese of Marquette at dioceseofmarquette.org/stelizabethbarkriver, and it is registered as parish church #26757 at GCatholic.org.
- Address: 1216 12th Rd., Bark River, MI 49807
- Mailing: P.O. Box 187, Bark River, MI 49807
- Phone: (906) 466-9938
- Email: [email protected]
- Diocesan page: dioceseofmarquette.org/stelizabethbarkriver
- GCatholic ID: 26757 (Diocese of Marquette, Roman-Latin Rite)
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Mark McQuestenapprox. five years ending with his transfer to Resurrection Parish and Holy Spirit Parish in Menominee
Ordained May 1, 1987 by Bishop Mark F. Schmitt at St. Peter Cathedral, Marquette. Previously served parishes in Marquette, Ironwood, Rudyard, Trout Lake, Barbeau, Norway, and Vulcan; was Catholic Chaplain at Kinross Correctional Facilities.
- Rev. Darryl J. Pepinappointed after Fr. McQuesten's transfer; current pastor
Born in Escanaba; ordained June 9, 1978 by Bishop Mark F. Schmitt at St. Peter Cathedral, Marquette. Previously pastored parishes in Marquette, Manistique, Gulliver, Escanaba, Big Bay, Trenary, AuTrain, Iron Mountain, and Our Lady of Peace in Ironwood (14 years). Served five years as vocations director for the Diocese of Marquette. Also pastor of St. Joseph Mission, Foster City.