About St. Francis de Sales · Saginaw, Michigan
St. Francis de Sales Parish of Bridgeport is a Roman Catholic community in Bridgeport, an unincorporated community within Saginaw Township, Michigan. It belongs to Vicariate 3 of the Diocese of Saginaw and worships at St. Christopher Church on Williamson Road. The parish was created on July 1, 2014, from the merger of Ss. Simon and Jude Parish and St. Christopher Parish, combining two rich Saginaw-area Catholic traditions into one family of faith. Weekend Mass is celebrated Saturday evening and Sunday morning, with a Thursday weekday Mass and the Rosary prayed before each liturgy.
- Established
- 2014
- Patron
- St. Francis de Sales (French bishop, 1567–1622; Doctor of the Church; patron of journalists)
- Rector
- Rev. Alberto E. Vargas
- Diocese
- Diocese of Saginaw (Vicariate 3)
Why belong here
St. Francis de Sales is a close-knit parish where worship is rooted in tradition and community — the Rosary is prayed before every Mass, music ministry is led by two dedicated directors, and a small but active Pastoral and Finance Council shapes parish life. Families are served by a faith formation program built around the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd atrium for ages 3 to 12, led by a Sister with thirty years of CGS experience. The parish carries the heritage of seven former Saginaw-area parishes into a single family of faith where every member is greeted by name.
Mass times at St. Francis de Sales
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Before or after Mass
- By appointment (call the parish office at 989-777-2091)
About St. Francis de Sales Parish
St. Francis de Sales Parish of Bridgeport is a Roman Catholic parish in Bridgeport (Saginaw Township), Michigan, within Vicariate 3 of the Diocese of Saginaw. It worships at St. Christopher Church, 3945 Williamson Road. The parish is pastored by Rev. Alberto E. Vargas and offers Saturday Vigil and Sunday morning Mass, a Thursday weekday Mass, Reconciliation before or after Mass or by appointment, and the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd faith formation program for children ages 3 to 12.
- Formed July 1, 2014, from the merger of Ss. Simon and Jude and St. Christopher parishes
- Member of Vicariate 3, Diocese of Saginaw
- Pastor: Rev. Alberto E. Vargas
History of the Parish
The parish was created on July 1, 2014, when Ss. Simon and Jude and St. Christopher — each with roots stretching back decades — merged into a single community under the patronage of St. Francis de Sales.
St. Christopher Parish (1950–2014)
Founded October 11, 1950, by Fr. Francis Jurek, St. Christopher grew from a township-hall congregation into a permanent worship space when the men of the parish converted the Blue Moon Dance Hall into a 350-seat mission-style church in 1951. A new church was dedicated in September 1961; a classroom wing followed in 1965 (with the library becoming a chapel in 1973), and a bell tower rose in front of the church in 1978. A 2004 renovation added the distinctive cross-shaped baptismal font still in use today. The last Mass was celebrated June 27, 2014.
- Established October 11, 1950
- First pastor: Fr. Francis Jurek
- First 14 months met in Bridgeport Township Hall
- Land and Blue Moon Dance Hall purchased August 17, 1951
- New church dedicated September 1961
- Classroom wing added 1965; chapel carved from library 1973
- Bell tower added 1978
- Renovated 2004 (cross-shaped baptismal font)
- Final Mass: June 27, 2014
Ss. Simon and Jude Parish (1992–2014)
Born on the Feast of Epiphany 1992 in Buena Vista, Ss. Simon and Jude brought together five East-Side Saginaw parishes: Queen of the Holy Rosary (1886), St. Rita (1913), Our Lady of Mount Carmel (1913), Our Lady Help of Christians (1957), and Sacred Heart (1974). Treasures from those parishes — Stations of the Cross from Holy Rosary, stained glass, a tabernacle, and statues — were carried into the new worship space. The first Mass was celebrated November 22, 1992, on the Feast of Christ the King, and the 20th anniversary was observed in 2012 before the final Mass on June 27, 2014.
- Founded on the Feast of Epiphany 1992
- Formed from five parishes: Queen of the Holy Rosary (1886), St. Rita (1913), Our Lady of Mount Carmel (1913), Our Lady Help of Christians (1957), Sacred Heart (1974)
- First Mass held November 22, 1992 (Feast of Christ the King)
- 20th anniversary celebrated 2012
- Final Mass: June 27, 2014
Sacraments
The parish celebrates the seven sacraments of the Catholic Church. Reconciliation is offered before or after Mass or by appointment. Couples are asked to contact the parish office at least six months before their wedding. Those discerning a vocation to Holy Orders are referred to the Diocese of Saginaw Office of Vocations.
- Eucharist — weekend and weekday Mass; Holy Day schedule in bulletin
- Reconciliation — before/after Mass or by appointment
- Baptism — contact the parish office
- Confirmation — contact Fr. Alberto Vargas
- Matrimony — registered parishioners; call at least six months ahead (989-777-2091)
- Anointing of the Sick — registered parishioners; contact Fr. Alberto Vargas
- Holy Orders — referral to the Diocese of Saginaw Office of Vocations
Faith Formation & Catechesis of the Good Shepherd
St. Francis de Sales offers the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd at all three levels for children ages 3 to 12. The atrium program originated in 1954 in Rome with Sofia Cavalletti and is rooted in the Bible and the liturgy of the Church. Children do not need to be Catholic to participate. The parish's atrium is led by Sr. Mary Elizabeth Klier, OSF, who has been involved in CGS for thirty years, trained at all three levels, and served as the catechist at the former Ss. Simon and Jude Parish from 2001–2014 before continuing in the same role at St. Francis de Sales from fall 2014.
- Level I: ages 3–6
- Level II: ages 6–9
- Level III: ages 9–12
- Open to children of any faith background
- Led by Sr. Mary Elizabeth Klier, OSF
- Contact: parish office at 989-777-2091
Music & Liturgical Ministries
Music at St. Francis de Sales is directed by a dedicated team that supports both weekend and weekday liturgies.
- Music Ministry / Choir Director: Helen Marie Bivens
- Music Ministry: Doris Doepker
- Commissioned Lay Ministers: Pat Gallery, Joe Kwaiser, Sue Kwaiser, Barb Manning, Ray Eickholt, Peter Kleinbriel
Parish Staff & Leadership
Pastoral and administrative leadership includes the pastor, a business manager/bookkeeper, a secretary and parish life assistant, music directors, faith formation staff, and lay council leaders.
- Pastor: Rev. Alberto E. Vargas ([email protected])
- Business Manager / Bookkeeper: Debbie McGrandy ([email protected])
- Secretary & Parish Life Assistant: Michelle Dunham
- Secretary: Sharon Woolhiser (per the 2024 diocesan directory)
- Faith Formation (Grades 1–6): Abby McLeod
- Music Ministry: Helen Bivens, Doris Doepker
- Pastoral Council Chair: Gene Bennet (Charles Roggenbeck per 2024 directory)
- Finance Council Chair: Richard O'Dell
- CGS Catechist: Sr. Mary Elizabeth Klier, OSF
Visit, Contact & Giving
Parishioners and visitors can reach the parish office by phone, email, or in person during office hours (8:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. Monday–Thursday). Online giving is available through the parish website.
- Address: 3945 Williamson Road, Saginaw, MI 48601-5840
- Phone: 989-777-2091
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: www.stfrancisdesales-saginaw.org
- Office hours: 8:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. Monday–Thursday
- Online giving available via the parish website
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Francis Jurek1950–
Founding pastor of St. Christopher Parish (one of the predecessor parishes)