About St. Francis of Assisi · Ann Arbor, Michigan
St. Francis of Assisi is a large Roman Catholic parish in the Diocese of Lansing, serving the northeast side of Ann Arbor, Michigan, with a mailing address at 2150 Frieze Avenue and its church building at 2250 East Stadium Boulevard. Established in 1950 as a mission of nearby St. Thomas the Apostle Parish, it has grown into one of the largest parishes in the Lansing Diocese, with roughly 2,900 registered families (about 6,900–8,000 parishioners), a PreK-8 school founded in 1952, a Religious Education program, and a wide array of liturgical, social-justice, and outreach ministries. The parish is known for its rich liturgical life, multicultural worship (including a weekly Spanish-language Mass), acclaimed sacred music program, and active engagement with the local community through homeless shelters, St. Vincent de Paul service projects, Christ the Immigrant ministry, and Habitat for Humanity.
- Established
- 1950
- Patron
- St. Francis of Assisi
- Rector
- Rev. James Conlon
- Diocese
- Diocese of Lansing
Why belong here
St. Francis of Assisi offers an unusually full Catholic life for a parish of its size: a richly musical liturgy anchored by a 34-stop/45-rank Letourneau organ and a strong choral tradition (the church doubles as a University Musical Society concert venue); a weekly Spanish Mass alongside four weekend English Masses and a daily 9:15 a.m. weekday Mass with a Thursday Holy Hour; a PreK-8 Catholic school founded in 1952 with a 10:1 student-to-faculty ratio; a robust Religious Education and OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults) program; and one of the most active outreach networks in the Diocese of Lansing — including St. Vincent de Paul service projects, a rotating homeless shelter in the Assisi Center, Habitat for Humanity Catholic Build, Christ the Immigrant Ministry, a homebound Eucharistic ministry, jail/prison ministry, free tax preparation, and the Faith in Flint / Water for Life initiatives.
Mass times at St. Francis of Assisi
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 3:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. in the Church (typically two priests available; one priest only June–August)
- First Thursday of the month 10:15 a.m. – 10:45 a.m. in the Church during Holy Hour
- By appointment, including for the homebound
- Regional Penance services during Advent and Lent (see website/Forum)
Adoration times
- Thursday Holy Hour follows the 9:15 a.m. weekday Mass (includes Benediction; First Thursday also hosts confessions 10:15–10:45 a.m.)
Parish History
Founded in 1950 out of the post-war growth of St. Thomas the Apostle Parish in Ann Arbor, St. Francis of Assisi grew from a handful of families worshipping in a public school to one of the largest parishes in the Diocese of Lansing. The original Tuomy family land gift, the 1951 wood-frame church, the 1952 school under the Adrian Dominican Sisters, the 1955 second sanctuary (now the gym), and the 1969 permanent church all reflect a parish that has continually rebuilt to keep up with its congregation.
- 1945 — Monsignor Warren Peek of St. Thomas purchases 8 acres from Cornelius and Kathryn Tuomy for $9,800; siblings donate 2 more acres
- 1950 — Father Leon O. Kennedy appointed first pastor; first Sunday Mass in a Pittsfield public school
- 1951 — First St. Francis of Assisi Church (capacity 200) dedicated at Easter; 248 registered families
- 1952 — First school building and convent open; school staffed by Adrian Dominican Sisters (155 students)
- 1955 — Second church (capacity 600, architect Walter T. Anicka) built; now the school gymnasium
- 1961 — Two-story school addition (nine classrooms, library, teacher's room, boiler)
- 1965 — School reaches peak enrollment of 474 students
- 1969 — Present church designed by architect James P. Wong breaks ground in May; first Mass in October; dedicated by Cardinal John Dearden on December 8; capacity 1,100 (now ~900); 1,000 registered families
- 1973 — Church paid off from donations and the Liptow/Tuomy bequests
- 1987 — Educational Trust Fund (ETF) created under Fr. Ray for parish religious-education funding
- 2011 — 3,000 registered families, 87 active ministries, 615 religious-education students, 400+ school students
- 2025 — 75th anniversary; Mass of Thanksgiving with Bishop Earl Boyea on October 18
Music & Liturgy
Music is central to parish identity at St. Francis. The 1994 acquisition of a three-manual mechanical-action pipe organ from Orgues Letourneau of Saint-Hyacinthe, Quebec — 34 stops and 45 ranks — combined with the intentionally reverberant sanctuary, makes the church a gathering place not only for parish worship but also for University Musical Society (UMS) concerts in sacred choral and early music. Director of Music & Liturgy Jonathan Hasey leads the program alongside Coordinator of Worship Ebony Welch.
- Letourneau mechanical-action organ (1994): 3 manuals, 34 stops, 45 ranks
- University Musical Society (UMS) venue partner
- Director of Music & Liturgy: Jonathan Hasey ([email protected])
- Coordinator of Worship: Ebony Welch ([email protected])
- Sunday 10:30 a.m. Mass livestreamed for online participation
St. Francis of Assisi Catholic School
Founded in 1952 under the Adrian Dominican Sisters (Sisters of St. Dominic of Adrian, Michigan), St. Francis of Assisi Catholic School serves preschool and kindergarten through 8th grade as a mission of the parish. With a 10:1 student-to-faculty ratio and an average class size of 22, the school emphasizes a 'Learn | Care | Lead' philosophy that values each student as a unique creation of God.
- Founded 1952; originally staffed by Adrian Dominican Sisters (155 students)
- PreK-8th grade, with 10:1 student-to-faculty ratio and average class size 22
- School office: (734) 821-2200 — [email protected]
- 2270 East Stadium Blvd, Ann Arbor, MI 48104
- Office hours Monday–Friday 7:45 a.m.–3:30 p.m.
- Accredited through the National Catholic Educational Association (NCEA)
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Religious Education serves preschool/kindergarten through 8th grade with roughly 615 students and is supported by the Educational Trust Fund (ETF) created in 1987. Adult faith formation and the OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults — the restored name for the former RCIA) process are led by Director of Adult Faith & OCIA Kelly Hernandez. Marriage preparation is supported by Larisa Yeomans (habla español).
- Religious Education office: 2240 E. Stadium Blvd — (734) 821-2100
- Director of Religious Education: Ellen Ward ([email protected])
- Director of Adult Faith & OCIA: Kelly Hernandez ([email protected])
- Rel. Ed. Secretary: Helena Bichakjian ([email protected] — habla español)
- Marriage Prep Assistant: Larisa Yeomans ([email protected] — habla español)
- Vacation Bible School: 'Year of St. Francis' curriculum
- Educational Trust Fund (ETF, est. 1987): permanent funding for parish religious education
Outreach, Social Justice & Shelter Programs
Outreach is one of St. Francis's defining ministries. The parish hosts the Shelter Association of Washtenaw County Rotating Shelter for about 25 men each year in the Assisi Center, and staffs Alpha House Shelter for homeless families twice a year (May and October). The St. Vincent de Paul Service Ministry organizes food drives, meals at the Delonis Center, and other Corporal Works of Mercy projects. The Christ the Immigrant Ministry (Strangers No Longer) advocates for the immigrant community; the parish also supports a Habitat for Humanity Catholic Build, jail and prison ministry, a homebound Eucharistic ministry, free tax-preparation, and the Faith in Flint / Water for Life initiatives.
- Director of Outreach Ministries: Scott Wright ([email protected] — 734-821-2121)
- Rotating Shelter in the Assisi Center (2150 Frieze Ave, Door #9) — ~25 men, one week in Feb/Mar
- Alpha House Shelter — hosted twice a year (May and October), 5–8 families
- St. Vincent de Paul Service Ministry (meets 2nd Wednesday of the month)
- Christ the Immigrant Ministry / Strangers No Longer
- Habitat for Humanity Catholic Build
- Jail & Prison Ministry; Friends of the Master House (Ypsilanti)
- Homebound Ministry; Catholic Charities respite care
- Faith in Flint bottled-water drive; Water for Life Lenten drive (Sub-Saharan Africa)
- Free tax-preparation program for the community
- Funeral Luncheon Team
Parish Staff & Clergy
The pastoral team is led by pastor Father James Conlon with parochial vicar Father Seamus Kettner, and is supported by Deacons Gene Leger and Rich Badics. Lay staff include directors for Music & Liturgy, Adult Faith & OCIA, Religious Education, and Outreach Ministries, plus business, bookkeeping, and maintenance personnel. Several staff members are bilingual (English/Spanish), reflecting the parish's growing Hispanic community.
- Pastor: Rev. James Conlon ([email protected])
- Parochial Vicar: Rev. Seamus Kettner ([email protected])
- Deacon Gene Leger ([email protected])
- Deacon Rich Badics ([email protected])
- Pastoral Associate: Will Wisner ([email protected])
- Director of Music & Liturgy: Jonathan Hasey ([email protected])
- Coordinator of Worship: Ebony Welch ([email protected])
- Director of Adult Faith & OCIA: Kelly Hernandez ([email protected])
- Director of Religious Education: Ellen Ward ([email protected])
- Director of Outreach Ministries: Scott Wright ([email protected])
- Business Manager: Robert Kehn, CMA ([email protected])
- Bookkeeper (Parish): LaQuanda Marshall
- Bookkeeper (School): Jackie Pearson
- Marriage Prep Assistant: Larisa Yeomans (habla español)
- Rel. Ed. Secretary: Helena Bichakjian (habla español)
- Maintenance Supervisor: Reynaldo Romero
- Maintenance: Efrain Romero, Felipe Ronquillo
- Administrative Assistants: Mark Kempton, Julie Kanitz
Campus & Visiting Information
The parish campus occupies a full city block along East Stadium Boulevard in northeast Ann Arbor. The 1969 church anchors the site, surrounded by the original 1951 structure (now music/art classrooms), the 1955 second church (now gymnasium), the 1952 school building and convent (now Parish Office), the Religious Education building at 2240 E. Stadium, and the school at 2270 E. Stadium. The Assisi Center (2150 Frieze Ave, Door #9) houses the rotating homeless shelter and meeting space. A new Ministry Center is being built to expand outreach, youth, and parish-program space.
- Parish Office (mailing): 2150 Frieze Ave, Ann Arbor, MI 48104 — (734) 821-2100
- Church building: 2250 E. Stadium Blvd, Ann Arbor, MI 48104
- Religious Education: 2240 E. Stadium Blvd, Ann Arbor, MI 48104
- School: 2270 E. Stadium Blvd, Ann Arbor, MI 48104 — (734) 821-2200
- Office hours: Monday–Friday 8:30 a.m.–5:00 p.m. (or by appointment)
- Ample free parking on campus
- Email: [email protected]
- New Ministry Center under construction for outreach and social-justice programs
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Leon O. Kennedy1950–(mid-1960s)
Founding pastor; celebrated first Sunday Mass in a Pittsfield public school in 1950; oversaw construction of the 1951 church, 1952 school, 1955 second church, and 1961 school expansion.
- Rev. Daniel L. Ryan / 'Fr. Ray'1970s–1987+
Established the Educational Trust Fund (ETF) in 1987 with parishioners to underwrite all parish religious-education programs.
- Rev. James McDougalappointed 1997
Named pastor in 1997; oversaw the 1994 acquisition of the Letourneau mechanical-action organ and UMS partnerships.
- Rev. James Conlonpresent
Current pastor; leading the parish's 75th-anniversary celebration (2025) and the new Ministry Center project for outreach and social-justice ministries.