About St. Francis-St. Maximilian · Ray, Michigan
St. Francis-St. Maximilian Parish is a bilingual Roman Catholic parish in Ray Township, Macomb County, Michigan, in the Archdiocese of Detroit's North Macomb Vicariate. Formed in August 2006 from the merger of two earlier parishes, it serves the eastern Macomb County area with Mass celebrated in English and Spanish. The parish's mission is 'to see the face of Christ in every person so that they may see the face of Christ in us and together we will go forth to bring Christ to the world.' Outreach includes a food pantry at its Macomb Parish Center, MCREST homeless shelter hosting, and a robust list of lay ministries coordinated by a Stewardship Commission.
- Established
- 2006
- Patron
- St. Francis of Assisi and St. Maximilian Kolbe
- Rector
- Rev. Jaime Hinojos (Priest in Solidum)
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Detroit (North Macomb Vicariate, Northeast Region; Family of Parishes: Northeast North Macomb 2)
Why belong here
St. Francis-St. Maximilian is a warm, bilingual parish in Ray Township that welcomes both English-speaking and Spanish-speaking Catholics across eastern Macomb County. It offers daily, weekend, and Holy Day Mass in both languages, regular confession opportunities, Eucharistic adoration with praise and worship, and a Hispanic Charismatic Prayer Group. A vibrant Stewardship Commission coordinates more than three dozen lay ministries—from choir, lectors, and altar servers to Vacation Bible School, comfort ministry to the homebound, and a parish food pantry—giving parishioners many ways to share their time, talent, and treasure.
Mass times at St. Francis-St. Maximilian
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 3:00–3:30 PM
- Tuesday after morning Mass
- 1st and 3rd Tuesdays 6:00 PM
- Friday 6:00 PM
- Third Thursdays: Adoration with Confession, Praise and Worship
Adoration times
- First Friday 7:00 PM (Bilingual Mass and Adoration)
- Third Thursdays: Adoration with Confession, Praise and Worship
Parish History
The parish of St. Francis-St. Maximilian was formed in August 2006 by the merger of St. Francis of Assisi in Ray Township and St. Maximilian Kolbe in Macomb Township. The two communities had been clustered since January 2002 and spent several years consolidating their activities. The full Parish History page on the parish website traces each founding community in detail, from the 1951 mission Mass in a rented home to the 1998 dedication of the present church.
- St. Francis of Assisi founded as a mission church in 1951 by Fr. Francis Juras.
- First Mass in the original New Haven church building: February 6, 1955.
- St. Francis became a parish in 1968 under first pastor Fr. James Curtin.
- Current Ray Township church dedicated November 1998 under Fr. Daniel O'Sullivan.
- St. Maximilian Kolbe established in 1997 on 23 Mile Road in Macomb Township.
- Spanish Mass added at St. Maximilian in 1999 for the growing Hispanic community.
- Clustering of the two parishes began January 2002; first joint Mass at Easter 2002.
- Official merger to form St. Francis-St. Maximilian Kolbe Parish: August 2006.
Parish Staff & Clergy
The parish is led by Rev. Jaime Hinojos as Priest in Solidum and is assisted by Senior Priest Fr. Art Baranowski and several deacons. Lay staff members oversee music, faith formation, Hispanic ministry, food pantry operations, and parish administration.
- Rev. Jaime Hinojos – Priest in Solidum ([email protected])
- Rev. Art Baranowski – Senior Priest
- Deacon Rick Rhein ([email protected])
- Chris Duffy – Music Minister ([email protected])
- Betty Sheehan – Discipleship Formation ([email protected])
- Luis Zaldana – Hispanic Ministry ([email protected])
- Peggy Martin – Food Pantry Coordinator
- Nicole Boutorwick – Administrative Assistant ([email protected])
- Helen Pugh – Administrative Assistant
- Diana Devine – FOP Youth Minister
Stewardship & Ministries
The Stewardship Commission oversees Christian stewardship as a way of life and coordinates more than three dozen parish ministries that give parishioners opportunities to share their time, talent, and treasure. From liturgical roles such as lector, cantor, altar server, and Eucharistic minister to outreach efforts like the food pantry and MCREST shelter hosting, the parish encourages active participation across all ages.
- Worship: Adult Choir, Children's Choir, Cantor, Resurrection Choir, Lectors, Eucharistic Ministers, Altar Servers, Arts & Environment, Altar Care
- Formation: Catechists, Children's Liturgy of the Word, Vacation Bible School, Youth Ministry
- Outreach & Service: Comforting Ministers, Christian Service Commission, Food Pantry, MCREST, Red Cross Blood Drive, Justice & Peace Team
- Hospitality & Community: Usher/Greeter, Funeral Luncheon Ministry, Bakers, Special Events Hospitality, Garden Angels, Stewardship Education Committee
- Parish Life: Parish Pastoral Council, Evangelization Commission, Worship Commission, Stewardship Commission, Vicariate Rep, Communications/Technology Ministry
Hispanic Ministry & Prayer Life
St. Francis-St. Maximilian has celebrated Spanish-language Mass since 1999 and continues to grow its Hispanic ministry under Luis Zaldana. Spanish-language offerings include a Sunday 12:00 PM Mass, a Tuesday evening 7:00 PM Mass, a Hispanic Charismatic Prayer Group meeting at the church, and a Spanish AA meeting at the Parish Center. First Friday and Holy Day liturgies are celebrated bilingually.
- Sunday 12:00 PM Mass in Spanish
- Tuesday 7:00 PM Mass in Spanish
- Hispanic Charismatic Prayer Group at SFSM Church
- AA in Spanish at the Parish Center
- First Friday bilingual Mass and Adoration
Food Pantry & Outreach
The parish operates a Food Pantry at the SFSM Parish Center, 23965 23 Mile Rd., Macomb, MI 48042, coordinated by Peggy Martin. In one recent month the pantry helped 23 families with food and essential household and hygiene items, supplementing government programs like Bridge Cards, food stamps, and WIC. The parish also hosts a rotating MCREST homeless shelter in its social hall for one week each February.
- SFSM Parish Center / Food Pantry – 23965 23 Mile Rd., Macomb, MI 48042
- Current pantry needs (per bulletin): instant potatoes, stuffing mix, Rice-a-Roni, pancake mix, syrup, tuna fish, spaghetti sauce, chicken soup, coffee, tea, laundry and dish soap
- MCREST rotating homeless shelter hosted one week in February
- Red Cross Blood Drive hosted at the parish
Diocese & Family of Parishes
St. Francis-St. Maximilian is Parish #285 in the Archdiocese of Detroit, within the North Macomb Vicariate and the Northeast Region. It belongs to the Northeast North Macomb 2 Family of Parishes, a grouping of neighboring Catholic parishes collaborating pastorally under the Archdiocese's Families of Parishes model. The parish also operates a mission chapel, the Chapel of the Outreach Center in Macomb.
- Archdiocese of Detroit
- North Macomb Vicariate
- Northeast Region
- Family of Parishes: Northeast North Macomb 2
- Mission: Chapel of Outreach Center, Macomb
75th Anniversary
In a spring 2025 bulletin announcement, the parish announced that it will joyfully celebrate the 75th anniversary of St. Francis-St. Maximilian Parish in May 2026 and invited parishioners to join the planning committee. The initial planning meeting was held on May 5, 2026 in the Parish Hall, with the wider parish community encouraged to take part in this milestone celebration.
- Anniversary milestone: May 2026 (75 years)
- Planning committee kickoff meeting: May 5 in the Parish Hall at 6:00 PM
- Parish-wide invitation to participate in celebration preparations
Visiting & Contact
Newcomers and visitors are warmly welcomed. The parish office is open Monday and Thursday 10:00 AM–4:00 PM (or 9:00 AM–4:00 PM per the Mass Times page), closed Tuesday, with Wednesday and Friday morning hours 9:00 AM–12:00 PM (closed in July and August). Inquiries can be sent to [email protected] or [email protected], and the parish shares bulletins, livestreams, and updates through its Facebook and YouTube channels under 'St. Francis-St. Maximilian Catholic Community.'
- Office: 62811 New Haven Rd., Ray Twp., MI 48096
- Phone: 586-598-3314; Fax: 586-749-6021
- Emails: [email protected], [email protected]
- Social: Facebook and YouTube – St. Francis-St. Maximilian Catholic Community
- Food Pantry / Parish Center: 23965 23 Mile Rd., Macomb, MI 48042
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Francis Juras1951 (founding)
Founding pastor of the St. Francis of Assisi mission church; celebrated the first Mass in a rented home on Main Street in May 1951.
- Fr. James Curtinc. 1968 – c. 1980
First pastor of St. Francis of Assisi after it received parish status in 1968; served approximately 12.5 years.
- Fr. Daniel O'Sullivan
Pastor during the relocation of St. Francis of Assisi to the new church building in Ray Township, which was dedicated in November 1998.