About St. Francis Xavier · Conklin, Michigan
St. Francis Xavier Parish is a small, rural Catholic parish in Conklin, Michigan (Ottawa County), founded in 1892 by nineteen Dutch and German families who built their own little church on four acres of land donated by John VanDyke along Gooding Road. Today the parish is clustered with St. Catherine Parish in Ravenna and St. Joseph Parish in Wright, sharing one pastor and a single office staff, and serves its farming-community faithful with Saturday-evening and Monday-morning Mass, weekly adoration with confession, a parish food pantry, a prayer line, and active Christian Service and Walking with Moms in Need ministries. It belongs to the Diocese of Grand Rapids (West Deanery) and is identified with the missionary patron after whom it is named — St. Francis Xavier, the Jesuit 'Apostle of the Indies.'
- Established
- 1892
- Patron
- St. Francis Xavier
- Rector
- Rev. Andrew M. Ayers
- Diocese
- Diocese of Grand Rapids
Why belong here
St. Francis Xavier is a small, multi-generational rural parish where everyone knows one another — the kind of community that still traces its roots to the 19 Dutch and German founding families of 1892. Worship is intimate and traditional: a weekly Saturday evening Mass (summer seasonal), a Monday morning Mass, Monday-evening adoration with confession, and a parish prayer line (Lucille Finkler, Kate Videtich) that has sustained members for decades. Members put faith into action through a parish Food Pantry (coordinator Barb Vandyke), the Walking with Moms in Need baby pantry, Christian Service Commission collections and God's Kitchen volunteering, the Christian Doctrine (CCD) program, and a St. Cecilia Cluster Choir that unites the three parishes in song. As Father Andrew Ayers notes, the cluster is one family across Conklin, Ravenna and Wright — a warm place to belong, to be prayed for, and to serve.
Mass times at St. Francis Xavier
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday: 3:00 – 3:45 PM (at St. Francis Xavier, Conklin)
- Monday: 5:15 – 6:15 PM (at St. Francis Xavier, Conklin, during adoration)
Adoration times
- Monday: 5:15 – 6:15 PM (with confession)
About St. Francis Xavier Parish
St. Francis Xavier is a small rural Catholic parish in Conklin, Ottawa County, Michigan, founded in 1892 by nineteen Dutch and German families. It is named for St. Francis Xavier (1506–1552), the Jesuit 'Apostle of the Indies' and patron of all foreign missions, whose feast day is December 3. Today the parish is clustered with St. Catherine of Alexandria in Ravenna and St. Joseph in Wright, sharing one pastor, office staff, choir and ministries across the three rural communities. It sits in the West Deanery of the Diocese of Grand Rapids.
- Founded 1892
- Clustered with St. Catherine (Ravenna) and St. Joseph (Wright)
- Diocese of Grand Rapids, West Deanery
- Patron: St. Francis Xavier, SJ — feast day December 3
History
The parish's documented history — preserved in detail on the parish website — traces a continuous story from the 1892 construction to today's three-parish cluster. The first section covers the founding, the bell and the dedication by Bishop Henry Richter; the second covers the long stretch when the mission was served from Wright and then from Grand Rapids; the third covers its growth into a full parish in 1945 and the building projects of the late 20th century.
- 1892 founding and dedication
- Years as a mission (1892–1945)
- Becoming a parish and the resident pastorate
- Modern building projects (1959 addition, 1963 new pews, 1967 Shrine of the Resurrection, 1982 interior redecoration, 1984 barrier-free entrance, 1989 new organ)
Founding (1892)
Nineteen Dutch and German families — including the VanDykes, Denhofs, Riplos, Raaps, Breuker, Vanderlaans, Umlor, Finkler, Deboer, VanOeffelen, Beerbon, Brown and Wierenga — pooled their labor and resources to build the first St. Francis Xavier Church on four acres donated by John VanDyke. The cost was about $4,000. The bell arrived by train at the Conklin Depot, was hauled to the site on a decorated wagon, blessed and raised into the steeple; Bishop Henry Richter came by horse and buggy to dedicate the church on November 9, 1892.
- 19 founding families (Dutch and German)
- Four acres from John VanDyke along Gooding Road
- Bell hauled by decorated wagon from Conklin Depot
- Dedicated November 9, 1892 by Bishop Henry Richter
Years as a Mission (1892–1945)
For more than fifty years St. Francis was a mission church. Fathers Egge and Guthausen came weekly from St. Joseph, Wright (1892–1912); two Franciscans — Fathers Ahlaus and Hammer — traveled from Grand Rapids (1913–1918); diocesan chancellors Fitzpatrick and Bogg continued that pattern (1918–1926); Father Charles Baker served from 1927 to 1933. In 1934 the mission was reassigned to the newly established St. Catherine's in Ravenna, and in 1945 St. Francis Xavier became a parish in its own right.
- 1892–1912: served from St. Joseph, Wright
- 1913–1918: Franciscan fathers from Grand Rapids
- 1918–1933: diocesan priests from Grand Rapids
- 1934: becomes mission of St. Catherine's, Ravenna
- 1945: becomes a full parish
Becoming a Parish and Growth (1945–1989)
Father Stanislaus Betka became the first resident pastor in 1945; a rectory was built in 1946, enabling daily Mass. Successive pastors expanded the school-bus program for St. Catherine's school, founded the parish bulletin, launched the CCD program with the Sisters of Notre Dame, and undertook major building campaigns: a 1959 front addition with lavatories and vestibule, basement classrooms, a paved parking lot, new pews in 1963, the 1967 Shrine of the Resurrection for the 75th anniversary, the Zaskowski memorial bell tower, full interior redecoration in 1982, a barrier-free entrance in 1984 and a new organ in 1989.
- 1945: first resident pastor, daily Mass begins
- 1953: first parish bulletin
- 1959: CCD program launched
- 1959: front addition, vestibule, classrooms
- 1982: complete interior redecoration
- 1984: barrier-free entrance
- 1989: new organ
Mass & Worship Schedule
St. Francis Xavier offers a focused weekly schedule, with cluster Masses at the other two parishes filling out the rest of the week. Saturday evening Mass at St. Francis is seasonal (Memorial Day through Labor Day); Monday morning Mass is year-round. Confession is heard Saturday afternoon before Mass and on Monday evenings during adoration.
- Saturday 4:00 PM (Memorial Day – Labor Day)
- Monday 8:30 AM (year-round)
- Confession: Saturday 3:00–3:45 PM
- Confession & Adoration: Monday 5:15–6:15 PM
Other Devotions and Prayer
Beyond Mass and confession, the cluster maintains a Prayer for Peace Rosary and a long-standing Parish Prayer Line. Two prayer-line contacts are listed for St. Francis Xavier: Lucille Finkler (616-899-2367) and Kate Videtich (616-678-5838).
- Prayer for Peace Rosary (cluster-wide)
- Parish Prayer Line — Lucille Finkler 616-899-2367
- Parish Prayer Line — Kate Videtich 616-678-5838
Pastor and Staff
The three-parish cluster of St. Francis Xavier, St. Catherine and St. Joseph is currently served by Rev. Andrew M. Ayers. Father Andrew has been co-chaplain at West Catholic High School since 2019; in April 2026 Bishop David Walkowiak announced that his assignment to the cluster will conclude on June 30, 2026. The parish office is staffed by a cluster secretary (Tuesdays and Thursdays, 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM); food pantry coordinator Barb Vandyke and prayer-line contacts Lucille Finkler and Kate Videtich round out the listed lay leadership for St. Francis Xavier.
- Pastor: Rev. Andrew M. Ayers
- Office hours: Tue/Thu 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM
- Phone: 231-853-6222
- Cell: 616-215-9181 (Mon–Thu)
- Food Pantry: Barb Vandyke, 616-899-2697
Sacraments
The cluster website directs parishioners to Fr. Andrew Ayers for the scheduling of sacraments. Couples are asked to schedule weddings with him six months in advance. Baptisms, Anointing of the Sick, First Communion and Confirmation are coordinated through the parish offices as well. Confession times are listed above.
- Baptism — contact Fr. Ayers or the parish office
- Marriage — schedule 6 months in advance
- Anointing of the Sick — contact Fr. Ayers or the offices
- First Communion & Confirmation through CCD
Faith Formation & Youth
Religious education at St. Francis Xavier is rooted in the parish's long-running CCD program, which in 1959 already involved four Sisters of Notre Dame, 20 lay teachers and 204 children. Today the cluster offers CCD for elementary and junior-high students and a separate Youth Ministry program for high-schoolers in grades 9–12.
- CCD — Elementary & Junior High
- Youth Ministry — High School Grades 9–12
- Christian Doctrine program founded 1959 under Fr. Sniegowski
Music & Liturgy
Music across the three-parish cluster is led by the St. Cecilia Cluster Choir and Music Ministry, which unites singers and musicians from St. Francis Xavier, St. Catherine and St. Joseph. The parish's organ history is itself a story — a new organ was acquired in the late 1950s, replaced by a much larger one under Father Fellows, and another new organ was purchased in 1989.
- St. Cecilia Cluster Choir & Music Ministry
- Worship Commission at St. Francis Xavier
- New organ, 1959
- Larger organ, Father Fellows era
- New organ, 1989
Outreach & Charity
St. Francis Xavier lives out its faith through several outreach ministries. The parish Food Pantry is coordinated by Barb Vandyke (616-899-2697); the Christian Service Commission organizes God's Kitchen volunteers, the Thanksgiving Food Drive, monthly family collections and special charity food drives; and the cluster partners with Walking with Moms in Need to offer free baby pantries (diapers, wipes, formula, baby/toddler clothing) — open twice a month at St. Catherine and St. Joseph. The Ministry of Consolation, Greeters, and Homebound Extraordinary Ministers extend care to parishioners who cannot attend Mass in person.
- Parish Food Pantry
- Christian Service Commission (God's Kitchen, Thanksgiving Drive)
- Walking with Moms in Need baby pantry
- Ministry of Consolation
- Homebound Extraordinary Minister
- Ministry of Greeters
Walking with Moms in Need
The cluster operates two free baby pantries with no financial information or references required. St. Catherine Church (3376 Thomas St., Ravenna) opens the 1st and 3rd Saturday of each month from 10:00 AM to noon; St. Joseph Church (18784 8th Ave., Conklin) opens the 2nd and 4th Saturday from 10:00 AM to noon. Contact [email protected].
- Diaper/wipe/formula/baby clothing pantry
- St. Catherine: 1st & 3rd Saturday, 10 AM–noon
- St. Joseph: 2nd & 4th Saturday, 10 AM–noon
- Contact: [email protected]
Parish Life & Get Involved
The cluster website invites parishioners to 'Find Where You Belong,' listing councils and commissions — Parish Life Commission, Christian Service Commission, Plant & Grounds Commission — alongside liturgical roles like Ushers, Offertory Collection Counters, Lector, and Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion. The Hispanic Ministry serves Spanish-speaking parishioners across the cluster, and a Scripture Study group meets at St. Francis Xavier.
- Parish Life Commission
- Christian Service Commission
- Plant & Grounds Commission
- Hispanic Ministry (cluster-wide)
- Scripture Study (St. Francis Xavier)
- Lector / EMHC / Ushers / Greeters
Cluster & Diocese
St. Francis Xavier is one of three parishes in the 'Our Cluster of Catholic Churches' grouping, alongside St. Catherine of Alexandria in Ravenna and St. Joseph in Wright. The cluster shares one pastor (Rev. Andrew M. Ayers), office staff, the St. Cecilia Choir, CCD programs, and outreach ministries. All three parishes belong to the Diocese of Grand Rapids, in the West Deanery, under Bishop David Walkowiak.
- Cluster: St. Francis Xavier / St. Catherine / St. Joseph
- Shared pastor: Rev. Andrew M. Ayers
- Diocese of Grand Rapids, West Deanery
- Bishop: David Walkowiak
Visit, Contact & Accessibility
The worship site is at 2044 Gooding Rd., Conklin, MI 49403; the mailing address for the cluster office is 3376 Thomas St., Ravenna, MI 49451. The church is handicapped accessible (a barrier-free entrance was added in 1984). The parish office is open Tuesdays and Thursdays, 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM, at 231-853-6222 (cell 616-215-9181 Mon–Thu). Email [email protected] or [email protected].
- Worship site: 2044 Gooding Rd., Conklin, MI 49403
- Mailing: 3376 Thomas St., Ravenna, MI 49451
- Office: Tue/Thu 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM
- Handicap accessible (barrier-free entrance added 1984)
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father John B. Egge1892–1912 (mission priest from St. Joseph, Wright)
Original mission priest who pushed construction to completion in 1892 and served from Wright for two decades.
- Father Godfrey Guthausen1892–1912 (with Fr. Egge)
Co-served the Conklin mission from St. Joseph, Wright.
- Father Sylvester Ahlaus, OFM1913–1918
Franciscan who traveled from Grand Rapids.
- Father Louis Hammer, OFM1913–1918
Franciscan who traveled from Grand Rapids with Fr. Ahlaus.
- Father A. M. Fitzpatrick1918–1926
Diocesan Chancellor who came from Grand Rapids.
- Father Robert Bogg1918–1926
Diocesan Chancellor who came from Grand Rapids with Fr. Fitzpatrick.
- Father Charles Baker1927–1933
Chaplain at Villa Maria, Grand Rapids; organized parishioners to dig the church basement.
- Father Louis Schrems1934–1936
First pastor after St. Francis became a mission of St. Catherine's, Ravenna.
- Father Stanislaus Betka1936–1945
Appointed first resident pastor when St. Francis became a parish in 1945; oversaw the 1946 rectory.
- Father Louis Lapres1952–
Arranged St. Catherine's school attendance; parish bought a bus for the children.
- Father Joseph GodziszApril 1953–1958
Issued the first parish bulletin (March 21, 1954); redecorated altars; bought a new bus.
- Father Theodore Sniegowski1958–1965
Launched CCD with Notre Dame sisters and 20 lay teachers; added vestibule/lavatories, basement classrooms, new organ.
- Father Joseph McKinney1965–
Later ordained a Bishop in 1968; oversaw 1967 Shrine of the Resurrection for the 75th anniversary.
- Father James Fellowsafter Fr. McKinney
Also worked in the Diocesan Chancery; a much larger organ was purchased under him.
- Father Joseph Zaskowski1972–1977
Worked zealously on religious education; died suddenly and unexpectedly in 1977; memorialized by the bell tower.
- Father Michael McKennaafter 1977 (administrator)
Served as administrator while also serving as secretary to the Bishop.
- Father Charles Dautremont1978–1981
Also served in the Diocesan Chancery; oversaw construction of the bell tower in memory of Fr. Zaskowski.
- Father Max Ostrowski1981–
Interior redecorated and carpeted (1982); barrier-free entrance (1984); new organ (1989).
- Father Fred Bruckerlater pastor
Named in the parish history page as pastor serving the three-parish cluster.
- Rev. Andrew M. Ayersat least 2019 – June 30, 2026
Current pastor of the St. Francis Xavier / St. Catherine / St. Joseph cluster; also co-chaplain at West Catholic High School; assignment announced to conclude 6/30/2026.