St. Francis Xavier

Welcome & About St. Francis Xavier

St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church is a small and intimate parish of about 220 families in the northeast corner of Genesee County, Michigan, serving Otisville and the surrounding rural areas within the Diocese of Lansing. The parish describes itself as open to the Holy Spirit and committed to promoting Christian unity, peace, and friendship, proclaiming the Good News of Jesus Christ through growing in faith and serving the spiritual and corporal needs of neighbors. Because it is a smaller parish, 'everyone knows each other' and visitors are welcomed warmly — the parish invites anyone who has drifted away or been away from church to come back, echoing Pope Francis's words that 'God is never tired of waiting for us.'

Parish History

Catholic life in Otisville dates to 1893, when a young priest named Francis Clement Kelley from Lapeer first visited. After a 1946 petition by three local laymen, the diocese established the St. Margaret Mary Mission in 1948 on land called 'Our Lady's Acres,' donated by the Quaderer family. The first church was built almost entirely by volunteer labor in 1949; the rectory followed in 1964, and Quaderer Hall in 1973. By the early 1990s the parish had outgrown the original building, and a new church — connected to the old — was dedicated by Bishop Kenneth J. Povish on February 21, 1993. A Time Capsule was buried in 1997 during the Jubilee Year.

• 1893 — First priestly visit, by Rev. Francis Clement Kelley of Lapeer
• 1948 — St. Margaret Mary Mission established in Otisville
• 1949 — First Mass celebrated in the newly built church (April 17 groundbreaking, September 18 first Mass)
• 1953 — Bell tower and baptistry added; Quaderer family donates three additional lots
• 1964 — Rectory built under Fr. Bernard Beahan
• 1969 — Fr. Adolph Oser appointed first resident administrator
• 1973 — Quaderer Hall dedicated (Feb. 4)
• 1993 — New church dedicated by Bishop Povish (Feb. 21)
• 1997 — Jubilee Year and Time Capsule burial near east entrance
• 2015 — Fr. Kenneth F. Coughlin appointed pastor of linked parishes SS. Charles & Helena (Clio) and St. Francis Xavier

Lent & Holy Week

The parish publishes a full Lenten and Holy Week schedule on its website. Ash Wednesday is marked with a Word Service at 12:00 p.m. and Mass at 7:00 p.m.; Holy Thursday Mass is at 7:00 p.m., Good Friday is at 1:00 p.m., the Easter Vigil is celebrated Saturday at 8:30 p.m., and Easter Sunday Mass is at 10:00 a.m. The Solemnity of Mary is celebrated with a 10:00 a.m. Mass on January 1.

• Stations of the Cross — every Friday in Lent at 6:30 p.m. (Good Friday at 12:00 p.m.)
• Ash Wednesday — Word Service 12:00 p.m.; Mass 7:00 p.m.
• Holy Thursday — 7:00 p.m.
• Good Friday — 1:00 p.m.
• Easter Vigil — Saturday 8:30 p.m.
• Easter Sunday — 10:00 a.m.

Faith Formation

Faith Formation is offered for children from Pre-K through 8th grade, with separate Confirmation preparation for older youth and Adult Faith Formation / RCIA for those exploring or completing initiation into the Catholic Church. Programs are coordinated across the linked parishes with the Director of Religious Education based at sister parish SS. Charles & Helena. The parish welcomes inquirers at any stage of their journey and encourages anyone interested in becoming Catholic to contact the parish office.

• Pre-K through 8th Grade Faith Formation
• Confirmation Preparation (youth)
• Adult Faith Formation & RCIA
• Youth Ministry

Sacraments

The parish celebrates all seven sacraments. Families expecting a baptism, couples planning a wedding, those seeking Anointing of the Sick, or those discerning Holy Orders are invited to contact the parish office. Weddings require at least nine months of preparation. Funeral planning begins with a call to the parish office before any other arrangements; the parish offers pre-planning paperwork. The only day the parish cannot host a funeral is the last Thursday of each month, when the food pantry uses Quaderer Hall.

• Baptism — contact parish office
• Reconciliation — Tue 6:00 p.m., Sat 4:00 p.m., or by appointment
• Eucharist — weekend & Tuesday Masses
• Confirmation — youth program via parish office
• Matrimony — at least 9 months preparation
• Anointing of the Sick — by phone request
• Holy Orders — contact Fr. Ken at 810-686-9861
• Funerals — office contact first; pre-planning available

Music & Liturgical Ministries

Liturgical music is led by Organist Carla Montpas and Choir Director Stephanie Barnum. The parish offers a choir and a Eucharistic Adoration program that includes Praise & Worship, supporting a prayerful and participatory liturgy at weekend and weekday Masses, Confirmation, weddings, and funerals.

• Choir Director — Stephanie Barnum ([email protected])
• Organist — Carla Montpas
• Eucharistic Adoration with Praise & Worship

Outreach: St. Francis Food Pantry & Knights of Columbus

The parish runs the St. Francis Food Pantry, which uses Quaderer Hall on the last Thursday of each month to assist those in need in the surrounding community. The Knights of Columbus council meets at the parish on the third Tuesday of each month at 7:00 p.m., supporting parish life and wider works of charity.

• St. Francis Food Pantry — last Thursday of the month, Quaderer Hall
• Knights of Columbus — third Tuesday, 7:00 p.m.

Parish Staff

Day-to-day parish operations are led by a small staff shared with sister parish SS. Charles & Helena in Clio. Pastoral care is provided by Fr. Kenneth F. Coughlin; faith formation and youth ministry are coordinated through Marci Long (DRE) and Michelle Martin; parish administration is handled by Parish Secretary Chelsey Alvord and Bookkeeper Sue Boyden; music is led by Organist Carla Montpas and Choir Director Stephanie Barnum; and Scott Baxter oversees maintenance.

• Fr. Kenneth F. Coughlin — Pastor
• Chelsey Alvord — Parish Secretary / Bulletin
• Sue Boyden — Bookkeeper
• Marci Long — Director of Religious Education
• Michelle Martin — Faith Formation Assistant
• Carla Montpas — Organist
• Stephanie Barnum — Choir Director
• Scott Baxter — Maintenance

Visiting & Contact

St. Francis Xavier is located at 212 Center Street in Otisville, Michigan. The main office number is (810) 631-6305 and the office email is [email protected]. When the SFX office is unavailable, parishioners may leave a voicemail or call SS. Charles & Helena at (810) 686-9861; for emergencies, dial extension 600 to reach Fr. Ken. Office hours are Tuesdays and Thursdays, 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m., closed for lunch 12:00–1:00 p.m.

• Address — 212 Center Street, Otisville, MI 48463
• Phone — (810) 631-6305
• Office email — [email protected]
• Sister parish line — (810) 686-9861 (SS. Charles & Helena, Clio)