About St. Jerome · Battle Creek, Michigan
St. Jerome Catholic Church is a Roman Catholic parish in Battle Creek, Michigan, serving the south side / Level Park neighborhood from its church at 229 Collier Avenue. Established in 1955 by the Diocese of Lansing and now part of the Diocese of Kalamazoo, St. Jerome is one of three parishes in the Battle Creek Parish Collaborative alongside St. Philip and St. Joseph. The parish offers daily and weekend Masses, Eucharistic adoration on Fridays, the Sacrament of Reconciliation before Sunday Mass, and a range of lay ministries including the St. Vincent de Paul conference, Council of Catholic Women, Men's Club, Pro-Life ministry, and shared Tri-Parish Youth Ministry with its sister parishes.
- Established
- 1955
- Patron
- St. Jerome
- Rector
- Rev. Christopher J. Ankley
- Diocese
- Diocese of Kalamazoo
Why belong here
St. Jerome offers the full rhythm of Catholic parish life in a welcoming south-side Battle Creek community: weekday and weekend Masses, Friday Eucharistic adoration, and the Sacrament of Reconciliation before Sunday Mass. Members are supported by a strong fabric of lay ministries — the St. Vincent de Paul conference, Council of Catholic Women, Men's Club, Pro-Life ministry, Ministry to the Homebound, and the shared Tri-Parish Youth Ministry — and the parish is part of the Battle Creek Parish Collaborative with neighboring St. Philip and St. Joseph, giving it both a close-knit feel and a broader fellowship.
Mass times at St. Jerome
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Sunday 9:45 am – 10:00 am (prior to Sunday Mass)
- Other times by appointment / as listed on the parish calendar
Adoration times
- Friday: Eucharistic adoration at St. Jerome until 5:00 pm
- Sacred Heart Adoration Chapel (Seton Center): Wednesday 4–5 pm; Thursday 8–9 am; Friday 1–2 pm (permanent adorers needed)
Parish History
St. Jerome Catholic Church was established on June 20, 1955 by Bishop Joseph H. Albers of the Diocese of Lansing, with Father John Hamilton as the founding pastor. The first Mass was celebrated July 31, 1955 at the Level Park Fire Station, and the current church on Collier Avenue was dedicated May 19, 1957. Over the decades the parish grew, built and then (1976) closed a parish school, weathered nineteen pastors and administrators, and joined the newly created Diocese of Kalamazoo in 1971. The church interior was extensively remodeled in 1980 ahead of the 25th anniversary and blessed and rededicated again in July 2013.
- 1955 — parish announced June 20; Father John Hamilton founding pastor
- July 31, 1955 — first Mass at Level Park Fire Station
- May 19, 1957 — Collier Avenue church dedicated
- 1962 — parish school opens with sixth grade; Mother Alphonsa, SSJ, first principal
- 1968 — first parish council organized
- 1971 — joins newly created Diocese of Kalamazoo
- 1974 — Salvatorian priests Rev. Peter J. Coffey and Rev. William J. Remmel appointed pastoral team
- 1976 — parish school closes
- 1980 — extensive interior remodeling completed for 25th anniversary
- 2005 — 50th anniversary celebrated
- 2013 — blessing and rededication of the church
- 2016 — joins Battle Creek Parish Collaborative with St. Philip and St. Joseph; Father Christopher J. Ankley appointed pastor July 1
Pastoral Staff
St. Jerome is pastored by Rev. Christopher J. Ankley, who was ordained August 8, 2009, served at St. Catherine of Siena (Portage) and St. Martin of Tours (Vicksburg), and was installed as pastor of the Battle Creek Parish Collaborative on July 1, 2016. He is assisted by two parochial vicars, a deacon, and an administrative assistant.
- Rev. Christopher J. Ankley — Pastor (ordained August 8, 2009; at St. Jerome since July 1, 2016)
- Rev. Kenneth Schmidt — Parochial Vicar (ordained August 29, 1981)
- Rev. Jacob Thomas — Parochial Vicar (ordained June 4, 2022)
- Gary Wright — Deacon
- Christine Jordan — Administrative Assistant
Liturgical Ministries
St. Jerome's liturgical ministries bring lay faithful into the celebration of the Mass. The parish recruits and trains readers, servers, sacristans, and extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion, and welcomes all confirmed Catholics to consider serving.
- Lectors — fully initiated practicing Catholics who proclaim the Word; training and workbook provided
- Altar Servers — open to boys and girls in fourth grade and up, and to men and women; required training and formation
- Sacristans — prepare vessels, bread, wine, books, and vestments; arrive 30 minutes before Mass; trained in EMHC ministry as well
- Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion (EMHCs) — assist priests and deacons in distributing Holy Communion; special training and yearly refresher required
Outreach Ministries
Outreach at St. Jerome ranges from parish-based service organizations to community partnerships with Catholic Charities and the Tri-Parish Pro-Life Ministry shared with St. Philip and St. Joseph.
- Ministry to the Homebound — priests, deacon, and lay volunteers bring Communion and pastoral care
- St. Jerome Council of Catholic Women — supports, empowers, and educates Catholic women in spirituality, leadership, and service
- St. Jerome Men's Club — fraternal organization promoting goodwill and unity among the men of the parish
- St. Vincent de Paul — international Catholic lay organization of charity
- Tri-Parish Pro-Life Ministry — promotes respect for human life from conception to natural death in the spirit of Evangelium Vitae
- Catholic Charities Heating Assistance — up to $300 per household in need
Sacraments
The Sacraments page on the parish website explains how to arrange Reconciliation, First Communion and First Confession, and Mass Intentions. Parishioners are invited to call the parish office for current information.
- Reconciliation (Confession) — each Sunday before Mass; check parish calendar for additional times
- First Communion / First Confession — contact parish office at (269) 968-2218
- Mass Intentions — $10 typical offering; Masses must be offered within 18 months of the stipend
Tri-Parish Youth Ministry
St. Jerome, St. Joseph, and St. Philip collaborate on a shared Tri-Parish Youth Ministry that serves 5th through 12th graders across the Battle Creek area. Modeled on the USCCB's 'Renewing the Vision' framework, the program integrates catechesis and spirituality to form young disciples of Jesus Christ.
- Serves youth in grades 5–12 from St. Jerome, St. Joseph, and St. Philip Parishes
- Three goals: empower young disciples; draw youth into Catholic community life; foster total personal and spiritual growth
- Contact the parish office at (269) 962-0165 to get youth connected or to volunteer
Battle Creek Parish Collaborative
In 2016 the Diocese of Kalamazoo implemented its 'Diocesan Pastoral Plan: A Future Full of Hope,' grouping parishes into collaboratives. St. Jerome was joined with neighboring St. Philip Parish and St. Joseph Parish to form the Battle Creek Parish Collaborative, sharing pastoral leadership under Fr. Christopher Ankley.
- Collaborative formed July 1, 2016 under Bishop Paul J. Bradley's pastoral plan
- Member parishes: St. Jerome, St. Philip, St. Joseph
- Rev. Christopher Ankley appointed pastor of the collaborative (previously St. Martin of Tours, Vicksburg)
- Rev. Simon Chummar-Manjooran appointed Parochial Vicar and Spiritual Moderator for Battle Creek Area Catholic Schools (2016)
- Rev. Jose Haro appointed Parochial Vicar of the collaborative in 2016
Lenten Luncheons
Each Lent the Battle Creek-area parishes gather for a long-running series of Lenten Luncheons hosted in St. Jerome's Parish Hall. A weekday Mass is celebrated, followed by a guest speaker and a light lunch — a tradition of fellowship, preaching, and penance.
- Held Wednesdays in Lent at St. Jerome Parish Hall
- Mass at 10:45 am (11:00 am on Ash Wednesday) followed by a guest priest speaker and light lunch
- No charge; free will offering appreciated
- Speaker lineup typically includes priests from across the Diocese of Kalamazoo
Visit and Contact
St. Jerome Catholic Church is located at 229 Collier Avenue on Battle Creek's south side. The parish office can be reached by phone or email, and the parish website posts weekly bulletins, a calendar, and connections to the Daily Readings, Saint of the Day, and Prayer of the Day feeds.
- Address — 229 Collier Ave, Battle Creek, MI 49037
- Phone — (269) 968-2218
- Email — [email protected]
- Website — http://stjeromebc.org/
- Resources on website — Daily Readings (USCCB), Saint of the Day, Prayer of the Day, parish calendar, bulletin links, parish newsletter
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father John Hamilton1955–1980
Founding pastor; assigned by Bishop Joseph H. Albers when the parish was announced June 20, 1955; first Mass celebrated July 31, 1955 at the Level Park Fire Station; oversaw building and May 19, 1957 dedication of the Collier Avenue church; added school with sixth grade opening September 1962 (Mother Alphonsa, SSJ, first principal) and later seventh and eighth grades; died suddenly January 8, 1980.
- Father McKeon1980 (administrator)
Served as parish administrator following Father Hamilton's death until Father Hayes was assigned.
- Father John O. Hayesafter 1980
Assigned pastor following Father Hamilton's death.
- Father Elmer WieberAugust 1966–
First Saturday evening Mass in the area began during his pastorate; Sister Marie Celine arrived as principal in 1967; first parish council organized June 1, 1968.
- Father Walter SpillaneOctober 1969–
Under his guidance seventh and eighth grades were moved to St. Philip.
- Father Edwin G. PalmerJuly 1981–
Numerous maintenance and remodeling projects; launched the 'Young-at-Heart Club,' Youth Group, and Ministry of Praise program.
- Father Paul Cummings1997–1999
Appointed pastor in 1997 and remained for two years.
- Deacon Albert Patrick1999–
Appointed Pastoral Administrator in 1999.
- Father John Tuyen Tran2006–2010
Served during the lead-up to the parish's 50th anniversary year (2005).
- Father Mathew ManalelJuly 2010–
Made many changes and reinstated traditions.
- Father Mark VyvermanAugust 2013–July 2014
Canonical pastor; blessing and rededication of St. Jerome held July 2013.
- Father Christopher DerdaJuly 2014–2016
Canonical pastor; later moved to St. Mary's Visitation, Byron Center / St. Stanislaus, Dorr / Sacred Heart, Watson collaborative.
- Father Christopher J. AnkleyJuly 1, 2016–present
Ordained August 8, 2009; previously at St. Catherine of Siena (Portage), St. Martin of Tours (Vicksburg); installed as pastor of St. Martin of Tours November 11, 2011; appointed pastor of the Battle Creek Parish Collaborative (St. Philip, St. Joseph, St. Jerome) in 2016.