About St. John Fisher Chapel University Catholic Parish & OU Campus Min · Auburn Hills, Michigan
St. John Fisher Chapel University Parish (commonly known as Grizzly Catholic) is a Roman Catholic parish in Auburn Hills, Michigan, serving both the local community and the students of nearby Oakland University within the Archdiocese of Detroit. The parish was canonically established as a full territorial and personal parish on July 1, 1989, though its chapel was originally dedicated in 1966 by Cardinal John Dearden as the home of Catholic campus ministry at what was then Michigan State University/Oakland Campus. Its mission statement is to "Bring all Home, to the Father's Heart, through Jesus, by the Power of the Holy Spirit." The parish operates a vibrant Newman-style campus ministry, including FOCUS missionaries, weekly Bible studies, retreats, and outreach events for Oakland University, Oakland Community College, Macomb Community College, and Rochester Christian University students.
- Established
- 1966
- Patron
- St. John Fisher (Bishop of Rochester, England, and Chancellor of Cambridge University; martyred by King Henry VIII in 1535)
- Rector
- Fr. Matthew Hood (Parish Administrator, named 2025)
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Detroit
Why belong here
St. John Fisher offers the rare combination of a grounded Catholic parish community and an energetic, FOCUS-style campus ministry serving Oakland University and other local colleges. Parishioners can attend daily and Sunday Mass, weekly Eucharistic Adoration, regular confession, and a Saturday-morning parish Rosary, while students have access to nearly 20 weekly Bible studies, a Thursday-night community dinner, retreats (including SEEK), an OCIA program for those entering the Church, and personal discipleship with FOCUS missionaries. It is a parish shaped by its mission to 'Bring all Home, to the Father's Heart, through Jesus, by the Power of the Holy Spirit,' with staff dedicated to forming disciples of every age and stage.
Mass times at St. John Fisher Chapel University Catholic Parish & OU Campus Min
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday: 9:30 AM – 10:30 AM
- Thursday: 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM
Adoration times
- Thursday: 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM
- Wednesday: 6:00 PM – 7:15 PM
History of St. John Fisher Chapel University Parish
The parish was canonically established on July 1, 1989, but its life began around 1957 with Fr. Thomas Hinsberg's Newman chaplaincy at Michigan State University/Oakland Campus. The chapel was dedicated September 11, 1966 by Cardinal John Dearden, named after St. John Fisher of Rochester, the martyr-bishop who opposed Henry VIII. Through decades of growth under pastors Fr. Jerry Brzezinski (1983–2015), Msgr. Mike LeFevre, Fr. Daniel Jones, and administrators Fr. Jim Kean and Fr. Matthew Hood, it has grown into a parish serving both Auburn Hills families and Oakland University students, now in a unique partnership with Detroit Catholic Campus Ministry.
- 1957–1962: Fr. Thomas Hinsberg serves as first Newman Chaplain
- 1966: Chapel dedicated by Cardinal John Dearden; Fr. John Fauser assigned as Newman Chaplain
- 1967: Fr. Gerald O'Bee assigned; Sr. Mary VanGilder joins staff
- 1973: Fr. Gerald Maloney assigned as Newman Chaplain
- 1977: Archdiocese expands parking, anticipating up to 800 parish families
- 1983: Fr. Jerry Brzezinski assigned as priest/Campus Minister
- 1989: Canonical parish status granted; Fr. Brzezinski named first pastor
- 2015: Msgr. Mike LeFevre assigned pastor
- 2016: 50th Anniversary celebrated
- 2020: Fr. Daniel Jones becomes pastor with Fr. Andrew Mabee as associate
- 2021: Fr. Jim Kean named administrator after Fr. Jones's death
- 2022: Joins Family of Parishes with St. Joseph the Worker and Christ the Redeemer
- 2023: Grizzly Catholic Campus Ministry formally established
- 2024: FOCUS Missionaries arrive in August
- 2025: Parish placed in unique Detroit Catholic Campus Ministry model; Fr. Matthew Hood named administrator
Worship Schedule
St. John Fisher offers Mass seven days a week, with two Sunday celebrations, daily noon Mass Monday through Wednesday, a Thursday evening Mass, and a Saturday morning Mass. Confession is heard weekly on Thursday evenings and Saturday mornings, and Eucharistic Adoration is offered Wednesday and Thursday evenings.
- Sunday Mass: 10:00 AM and 1:00 PM
- Monday Mass: 12:05 PM
- Tuesday Mass: 12:05 PM
- Wednesday Mass: 12:05 PM
- Thursday Mass: 7:15 PM
- Saturday Mass: 9:00 AM
- Confession: Thursday 6:00–7:00 PM; Saturday 9:30–10:30 AM
- Adoration: Thursday 6:00–7:00 PM; Wednesday 6:00–7:15 PM
- Parish Rosary: Saturday 8:15–8:45 AM
Parish Staff
The parish is led by Parish Administrator Fr. Matthew Hood and Pastoral Administrator Anna Eusebio, with a team spanning pastoral, campus ministry, and operational roles.
- Fr. Matthew Hood — Parish Administrator
- Anna Eusebio — Pastoral Administrator
- Fr. Drew Mabee — Campus Ministry Chaplain
- Fr. Steve Mateja — Campus Ministry Chaplain
- Nicholas Welch — Music Director
- Judie McGuire — Director of Religious Education
- Jane Atkinson — Coordinator of Religious Education
- Drew Tonti — Campus Minister
- Molly Lamb — Engagement Coordinator
- Lori Rafferty — Business Manager
- Linda Guilbert — Records Administrator
- Teresa Knauss — Development Director
- Shannon Wygant — Facilities Manager
- Emma Hoffman — FOCUS Missionary, Team Leader
- Alida Skinner — FOCUS Missionary
- Steven Ortega — FOCUS Missionary
- Brendan Burke — FOCUS Missionary
- Bernadette Willson — FOCUS Missionary
Grizzly Catholic Campus Ministry
Grizzly Catholic is the parish's vibrant Catholic campus ministry, formally established in 2023 and operating across the street from Oakland University. It serves students at Oakland University as well as those from Oakland Community College, Macomb Community College, and Rochester Christian University. The ministry is built on a Win, Build, Send framework inspired by FOCUS: winning students to Christ, building them in discipleship, and sending them out as missionary disciples.
- Four full-time FOCUS Missionaries on team (since August 2024)
- Nearly 20 weekly Bible studies with 185+ students
- Weekly Thursday-night community dinner after evening Mass
- Retreats, including the annual SEEK Conference
- Catholic speaker events
- Exodus 90 men's and Proverbs 31 women's formation groups
- Twice-weekly on-campus outreach (sometimes in bear costumes matching the OU Golden Grizzlies mascot)
- Student leadership teams: Outreach, Events, Marketing
- OCIA program for those entering the Catholic Church
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Religious Education at St. John Fisher is led by Director Judie McGuire and Coordinator Jane Atkinson. The parish runs OCIA for adults preparing to enter or complete initiation in the Catholic Church, faith formation programs for parish families, and on-campus formation opportunities for Oakland University students including workshops and discipleship small groups.
- Religious Education for parish children and families
- OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults)
- Faith formation workshops
- FOCUS-led Bible studies for students
Music & Liturgy
Music at St. John Fisher is directed by Nicholas Welch, supporting Sunday Masses, weekday Masses, and special liturgies throughout the year for both the parish community and the campus ministry.
- Nicholas Welch — Music Director
- Music ministry supports Sunday and daily Masses
Sacraments
All seven sacraments are available through the parish office, with regular scheduled celebrations of Mass, Reconciliation, and Eucharistic Adoration each week.
- Mass: Sunday 10 AM & 1 PM; Mon–Wed 12:05 PM; Thu 7:15 PM; Sat 9 AM
- Reconciliation: Thursday 6–7 PM; Saturday 9:30–10:30 AM
- Eucharistic Adoration: Wednesday 6–7:15 PM; Thursday 6–7 PM
- Baptism, Marriage, OCIA — contact parish office
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Thomas Hinsberg1957–1962
First Newman Chaplain, celebrated Mass in nearby buildings/schools
- Fr. John Fauser1966
Assigned as Newman Chaplain after chapel dedication
- Fr. Gerald O'Bee1967
Newman Chaplain; Sr. Mary VanGilder joined staff
- Fr. Gerald Maloney1973
Newman Chaplain
- Fr. Jerry Brzezinski1983–2015
Priest/Campus Minister, then first canonical pastor (1989) at parish's canonical establishment
- Msgr. Mike LeFevre2015–
Assigned pastor after Brzezinski's retirement; led 50th Anniversary in 2016
- Fr. Daniel Jones2020–2021
Pastor with Fr. Andrew Mabee as associate; passed away in 2021
- Fr. Jim Kean2021–
Named administrator after Fr. Jones's death; later Moderator in Solidum of Family of Parishes
- Fr. Steve Mateja2022–
Priest in Solidum of Family of Parishes; wrote annual pastoral letters on St. John Fisher feast day
- Fr. Bill Promesso2022–
Priest in Solidum of Family of Parishes
- Fr. Matthew Hood2025–
Named parish administrator when parish was placed in unique campus-ministry model