About St. John the Evangelist · Allenton, Michigan
St. John the Evangelist is a rural Catholic parish in Allenton, Michigan, in the southwestern corner of St. Clair County, that has served Belgian- and German-American farm families for more than a century. Founded in 1915 as a mission and established as a parish in 1948, it is today one of three parishes in the Northwest Thumb 1 Family of Parishes within the Thumb Vicariate of the Archdiocese of Detroit, alongside Our Lady of Mt. Carmel in Emmett and Sacred Heart in Yale. The current church was dedicated in 2003, and the parish continues its mission of growing in faith through the New Evangelization and welcoming all who come through its doors.
- Established
- 1915 (mission); 1948 (parish)
- Patron
- St. John the Evangelist
- Rector
- Rev. Michael Gawlowski (Priest In Solidum, Primarily Responsible); Rev. H. Thomas Kuehnemund (Priest In Solidum, Moderator of the Northwest Thumb 1 Family of Parishes)
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Detroit (Thumb Vicariate, Northwest Region; Northwest Thumb 1 Family of Parishes)
Why belong here
St. John the Evangelist offers a rare close-knit rural Catholic community in western St. Clair County, where many families have worshipped for generations and Sunday Mass truly feels like a family reunion. The parish is part of a three-church Family of Parishes (with Our Lady of Mt. Carmel in Emmett and Sacred Heart in Yale) under the Archdiocese of Detroit's Unleash the Gospel restructuring, but it retains its own identity, Mass schedule, and ministries — including a Society of St. Vincent de Paul conference, Vacation Bible School, Christian Service outreach (Quarterly Food Baskets and Christmas Giving Tree), and online formation through FORMED. Registering ensures you can receive sacraments here, get pastoral care from the priests and staff, and stay informed during emergencies or parish changes.
Mass times at St. John the Evangelist
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday at 3:15 pm (before the 4:00 pm Mass)
About St. John the Evangelist Parish
Tucked into the rural farmland of southwestern St. Clair County, St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church serves the village of Allenton and the surrounding Capac–Berlin–Yale area. The parish community spans parts of Lapeer, Macomb, and St. Clair counties and is part of the Thumb Vicariate in the Northwest Region of the Archdiocese of Detroit. Its Family of Parishes — the Northwest Thumb 1 — includes Our Lady of Mt. Carmel in Emmett and Sacred Heart in Yale. The parish describes itself as a community that 'strives to make everyone feel welcome' and hopes every visitor's time here is 'a joyful and Holy Spirit filled experience.'
Parish History
St. John the Evangelist was started in 1915 as a mission church for Belgian and German immigrants determined to keep the Catholic faith alive in this rural corner of the Thumb. Bishop James Foley of Detroit provided an $800 grant to build the original church, whose founding charter is still preserved in German. A second, larger church was built in 1938 for $2,700 and remains on the property as the parish center. In 1948, Cardinal Edward Mooney raised the mission to parish status. The current church was dedicated on September 20, 2003 by Cardinal Adam Maida, and on August 9, 2015 the parish celebrated its centennial — '100 Years of Witness' — with a Mass offered by Archbishop Allen Vigneron.
- Mission founded 1915
- Became a parish 1948
- Second church built 1938
- Current church dedicated September 20, 2003
- Centennial Mass with Archbishop Vigneron, August 9, 2015
Clergy & Staff
St. John the Evangelist is pastored together with Our Lady of Mt. Carmel (Emmett) and Sacred Heart (Yale) as a single Family of Parishes. Rev. H. Thomas Kuehnemund serves as the Moderator of the Northwest Thumb 1 Family, and Rev. Michael Gawlowski serves as the Priest In Solidum Primarily Responsible for the Allenton parish. Deacon William Kolarik also serves the family.
- Rev. H. Thomas Kuehnemund — Priest In Solidum; Moderator, Northwest Thumb 1 Family of Parishes
- Rev. Michael Gawlowski — Priest In Solidum, Primarily Responsible for St. John the Evangelist
- Deacon William Kolarik
Family of Parishes — Northwest Thumb 1
As part of the Archdiocese of Detroit's Unleash the Gospel restructuring, St. John the Evangelist is grouped with two neighboring parishes into the Northwest Thumb 1 Family. Each parish keeps its own identity and Mass schedule, but they are served by the same team of priests and share pastoral planning.
- St. John the Evangelist, Allenton — 872 Capac Road, (810) 669-1029
- Our Lady of Mt. Carmel, Emmett — 10828 Brandon Rd, (810) 384-1338
- Sacred Heart, Yale — 310 N Main St, (810) 387-9800
Christian Service & Outreach
The parish runs several Christian Service programs aimed at supporting neighbors in need across the rural Thumb region. Sandy Dzieszkowski coordinates both the Quarterly Food Baskets and the annual Christmas Giving Tree. The parish also hosts an active Society of St. Vincent de Paul conference.
- Society of St. Vincent de Paul — preventing homelessness, fighting hunger, and changing lives; connects neighbors with resources and guidance
- Quarterly Food Baskets (contact: Sandy Dzieszkowski)
- Christmas Giving Tree (contact: Sandy Dzieszkowski)
Faith Formation & Family Life
St. John the Evangelist supports the spiritual growth of its families through seasonal programming and online resources. The parish offers an annual Vacation Bible School, encourages registration as a full parish member, and provides a free subscription to FORMED — the Catholic digital platform of videos, audio, and study programs.
- Vacation Bible School (annual; registration available)
- FORMED — free Catholic video, audio, and study resource
- Parish Registration — encouraged for full sacramental participation and pastoral care
Sacraments
The parish celebrates the Sacraments of Baptism, Matrimony, and Reconciliation, and assists families with Funeral planning. Couples preparing for marriage work through the FOCCUS Pre-Marriage Inventory with Fr. Mike and attend an Archdiocese-of-Detroit-approved marriage-preparation program such as 'Two Become One.' Funeral planning forms help families choose Scripture readings and music in coordination with the Music Minister.
- Baptism — contact parish office
- Matrimony — at least 6 months' notice; FOCCUS inventory with Fr. Mike; pre-marriage program required
- Funeral — funeral home coordinates with priest; parish provides planning forms
- Reconciliation — Saturday 3:15 pm
Contact, Visit & Stay Connected
Visitors and parishioners can reach the parish office by phone or email, attend Mass in person or via Facebook livestream, drop off envelopes in the secure drop boxes near the church entrance, or follow news and events on the parish website and Facebook page.
- Address: 883 Capac Road, Allenton, MI 48002
- Mailing: P.O. Box 10, Allenton, MI 48002
- Phone: (810) 669-1029
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: http://stjohnallenton.com
- Facebook: facebook.com/stjohntheevangelistallenton (livestream of Saturday Vigil Mass)
- Secure envelope drop boxes near the church entrance
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. John Ortman
Associate pastor at the time of the parish's 2015 centennial celebration ("100 Years of Witness"); described the 350-family parish as a tight-knit family.
- Rev. H. Thomas Kuehnemund2022–present
Appointed in December 2021 as a member of the In Solidum team pastoring Allenton, Emmett, and Yale; serves as Moderator of the Northwest Thumb 1 Family of Parishes (effective July 1, 2022). Previously Pastor of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel, Emmett.
- Rev. Michael Gawlowski2022–present
Priest In Solidum, Primarily Responsible for St. John the Evangelist Parish, Allenton, within the Northwest Thumb 1 Family.