About St. John the XXIII Parish - St. Mary · Hemlock, Michigan
St. John the XXIII Parish is a Catholic community in the Diocese of Saginaw that serves the western Saginaw County villages of Hemlock, Merrill, and Ryan in Michigan. It was formed on July 1, 2014, when Bishop Joseph Cistone merged the former parishes of St. Mary (Hemlock), Sacred Heart (Merrill), and St. Patrick (Ryan) as part of a diocesan-wide reorganization. St. Mary Church in Hemlock was designated the parish church — the site where the sacraments of initiation (Baptism, Confirmation, and First Holy Communion) are celebrated and where the parish offices and faith formation classrooms are located. The parish takes the name of Pope Saint John XXIII to honor the legacy of the Second Vatican Council.
- Established
- 2014
- Patron
- St. John XXIII (Pope Saint John XXIII, the entire merged parish)
- Rector
- Rev. Sunil Kumar Pallela (Parochial Administrator)
- Diocese
- Diocese of Saginaw
Why belong here
St. John XXIII Parish is a welcoming, three-site Catholic family rooted in more than 140 years of faith in western Saginaw County. Members gather for weekend Mass at St. Mary in Hemlock (Saturday Vigil 4:00 p.m. and Sunday 11:00 a.m.) and at Sacred Heart in Merrill (Sunday 9:00 a.m.), with daily Mass also offered at each church. The parish nurtures disciples of every age through children's faith formation classes led by Keri Fabien (preparing them for First Communion), RCIA for adults seeking to enter or deepen life in the Catholic Church, parish Bible study, and a Music Ministry under Samantha Kaczmarek. Its Christian Service Commission reaches out to those in need — feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, and comforting those who mourn — and parishioners are encouraged to find their own apostolic niche, from funeral luncheons to the regional food pantry.
Mass times at St. John the XXIII Parish - St. Mary
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- St. Mary Church, Hemlock: Saturday 3:30–3:50 p.m.
- Sacred Heart Church, Merrill: Friday 9:00–9:30 a.m.
About St. John XXIII Parish
St. John XXIII Parish was founded on July 1, 2014, when Bishop Joseph Cistone merged the former parishes of St. Mary (Hemlock), Sacred Heart (Merrill), and St. Patrick (Ryan) as part of a diocesan-wide reorganization in the Diocese of Saginaw. The three church buildings kept the names they had carried since their consecration, and each was given a designation for worship. Parishioners selected the name St. John XXIII from a list of suggestions to sustain the legacy of Pope John XXIII and the Second Vatican Council — its good liturgical theology, ecumenism, Christian service, and the priesthood of the faithful.
- Founded July 1, 2014
- Created from the merger of St. Mary (Hemlock), Sacred Heart (Merrill), and St. Patrick (Ryan)
- Named to honor Pope Saint John XXIII and Vatican II
- Mission: 'We, the people of St. John XXIII parish, strive to be a welcoming community, prayerfully guided by the Holy Spirit–who seek to become holy, healthy Catholic disciples.'
St. Mary Church — Parish Church in Hemlock
St. Mary Church and its property in Hemlock are designated as the 'main' location for parish worship and business. The parish offices and the education/faith formation classrooms (in the building behind the church) are also located here. The parish has designated St. Mary as the church where all sacraments of initiation — Baptism, Confirmation, and First Holy Communion — take place, since one joins not a building but the community of the faithful.
- Named in honor of Mary, the Mother of God (feast day January 1)
- Chapel erected in 1880 by several Hemlock families on the corner of Pine Street and Gratiot Road
- Current church built in 1959; first Mass celebrated May 8, 1960
- The 900-pound bronze bell from 1900 still hangs in the bell tower
- Hosts Saturday Vigil Mass at 4:00 p.m. and Sunday Mass at 11:00 a.m.
History of Catholic Life in Hemlock
Before 1880, the nearest Catholic churches for residents of western Saginaw County were St. Andrew in Saginaw and St. Brigid in Midland. In 1880, several families in Hemlock built a small chapel at Pine Street and Gratiot Road. A new and larger church was constructed in 1959 and dedicated with a first Mass on May 8, 1960. The original 900-pound bronze bell from 1900 was retained and still rings from the bell tower — a tangible link to the pioneer Catholic community of the Hemlock area.
- 1880 — small chapel built on Pine Street and Gratiot Road
- 1900 — 900-pound bronze bell cast
- 1959 — new church built
- May 8, 1960 — first Mass celebrated in the present church
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Faith Formation is led by Keri Fabien. Children's classes prepare students for First Communion and are held in the building behind St. Mary Church in Hemlock. The parish also runs RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults) for those wishing to enter the Catholic Church or to learn more about Catholic teaching, and Bible Study sessions are offered at the Parish Center in Hemlock (times posted in the bulletin). The Faith Formation Commission coordinates Adult Faith Formation, Children's Faith Formation, and Youth/Young Adult Ministry across the parish.
- Children's Faith Formation / First Communion prep — contact [email protected]
- RCIA — for those seeking to become Catholic and for Catholics who wish to learn more
- Bible Study — Parish Center, Hemlock
- Faith Formation Commission: Adult, Children, Youth/Young Adult
Christian Service & Outreach
Outreach to those in need is a basic mandate given by Jesus Christ. The parish's Christian Service Commission works with parish resources — financial, human, and physical — to serve the poor, hungry, homeless, sick, and those with genuine needs. Parishioners are involved in many outreaches: feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, comforting those who mourn, helping with the regional food pantry, preparing funeral luncheons, and serving in liturgical and administrative roles.
- Christian Service Commission
- Regional food pantry support
- Funeral luncheon preparation
- Visiting and comforting the sick and bereaved
Councils & Commissions
Parishioners provide input on matters of importance through several advisory bodies. The Parish Council serves as advisers to the Parochial Administrator and helps promote the mission of the Church. The Finance Council guides how parish funds should be allocated. Two commissions carry out the parish's formation and service mission: the Education/Faith Formation Commission and the Christian Service Commission.
- Parish Council
- Finance Council
- Education/Faith Formation Commission
- Christian Service Commission
Music Ministry
The Music Ministry, led by Samantha Kaczmarek ([email protected]), supports liturgical worship across the parish's three church sites. Parishioners serve as choir members and musical accompanists as part of the parish's liturgical ministries.
- Music Ministry Director: Samantha Kaczmarek
- Choir and musical accompaniment at weekend and weekday liturgies
Getting Involved
The parish encourages all members to find their apostolic 'niche' — help with the regional pantry, prepare funeral luncheons, serve within music ministry, help with office work, or take on another role. The parish office can provide a current list of volunteer opportunities.
- Liturgical roles (lector, choir, accompanist, server)
- Christian Service outreach
- Faith Formation catechists
- Office/administrative volunteers
Parish Office & Contact
The parish office is located at 151 Saint Marys Dr., Hemlock, MI 48626, in the building behind St. Mary Church. Office hours are Monday through Wednesday, 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon; the office is closed on all holidays. Phone: 989-642-5606. Fax: 989-642-5240.
- Address: 151 Saint Marys Dr., Hemlock, MI 48626
- Phone: 989-642-5606
- Fax: 989-642-5240
- Office Hours: Monday–Wednesday, 9:00 a.m.–12:00 noon (closed holidays)
- Parochial Administrator: Rev. Sunil Kumar Pallela — [email protected]
- Bookkeeper: Irene Kruth — [email protected]
- Faith Formation: Keri Fabien — [email protected]
- Music Ministry: Samantha Kaczmarek — [email protected]