St. Joseph, Divine Mercy Parish

Parish History

Catholic faith in Manistee stretches back to 1862, with the first St. Mary Church on the north side of the Manistee River. A second St. Mary Church was built in 1874 at Sycamore and Third Streets, later replaced by Our Lady of Mount Carmel Shrine (dedicated July 14, 1963 by Bishop Allen Babcock). Polish Catholics organized separately in 1885 under Father W. Grochowski, building St. Joseph Church that same year; two towers followed in 1887 along with a school, convent, and rectory. Guardian Angels Parish was approved in 1888, with its cornerstone laid that year and the church completed in 1891.

2016 Merger into Divine Mercy Parish

Effective November 27, 2016, Bishop Steven J. Raica canonically merged Guardian Angels, St. Joseph, and St. Mary of Mt. Carmel Shrine into the new Divine Mercy Parish. Each of the three church buildings retains its historic name. All Masses are celebrated in St. Joseph Church; Guardian Angels is reserved for registered parishioners' funerals and weddings and is not open for tours.

• Merger effective November 27, 2016
• Final Mass at St. Mary of Mt. Carmel Shrine: December 8, 2018, celebrated by Bishop Steven J. Raica
• All Sunday and weekday Masses now at St. Joseph Church, 249 Sixth Street

The Three Church Buildings

Divine Mercy Parish is unique in retaining three distinct church buildings that visitors can see around downtown Manistee. Each reflects a different era of American Catholic architecture and immigrant parish life.

• St. Joseph Church — 249 Sixth Street (rebuilt on present site after 1884 windstorm; twin towers added 1887; mid-1950s renovation installed stained-glass windows and a new facade)
• Guardian Angels Church — 371 5th Street (completed 1891; the most architecturally unchanged Catholic church in Manistee; limited-use facility)
• St. Mary of Mt. Carmel Shrine — 260 St. Mary's Parkway (dedicated 1963 by Bishop Allen Babcock; closed for regular worship December 8, 2018)

Parish Staff & Pastoral Leadership

The parish is led by a Pastor (Rev. James Bearss), with a Parochial Vicar (Rev. Shabu Kunnathoor, effective July 1, 2026) joining the team. A small parish office staff supports operations, music, and facilities.

• Rev. James Bearss — Pastor ([email protected], ext. 104)
• Rev. Shabu Kunnathoor — Parochial Vicar effective July 1, 2026 (also St. Joseph, Onekama)
• Ann Brown — Receptionist ([email protected], ext. 101)
• Kristin Harvey — Office Assistant ([email protected], ext. 108)
• Jason Horrigan — Maintenance Manager
• Jerry Stege — Music Director

Parish Councils & Strategic Plan

A Pastoral Council and Finance Council consult with the pastor on the spiritual and material life of the parish. The Pastoral Council has seven sub-committees aligned with the seven essential elements of parish life (Evangelization, Word, Worship Service, Community, Stewardship, Leadership, plus a stewardship/planning element) and produced a 10-year long-range plan titled '20/20 Vision.' Two parish-wide surveys identified top priorities, including financial management (116 votes), parish maintenance (111), Mt. Carmel Cemetery improvements (103), and youth faith formation (98).

• Pastoral Council with seven sub-committees
• Finance Council appointed by the Pastor
• Top priorities from strategic-plan surveys: financial management, parish maintenance, Mt. Carmel Cemetery, youth faith formation, Manistee Catholic Central decisions

Sacraments

Beyond the Eucharist, Reconciliation, and Anointing of the Sick celebrated regularly, the parish prepares parishioners for Baptism, Marriage, and funerals. Guardian Angels Church continues to host funerals and weddings for registered parishioners, while daily liturgies and most sacraments are celebrated at St. Joseph.

• Baptism — contact the parish office
• Marriage — Guardian Angels reserved for registered parishioners
• Anointing of the Sick — contact the parish office
• Funerals — Guardian Angels reserved for registered parishioners

Faith Formation & Religious Education

Faith formation spans children, youth, and adults. The parish has historically offered K–12 religious education through its school and CCD program and is exploring K–5 school options, hybrid/virtual middle- and high-school classes, and a summer faith camp through its strategic planning. Adult faith formation includes Bible studies, men's and women's prayer groups, and OCIA (the restored name for RCIA).

• Youth Faith Formation (priority #4 in 2025 strategic plan)
• Adult Bible Studies and Prayer Groups
• OCIA / RCIA for adults seeking initiation
• Summer Faith Camp (under consideration)

Music Ministry

The parish choir is directed by Music Director Jerry Stege and supports Sunday liturgies, funerals, and special events such as the St. Joseph's class reunions that return for anniversary Masses. The choir is featured in regular parish bulletins and reunion news coverage.

• Director: Jerry Stege ([email protected])
• Supports Sunday Mass, holy days, weddings, funerals, and anniversary Masses

Outreach & Charity

Divine Mercy Parish runs a Food Pantry (with periodic mobile food pantries), Bereavement ministry, a Giving Tree at Christmas, Medical/Homebound Outreach to train Eucharistic Ministers to visit the sick and elderly, Pro-Life and Prison ministry, parish greeters, and a long-running partnership with ECHO His Love, the faith-based nonprofit providing shelter, food, and clothing to Manistee County residents experiencing homelessness. In a recent five-year lease signed by Fr. Bearss and ECHO executive director Lisa Clarke, ECHO His Love continues to operate its Safe Harbor winter shelter and services out of the Guardian Angels school building, where it has been housed since 2018.

• Parish Food Pantry (relocated February; mobile food pantry events)
• Bereavement Ministry
• Giving Tree (Christmas outreach)
• Medical & Homebound Outreach (Eucharistic Ministers to seniors)
• ECHO His Love partnership — five-year lease at Guardian Angels school building
• Knights of Columbus and Rosary Society service activities

Mt. Carmel Cemetery

Mt. Carmel Cemetery is a parish-owned cemetery whose stewardship is one of the top priorities identified in the parish strategic plan (103 votes). Improvements under consideration include security cameras, expansion of plot space, and general upkeep. Parishioners with questions are directed to call the parish office until further notice.

• Priority projects: security cameras, plot-space expansion, general upkeep
• Contact the parish office (231-723-2619) for cemetery inquiries

Manistee Catholic Central (MCC) — Past & Future

Manistee Catholic Central served as the parish's PreK–12 school for 60 years. Beginning with the 2014–15 school year, MCC ran an accumulated deficit that grew to more than $4.1 million. Despite a Parish Viability Committee, an $850,000 MCC Foundation effort, and a $350,000 Diocesan commitment, Bishop Jeffrey Walsh announced April 9, 2024 that the $2 million target was not reached and MCC would close. The MCC Schools Foundation now funds scholarships (such as the Doris and Ed Polcyn Graduate Scholarship) for area students, while the parish is preparing the property for sale and developing a strategic plan for all parish buildings. ECHO His Love continues operating out of the Guardian Angels school building on a five-year lease.

• MCC founded ~1964; operated continuously for 60 years
• Cumulative deficit reached $4.1 million by end of 2023–24 school year
• Closure announced April 9, 2024 by Bishop Jeffrey Walsh
• MCC Schools Foundation now administers scholarships (e.g., Doris & Ed Polcyn Graduate Scholarship)
• Former MCC property being prepared for sale through an ad hoc parish committee

Contact & Visit

The Parish Office, located at 254 Sixth Street, Manistee, MI 49660, is open Monday through Friday 9:00 am to 4:00 pm. Visitors are encouraged to stop in or call 231-723-2619 (Fax 231-723-6827) or email [email protected]. St. Joseph Church is the public worship site; Guardian Angels is closed to tours; St. Mary of Mt. Carmel Shrine is closed for regular worship.

• Parish Office — 254 Sixth Street, Manistee, MI 49660
• Phone: 231-723-2619 — Fax: 231-723-6827
• Office hours: Mon–Fri, 9:00 am–4:00 pm
• St. Joseph Church (worship) — 249 Sixth Street
• Guardian Angels (limited use) — 371 5th Street
• Mt. Carmel Cemetery — contact parish office