About St. Joseph · Erie, Michigan
St. Joseph Catholic Parish in Erie, Michigan is the second-oldest Catholic parish in Monroe County and the third-oldest in the Archdiocese of Detroit, with roots reaching back to 1819 when French-Canadian pioneers built a small log church along Bay Creek near Lake Erie and named it St. Joseph Sur La Baie. Today the parish centers on the same brick church consecrated by Bishop Peter Paul LeFevere in 1852, and is partnered with St. Joseph Catholic School (Pre-K through 8th grade). The community is eucharistically centered, offers daily Adoration with Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament in its Convent Chapel, and is part of the Lumen Christi Family of Parishes within the Monroe Vicariate of the Archdiocese of Detroit.
- Established
- 1819
- Patron
- St. Joseph
- Rector
- Rev. Fr. Robert Slaton (Moderator of the Lumen Christi Family of Parishes)
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Detroit (Monroe Vicariate, South Region, Lumen Christi Family of Parishes / 'South Monroe 3')
Why belong here
St. Joseph is a deeply rooted eucharistic community that still worships in the same brick church consecrated in 1852 — the third-oldest continuously operating parish in the Archdiocese of Detroit. Daily Adoration with Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament in the Convent Chapel (Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday/Friday, Thursday, and Saturday hours) gives parishioners a real rhythm of prayer, and a robust Catholic school (Pre-K through 8th grade), a Family of Parishes religious education program for First Communion and Confirmation, weekly Rosary, Prayers for Priests, and Children's Liturgy of the Word make it a place where families of every stage can find a home.
Mass times at St. Joseph
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Tuesday 5:00–6:00 PM
- First Friday 10:00–11:00 AM
- Or by appointment
Adoration times
- Monday & Thursday: 9:00 AM – 8:00 PM (in Convent Chapel; Monday includes Weekly Rosary at 10:30 AM)
- Tuesday: 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM (moves to church from 3:00–6:00 PM, with Prayers for Priests at 3:00 PM)
- Wednesday & Friday: 10:00 AM – 8:00 PM
- Saturday: 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM
- Sunday: 12:00 PM – 4:00 PM
About St. Joseph Parish
St. Joseph Catholic Parish in Erie, Michigan is a welcoming, eucharistically-centered community in the Monroe Vicariate (South Region) of the Archdiocese of Detroit. The parish belongs to the Lumen Christi Family of Parishes (sometimes referenced as 'South Monroe 3') and partners closely with St. Joseph Catholic School on the same campus at 2214 Manhattan Street. Its mission statement is simple: a community 'centered on the Eucharist, that courageously embraces the call to discipleship and evangelization through the sacraments, faith formation, and service.'
- Patron: St. Joseph
- Diocese: Archdiocese of Detroit — Monroe Vicariate, South Region
- Family of Parishes: Lumen Christi / South Monroe 3
- Pastoral leader: Rev. Fr. Robert Slaton, Moderator
History of the Parish
The story of St. Joseph begins with French-Canadian pioneers who settled the Bay Creek area around 1790, clearing dense walnut stands behind the shores of Maumee Bay. Their first church, a 25' x 35' log structure built in 1819 on the north shore of Bay Creek, gave the mission its original name: St. Joseph Sur La Baie (St. Joseph of Bay Miami). After itinerant missionary priests — most famously Fr. Gabriel Richard, S.J. — and a second frame church (1826), the growing community built the present brick church in 1851 on higher, more accessible ground. Bishop Peter Paul LeFevere consecrated it on October 24, 1852, and the parish has worshipped on the same Manhattan Street site ever since.
- 1819 – first log church built on north side of Bay Creek
- 1826 – replaced by frame church on south side of Bay Creek
- 1833 – Fr. John DeBruyn named first resident pastor
- 1836–1852 – Fr. Peter Warlop builds present brick church
- 1852 – Bishop LeFevere consecrates the new building
- 2019 – 200th anniversary celebrated with Mass by Archbishop Vigneron
Pastor Succession
The parish's documented pastoral succession traces back to Fr. Gabriel Richard's missionary visits from Detroit (1798–1820), followed by priests from the Monroe mission of St. Antoine's (1820–1833), then the arrival of the first resident pastor, Fr. John DeBruyn, in 1833. Fr. Peter Warlop's long tenure (1836–1852) saw the congregation grow large enough to build and consecrate the present brick church.
- Fr. Gabriel Richard, S.J. – missionary (1798–1820)
- Fr. Jean Bellamy / Fr. Stephen T. Badin / T.C. Carabin – Monroe missionaries (1820–1833)
- Fr. John DeBruyn – first resident pastor (1833)
- Fr. J.F. Tervooren – second resident pastor (1835–1836)
- Fr. Peter Warlop – third resident pastor (1836–1852); built the current church
Clergy & Staff
The parish is currently served by Rev. Fr. Robert Slaton (Moderator) and Rev. Fr. Louis Lapeyre (Priest in Solidum), with two deacons: Dcn. Martin Selmek and Dcn. Kenneth Trabbic. Parish staff include a Parish Secretary, Mission Support Director Grace Ledbetter, Bookkeeper Nick Switzer, and Building Manager/Maintenance Mr. Patrick Engel.
- Rev. Fr. Robert Slaton — Moderator
- Rev. Fr. Louis Lapeyre — Priest in Solidum
- Deacon Martin Selmek
- Deacon Kenneth Trabbic
- Ms. Grace Ledbetter — Mission Support Director
- Mr. Nick Switzer — Bookkeeper
- Mr. Patrick Engel — Maintenance Manager
- Parish Secretary
Religious Education & Faith Formation
Faith formation for children is provided through the Lumen Christi Family of Parishes religious education program, with classes for kindergarten through 8th grade held at Our Lady of Mount Carmel in Temperance. Sacramental preparation for First Reconciliation, First Communion (Grade 2), and Confirmation (Grade 8) is integrated into the program, with required retreats and parent/sponsor sessions.
- Children's Religious Education Program (K–8) at Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Temperance
- Monday 5:30–6:45 PM (Grades K–1 and 3–7)
- Tuesday 5:30–6:45 PM (Grades K–8, including First Communion and Confirmation)
- First Reconciliation and First Communion Formation (registration by November 1)
- Confirmation Program with in-person sacramental sessions and retreat
- Children's Liturgy of the Word every Sunday at the 10:30 AM Mass (ages 3–9)
St. Joseph Catholic School
St. Joseph Catholic School shares the Erie campus at 2238 Manhattan Street and serves more than 120 students from Preschool through Grade 8. The school has deep historical roots — the parish's first log church also served as the original school in 1826 — and today offers religion, math, literature, science, social studies, Latin, music, art, technology, and physical education, along with athletics.
- Preschool, Pre-Kindergarten, Kindergarten through Grade 8
- Mrs. Anastasia Desmond, B.A., M.Ed — Principal
- Lead teachers for grades 1 through 8
- Lead Latin and Music Teacher; Lead Art and Technology Teacher
- Athletics Director
- School phone: 734-848-6985
- School email: [email protected]
Sacraments & Sacramental Preparation
In addition to the Sunday and weekday Mass schedule, the parish celebrates Reconciliation weekly and coordinates preparation for First Communion and Confirmation through both the parish school and the Lumen Christi Family of Parishes religious education program. Baptisms, weddings, and the Anointing of the Sick are arranged through the parish office.
- First Reconciliation and First Communion (Grade 2)
- Confirmation (Grade 8, with retreat)
- Reconciliation: Tuesday 5:00–6:00 PM and First Friday 10:00–11:00 AM
- Baptism, Marriage, Anointing of the Sick — contact the parish office
Visiting & Contact
Visitors are welcomed at the parish office at 2214 Manhattan Street, Erie, MI 48133, or by phone, email, or fax. The school office sits just next door at 2238 Manhattan Street.
- Parish phone: 734-848-6125
- Parish fax: 734-848-2784
- Parish email: [email protected]
- School phone: 734-848-6985
- School email: [email protected]
- Summer Office Hours (Memorial Day – Labor Day): Tue–Thu, 8:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Gabriel Richard, S.J.1798–1820 (itinerant/missionary)
Traveling priest from Detroit (then pastor of Ste. Anne de Détroit); celebrated Mass at the log church in his last two years; the mission was also known as St. Joseph de la Baie Miami in his writings.
- Priests from the Monroe area (St. Antoine's, Frenchtown)1820–1833
Continued serving the mission after Fr. Richard, including missionary Fr. Jean Bellamy (1825–1828), Fr. Stephen Theodore Badin, Vicar-General of Bardstown, KY (1828–1831), and T.C. Carabin, missionary (1831–1833).
- Fr. John DeBruyn1833–1835
First resident pastor of the parish.
- Fr. J.F. Tervooren1835–1836
Second resident pastor.
- Rev. Peter Warlop1836–1852
Third resident pastor; during his 16-year tenure the mission grew into a thriving congregation and he oversaw the building and consecration of the present brick church in 1851–1852.