St. Joseph

About St. Joseph Parish

St. Joseph Catholic Church is a small, full-service parish of the Diocese of Lansing located six miles south of Ypsilanti on Whittaker Road. Its pastor, Father Pieter vanRooyen, also teaches at Sacred Heart Major Seminary in Detroit — a dual assignment the parish describes as unique. The parish presents itself as a place where visitors will find 'generous hospitality and living faith,' with the Mass and Eucharistic Adoration at the center of parish life. The current church building dates to 1967, though the parish itself dates to 1890.

Parish History

Catholic life in the area reaches back to 1830, when Redemptorist missionaries began visiting the first local Catholic settlement. The first St. Joseph church was built in Whittaker in 1890 as a gift of Daniel and Mrs. Murphy, and the parish was canonically erected in 1904 under Fr. John Needham, then in the Archdiocese of Detroit. After decades that included a demotion to mission status (1921–1927), the purchase of 15 acres for a new site (1959), and the construction of the present church (1966–67), St. Joseph regained parochial status in 1971 — the same year Washtenaw County was transferred to the new Diocese of Lansing. The current 21st-century story of the parish is marked by the leadership of Fr. Robert T. Kerr (1987–2001), the restoration projects of Fr. Nicholas Ritter, and the pastorate of Fr. Pieter vanRooyen (2018–present).

• 1890 — first St. Joseph church built in Whittaker as a gift of Daniel and Mrs. Murphy
• 1904 — canonical parish under Fr. John Needham
• 1921–1927 — demoted to mission status under Fr. John Zindler
• 1959 — 15 acres purchased for the present site under Fr. Roman Narkun
• 1966–67 — present church built and dedicated November 5, 1967
• July 21, 1971 — transferred from Detroit to the new Diocese of Lansing; parochial status restored under Fr. Darius W. Wyszynski
• 1974 — bell tower built to house the 1866 bell (gift of the Hitchingham Family)
• 1981 — Parish Activities Center dedicated by Bishop Kenneth J. Povish
• 1987–2001 — pastorate of Fr. Robert T. Kerr
• 2001–2009 — pastorate of Fr. Nicholas Ritter (died April 24, 2011)
• 2009 — Fr. Ed Ertzbischof assigned pastor
• 2017 — Fr. Pieter vanRooyen assigned Sacramental Minister (also a Sacred Heart Major Seminary professor)
• 2018 — Fr. vanRooyen assigned Pastor
• August 4, 2024 — Bishop Earl Boyea consecrated the renovated altar and sealed in relics of St. Maria Goretti and St. Elizabeth Ann Seton

Clergy & Staff

The parish team is led by Father Pieter vanRooyen and supported by two permanent deacons and a lay staff handling liturgy, music, religious education, youth, finances, and maintenance.

• Father Pieter vanRooyen — Pastor (also professor at Sacred Heart Major Seminary)
• Deacon Gary Perrydore — Director of Liturgy & Pastoral Ministry
• Deacon Larry Gjernes
• Nathan Everts — Business Manager
• Adam Pace — Director of Liturgical Music
• Anna Nowaczewski — Director of Religious Education (DRE); founder of St Joseph Classical
• Kelsey Ostrowski — Youth Discipleship
• Maureen Crandall — Bookkeeper
• Tom 'Sarge' Derry — Maintenance

Religious Education & Catechesis

St. Joseph's formation program is built on the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd (CGS), a Montessori-based approach in which children encounter the mysteries of God through hands-on materials. The Wednesday program runs both morning and evening sessions and welcomes children ages 3 through 3rd grade in Atrium I and II. Older students continue in Growing Disciples (4th–6th grade) and a two-year Confirmation sequence (7th–9th grade) drawing on Ascension Press curricula (Chosen, Bible Timeline, Altaration). First Communion and First Confession preparation is woven into 'Sacrament Saturdays.' Program fees are intentionally modest, and financial assistance is available through the DRE or pastor.

• Atrium I — ages 3 through 5K (Catechesis of the Good Shepherd)
• Atrium II — grades 1–3
• Wednesday Class A — 10:30 AM–12:00 PM
• Wednesday Class B — 6:00–7:30 PM
• Growing Disciples — grades 4–6, Wednesday evenings 6:00–7:30 PM
• Confirmation — grades 7–9, two-year program (Chosen year 1; Bible Timeline + Altaration year 2; Theology of the Body)
• First Sacraments via 'Sacrament Saturdays'
• Director of Religious Education: Anna Nowaczewski, DRE ([email protected] or 734-904-7632)

St Joseph Classical (Homeschool Co-op)

St Joseph Classical (SJC) is a one-day-per-week Catholic, classical homeschool support program housed at St. Joseph Parish. Students in grades 1 through 8 meet primarily on Wednesdays, opening the day with 9:30 AM Mass and rotating through year-long studies in science and history, with theology for grades 7–8 and religious education for grades 1–6. The day may close with an optional Chess Club ending at 4:30 PM. The curriculum has expanded to include high school courses offered throughout the week. Founded and directed by Anna Nowaczewski, SJC's mission is to support families who wish to homeschool their children 'in truth, knowledge, and the Catholic faith.' Scholarships are available. The 2026–27 director is Laura Foutch ([email protected]).

• Grades 1–8 (now including high school courses during the week)
• Wednesdays begin with 9:30 AM Mass
• Year-long science and history studies
• Theology for grades 7–8; religious education for grades 1–6
• Optional Chess Club ending 4:30 PM
• School year: first week of September through end of April
• Scholarships available

Youth & Summer Catechesis (Totus Tuus)

St. Joseph hosts the Totus Tuus summer catechetical program, which brings missionaries to the parish for two age-appropriate tracks — an elementary program for grades 1–6 and a middle/high school program for grades 7–12. The week includes daily Mass, time for Confession, Eucharistic Adoration, fellowship, and teaching on the Ten Commandments, the Luminous Mysteries, and personal testimonies. Participants pack a lunch each day except Friday.

• Elementary program — grades 1–6
• Middle/High School program — grades 7–12
• Daily Mass, Confession, and Adoration
• Curriculum themes: Ten Commandments, Luminous Mysteries, personal testimonies

Music & Liturgy

Liturgical music at St. Joseph is directed by Adam Pace, Director of Liturgical Music, working alongside Deacon Gary Perrydore (Director of Liturgy & Pastoral Ministry). The parish's three Sunday Masses — including the 5:00 PM evening Mass — offer opportunities for cantors, choirs, and instrumentalists to serve the parish's Eucharistic-centered worship.

• Director of Liturgy & Pastoral Ministry — Deacon Gary Perrydore
• Director of Liturgical Music — Adam Pace

Contact & Visiting

The parish office is open by phone or email during the week and can be reached at the address below. Newcomers and visitors are warmly welcomed to attend any of the three Sunday Masses or to stop in for Eucharistic Adoration during one of the three weekly time slots.

• Address: 9425 Whittaker Road, Ypsilanti, MI 48197
• Phone: (734) 461-6555
• Email: [email protected]
• Website: https://www.sjypsi.com/