About St. Kieran · Shelby Township, Michigan
St. Kieran Catholic Church is a Roman Catholic parish located at 53600 Mound Road in Shelby Township, Michigan, belonging to the Archdiocese of Detroit. Founded in 1962, it has grown into a thriving community of more than 3,275 families clustered around its distinctive pyramid-shaped worship complex along Mound Road. The parish is served by a team of priests and a permanent deacon under the Archdiocese's Family of Parishes model, and offers daily Mass, Saturday reconciliation, Eucharistic Adoration, robust faith formation for children and youth, and a wide array of music, service, and fellowship ministries. Its long-standing motto, 'Sharing Christ with all God's people in and through the church,' captures the community's commitment to worship, formation, and outreach.
- Established
- 1962
- Patron
- St. Kieran (Kieran of Clonmacnoise)
- Rector
- Rev. Joseph (Joe) Mallia
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Detroit
Why belong here
St. Kieran offers the full rhythm of Catholic life on Mound Road: a Sunday Vigil and three Sunday Masses, weekday Masses Monday through Friday, Saturday confessions, and monthly all-day Eucharistic Adoration. Families can walk their children through faith formation K–5, Confirmation preparation, OCIA, the children's choir and Vacation Bible School, while teens gather as SKY (St. Kieran Youth), young adults meet on their own calendar, and seniors stay active through a dedicated 50+ ministry. Music ministry alone spans seven groups — from a contemporary ensemble to handbell and resurrection choirs — making it easy to find a place to serve.
Mass times at St. Kieran
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 3:30 PM – 4:00 PM
Adoration times
- Monday 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM (First Monday of the month)
Parish Identity & History
St. Kieran was established in 1962 when Cardinal Dearden set the parish boundaries on June 8 and Reverend Edward Obuchowski was installed as the first pastor on June 24. The parish grew alongside Shelby Township into a community of more than 3,275 families. On June 24, 2022 the parish marked 60 years with an anniversary Mass and launched a '$60 for 60th Anniversary' campaign to build up the St. Kieran Parish Endowment Fund, established with the Catholic Foundation of Michigan in 2018; over 100 families contributed. The parish's enduring motto is 'Sharing Christ with all God's people in and through the church.'
- Founded June 24, 1962
- First pastor: Rev. Edward Obuchowski
- Boundaries set by Cardinal Dearden, June 8, 1962
- 60th anniversary celebrated June 24, 2022
- St. Kieran Parish Endowment Fund (est. 2018, Catholic Foundation of Michigan)
- Roughly 3,275 registered families
The Church Building
St. Kieran's worship complex is anchored by a striking pyramid-shaped church that the parish itself calls 'a pillar of the community and a beacon of light and joy to all who enter.' Around the 50th anniversary, the sanctuary was completely renovated — new pews, revised altar layout, new windows, a new baptismal font and Blessed Sacrament Chapel, and upgraded sacristies and ministers room. Sanctuary seating grew from 928 to 1,058, and a separate 166-seat Day Chapel was added. The contractor, Roncelli, Inc., coordinated the work so the church and entrances could remain accessible, with the parish gymnasium hosting Mass during construction and parishioners able to watch progress through viewing windows in the temporary barriers.
- Distinctive pyramid-shaped worship structure
- Sanctuary renovated at 50th anniversary (capacity 928 → 1,058)
- New 166-seat Day Chapel added
- Contractor: Roncelli, Inc.
Clergy & Staff
St. Kieran is part of the Archdiocese of Detroit's 'Northeast North Macomb 1' Family of Parishes. The leadership team, listed on parish bulletins and in the AOD directory, includes Fr. Joseph (Joe) Mallia as moderator and primarily responsible priest, with three additional priests in solidum (Fr. Roman Pasieczny, Fr. Francisco Restrepo, Fr. Radoslaw Zablocki) and permanent deacon Deacon Rosario (Russ) Ortisi. A larger lay staff runs parish operations, faith formation, music, family life, youth ministry, and outreach.
- Rev. Joseph (Joe) Mallia — Moderator / Pastor (since August 2020)
- Rev. Roman Pasieczny — Priest In Solidum
- Rev. Francisco Restrepo — Priest In Solidum
- Rev. Radoslaw Zablocki — Full-Time Priest Support
- Deacon Russ (Rosario) Ortisi
- Jeanee Snider — Parish Secretary
- Michelle Simpson — Coordinator of Family Life (Baptism, Marriage, Funerals)
- Kim Jacob — Liturgy Coordinator / Youth Ministry
- Rose Churilla — Director of K–5 Faith Formation & Sacrament Preparation
- Susan Weyland — Director of Confirmation (grades 6–9)
- Trisha Ortisi — Faith Formation Secretary
- Laurel Alu — Young Adult / Senior Adult Ministry; Bulletin Editor
- Kelli Miller — Special Events Coordinator
- Jeanne Robinson — Christian Service
- Marcia DiMambro — Director of OCIA
- Mitchell Owens — Director of Music Ministries
- Maria Masalskis-Hardie — Assistant Director of Music
- Rosalia Emmanuele Schultz — Children's Choir Director
- Lisa Sammut — Parish Bookkeeper
- Curt Dumas & Chuck Bologna — Maintenance
- Dennis Jacks — Ushers; Jim Finn — Knights of Columbus
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Children's Faith Formation runs K–5 under Rose Churilla, with a separate two-year preparation track for First Reconciliation and First Communion beginning in first grade. Susan Weyland directs Confirmation preparation for grades 6–9. Trisha Ortisi staffs the Faith Formation office at (586) 781-6515.
- K–5 Faith Formation
- First Reconciliation & First Communion (2-year process)
- Confirmation (grades 6–9)
- Vacation Bible School (Pre-K through 6th)
- Family Formation model — parents and children attend together
OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults)
Adults seeking Baptism, Confirmation, or full communion with the Catholic Church are welcomed through the parish OCIA process, directed by Marcia DiMambro ([email protected], ext. 128).
- Director: Marcia DiMambro
- Welcomes unbaptized adults, baptized Christians, and Catholics seeking Confirmation
Youth, Young Adult & Senior Ministries
Teens gather as SKY (St. Kieran Youth) under Kim Jacob, with summer gatherings, retreats, and outings such as tours of the Fr. Solanus Casey Center, Catholic Night at Jimmy John's Field, kickball leagues, and the Global Celebration of Youth photo rally. Young adults (18–39) meet through Laurel Alu, with annual retreats (e.g., at Subiaco Retreat Center). Laurel also coordinates Senior Adult (50+) ministry.
- St. Kieran Youth (SKY)
- Young Adults (18–39) committee & retreats
- Senior Adults (50+) programming
- Summer kickball league & Catholic Night at the Ballpark
- Annual young adult retreat at Subiaco Retreat Center
Music Ministry
Music ministry at St. Kieran is led by Director of Music Ministries Mitchell Owens and Assistant Director Maria Masalskis-Hardie, supported by Children's Choir Director Rosalia Emmanuele Schultz. The parish frames music as 'first and foremost prayer,' citing Scripture's witness that Jesus and the Apostles sang at the Last Supper. Seven distinct groups serve the parish across the liturgical year.
- Liturgical Choir — adult choir leading worship on a rotating Sunday schedule (rehearsals Wednesdays 7:30 PM, Labor Day through Pentecost)
- Contemporary Ensemble — leads the Saturday 4:30 PM Mass and monthly Ascend Praise & Worship evenings (rehearsal 3:25 PM Saturdays)
- Children's Choir — Grades 2–8, sings about once a month October–May plus Christmas Eve (Tuesdays 6:10–7:00 PM)
- Handbell Choir — began 2024–2025 season; rings about once a month (rehearsals Wednesdays 6:30–7:30 PM)
- Resurrection Choir — funeral Masses; coordinated by Maria Masalskis-Hardie
- Cantors — lead congregational singing and proclaim the Responsorial Psalm at all weekend and Holy Day Masses (audition required)
- Instrumentalists — flute, violin, oboe, trumpet, drums, guitar, harp, and more (audition required)
Christian Service & Outreach
Outreach and pastoral care are coordinated by Jeanne Robinson (Christian Services). The parish has a long tradition of visiting the sick and dying, conducting wake services, and walking with families through times of need. The Knights of Columbus (Jim Finn) are an active presence, including their annual Hot Dog Lunch for VBS children, families, and staff.
- Christian Service office
- Visits to the sick and dying / wake services
- Knights of Columbus Council
- Ushers (Dennis Jacks)
- Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion (Archdiocesan training required)
Sacraments & Family Life
All sacramental preparation and family-life ministry is coordinated by Michelle Simpson, Coordinator of Family Life ([email protected], ext. 114). Annulment requests are routed through the Metropolitan Tribunal of the Archdiocese of Detroit.
- Baptism preparation
- Marriage preparation
- Funeral coordination
- Annulment intake (Metropolitan Tribunal of the Archdiocese of Detroit)
- First Reconciliation, First Communion, Confirmation (separate two-year tracks)
- Anointing of the Sick
Parish Office & Practical Info
The parish office serves the community from 53600 Mound Road, with weekday hours Monday–Thursday 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM and Friday 8:00 AM to 12:00 PM. Mass Intentions must be submitted three weeks in advance to appear in the bulletin.
- Address: 53600 Mound Road, Shelby Township, MI 48316
- Phone: (586) 781-4901
- Faith Formation: (586) 781-6515
- Office hours: Mon–Thu 8:00 AM–5:00 PM; Fri 8:00 AM–12:00 PM
- Family of Parishes: Northeast North Macomb 1 (Central Macomb Vicariate, Northeast Region)
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Edward Obuchowski1962 – (first pastor, installed June 24, 1962)
Installed by Cardinal Dearden as the founding pastor; broke ground for the temporary church building on July 1, 1962.