About St. Lawrence · Utica, Michigan
St. Lawrence Catholic Church is a Roman Catholic parish in Utica, Michigan, part of the Archdiocese of Detroit. Founded in 1866 as a mission of Sacred Heart Parish, it is the oldest religious community in Utica. Today the parish worships in a 1951 Neo-Romanesque church designed by Detroit architect Arthur DesRosiers, designated a Michigan Historic Site in 1991, and serves a large congregation through three Sunday Masses, daily Mass, an Adoration Chapel, a parish school, and a broad network of faith formation, outreach, and fellowship ministries.
- Established
- 1866
- Patron
- Saint Lawrence
- Rector
- Rev. Roman Pasieczny
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Detroit
Why belong here
St. Lawrence offers a deeply rooted Catholic community — the oldest in Utica — where parishioners can worship in a historic 1951 Neo-Romanesque church, attend one of three Sunday Masses plus a daily Mass, and spend time before the Blessed Sacrament in the parish Adoration Chapel (Monday–Friday, 6 AM–7 PM). Families can send their children to the on-site St. Lawrence School or enroll them in the parish's Continuing Religious Education (CRE) program, which includes Catechesis of the Good Shepherd, OCIA for adults and children, and sacramental preparation. A large network of ministries — from St. Vincent de Paul and Stephen Ministry to the Quilters, Pro-Life Group, Health Ministry, Women's Club, and homeless outreach — gives every parishioner a way to live the Gospel in service to others.
Mass times at St. Lawrence
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 3:30 PM (until just before the 4:30 PM Vigil Mass)
Adoration times
- Adoration Chapel: Monday 6:00 AM – 7:00 PM
- Adoration Chapel: Tuesday 6:00 AM – 7:00 PM
- Adoration Chapel: Wednesday 6:00 AM – 7:00 PM
- Adoration Chapel: Thursday 6:00 AM – 7:00 PM
- Adoration Chapel: Friday 6:00 AM – 7:00 PM
Parish History
St. Lawrence began in 1866 as a mission of Sacred Heart Parish for about forty Irish families at Utica Junction (present-day Roseville). Bishop C. H. Borgess dedicated the first church on August 15, 1874, and a cemetery was consecrated in 1878. After fires destroyed the original church in 1904, the parish rebuilt in 1908 and again in 1951, when the present Neo-Romanesque church was completed. Designated a Michigan Historic Site in 1991, St. Lawrence is the oldest religious community in Utica and, in the early 1990s, was reportedly the largest parish in the Archdiocese of Detroit.
- 1866 — First Catholic Mass celebrated by Rev. Amandus Vandendriessche of Detroit
- 1874 — First church dedicated by Bishop C. H. Borgess
- 1878 — Saint Lawrence Utica Cemetery consecrated
- 1904 — Church destroyed by fire; worship held in homes and rented hall
- 1908 — Brick church completed at Van Dyke and McClellan
- 1916 — Feast of St. Lawrence community dinner tradition begun by Fr. O'Shea
- 1951 — Present Neo-Romanesque church designed by Arthur DesRosiers and erected
- 1987 — Five cantors sang at the Papal Mass with Pope St. John Paul II
- 1991 — Designated a Michigan Historic Site (125th anniversary)
- Early 1990s — Reported as the largest parish in the Archdiocese of Detroit
Sacraments
The parish celebrates all seven sacraments. Baptisms for infants and young children are scheduled after the Saturday 4:30 PM and Sunday 12:00 PM Masses (and occasionally during the 10:00 AM Mass), with parents and godparents required to attend a Baptismal Preparation Class — held the third Monday of each month at 6:30 PM in the Church — unless a class has been taken within the past 2–3 years. Marriage requires six months of registered parish membership with active Mass participation before a wedding date can be set. First Reconciliation, First Eucharist, and Confirmation are coordinated through the CRE Office, and Anointing of the Sick is available for those in danger from illness, medical procedures, or advanced age.
- Baptism — contact Celeste Herman at (586) 731-5347
- Baptismal Preparation Class — third Monday of each month, 6:30 PM
- First Reconciliation — 2nd grade CRE preparation
- First Eucharist — 2nd grade CRE preparation; late April / early May
- Confirmation — 7th/8th grade CRE; adult Confirmation in summer
- Marriage — six months of registered, active participation required
- Anointing of the Sick — contact the parish office
Faith Formation & Continuing Religious Education (CRE)
The CRE Office, directed by Lisa Rajnicek, offers religious education for Pre-K through 8th grade, with classes following the academic year (September–April). The program uses the Archdiocese of Detroit Religion Curriculum and includes the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd (a Montessori-based Level 1 Atrium for ages 3–6 and special-needs children, with limited class sizes of 10). The CRE Office also coordinates OCIA for Children (3rd grade and up preparing for Baptism, Reconciliation, and First Eucharist) and OCIA for Adults — Inquiry Sessions meet every other Monday at 6:30 PM in summer, with weekly classes beginning in late September. Adult Faith Formation opportunities and Safe Environment training (Virtus / Protecting God's Children) round out the year.
- CRE PK–8th Grade
- Catechesis of the Good Shepherd — Level 1 Atrium (ages 3–6 & special needs)
- OCIA for Children and OCIA for Adults
- Sacrament preparation: First Reconciliation, First Eucharist, Confirmation
- Adult Faith Formation
- Special Needs Religious Education — 'All Belong!'
- Safe Environment / Virtus training coordination
Catechesis of the Good Shepherd (Atrium)
Catechesis of the Good Shepherd is religious education with a Montessori approach that nurtures a relationship with Jesus and a love for His Church. Children experience the Gospel through sensory-rich materials related to Scripture and Liturgy in a specially prepared sacred space called the Atrium. Classes meet September through April on Sundays at 10:00 AM, Mondays at 6:30 PM, or Tuesdays at 6:30 PM, with class size limited to 10 children per session. Registration is required.
OCIA — Becoming Catholic
Adults seeking a deeper relationship with Jesus Christ through the Sacraments of Baptism, Eucharist, and Confirmation are welcomed into OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults). Summer 2026 Inquiry Sessions with Mrs. Rajnicek meet every other Monday at 6:30 PM, with weekly classes beginning September 28 with Fr. Radek. Children in third grade or older who have not yet been baptized may attend OCIA for Children with their parents and sponsors, culminating in the Sacraments of Initiation at the Easter Vigil.
St. Lawrence School
St. Lawrence School is a Catholic PK–8 school on the parish campus, dedicated to nurturing a love for Jesus Christ and educating the whole child with academic excellence. Its mission, inspired by the Holy Spirit and the intercession of St. Lawrence, is to evangelize students to be joyful missionary Disciples who choose kindness, respect, and compassion. Enrollment information is available through the school office.
- Catholic PK–8 school on parish campus
- Mission: evangelize students as joyful missionary Disciples
- Family-centered faith and academic excellence
Christian Service & Outreach
The Christian Service Commission empowers parishioners to fulfill the Church's mission of love, justice, freedom, and peace by responding to societal and individual human needs in an organized way. Member ministries bring Christ's mercy to those inside and outside the parish boundaries — feeding the hungry in Detroit, sheltering the homeless, supporting grieving families, visiting the homebound, and defending life.
- Christian Service Commission (contact Mary Kraus, (586) 731-5347, [email protected])
- St. Vincent de Paul (SVdP) — food, clothing, furniture, financial assistance
- Stephen Ministry — confidential one-to-one Christian care
- Homebound Ministry — Holy Communion and fellowship
- Health Ministry — body, mind, and spiritual wellness
- Bereavement Care — letters of support and grief resources
- Pro-Life Group
- Quilters — quilts for World Relief
- Women's Club — Christmas Giving Tree Program
- Detroit outreach — serving lunch to the hungry
- Homeless outreach — shelter, showers, transportation, fellowship
Fellowship & Hospitality
Hospitality is a hallmark of parish life at St. Lawrence. After every weekend Mass, parishioners gather in the parish hall for light refreshments — a relaxed way to visit with friends and welcome newcomers. Volunteers also prepare and serve luncheons for the families of deceased parishioners after the Funeral Mass, and provide hospitality for the many parish receptions and events throughout the year.
- Weekend post-Mass refreshments in the parish hall
- Funeral luncheons for families of the deceased
- Volunteer hospitality team for parish receptions and events
Clergy & Pastoral Staff
The parish is currently served by Rev. Roman Pasieczny as pastor (since 2014) and Rev. Radoslaw (Radek) Zablocki as Family Parochial Vicar. The pastoral staff shares a common mission: "We, St. Lawrence Pastoral Staff, believe we are called under the direction of the Holy Spirit to live the Gospel values of Jesus Christ by compassionately listening, collaborating, challenging, animating, teaching and serving the parish and each other. We pray to make more visible the Kingdom of God."
- Rev. Roman Pasieczny — Pastor
- Rev. Radoslaw (Radek) Zablocki — Family Parochial Vicar
- Lisa Rajnicek — Director of Discipleship Formation (North Macomb #1 Family of Parishes) / Director of CRE
- Celeste Herman — Baptism coordinator
- Mary Kraus — Christian Service Commission contact
- Julie Tsatsos, Michael Roth, Steven Ranger, Lisa DiMercurio, Leah — Pastoral Staff
Family of Parishes
St. Lawrence is part of the North Macomb #1 Family of Parishes in the Archdiocese of Detroit, sharing clergy and formation leadership with neighboring parishes. The Family Moderator is Rev. Joseph Mallia (St. Kieran) and the Family Pastor is Rev. Francisco Restrepo (St. Matthias), with St. Lawrence contributing Fr. Pasieczny, Fr. Radek, and Lisa Rajnicek to the shared ministry of the grouping.
- North Macomb #1 Family of Parishes
- Family Moderator — Rev. Joseph Mallia (St. Kieran)
- Family Pastor — Rev. Francisco Restrepo (St. Matthias)
- St. Lawrence clergy and Discipleship Formation leaders serve across the family
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Amandus Vandendriessche1866
Of Detroit; celebrated Utica's first Catholic Mass and began the St. Lawrence mission from Sacred Heart Parish.
- Rev. John D. O'Sheacirca 1900–early 1900s
Pastor of Sacred Heart, Roseville; traveled to the St. Lawrence Mission monthly. Oversaw rebuilding after the 1904 fire; cornerstone of the second (1908) church; in 1916 he suggested the Feast of St. Lawrence community dinner.
- Fr. Burnsuntil 1991
Retired in 1991. Oversaw mid-1980s renovation/activities building and hosted parish cantors at Pope St. John Paul II's 1987 Papal Mass.
- Rev. Robert (Bob) Fisher2003–2014
Assigned as pastor of National Shrine of the Little Flower Basilica in 2014; eventually ordained a bishop in 2017.
- Rev. Roman Pasieczny2014–present
Current pastor; leads St. Lawrence within the North Macomb #1 Family of Parishes.