About St. Martin of Tours · Vicksburg, Michigan
St. Martin of Tours is a Roman Catholic parish in the village of Vicksburg, Michigan, about 350 families strong and part of the Diocese of Kalamazoo. Its story began in 1906, when Polish Catholic millworkers of the Lee Paper Company were given a small wooden church on West Prairie Street; that congregation grew, and the parish was officially named St. Martin of Tours when the current W Avenue church was dedicated by Bishop Alexander Zaleski on November 10, 1966, the eve of the saint's feast day. Today the parish is led by Monsignor Thomas Martin — its pastor since 2016 — together with two deacons and a lay staff that directs Religious Education, Youth Ministry, Music, Pastoral Care, the St. Vincent de Paul Society, and the parish business office. The community celebrates weekend Masses on Saturday evening and Sunday morning, weekday Masses on Wednesday and Friday mornings, and offers Eucharistic Adoration, Reconciliation, faith formation for grades 1–12, and a wide array of ministries and fellowship groups.
- Established
- 1906
- Patron
- St. Martin of Tours
- Rector
- Monsignor Thomas Martin
- Diocese
- Diocese of Kalamazoo
Why belong here
St. Martin of Tours is a welcoming, mission-driven Catholic community of about 350 families that works to 'develop a growing Christian community by responding to the spiritual and temporal needs of the people,' to 'instill the living faith in our children,' and to be 'a beacon of light to the larger community.' Members can grow in faith through Sunday and weekday Mass, Eucharistic Adoration (including extended First Friday Adoration), regular Reconciliation on Saturday mornings, and Religious Education for grades 1–12 plus adult programs. There are dozens of ways to serve — liturgical roles like lector, altar server, and choir; parish groups like the Knights of Columbus, St. Vincent de Paul Society, the Council of Catholic Women (H.A.L.O.S.), and Caring Hands; and outreach such as visiting the homebound, funeral luncheons, and the youth ministry's Catholic Heart Work Camp.
Mass times at St. Martin of Tours
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday: 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM (or by appointment)
- Wednesday: 6:30 PM to 7:30 PM — bimonthly, rotating between St. Edward (1st Wednesdays) and St. Martin (3rd Wednesdays)
Adoration times
- Friday: 8:00 AM to 9:00 AM
- First Friday: 8:00 AM to 9:00 AM and 9:30 AM to 7:00 PM
- Wednesday: 6:30 PM to 7:30 PM — bimonthly, rotating between St. Edward (1st Wednesdays) and St. Martin (3rd Wednesdays)
Parish Mission & Identity
St. Martin of Tours describes itself as 'a welcoming Catholic community called by God to live out the message of Christ in love and service to all people.' Its parish mission is threefold: to develop a growing Christian community by responding to the spiritual and temporal needs of the people of St. Martin of Tours Parish; to instill the living faith in our children; and to be a beacon of light to the larger community that Christ may be better known to all.
- About 350 member families
- Roman Catholic parish in the Diocese of Kalamazoo
- Located in the village of Vicksburg, Michigan
- Pastoral Mission: growing community, faith formation for children, evangelization
History of the Parish
St. Martin of Tours' roots reach back to 1906, when Polish Catholic millworkers of the Lee Paper Company were served by Father Joseph Lempka in a small wooden church on West Prairie Street. Without a resident priest, the Vicksburg church became a mission of St. Edward Parish in Mendon and went unnamed for sixty years. In 1951 Father Frank Burger was reappointed, and under Father Benjamin Ginther a building campaign produced the W Avenue church, which Bishop Alexander Zaleski of Lansing dedicated on November 10, 1966, the eve of the saint's feast day. The current church was built behind the 1966 building in 2001–2002 and dedicated May 26, 2002; the older church became the Monsignor Martin Parish Hall.
- First church completed 1906 on West Prairie Street
- Mission of St. Edward Parish, Mendon, for many years
- Officially named St. Martin of Tours, 1966
- New church built 2001–2002, dedicated May 26, 2002
- Original church repurposed as Monsignor Martin Parish Hall
Our Staff
The parish is served by Monsignor Thomas Martin (Pastor), two deacons, and a team of lay staff and ministry coordinators. Pastoral, liturgical, faith-formation, youth, and business operations are all led by named members of the parish community, listed on the parish's staff page.
- Msgr. Thomas Martin — Pastor
- Deacon Tim McNamara
- Deacon Thomas Thamann
- Tim McNamara — Director of Religious Education & Bulletin Editor; Tues./Wed./Thurs. Receptionist
- Michelle Klein — Coordinator of Youth Ministry
- Dave Guido — SCRIP Coordinator
- Sue Maneikis — Pastoral Care/Liturgy; Mon & Fri Receptionist
- Colleen Takacs — Business Manager
- Bobbie Appelgren — Bookkeeper / Parish Prayerline
- St. Vincent de Paul Society — Dave Guido
Religious Education & Youth Ministry
Faith formation is a central part of parish life. The Religious Education program serves children in grades 1 through 12 on Sunday mornings from 9:30 to 10:45 AM, with Tim McNamara serving as Director of Religious Education (DRE). Registration requires parish membership; catechists and volunteers are always welcome. The parish also runs a Youth Ministry coordinated by Michelle Klein, which aims to help young people encounter Jesus Christ through activities, discussions, prayer, and service — including the Catholic Heart Work Camp. Special programs for adults are offered throughout the year and publicized through announcements at Mass and in the weekly bulletin.
- 1st–12th grade Religious Education, Sundays 9:30–10:45 AM
- Director of Religious Education: Tim McNamara ([email protected])
- Coordinator of Youth Ministry: Michelle Klein ([email protected])
- Catholic Heart Work Camp participation
- Adult faith-formation programs offered throughout the year
Liturgical Ministries
Many parishioners serve in liturgical roles during Mass. Training is provided for those who wish to volunteer, and roles are open to both youth and adults.
- Lector
- Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion
- Altar Server (youth or adult)
- Usher
- Sacristan (care of altar linens)
- Mass Coordinator (set up for Mass)
- Choir — traditional or youth/circle
Pastoral Care & Outreach
The Pastoral Care Ministry coordinates visits to the sick and homebound, regular calls to parishioners who cannot get out, and rides for the elderly. To arrange a visit or Communion call, contact Sue Maneikis in the Parish Office at 269-649-1629; for a Sacramental emergency such as Last Rites, the parish offers a 24-hour emergency phone line. Christian Service opportunities include providing meals for someone in recovery, helping with the holiday food drive or Christmas gifts, and making or serving food for funeral luncheons through St. Joseph's Guild.
- Hospital and home visits
- Regular calls to the homebound
- Rides for the elderly
- 24-hour Sacramental emergency line: 269-649-1629
- St. Joseph's Guild — funeral luncheon ministry
Parish Groups & Service Organizations
Several parish groups give members a way to serve and build community together. They include the parish's St. Vincent de Paul Society, Knights of Columbus, and the St. Martin's Council of Catholic Women (H.A.L.O.S.), as well as Caring Hands, a craft ministry that makes sleeping mats for the homeless, prayer shawls for the sick and for those needing comfort, and other gifts. Caring Hands meets on the second Monday of each month at 10 AM in the Manning Center.
- St. Vincent de Paul Society
- Knights of Columbus
- St. Martin's Council of Catholic Women (H.A.L.O.S.)
- Caring Hands — second Monday at 10 AM in the Manning Center
- SCRIP gift-card fundraising program
Parish Social Life & Fundraising
Beyond the sacraments and ministries, St. Martin's offers many ways to gather as a community — from Sunday morning coffee and donuts and the Lenten Soup Suppers to the summer parish picnic, the winter 'Anything Goes' party, the summer Golf Outing, and the Rummage Sale. Other ways to pitch in include helping welcome new parishioners, lending a hand at the Lenten Breakfast, or supporting Scrip sales after Masses.
- Sunday coffee & donuts
- Lenten Breakfast and Soup Suppers
- Parish Picnic (summer)
- Anything Goes Party (winter)
- Golf Outing (summer)
- Rummage Sale (summer)
- Scrip sales after Masses
Parish Support & Council Contacts
Parish operations are guided by a Parish Council, Finance Council, Worship/Spiritual commission, Sacraments coordinator, Social Commission, and the SCRIP program. Members serve the parish through roles such as church decorating, Mary Garden and grounds care, Building & Grounds, and volunteer church maintenance. The parish also publishes a weekly newsletter.
- Parish Council — Chad Hessling, 506-5648
- Finance Council — Leo Swiat, 808-0661
- Scrip — Dave Koseck, 649-1629
- Worship/Spiritual — 649-1629
- The Sacraments — Parish Office, 649-1629
- Social Commission — Adam & Arlea Swager, 626-0259
- Building & Grounds, church decorating, Mary Garden, maintenance
Sacraments & Sacramental Emergencies
The parish celebrates the sacraments and welcomes parishioners and visitors to contact the Parish Office at 269-649-1629 for information on Baptism, Marriage, First Communion, Confirmation, and Anointing of the Sick. In a Sacramental emergency — such as the need for Last Rites — call the parish number and select the emergency phone line; a priest or deacon will respond.
- Baptism, Marriage, First Communion, Confirmation, Anointing of the Sick
- Pastoral visits and Communion for the homebound
- 24-hour Sacramental emergency line: 269-649-1629
Visit, Contact & Connect
Parish Office hours are Monday through Friday, 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM. The parish office phone is 269-649-1629, with general email [email protected] and DRE email [email protected]. The parish is also active on Facebook at facebook.com/stmartinoftoursofvicksburg. In 2025 Monsignor Martin presented 'How a Vicksburg Church Grows Over 120 Years' in conversation with the Vicksburg Historical Society, highlighting the parish's origins and the evolution of its church building and grounds.
- Parish Office: 269-649-1629
- Parish Office Hours: Mon–Fri 9:00 AM–4:00 PM
- Email: [email protected]
- DRE email: [email protected]
- Facebook: facebook.com/stmartinoftoursofvicksburg
- Address: 5855 East W Avenue, P.O. Box 264, Vicksburg, MI 49097-0264
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Joseph Lempka1906 (approx.)
Built the first small wooden church on West Prairie Street for Polish Catholic millworkers; reassigned to Hilliards within two months.
- (Vacant / mission of St. Edward, Mendon)1906–1951 (approx.)
Lacked a resident priest and was unofficially known as St. Edward; officially nameless for sixty years.
- Fr. Frank Burger1951 (approx.)
Resident priest again appointed to the Vicksburg church; attendance grew.
- Fr. Benjamin Ginther1958 (approx.)–1966
Launched 1958 building campaign; received permission to name the new church St. Martin of Tours.
- Marvin and Bernie Downey1992
Pastoral administrators.
- Sr. Marjorie Manning, CSC (pastoral administrator) and Fr. Thomas Martin (pastor)1995
Parish grew rapidly; new church built behind the existing one 2001–2002.
- Fr. James Vinh Le2005 – July 11, 2010
Appointed pastor in June 2005.
- Fr. John D. FleckensteinJuly 12, 2010 – July 1, 2011
Named Canonical Pastor; served with assistant pastors Fr. Christopher Ankley and Fr. James Adams.
- Rev. Christopher AnkleyJuly 1, 2011 – 2016
Named Pro-tem Parochial Administrator July 1, 2011; installed as Pastor on Nov. 11, 2011 (the parish feast day).
- Monsignor Thomas Martin2016–present
Returned to St. Martin of Tours from St. Augustine Cathedral in Kalamazoo.