About St. Mary · Belding, Michigan
St. Mary Catholic Church is a small country church in the farming community of Miriam (Otisco Township), south of Belding, Michigan. Originally established in the 1860s and built by parishioners in 1871, it is famous locally for its striking 103-foot steeple. Today it operates as St. Mary Chapel, one of two worship sites of Saint Joseph–Saint Mary Parish (the other being St. Joseph Church in Belding). The parish is clustered with St. Charles Borromeo Parish in Greenville and belongs to the Diocese of Grand Rapids, where Sunday Mass is celebrated at 8:30 a.m.
- Established
- 1860 (property given) / 1871 (present church built)
- Patron
- The Blessed Virgin Mary (St. Mary)
- Rector
- Rev. Andrew M. Ayers
- Diocese
- Diocese of Grand Rapids
Why belong here
St. Mary offers the warmth of a small, rural Catholic community where generations of farm families have worshipped since 1871. As one of two worship sites of Saint Joseph–Saint Mary Parish and clustered with St. Charles Borromeo in Greenville, it gives parishioners access to a fuller Catholic life — daily Mass, Reconciliation, Eucharistic Adoration, OCIA (formerly RCIA) for adults, religious education and youth ministry, plus a music program led by a Director of Music — while keeping the intimate, country-church feel that visitors consistently describe as welcoming and friendly.
Mass times at St. Mary
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday: 3:00 PM at St. Joseph
Adoration times
- Tuesday: following daily Mass at St. Joseph
- Wednesday: following daily Mass at St. Charles
Parish History
St. Mary Catholic Church was established when property was given to Bishop LeFevere of the Diocese of Detroit in 1860. The present church was built by parishioners in 1871 under the direction of Father Charles Bolte, pastor of SS Peter and Paul in Ionia. Its 103-foot steeple remains the defining landmark of the rural Miriam community. Father Andrew Leightner became its first resident priest. In 1913 St. Mary became a mission parish of St. Joseph in Belding, and in 1938 it was briefly part of the new Diocese of Lansing before joining the Diocese of Grand Rapids. Father Charles Steves began serving both St. Joseph and St. Mary in 1946, a 25-year arrangement. In 2012, under the diocese's 'Our Faith, Our Future' plan, St. Joseph merged with St. Mary to form Saint Joseph–Saint Mary Parish, clustered with St. Charles Borromeo in Greenville. The parish celebrated its sesquicentennial in 2021.
- 1860: Property given to Bishop LeFevere, Diocese of Detroit
- 1871: Present church built under Father Charles Bolte; 103-foot steeple erected
- Father Andrew Leightner: first resident priest
- 1913: St. Mary became a mission of St. Joseph in Belding
- 1938: Brief transfer to Diocese of Lansing, then to Diocese of Grand Rapids
- 1946: Father Charles Steves became shared pastor of St. Joseph and St. Mary (25 years)
- 2012: St. Joseph and St. Mary merged into St. Joseph–St. Mary Parish, clustered with St. Charles Borromeo, Greenville
- 2021: Sesquicentennial (150th anniversary) celebrated
The St. Mary Chapel & the 103-Foot Steeple
The St. Mary Chapel sits at 9041 Krupp Road in the rural community of Miriam, south of Belding in Otisco Township. Its 1871 frame, built by parishioners, is crowned by the parish's famous 103-foot steeple — the visual signature of the Miriam farming community for more than a century. The chapel and its family center are handicapped accessible. Inside, the church features stained-glass windows that have been documented and photographed by local historians.
- Location: 9041 Krupp Rd., Belding, MI 48809
- Handicapped accessible chapel and family center
- Stained-glass windows documented by local historians
Clergy & Staff
The parish is served by Pastor Rev. Andrew M. Ayers, ordained June 1, 2019, and Deacon Jene Baughman. The wider parish staff also includes Tessa Hoffman (Religious Education and Youth Ministry Coordinator), Karin Kwiet-Darvill (Business Manager and Assistant Music Director), Jennifer Hudson (Bulletin Editor), Elijah Jeffers (OCIA and Returning Catholics Coordinator), Kathleen Lally (Director of Music, as of Aug. 1), and maintenance/custodial staff for the three worship sites: Dan Feuerstein (St. Mary), Dan Evans (St. Charles), Mark Emmons (St. Joseph), and Dani Cross (St. Charles).
- Rev. Andrew M. Ayers – Pastor ([email protected])
- Jene Baughman – Deacon ([email protected])
- Tessa Hoffman – Religious Education and Youth Ministry Coordinator
- Karin Kwiet-Darvill – Business Manager & Assistant Music Director
- Jennifer Hudson – Bulletin Editor
- Elijah Jeffers – OCIA & Returning Catholics Coordinator
- Kathleen Lally – Director of Music
- Dan Feuerstein – Maintenance, St. Mary
- Dan Evans – Maintenance, St. Charles
- Mark Emmons – Custodian, St. Joseph
- Dani Cross – Custodian, St. Charles
Faith Formation & Youth Ministry
Tessa Hoffman coordinates Religious Education and Youth Ministry across the clustered parishes, supporting parish families in forming children and teens in the Catholic faith. The parish also points members to Formed, the Catholic media and study platform, for daily reflections and faith-at-home resources.
- Religious Education classes
- Youth Ministry
- Formed Catholic media resources (Formed Daily Reflections)
OCIA – Order of Christian Initiation for Adults
Coordinator Elijah Jeffers oversees OCIA (formerly called RCIA), the parish's process for adults who wish to become Catholic, complete their initiation sacraments, or return to active practice of the faith. A 'Returning Catholics' ministry welcomes those returning to the Church.
- OCIA process for adults seeking initiation
- Returning Catholics ministry
- Contact: [email protected]
Liturgical Ministries & Music
Liturgical ministries play a vital role at weekend and holy day Masses across all three worship sites. Volunteers serve as lectors, Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion, altar servers, ushers, greeters, and sacristans. The music program is led by Director of Music Kathleen Lally (as of Aug. 1) and Assistant Music Director/Business Manager Karin Kwiet-Darvill, supporting congregational singing at the parish's weekend Masses. Contact Rosemary Klackle at [email protected] for information or training.
- Lectors, Eucharistic Ministers, altar servers, ushers, greeters
- Music ministry led by Director of Music and Assistant Music Director
- Liturgical coordinator: Rosemary Klackle ([email protected])
Parish Councils & Stewardship
Parish life is supported by a Pastoral Council covering both St. Charles and St. Joseph–St. Mary, separate Finance Councils for each parish entity, a Buildings & Grounds committee for St. Charles, and cemetery committees. The parish frames its lay involvement under the banner of 'Stewardship — A Way of Life,' inviting parishioners to share their time, talent, and treasure.
- Pastoral Council of St. Charles & St. Joseph–St. Mary
- St. Charles Finance Council
- St. Joseph–St. Mary Finance Council
- St. Charles Buildings & Grounds
- St. Charles Cemetery Committee
- St. Joseph–St. Mary Cemeteries
- Stewardship – A Way of Life
Sacraments
The parish celebrates all seven Catholic sacraments: Baptism, First Communion, Reconciliation (Penance), Confirmation, Matrimony, Holy Orders, and Anointing of the Sick. Couples and individuals preparing for marriage or other sacraments are asked to contact the parish office at (616) 794-2145.
- Baptism
- First Communion
- Reconciliation
- Confirmation
- Matrimony
- Holy Orders
- Anointing of the Sick
Clustered Parishes & Wider Community
Since 2012, St. Mary Chapel has been part of Saint Joseph–Saint Mary Parish, clustered with St. Charles Borromeo Parish in Greenville. Together they share clergy and staff across three worship sites: St. Joseph Church (409 S. Bridge St., Belding), St. Mary Chapel (9041 Krupp Rd., Belding), and St. Charles Borromeo (Greenville). The business/mailing address for the parish cluster is 505 S. Lafayette St., Greenville, MI 48838.
- Saint Joseph Church – 409 S. Bridge St., Belding, MI 48809
- St. Mary Chapel – 9041 Krupp Rd., Belding, MI 48809
- St. Charles Borromeo – Greenville, MI
- Cluster business address: 505 S. Lafayette St., Greenville, MI 48838
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father Charles Boltec. 1871
Pastor of SS Peter and Paul in Ionia who directed the building of the present St. Mary church
- Father Andrew Leightnerafter 1871
First resident priest of St. Mary
- Father John Zindler1913
Serving as pastor of St. Mary, was appointed pastor when St. Joseph was given full parish status
- Father Charles Steves1946–c.1971
Appointed pastor of both St. Joseph and St. Mary; served both parishes for 25 years
- Father Jim
Former pastor referenced in parish Reflections; on medical leave at one point
- Rev. Andrew M. Ayers2021–present
Current pastor; ordained June 1, 2019