About St. Mary, Cause of Our Joy · Westland, Michigan
St. Mary, Cause of Our Joy is a Catholic parish in Westland, Michigan, part of the Archdiocese of Detroit and the Nankin Family of Parishes. It was formed on July 1, 2016, through the merger of three former Westland parishes — St. Theodore of Canterbury (founded 1963), St. Damian (founded 1955), and Divine Savior (founded 1973) — with worship continuing at the former St. Theodore of Canterbury site at 8200 N. Wayne Road. The parish is now led by an In Solidum team of priests, with Fr. Sean Bonner serving as moderator, and offers weekend Masses in English along with a rich calendar of devotions, faith formation for children and adults, and active parish groups.
- Established
- 2016
- Patron
- The Blessed Virgin Mary, under the title "Cause of Our Joy" (Marian title)
- Rector
- Fr. Sean Bonner (Moderator, Priest In Solidum — Nankin Family of Parishes)
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Detroit (Nankin Family of Parishes)
Why belong here
St. Mary, Cause of Our Joy welcomes parishioners and visitors into a faith-filled community inspired by Mary's "Yes" and led by the Holy Spirit. The parish offers Saturday Vigil and two Sunday Masses, daily Mass on Mondays and Thursdays, weekly Eucharistic Exposition and Adoration, an active Faith Formation program for children preparing for First Reconciliation, First Eucharist, and Confirmation, and an RCIA process for adults. Its parish life is anchored by the Knights of Columbus (Monsignor Russell E. Kohler Council #15204), the Society of St. Vincent de Paul conference serving neighbors in need, the Immaculate Heart of Mary Ministry for the Filipino-American community, Joyful Women, and a Forgotten Harvest mobile pantry held in the parking lot. Whether you are looking for sacramental preparation, devotion, or service opportunities, this is a place that joyfully welcomes all.
Mass times at St. Mary, Cause of Our Joy
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 6:30 PM
- By appointment (call the office at 734-425-4421)
Adoration times
- Eucharistic Exposition: Mondays 12:30 PM – 3:00 PM (following the 12:00 PM Mass)
Parish Story & 2016 Merger
St. Mary, Cause of Our Joy was born on July 1, 2016, when Archbishop Allen H. Vigneron merged three Westland parishes — St. Theodore of Canterbury, St. Damian, and Divine Savior — into a single new faith community. The merger was driven by the unsustainable debt carried by two of the three parishes: St. Damian owed about $2.5 million and Divine Savior about $500,000, while St. Theodore of Canterbury was debt-free. A Merger Transition Team concluded that continuing three sites was financially irresponsible, and worship was consolidated at the former St. Theodore of Canterbury church at 8200 N. Wayne Road. The new name was chosen to honor the Blessed Virgin Mary and to signal a fresh beginning rooted in Marian joy.
- St. Theodore of Canterbury — founded 1963, current church built 1975, ~1,066 registered families at merger
- St. Damian — founded 1955, ~577 families, $2.5M debt at merger
- Divine Savior — founded 1973, ~308 families, $500K debt at merger
- First pastor: Fr. Ken Mazur, PIME, effective July 1, 2016
- Archbishop Allen H. Vigneron issued the merger decree; Auxiliary Bishop Francis R. Reiss served as administrator during the transition
Mass & Worship Schedule
The parish celebrates Weekend Mass on Saturday evening at 5:30 PM and on Sunday at 9:00 AM and 11:00 AM. Weekday Mass is offered on Monday at 12:00 PM (noon) and Thursday at 9:00 AM; there is no Tuesday, Wednesday, or Friday daily Mass on the published schedule. The 9:00 AM Sunday Mass and other liturgies are livestreamed for those unable to attend in person.
- Saturday Vigil: 5:30 PM
- Sunday: 9:00 AM (livestreamed) and 11:00 AM
- Monday: 12:00 PM (Noon)
- Thursday: 9:00 AM
- Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday: No Mass on regular schedule
Sacraments & Sacramental Preparation
The parish prepares children and adults for the Sacraments of Initiation — Baptism, Reconciliation, Eucharist, and Confirmation — and offers the OCIA (formerly RCIA) process for adults seeking full communion with the Catholic Church. Parents are recognized as the primary educators of their children in faith; sacramental programs combine parent meetings, enrollment rites, retreats, and at-home chapter work.
- First Reconciliation: minimum age 7, formal religious formation required
- First Eucharist: minimum age 7, at least two years of formal religious formation
- Confirmation: 8th-grade weekly sessions, cumulative formation through 7th grade, retreat and service commitment
- Baptism: contact Deacon Bob at 734-425-4421
- Holy Matrimony: contact Deacon Bob at 734-425-4421
- Anointing of the Sick: call the office at 734-425-4421 (after-hours information also on the line)
- OCIA / RCIA for adults: contact the Faith Formation Director
Faith Formation & Youth Ministry
Faith Formation at St. Mary, Cause of Our Joy is directed by Sabrina Queen ([email protected], ext. 217) and is rooted in the conviction that parents are the primary educators of their children. The program includes religious education for school-age children, sacramental preparation, and a separate Youth Ministry led by Carol Nelius ([email protected], ext. 215).
- Faith Formation Director: Sabrina Queen
- Youth Minister: Carol Nelius
- Programs: weekly religious education, sacramental prep, OCIA/RCIA
- Parent meetings, enrollment rites, retreats, and at-home chapter work are integral
Music & Liturgical Ministry
The parish Music Ministry, led by Music Minister Aidan Rickel ([email protected], ext. 218), supports the liturgical life of the parish through song and prayer and welcomes instrumentalists. Liturgical ministries are coordinated through the parish office and Deacon Bob, with opportunities for the laity to serve at the altar and welcome the assembly.
- Music Minister: Aidan Rickel ([email protected], ext. 218 / 230)
- Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion
- Lectors
- Altar Servers
- Ushers and Greeters
- Hearing devices are available in the choir area
Parish Life: Ministries, Groups & Outreach
St. Mary, Cause of Our Joy describes itself as "a very active parish," with a wide range of groups and outreach ministries. They include the Knights of Columbus (Monsignor Russell E. Kohler Council #15204), the parish's own Society of St. Vincent de Paul conference, the Immaculate Heart of Mary Ministry serving the Filipino-American community, the Holy Name Fraternity, and Joyful Women.
- Knights of Columbus — Monsignor Russell E. Kohler Council #15204; meets 2nd Thursday of the month, 7:00–8:30 PM (officers 6:15 PM); Grand Knight Jeff Burden
- Society of St. Vincent de Paul — St. Mary, Cause of Our Joy Conference; serves neighbors in need within parish boundaries; ext. 219
- Immaculate Heart of Mary Ministry (IHMM) — religious and socio-cultural events for the Filipino-American community; hosts First Saturday Novena Mass (4:00 PM) followed by Mass at 4:30 PM
- Holy Name Fraternity
- Joyful Women
- Forgotten Harvest mobile food pantry in the parish parking lot (typically 9:00–11:00 AM on scheduled dates)
- Christian Service / Pastoral Associate
Nankin Family of Parishes & Archdiocese of Detroit
Since July 1, 2021, St. Mary, Cause of Our Joy has been part of the Nankin Family of Parishes within the Archdiocese of Detroit. The family unites parishes in Wayne, Westland, and Garden City under an In Solidum team of priests, a model in which several priests jointly pastor a group of parishes. Fr. Sean Bonner was appointed moderator of the team in October 2023.
- Family: Nankin Family of Parishes (West Wayne Vicariate Family 4)
- Member parishes: SS. Simon and Jude (Westland); St. Mary, Wayne; St. Mary, Cause of Our Joy, Westland; St. Richard, Westland; St. Thomas the Apostle, Garden City
- In Solidum team includes Fr. Sean Bonner (moderator) and Fr. Lawrence Zurawski
- Archdiocese of Detroit — Archbishop Allen H. Vigneron
Clergy & Parish Staff
The parish is served by an In Solidum team of priests together with a deacon and a full lay staff. The parish office can be reached at 734-425-4421 (fax 734-425-0650).
- Fr. Sean Bonner — Moderator, Priest In Solidum ([email protected], ext. 213)
- Fr. Lawrence Zurawski — Priest In Solidum ([email protected], 734-427-1533)
- Deacon Bob Gajda — Deacon ([email protected], ext. 211)
- Jim Birney — Nankin Family Mission Support Director (ext. 221)
- Sabrina Queen — Faith Formation Director ([email protected], ext. 217)
- Carol Nelius — Youth Minister ([email protected], ext. 215)
- Aidan Rickel — Music Minister ([email protected], ext. 218)
- Kristine Melendez — Secretary ([email protected], ext. 210)
- Maria Rivera — Parish Accountant ([email protected], ext. 214)
- Sangeeta Safid & Giovanni Viola — Maintenance (ext. 220)
Visit, Contact & Bulletin
Parishioners and visitors are encouraged to register with the parish by calling the office. The parish publishes a regular bulletin (the "Joyful News") that lists upcoming liturgies, ministry news, and contact information; bulletins back to 2022 are available as downloadable PDFs on the parish website. The parish office is reachable by phone and email, and after-hours calls to the main line include information for reaching a priest in emergencies.
- Address: 8200 N. Wayne Road, Westland, MI 48185
- Phone: 734-425-4421 | Fax: 734-425-0650
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: https://stmarycooj.org
- Bulletin ('Joyful News'): available online as PDF downloads
- Hearing devices available on request
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Ken Mazur, PIME2016–
Founding pastor of St. Mary, Cause of Our Joy at the July 1, 2016 merger of St. Theodore of Canterbury, St. Damian, and Divine Savior parishes.
- Fr. Sean Bonner2021–present
Appointed Family-Pastor to the In Solidum team for the Nankin Family of Parishes (which includes St. Mary, Cause of Our Joy) effective July 1, 2021; named moderator of the team effective October 6, 2023.