About St. Mary · Kinde, Michigan
St. Mary of Czestochowa Church is a historic Catholic church located in Dwight Township near Kinde, Michigan, and is one of three worship sites of Annunciation of the Lord Parish in the Diocese of Saginaw (the others being St. Michael in Port Austin and St. Edward the Confessor in Kinde). Founded in 1903 by Polish immigrants who had settled in the area after fleeing Prussian domination in the 1840s, the parish was built to preserve their Polish Catholic identity and is named for the 'Queen of Poland,' Our Lady of Czestochowa. The present cobblestone-and-brick church, dedicated in 1933 after a fire destroyed the original wood-frame structure, is a Michigan State Historical Site and a striking example of Polish Romanesque architecture. Sunday Mass is celebrated at the church at 8:30 a.m., with a weekday Mass on Thursday morning, and the parish remains an active hub of faith formation, devotions, and community life in the Thumb of Michigan.
- Established
- 1903
- Patron
- Our Lady of Czestochowa (Matka Boska Częstochowska, 'Queen of Poland')
- Rector
- Rev. Craig G. Carolan (Parochial Administrator)
- Diocese
- Diocese of Saginaw
Why belong here
Annunciation of the Lord Parish welcomes visitors and new parishioners into a small but vibrant Catholic community in Michigan's Thumb, where three historic churches (St. Michael, St. Mary of Czestochowa, and St. Edward the Confessor) come together to share the faith. St. Mary of Czestochowa is especially meaningful for those with Polish Catholic heritage, but its doors are open to anyone seeking Sunday Mass (8:30 a.m.), weekday Mass (Thursday 8:30 a.m.), Eucharistic Adoration, the Rosary, and a full slate of faith-formation programs, devotions, and service opportunities. With ministries ranging from OCIA and youth faith formation to the Legion of Mary, Knights of Columbus, and Daughters of Isabella, there are many ways to belong and grow here.
Mass times at St. Mary
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Thursday at 9:00 a.m. (St. Mary of Czestochowa)
- Available prior to Sunday Masses or any time by appointment
- First Saturday of every month (parish-wide communal confessions beginning at 8:30 a.m.)
Adoration times
- First Friday Adoration and Devotions — First Friday of every month following the 8:30 a.m. Mass
- Eucharistic Adoration also offered Tuesday at 5:00 p.m. at St. Edward and Friday at 9:00 a.m. at St. Michael
Parish Identity & Heritage
Annunciation of the Lord Parish unites three historic churches in Michigan's Thumb — St. Michael (Port Austin), St. Mary of Czestochowa (Kinde), and St. Edward the Confessor (Kinde) — under one pastor and one mission. The parish belongs to the Diocese of Saginaw and is led by Parochial Administrator Rev. Craig G. Carolan, with Bishop Most Rev. Robert D. Gruss as ordinary and Pope Leo XIV as Holy Father. The parish mailing address and office are at the St. Michael campus in Port Austin.
- Diocese of Saginaw — Vicariate 1
- Parochial Administrator: Rev. Craig G. Carolan ([email protected])
- Bishop: Most Rev. Robert D. Gruss
- Parish office: 8661 Independence Ave., P.O. Box 355, Port Austin, MI 48467
- Parish phone: 989-738-7521
History of St. Mary of Czestochowa
Polish refugees who came to Dwight Township after 1840 originally worshipped at St. Michael's in Port Austin. In 1903 they established their own parish under Father J. Trzetrzynski and built a wood-frame church named for the 'Queen of Poland.' That church burned on May 29, 1932, and Father Henry Podsiad immediately directed construction of the present cobblestone-and-brick Polish Romanesque-style church, dedicated May 28, 1933. The parish's significance was recognized when the site was listed with the Michigan Historical Commission in 1980 and a bilingual English-Polish historical marker was erected in 1989.
- Founded 1903 — First pastor: Father J. Trzetrzynski
- Land purchased from Frank and Rosa Koroleski
- Original wood-frame church destroyed by fire May 29, 1932
- Present cobblestone-and-brick church dedicated May 28, 1933, under Father Henry Podsiad
- Listed Michigan Historical Site, 1980 (site L849A)
- State of Michigan historical marker erected 1989 — English on one side, Polish on the reverse
Sacraments
The parish celebrates the full range of Catholic sacraments: Reconciliation, Holy Eucharist, Baptism, Confirmation, Holy Matrimony, Anointing of the Sick, and Pastoral Care of the Sick and Homebound. Reconciliation is offered weekly at St. Mary on Thursday mornings, at St. Michael on Saturday afternoons and Sunday mornings, and by appointment. Couples and families preparing for sacraments should contact the parish office.
- Reconciliation
- Holy Eucharist (Mass)
- Baptism
- Confirmation
- Holy Matrimony
- Anointing of the Sick
- Pastoral Care of the Sick and Homebound
Faith Formation & Education
Faith formation is central to parish life. Youth Faith Formation classes and a Youth Group (led by Verna Murawski and Cynthia Tait) are offered regularly. Adults exploring Catholicism are welcomed through the OCIA process (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults). Bible Study, Catholic Schools support, Choosing Our Vocation, and study of the Catechism of the Catholic Church round out the formation offerings. The parish also co-hosts an annual Vacation Bible School with Kinde Presbyterian Church.
- Youth Faith Formation — Verna Murawski
- Youth Group — Cynthia Tait
- OCIA: Becoming Catholic
- Bible Study
- Catholic Schools
- Choosing Our Vocation
- Catechism of the Catholic Church
- Annual Vacation Bible School (co-hosted with Kinde Presbyterian Church)
Parish Organizations & Service
Annunciation of the Lord Parish hosts a wide range of spiritual and service organizations, including the Women's Holy Rosary Sodality, Legion of Mary, Knights of Columbus, and Daughters of Isabella. The parish actively supports pro-life work through its Right to Life ministry, linking parishioners to Right to Life of Huron County, Right to Life of Michigan, Natural Family Planning resources, Positive Alternatives, Rachel's Vineyard, and Priests for Life, as well as the Diocese of Saginaw's Walking with Moms in Need program for women in crisis pregnancies.
- Women's Holy Rosary Sodality
- Legion of Mary
- Knights of Columbus
- Daughters of Isabella
- Right to Life (parish pro-life ministry)
- Walking with Moms in Need — Diocese of Saginaw
- Natural Family Planning
- Rachel's Vineyard / Priests for Life partnerships
Getting Involved
The parish welcomes volunteers in nearly every area of parish life — liturgical, catechetical, and practical. Current needs include lectors, Eucharistic Ministers, altar servers, sacristans, ushers, musicians, cantors, catechists and parent helpers, art and environment decorators, and money counters. 'No contribution is ever too small when offered in loving service to our God,' the parish writes. Anyone interested is invited to contact the parish office.
- Lectors and Eucharistic Ministers
- Altar servers and sacristans
- Ushers, musicians, cantors
- Catechists and parent helpers
- Art and Environment decorators
- Money counters
Parish Staff
The parish is led by Parochial Administrator Fr. Craig G. Carolan and supported by a small, dedicated staff and many volunteers who maintain the three worship sites and the parish office in Port Austin.
- Pastoral Administrator: Fr. Craig G. Carolan
- Parish Bookkeeper: Janice Pionk
- Parish Secretary: Brenda Heilig
- Faith Formation: Verna Murawski
- Youth Group: Cynthia Tait
- Webmaster: Sarah Behaeghe
- Finance Council Chair: Brandt Rousseaux
- Maintenance: Jeff Heilig, George Maul, Clayton Parrish, Doris Wisneski
Parish Office & Locations
The parish office is located at the St. Michael campus in Port Austin and is open Monday through Friday during the day. The mailing address is P.O. Box 355, Port Austin, MI 48467. St. Mary of Czestochowa itself stands at 1709 Moeller Rd. in Dwight Township outside Kinde, marked by its bilingual State of Michigan historical marker.
- Parish office: 8661 Independence Ave., P.O. Box 355, Port Austin, MI 48467
- Phone: 989-738-7521
- Office hours: Monday–Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. (Tuesday–Thursday until 4:00 p.m.; Friday until 2:00 p.m.)
- St. Mary of Czestochowa — 1709 Moeller Rd., Kinde, MI 48445
- St. Michael — 8661 Independence Ave., Port Austin, MI 48467
- St. Edward the Confessor — 5083 Park St., Kinde, MI 48445
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father J. Trzetrzynski1903–
Founding pastor of St. Mary of Czestochowa; led the Polish immigrant community in building the original wood-frame church on land purchased from Frank and Rosa Koroleski.
- Father Henry Podsiad1932–1933
Directed the construction of the present cobblestone-and-brick Polish Romanesque-style church after the original was destroyed by fire on May 29, 1932; the new church was dedicated May 28, 1933.