About St. Mary · Lowell, Michigan
St. Mary Catholic Church is a Catholic parish in the heart of Lowell, Michigan, founded in 1879 and now worshiping in a church built in 1979 at 402 Amity Street. The parish belongs to the Diocese of Grand Rapids and is currently served by Father Michael J. Goodwin, who also pastors St. Anthony Catholic Church in nearby Saranac, the two parishes sharing one priest. St. Mary offers daily and Sunday Mass, regular confession, Eucharistic adoration, faith formation for all ages, and a range of parish ministries rooted in the Diocese's 'Rooted in Christ' pastoral vision of forming missionary disciples.
- Established
- 1879
- Patron
- The Blessed Virgin Mary (parish name: St. Mary)
- Rector
- Rev. Michael J. Goodwin
- Diocese
- Diocese of Grand Rapids (Kent County, East Deanery)
Why belong here
St. Mary is a welcoming small-town parish where the pastor and staff know parishioners by name, sharing one priest with neighboring St. Anthony of Saranac but rooted in Lowell's downtown at 402 Amity Street. The community offers daily and Sunday Mass with Eucharistic adoration on Wednesdays (9 a.m.–5 p.m.) and on First Fridays, regular confession times on Tuesdays and Saturdays, and a lively faith formation program for K–12, OCIA, Bible Study, and women's 'Blessed Is She' group. The parish is currently investing in a Sanctuary Renewal Project funded by the generosity of its members, and parishioners can get connected through ministries, fellowship after Sunday Mass, and FlockNote communications.
Mass times at St. Mary
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Tuesday: 5:30 PM – 6:15 PM
- Saturday: 2:30 PM – 3:30 PM
- Third Thursday of the month: 7:30 – 8:15 PM
- First and fourth Friday of the month: 7:30 – 8:15 PM
- By request after a weekday Mass, or by appointment with Fr. Michael (616-897-9820 / [email protected])
- Extra confession times during Advent & Lent — see bulletins and FlockNote
Adoration times
- Tuesday: Communal Vespers (Evening Prayer) — 6:00 PM
- Wednesday: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
- Thursday: 9:00 AM – 10:00 AM — simple adoration of Jesus on the altar in the ciborium; confessions available upon request during this time
- First Friday of the month: 6:00 – 8:00 PM (September–May only)
About St. Mary Parish
St. Mary Catholic Church is a parish of the Diocese of Grand Rapids, located at 402 Amity Street in the heart of Lowell, Michigan. The parish priest is Father Michael Goodwin, who also serves St. Anthony Catholic Church in Saranac — the two parishes share one priest and operate from a joint parish portal at sta-stm.org. The parish describes its mission as embodying the teaching of the Gospel and serving the Lord, parishioners and the wider Lowell community through the celebration of the sacraments, enrichment programs and community outreach. All are welcome at Mass; non-Catholics and non-practicing Catholics are invited to join in worship but are asked to refrain from receiving Holy Communion until completing the Rite of Christian Initiation or receiving the Sacrament of Confession.
- Founded 1879
- Diocese of Grand Rapids (Kent County, East Deanery)
- Pastor: Rev. Michael J. Goodwin
- Address: 402 Amity Street, Lowell, MI 49331
- Office: Monday–Thursday, 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Parish History
The Catholic community in Lowell had no permanent church before 1879. Local Catholics traveled to St. Patrick's of Parnell or gathered for Mass in private homes with visiting missionary priests. In 1879, St. Mary Catholic Church was built on Vergennes Road (now Lincoln Lake Road), giving the community its first dedicated house of worship. That original church served the parish for a century until it was replaced in 1979 by the present church on Amity Street in downtown Lowell — exactly 100 years after the parish was founded. Today the parish continues that 19th-century mission of bringing the Gospel and the sacraments to the people of Lowell and the surrounding area.
- 1879 — original church built on Vergennes Road (now Lincoln Lake Road)
- Pre-1879 — Catholics traveled to St. Patrick's of Parnell or hosted missionary priests in homes
- 1979 — present church opened on Amity Street in the heart of Lowell
Faith Formation
St. Mary's Faith Formation program serves people of all ages — not only children preparing for sacraments or adults being initiated into the Church. The parish believes each person's journey in faith is life-long and offers a variety of classes and experiences to help people grow in relationship with God, deepen knowledge of Catholic teaching, become committed disciples of Jesus, and respond to the Holy Spirit in daily life.
K–8 and High School Faith Formation
Traditional Catechesis is offered for children enrolled in grades K–12, with second graders enrolled in sacrament preparation by default. Nurturing a child's spiritual life is presented as a partnership between parents and the parish, and families are encouraged to attend Sunday Mass and regular Confession as part of formation. K–8 students use the Augustine Institute's 'Word of Life' program, with student portals available after class begins.
- K–8 Catechesis (Word of Life, Augustine Institute)
- High School 9–12
- Sacrament Preparation (2nd grade)
- Family home activities and Sunday Liturgy participation
Adult Faith Formation & Groups
Adults have several ways to grow in faith at St. Mary: OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults) for those seeking to become Catholic, ongoing Bible Study, the women's 'Blessed Is She' group, and access to the Formed online faith formation platform. Father Michael has also been planning monthly adult faith formation opportunities at both parishes since late September.
- OCIA — Order of Christian Initiation of Adults
- Bible Study
- Blessed Is She (women's group)
- Formed online platform
Parish Staff & Clergy
The parish is led by Father Michael J. Goodwin, who also serves St. Anthony of Saranac. He is supported by Deacon Susan Lauer, a Director of Religious Education/Youth leader (Matthew Schmitz), a parish secretary (Jennie Forney), a business manager (Michael Wohlscheid), a maintenance supervisor (Heather Dilly), a custodian (Rhonda Fitzpatrick), and a Sacred Music Team (Chiara S. and Anna O.). Together they staff both the school of faith formation and the day-to-day operations of the parish.
- Fr. Michael Goodwin — Pastor
- Deacon Susan Lauer
- Matthew Schmitz — DRE / Faith Formation / Youth
- Jennie Forney — Parish Secretary
- Michael Wohlscheid — Business Manager
- Heather Dilly — Maintenance Supervisor
- Rhonda Fitzpatrick — Custodian
- Chiara S. & Anna O. — Sacred Music Team
Sanctuary Renewal Project
The parish has undertaken a Sanctuary Renewal Project funded by a community-wide capital campaign. The parish surpassed its initial $230,000 campaign goal; as of June 8 the campaign had $260,000 pledged with $106,000 given to date, and was working toward a $287K 'Flex' goal. Pledges can still be made online or by bringing a pledge card to the parish office.
- Original campaign goal: $230,000
- Pledged (as of June 8): $260,000
- Given to date: $106,000
- Flex goal: $287,000
Sharing One Pastor with St. Anthony of Saranac
Because St. Mary and St. Anthony share a single priest, Father Michael has worked with parish councils and ministry leaders to update the weekend Mass schedule so he can be more fully present to each community. The updated schedule moved St. Mary's Saturday Vigil from 5:00 PM to 4:00 PM (effective First Sunday of Advent, November 29/30), with confessions now offered at 2:30–3:30 PM. The Sunday 10:30 AM Mass remains unchanged. The earlier Saturday time gives Lowell parishioners more daylight in winter, offers an earlier option alongside St. Robert of Ada (4:30 PM) and St. Patrick of Parnell (5:00 PM), and opens up Saturday evenings for dinners, adult studies and prayer/praise events.
- Two parishes — one priest arrangement (St. Mary Lowell & St. Anthony Saranac)
- Saturday Vigil updated to 4:00 PM
- Saturday confessions: 2:30–3:30 PM
- Sunday 10:30 AM Mass unchanged
Visit, Register & Get Connected
Newcomers are warmly welcomed at St. Mary. The parish doors typically open about a half hour before Mass starts, and coffee-and-donuts fellowship often follows the Sunday Mass. The parish asks visitors to register as parishioners and to check the bulletin and FlockNote communications for the latest schedule, ministry opportunities, and community events. Those who are not Catholic or not practicing are invited to attend Mass but asked to refrain from receiving Holy Communion until completing the Rite of Christian Initiation or receiving the Sacrament of Confession.
- Parish office hours: Monday–Thursday, 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM
- Phone: (616) 897-9820
- Email: [email protected]
- Doors open ~30 minutes before Mass
- FlockNote communications for schedule updates
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Aaron R. Ferrisuntil July 1, 2022
Pastor of St. Mary Lowell and St. Anthony Saranac; requested and was granted a leave from diocesan pastoral ministry to serve as a Chaplain Officer in the U.S. Air Force (orders received June 2022, Officer Training School at Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama).
- Rev. Michael J. Goodwineffective July 1, 2022
Previously Parochial Vicar of St. Paul the Apostle Parish, Grand Rapids; appointed by Bishop Walkowiak as Administrator of both St. Mary Parish, Lowell and St. Anthony Parish, Saranac; now serves as Pastor of both parishes.