About St. Mary Magdalen · Hazel Park, Michigan
St. Mary Magdalen Parish is a Roman Catholic parish in Hazel Park, Michigan, within the Archdiocese of Detroit. It was founded in 1928 and, in 2013, merged with neighboring St. Justin Parish (est. 1956) to become St. Justin–St. Mary Magdalen Parish, a single parish that today worships from the St. Mary Magdalen church at 50 East Annabelle Avenue. The parish is part of the Northwest / South Oakland 'Family of Parishes' alongside the National Shrine of the Little Flower Basilica in Royal Oak, St. Mary in Royal Oak, and St. Vincent Ferrer in Madison Heights, sharing clergy across the cluster. The parish operates St. Mary Magdalen School (PreK–8), a robust PREP religious-education program, OCIA for adults, and a wide range of men's, women's, youth, and young-adult ministries.
- Established
- 1928
- Patron
- St. Mary Magdalen (feast day July 22)
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Detroit (Northwest Region; South Oakland Vicariate; Family of Parishes: Northwest South Oakland 4)
Why belong here
St. Mary Magdalen is a small, multi-generational Hazel Park parish with a surprisingly full menu of formation for every age and stage. Alongside its parish school (PreK–8) and PREP religious education (Grades 1–7), the parish offers OCIA for adults becoming Catholic, Walking With Purpose and SHE for women, That Man Is You! (TMIY) for men, the God Squad for middle-school boys, BLAZE for middle-school girls, and a Monday-evening young-adult Bible study and fellowship with Fr. Eric. Sunday Mass at 10:00 AM and Saturday Reconciliation at noon make the parish accessible even for those newer to the Catholic faith, and visitors regularly remark on how comfortable and welcoming the open, modern sanctuary feels.
Mass times at St. Mary Magdalen
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 12:00 PM at St. Mary Magdalen Church
Parish History
St. Mary Magdalen Parish traces its origins to 1928, when it was established to serve the Catholic families of Hazel Park. A second Hazel Park parish, St. Justin, was created in 1956, and the two parishes coexisted for decades. Under Archbishop Allen Vigneron's pastoral planning, the two were merged in 2013 into a single entity, St. Justin–St. Mary Magdalen Parish; the St. Justin church building has since been permanently closed and all worship now occurs at the St. Mary Magdalen campus at 50 East Annabelle Avenue. The parish is now part of the Archdiocese of Detroit's Northwest / South Oakland 'Family of Parishes'.
- St. Mary Magdalen Parish founded 1928
- St. Justin Parish (Hazel Park) founded 1956
- Merger into St. Justin–St. Mary Magdalen Parish completed 2013
- St. Justin church building permanently closed; Masses held at St. Mary Magdalen Church
- Currently clustered with Little Flower (Royal Oak), St. Mary (Royal Oak), and St. Vincent Ferrer (Madison Heights)
Faith Formation
The parish's formation tagline is 'Faith Formation is for everyone at every age.' Children's faith formation is offered through PREP (Parish Religious Education Program) for Grades 1–7, while older students are reached through middle-school ministries such as The God Squad (boys) and BLAZE (girls). Adults have multiple entry points, including OCIA for those becoming Catholic, plus ongoing programs such as TMIY for men, Walking With Purpose and SHE for women, and a Monday-evening young-adult Bible study with Fr. Eric.
- PREP — Grades 1–7
- Young Adults Bible Study (Mon 7–8 PM with Fr. Eric)
- TMIY — That Man Is You (Thu 6:20 AM)
- WWP — Walking With Purpose women's Bible study
- SHE — She Shall Be Called Woman (Mon 5–6 PM)
- OCIA — Order of Christian Initiation of Adults
Youth & Middle-School Ministries
Two programs target middle-schoolers at the parish: The God Squad, founded in 2025 by student Carson Victoria, is a free program for boys in Grades 6–8 that meets in the school on Mondays from 3:15 to 4:15 PM during the academic year; it focuses on Christian living, prayer, group discussion, service, and activity. BLAZE, offered Wednesdays in fall and spring for girls in Grades 7–8, addresses bullying, anxiety, and image issues through Scripture-based learning and is created by Walking With Purpose.
- The God Squad — boys Grades 6–8 (Mon 3:15–4:15 PM)
- BLAZE — girls Grades 7–8 (Wednesdays in fall/spring)
St. Mary Magdalen School
St. Mary Magdalen School serves PreK through Grade 8 and is described by the parish as 'PASSIONATELY CATHOLIC and committed to creating a path to ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE.' The school functions as a ministry of the parish community, integrating Catholic faith values and virtues with rigorous academics, and provides a foundation for middle-schoolers who then continue into the parish's PREP and youth ministries.
- PreK through Grade 8
- Faith-integrated curriculum rooted in Gospel values
- Feeder for parish youth ministries (God Squad, BLAZE, PREP)
Clergy & Parish Leadership
As a parish of the Archdiocese of Detroit's 'Family of Parishes' model, St. Justin–St. Mary Magdalen is served by a team of priests in solidum and weekend-support clergy rather than a single pastor. The AOD directory currently lists Rev. John Bettin, Rev. John Esper, Rev. Jude Inweregbu, and Rev. Paul Snyder as Priests In Solidum; Rev. Michael Selvaraj is listed for Weekend Priest Support; Rev. Benjamin Schroder and Rev. Adam Nowak also appear on the assignment roster. Fr. Robert Williams is documented as the pastor who led the 2013 merger of St. Justin with St. Mary Magdalen.
- Rev. John Bettin (Priest In Solidum)
- Rev. John Esper (Priest In Solidum)
- Rev. Jude Inweregbu (Priest In Solidum)
- Rev. Paul Snyder (Priest In Solidum)
- Rev. Michael Selvaraj (Weekend Priest Support)
- Rev. Benjamin Schroder
- Rev. Adam Nowak
- Rev. Robert Williams — pastor who led the 2013 merger
Parish Mission
The parish's published mission states: 'We, the faithful of St. Mary Magdalen Parish, are a Catholic, Christian Community committed to the Gospel message that Jesus Christ is our Savior. Therefore, our mission is to spread the Good News of Salvation.' They commit to welcoming all into worship, witnessing the Truth in word and deed, teaching and proclaiming God's Word, loving brothers and sisters, healing those in need, and serving the poor — praying to the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit through the intercession of Mary and Saint Mary Magdalen.
- Welcoming — inviting all to share in worship and the sacraments
- Witnessing — proclaiming God's Word in word and deed
- Healing & Service — caring for those in need and the poor
Family of Parishes
St. Justin–St. Mary Magdalen belongs to the Archdiocese of Detroit's South Oakland Family 4 (also called Northwest South Oakland 4), one of 51 Family of Parishes groupings announced under Archbishop Vigneron's restructuring. The family shares clergy across its member parishes, allowing collaboration on programming, faith formation, and outreach. The other members are the National Shrine of the Little Flower Basilica (Royal Oak), St. Mary (Royal Oak), and St. Vincent Ferrer (Madison Heights).
- South Oakland Family 4 / Northwest South Oakland 4
- Partner: National Shrine of the Little Flower Basilica, Royal Oak
- Partner: St. Mary, Royal Oak
- Partner: St. Vincent Ferrer, Madison Heights
Visit & Contact
St. Mary Magdalen Church is located at 50 East Annabelle Avenue, Hazel Park, MI 48030-1100, just off the I-75 corridor near the Hazel Park–Madison Heights border. Visitors attending Sunday Mass at 10:00 AM or Saturday Reconciliation at noon can reach the parish office at (248) 542-8060 (fax 248-542-4563). The parish can also be reached through its website and through the Archdiocese of Detroit's parish directory listing.
- Address: 50 East Annabelle Avenue, Hazel Park, MI 48030-1100
- Phone: (248) 542-8060
- Fax: 248-542-4563
- Website: stmarymagdalen.net
- Sunday Mass — 10:00 AM
- Confessions — Saturday 12:00 PM
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Robert Williams2013–?
Led the 2013 merger of St. Justin and St. Mary Magdalen into St. Justin–St. Mary Magdalen Parish; framed it as 'one parish with two campuses' and combined parish and finance councils, religious education, and other programs.