About St. Mary · Milford, Michigan
St. Mary Our Lady of the Snows is a Roman Catholic parish in Milford, Michigan, situated in the Lakes Vicariate of the Archdiocese of Detroit. The parish was officially established in 1890, although Catholic worship in the Milford area dates back to the early 1840s when Irish immigrant families settled the region. Today the parish serves more than 2,500 families and roughly 8,000 individual Catholics, offering daily and weekend Masses, the sacraments, faith formation for children and adults, and a wide range of liturgical, charitable, and social ministries.
- Established
- 1890
- Patron
- Blessed Virgin Mary (under the title Our Lady of the Snows)
- Rector
- Rev. Fr. Tomy Kattikanayil
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Detroit (Metropolitan Archdiocese of Detroit)
Why belong here
St. Mary Our Lady of the Snows is a large, multigenerational Catholic community of more than 2,500 families, with daily and weekend Masses, frequent confession times, Eucharistic Adoration on Fridays, and a richly layered liturgical life that includes a Youth Mass and livestreamed liturgies on YouTube. The parish offers faith formation for children, youth, and adults; OCIA (formerly RCIA); sacramental preparation for First Communion and Confirmation; and dozens of ministries ranging from choir, lectors, and altar servers to the St. Vincent de Paul Society, Knights of Columbus, Health Ministry, and Meals on Wheels. Rooted in 135 years of Catholic worship in Milford and housed in a sanctuary with a 1983 Bell Tower, a 2005 organ, and sacred art, it offers both depth of tradition and a strong program of service to the surrounding community.
Mass times at St. Mary
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Monday: 6:00 pm (often listed as 6:30–6:55 pm)
- Wednesday: 8:30 am (often listed as 8:30–8:55 am)
- Saturday: 9:00 am and 4:00 pm (excluding Holy Saturday)
- By appointment — call the Parish Office at (248) 685-1482
Adoration times
- Friday: 1:00 pm – 4:50 pm (Eucharistic Adoration)
Parish History
St. Mary Our Lady of the Snows traces its origins to Irish Catholic settlers of the early 1840s and was formally established as a parish in 1890 under Father James Hally. The parish built its Stone Church in 1907, expanded with a Prototype Church in 1966/67, and dedicated its present 700-seat sanctuary in 1976. Its 1983 Bell Tower, 2005 organ, and 2011 portrait of Jesus by Mark Eckel are notable features of the parish's built and artistic heritage. The 125th anniversary was celebrated in 2015, and today the parish serves more than 2,500 families.
- Catholic worship in Milford: first Mass October 11, 1863, in Morrison's General Store
- 1870 frame church built on 'Catholic Hill' at Summit and First Streets (now St. Mary's Cemetery)
- Parish officially established January 1890 under Fr. James Hally
- Stone Church dedicated by Bishop John Foley of Detroit on July 7, 1907
- Prototype Church dedicated by Archbishop John Dearden on January 7, 1967
- Current sanctuary dedicated by Cardinal John Dearden on July 31, 1976
- Bell Tower completed October 1983, dedicated by Bishop Dale Melczek
- New church organ installed 2005
- 125th anniversary celebrated throughout 2015 with closing Mass by Archbishop Allen Vigneron
The Legend of Our Lady of the Snows
The parish's secondary name comes from a 4th-century Roman legend of a miraculous summer snowfall on the Esquiline Hill, which led to the building of the Basilica of Saint Mary Major — today a Papal Basilica and a major center of Marian devotion. The ancient feast of August 5, once called the Feast of Our Lady of the Snows, is now the Feast of the Dedication of the Basilica of Saint Mary Major, and is still celebrated at the basilica by dropping white rose petals from the dome during Mass.
- Feast day commemorated each August 5
- Honors the Virgin Mary and seeks her intercession
Parish Staff
The parish is currently led by Father Tomy Kattikanayil as Pastor and Father Placido Pereira as Associate Pastor. Parish Secretary Judy Reynolds can be reached at extension 207. The Faith Formation Office is staffed by Youth Minister Jennifer Beard ([email protected]) and Faith Formation Coordinator Denette Plant, with administrative assistant Peggy Stapleton.
- Fr. Tomy Kattikanayil — Pastor (ext. 222; [email protected])
- Fr. Placido Pereira — Associate Pastor (ext. 204)
- Deacon Archie Noon — Permanent Deacon (ordained July 15, 1989)
- Judy Reynolds — Parish Secretary (ext. 207)
- Jennifer Beard — Youth Minister / OCIA contact
- Denette Plant — Faith Formation Coordinator
- Peggy Stapleton — Faith Formation Admin Assistant
Faith Formation and Religious Education
Faith Formation at St. Mary begins in the family with Baptism and continues through childhood, youth, and adulthood. The parish offers formation for children in Grades K–5, sacramental preparation for First Reconciliation and First Eucharist, Confirmation preparation for grades 8 through 10 (with parental/sponsor mentoring), and OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults) for adults and those entering the Church. The Faith Formation Office is open Monday–Thursday 9:30 am–3:30 pm (extended hours on session weeks) and Friday 9:30 am–12:00 noon.
- Children's Faith Formation (Grades K–5)
- First Reconciliation and First Eucharist preparation
- Confirmation preparation (8th–10th grade)
- OCIA / Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (formerly RCIA) — ongoing Inquiry Sessions
- Liturgy of the Word with Children
- Middle School Youth Ministry
- Young Adult Ministry
- Adult Faith Formation
Sacraments
The parish celebrates all seven sacraments. Sacramental preparation includes parental involvement for children's sacraments, sponsor mentoring for Confirmation, and ongoing Inquiry Sessions for OCIA. Confirmation is celebrated in the spring for those enrolled in preparation sessions and at the Easter Vigil for OCIA candidates.
- Baptism
- Confirmation
- Eucharist (First Communion and ongoing)
- Penance / Reconciliation (Confession — scheduled times and by appointment)
- Anointing of the Sick
- Holy Orders (vocations encouraged)
- Matrimony (Marriage preparation and celebration)
Parish Ministries and Parish Life
The parish describes itself as a body of ministries that goes well beyond Sunday Mass. Liturgical roles include choir, lectors, altar servers, and Extraordinary Ministers of the Eucharist. Outreach and service ministries include St. Vincent de Paul, Knights of Columbus, Health Ministry, Card Ministry, Communion to the Homebound, Meals on Wheels, and Red Cross Blood Drives. Hospitality House is another local outreach effort. The parish also hosts an annual bazaar and other social events.
- Liturgical ministries: Choir, Lectors, Altar Servers, Extraordinary Ministers of the Eucharist
- Outreach: St. Vincent de Paul Society, Hospitality House
- Knights of Columbus — Bishop Fulton Sheen Council (founded 1979), contact Gus LaRuffa (248) 363-2818
- Pastoral care: Health Ministry, Card Ministry, Communion to the Homebound
- Service: Meals on Wheels, Red Cross Blood Drive
- Ushers and Greeters
- Annual parish bazaar and other social events
- Open volunteer sign-up for new ministries
Faith Formation Office
The Faith Formation Office is the hub for children's, youth, and adult religious education programs, sacramental preparation, and OCIA. Inquiries about OCIA can be directed to Jennifer Beard at [email protected] or (248) 685-2702 ext. 201.
- General email: [email protected]
- Phone: (248) 685-2702
- Office hours on session weeks: Mon 9:30 am–8:30 pm; Tue 9:30 am–6:30 pm; Wed 9:30 am–8:00 pm; Thu 9:30 am–3:30 pm; Fri 9:30 am–12:00 noon
- Office hours on non-session weeks: Mon–Thu 9:30 am–3:30 pm; Fri 9:30 am–12:00 noon
Livestream Masses and Online Presence
The parish livestreams liturgies, funerals, and devotions on its St. Mary YouTube Livestream Channel, with recordings preserved on a separate Archive Channel for viewing any time after the live broadcast. The parish website (stmarymilfordmi.org) hosts the full Mass and Confession schedule, a parish calendar, and contact information.
- St. Mary YouTube Livestream Channel (live liturgies, funerals, devotions)
- St. Mary YouTube Archive Channel (recordings available after live broadcast)
- Parish calendar at stmarymilfordmi.org/calendar
Contact and Visiting
Parishioners and visitors can contact the parish office by phone or email; messages sent through the website contact form receive a follow-up from a staff member. The parish is part of the Lakes Vicariate of the Archdiocese of Detroit and is recognized as a parish serving more than 2,500 families in the Milford area.
- Phone: (248) 685-1482
- Email: [email protected]
- Address: 1955 East Commerce Street, Milford, MI 48381
- Vicariate: Lakes Vicariate, Archdiocese of Detroit
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. James Hally1890–1895
Founding pastor; appointed first resident pastor when St. Mary became a parish in January 1890.
- Fr. George Clarson1895–1901
- Fr. Thomas Lee1901–1902
- Fr. Thomas Hally1902–1911
Brother of founding pastor Fr. James Hally; oversaw construction and 1907 dedication of the Stone Church.
- Fr. John Dowdle1911–1929
Spoke across southern Michigan to raise support for the Red Cross during World War I.
- Fr. Dolan1929–1938
Built the fieldstone rectory on East Commerce, completed just before the stock market crash.
- Fr. Dominic Foley1938–1952
Paid off the rectory debt and oversaw renovations to the Stone Church interior.
- Fr. Richard Haney1952–1959
- Fr. Lawrence Edwards1959–1965
Began early efforts to fund a parish Catholic school that was never built.
- Fr. Elmer Mahoney1965–1972
Led the building of the 1966/67 'Prototype Church' at Burns and Commerce Roads.
- Fr. Francis Zielinski1972–1979
Took office the year the Sisters of Atonement closed their mission in Milford.
- Fr. William Sinatra1979–1989
Installed in 1979; oversaw the 1983 Bell Tower dedication and the founding of the Bishop Fulton Sheen Council Knights of Columbus.
- Fr. Ron Anderson1989–2013
Installed in 1989, bringing the first century of St. Mary to a close.
- Msgr. John Budde2013–2020
14th Pastor of St. Mary; led the 125th anniversary celebrations in 2015; granted senior status effective July 1, 2020.