About St. Mary · Monroe, Michigan
St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception is the oldest Catholic parish in Monroe County, Michigan, tracing its origins to October 15, 1788, when French-Canadian settlers founded it as St. Antoine aux Rivière Raisin on the banks of the River Raisin. After falling under the care of the Redemptorist order in 1845, the parish was renamed St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception and joined what is now the Archdiocese of Detroit. Located at 127 North Monroe Street in downtown Monroe, the parish serves English- and Spanish-speaking Catholics with weekend and daily Mass, faith formation, and a wide range of Christian Service ministries.
- Established
- 1788
- Patron
- St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception (originally St. Anthony of Padua)
- Rector
- Rev. David Burgard
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Detroit
Why belong here
St. Mary's offers the depth of a 200-year-old 'mother parish' with the vitality of a large, active community: a bilingual liturgical life (English Masses plus a Sunday Spanish Mass), daily and weekly Eucharistic Adoration, a strong Faith Formation program for children and families, and one of the most extensive Christian Service networks in the county. Members can serve through Stephen Ministry, St. Vincent de Paul, Prayer Shawl Makers, Habitat for Humanity, transportation for elderly parishioners, EMS to the Homebound, the Giving Tree, Rosary Makers, Bereavement Ministry, and more. It is also a registered historic district, meaning parishioners belong to a place whose log-cab beginnings, 1839 nave, and granite centennial monument are woven into the life of downtown Monroe.
Mass times at St. Mary
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday — Reconciliations following the 4:30 PM Mass and the First Saturday 8:30 AM Mass (per AOD directory listing)
- Other times by appointment — contact the parish office at 734-241-1644
Adoration times
- Tuesday & Thursday — 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM (St. Mary Church)
- Wednesday — 9:30 AM to Noon and 1:30 PM to 4:00 PM
Parish History
St. Mary's history spans over 200 years, some 35 pastors, and three church buildings, and reflects the evolution of Catholicism in Monroe County. Founded October 15, 1788 by French-Canadian 'habitants' along the Rivière aux Raisins as St. Antoine du Padua, the parish was rededicated St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception in 1845 when it came under the Redemptorists, and was placed in the (now) Archdiocese of Detroit that same year. The nave of today's church is what remains of the 1838 brick church; a granite monument unveiled in 1889 still marks the original dedication.
- Founded October 15, 1788 as St. Antoine aux Rivière Raisin
- First resident pastor Fr. Edmund Burke assigned 1794
- Original log church & blessed cemetery on North Custer Road
- Second brick church ('Fairgrounds Church') built 1828 at North Monroe & West Noble
- Current church begun 1834, consecrated 1839
- Renamed St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception in 1845
- Sisters Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary founded here in 1845
- Granite centennial monument unveiled November 28, 1889
- Listed on the National Register as the St. Mary's Church Complex Historic District
Pastoral Team & Parish Staff
St. Mary's is currently shepherded by Fr. David Burgard, who became pastor on July 1, 2013, after earlier assignments in Wayne, Anchor Bay, Clawson, and White Lake. He is assisted by Fr. Michael A. Anagbogu, priests of the Society of the Catholic Apostolate (S.A.C.), Deacons Michael Stewart and Tracy Esper, and a lay staff including a Pastoral Assistant, Director of Faith Formation, Music Director & Organist, Hispanic Ministry coordinator, Mission Support Director, and Director of Maintenance.
- Rev. David Burgard — Pastor (since July 1, 2013)
- Rev. Michael A. Anagbogu — Associate / Priest In Solidum
- Rev. Kishore Battu, S.A.C. — Priest In Solidum
- Rev. Hendrico Rebello, S.A.C. — Priest In Solidum
- Deacon Michael Stewart
- Deacon Tracy Esper
- Andrew Kurt — Pastoral Assistant
- Leslee Willis — Director of Faith Formation
- Rebecca Mester — Faith Formation Administrator
- John Raymond — Music Director & Organist
- Claudia Chavarria — Hispanic Ministry
- Al Jones — Mission Support Director
- Mike Newcomer — Director of Maintenance
- Melissa Asbury — Office Assistant
- Tony Zanger — Associate (role per staff listing)
Mass and Liturgy
The parish celebrates Mass in both English and Spanish, with a full Sunday schedule, two weekday Masses, and a First Saturday morning Mass. Masses typically last about an hour, with holidays running 15–20 minutes longer. Liturgical ministries include altar servers (4th grade through high school) and Extraordinary Ministers of the Eucharist who bring Communion to the homebound.
- Saturday Vigil — 4:30 PM (English)
- First Saturday — 8:30 AM (English)
- Sunday — 7:30 AM & 10:00 AM (English)
- Sunday — 2:00 PM Spanish Mass
- Tuesday — 6:00 PM
- Wednesday — 8:15 AM
- Thursday — 12:15 PM
- Altar Servers (4th grade–high school)
- EMEs to the Homebound
Faith Formation
St. Mary's Faith Formation program (Director Leslee Willis, Administrator Rebecca Mester) serves parish families with religious education for children and youth. The parish also coordinates sacramental preparation through the office, with inquiries directed to the Faith Formation team.
- Director of Faith Formation: Leslee Willis
- Faith Formation Administrator: Rebecca Mester
- Email: [email protected]
- Email: [email protected]
- Phone: 734-241-1644
Hispanic Ministry
Reflecting the parish's bilingual character, Hispanic Ministry is led by Claudia Chavarria and supports the Spanish-language Sunday Mass, faith formation for Spanish-speaking families, and outreach to the Latino community in Monroe — continuing the tradition of successive waves of immigrants being received at the 'mother parish' along the River Raisin.
- Hispanic Ministry: Claudia Chavarria
- Email: [email protected]
- Sunday Spanish Mass: 2:00 PM
Christian Service Commission
Coordinated by Lorie Bronson, the Christian Service Commission organizes the parish's outreach to those in need — both within the parish and in the wider Monroe community. 'Christian service is the act of doing work for God with a willing heart,' the parish explains, and members can plug into any of a dozen sub-ministries that range from transportation to bereavement support.
- Contact: Lorie Bronson
- Transportation Ministry (drivers needed for Sunday Mass)
- Stephen Ministry — John Castiglione, 313-363-3545
- St. Vincent de Paul — Cathy Bernhold 734-733-7779 / Barb Griffith 734-654-6448
- Rosary Makers
- Prayer Shawl Makers
- Habitat for Humanity — Fred Fedorowicz 734-755-4705
- God Works!
- Giving Tree (Christmas outreach)
- EMS to the Homebound
- Christian Women
- Bereavement Ministry (one-year outreach to grieving families)
Music & Liturgical Art
John Raymond serves as Music Director and Organist for the parish, leading music at Sunday and daily liturgies in both English and Spanish.
- Music Director & Organist: John Raymond
Bulletin & Parish Communications
St. Mary publishes a regular parish bulletin (available on the website) and maintains an active Facebook page for parish news, announcements, and Archdiocese Pastoral Planning updates. Pastoral Assistant Andrew Kurt fields questions related to the Archdiocese of Detroit's Pastoral Planning and Restructuring Initiative.
- Weekly Bulletin posted at stmarymonroe.org/bulletins-1
- Parish Facebook page
- Pastoral Assistant: Andrew Kurt
- Parish Office email: [email protected]
Family of Parishes & Archdiocese Restructuring
St. Mary's belongs to the South Monroe 2 Family of Parishes within the Monroe Vicariate and South Region of the Archdiocese of Detroit. The parish website hosts updates on the Archdiocese's Pastoral Planning and Restructuring Initiative; questions are directed to Pastoral Assistant Andrew Kurt or the parish office.
- Vicariate: Monroe Vicariate
- Region: South Region
- Family of Parishes: South Monroe 2
- Parish ID (AOD): 556
- Pastoral contact for restructuring: Andrew Kurt
Plan Your Visit
Visitors and parishioners will find St. Mary's at 127 N. Monroe Street in downtown Monroe, with weekday office hours listed on the parish website. Eucharistic Adoration runs most weekdays, and Reconciliation is offered on Saturday evenings and after the First Saturday Mass — or by appointment through the parish office.
- Address: 127 N. Monroe Street, Monroe, MI 48162
- Phone: 734-241-1644
- Office: Monday 8:30 AM–4:00 PM (closed noon–1:00); Tuesday 11:00 AM–5:00 PM; Wednesday 8:30 AM–3:00 PM; Thursday 8:30 AM–noon; Friday 8:30 AM–3:00 PM
- Sunday Masses: 7:30, 10:00 (English) and 2:00 PM (Spanish)
- Saturday Vigil: 4:30 PM; First Saturday: 8:30 AM
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. François-Xavier Dufaux1788
Reported the need for a priest along the River Raisin to Bishop Hubert of Québec; planned the original log church and cemetery.
- Rev. Pierre Fréchette1788
Pastor of Ste. Anne, Detroit; presided at the founding of St. Antoine aux Rivière Raisin on October 15, 1788.
- Rev. Edmund Burke1794
Irish priest; first resident pastor assigned from Quebec; the early pioneer priests often stayed only a few weeks.
- Rev. Stephen Theodore Badin1820s
First American-ordained priest (1793); briefly served the Detroit area including St. Antoine's at River Raisin.
- Rev. Florent Gillet1845
During his pastorate the parish was rededicated as St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception and the Sisters Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary were founded here.
- Rev. David Burgard2013–present
Became pastor July 1, 2013; previously served St. Mary in Wayne, MI, Immaculate Conception in Anchor Bay, and associate parishes in Clawson and White Lake.