About St. Mary · Morrice, Michigan
St. Mary Catholic Church is a Roman Catholic parish in the small village of Morrice, in Shiawassee County, Michigan, within the Diocese of Lansing. The parish traces its roots to 1874, when Irish Catholic families in Antrim Township purchased the old Alling Schoolhouse as a mission chapel served by priests traveling from St. Johns and later Owosso. A dedicated brick church was opened in Morrice in 1892 with about 35 families, and the mission was formally constituted a parish in 1926. The original church burned in 1953 and the present church on North Main Street was dedicated in 1955. Today St. Mary's is served by Monsignor George C. Michalek and offers weekend and daily Mass, the Sacrament of Reconciliation, Eucharistic Adoration, choirs, a handbell ensemble, the Knights of Columbus, and an active parish festival life.
- Established
- 1892
- Patron
- The Blessed Virgin Mary
- Rector
- Msgr. George C. Michalek, J.C.L.
- Diocese
- Diocese of Lansing
Why belong here
St. Mary offers a small-town, multigenerational Catholic community where three weekend Masses are supported by choirs and a handbell ensemble, plus daily Mass, Saturday confession, and Wednesday evening Eucharistic Adoration. The parish has deep roots in Shiawassee County going back to the 1870s and is enriched by groups such as the Knights of Columbus, a Men's Group, an active faith-formation program, a Fall Festival, and the Bethany Cemetery ministry. It is also served by a pastor (Msgr. Michalek) who simultaneously serves the wider diocese as Adjunct Judicial Vicar and Diocesan Archivist, connecting the local parish to the life of the Diocese of Lansing.
Mass times at St. Mary
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 3:00 PM – 4:00 PM (or by appointment)
Adoration times
- Wednesday 5:30 PM – 6:30 PM (Eucharistic Adoration)
History of St. Mary Parish, Morrice
St. Mary traces its origins to 1874, when Father Joseph Kraemer helped Antrim Township Irish Catholics purchase the old Alling Schoolhouse as a mission chapel served from St. Johns and later Owosso. After the mission outgrew the schoolhouse, just 35 families built a brick church that opened in September 1892, and the community was formally erected as a parish in 1926, by which time German and Czechoslovakian members had joined the original Irish families. A Michigan Historical Marker at Main Street and West Mason commemorates this story.
- 1874 — Alling Schoolhouse purchased and dedicated as a chapel
- 1892 — Brick St. Mary's Church opens in Morrice with 300 seats
- 1926 — Mission becomes a parish
- April 16, 1953 — Original church destroyed by fire
- 1955 — Present church dedicated on the same block
- 1962 — Ruins of the 1892 building razed
Mission Statement and Parish Identity
The parish mission statement, published on the St. Mary website, commits the People of God of St. Mary Parish to growing as a community united in Jesus Christ in the Catholic Church. Rooted in the tradition of their ancestors, parishioners pledge to pass on the faith, foster love for prayer and liturgy, evangelize themselves and reach out to the alienated, educate themselves in Sacred Scripture and the Catholic tradition, and accept responsibility as servant people aware of the needs of the parish, community, and world.
- Pass on the faith to future generations
- Foster love for prayer and liturgy, and evangelize the alienated
- Educate in Sacred Scripture and the Catholic tradition
- Be servant people aware of parish, community, and world needs
Music Ministry
Music Ministry is a centerpiece of parish life at St. Mary. The parish has musicians and choirs serving all three weekend Masses, accompanied by the church organ or keyboard, and it also maintains a handbell choir with both youth and adult members that plays periodically throughout the Liturgical year. New singers and ringers are always welcome and can be connected to the right choir director through the parish office.
- Choirs at all three weekend Masses (Saturday Vigil, Sunday 8 AM, Sunday 10:30 AM)
- Organ and/or keyboard accompaniment
- Youth and adult Handbell Choir
- Contact the parish office to join
Parish Groups and Organizations
Lay leadership and fellowship at St. Mary is organized through several long-standing groups. The parish's website highlights the Knights of Columbus and a Men's Group alongside its Music Ministry, and hosts an annual Fall Festival with a Craft Show for vendors. The parish also maintains the Bethany Cemetery, publishing its own Cemetery Guidelines booklet and application for families.
- Knights of Columbus — regular council meetings
- Men's Group — meets Tuesday evenings at 7 PM
- Annual Fall Festival and Craft Show
- Bethany Cemetery ministry with published guidelines
Sacraments and Sacramental Preparation
St. Mary prepares parishioners for the sacraments of initiation, celebrates the Eucharist and Reconciliation on a regular weekly schedule, and works with couples preparing for marriage. Couples are asked to contact Msgr. Michalek through the parish office at least nine months before their wedding, in line with standard diocesan marriage preparation policy.
- Baptism — contact the parish office
- First Reconciliation and First Eucharist — through Faith Formation
- Confirmation — diocesan preparation
- Matrimony — at least 9 months' notice to the pastor
- Anointing of the Sick — on request through the parish office
- Reconciliation — Saturday 3:00–4:00 PM and by appointment
Clergy and Pastoral Staff
St. Mary is pastored by Monsignor George C. Michalek, J.C.L., who was named Pastor of St. Mary, Morrice by Bishop Boyea in the Diocese of Lansing's 2018 priest assignments (effective June 27, 2018). In addition to his role at St. Mary, Msgr. Michalek serves the wider diocese as Adjunct Judicial Vicar, Vice-Chancellor, and Diocesan Archivist, and he is also listed as a member of the East Lansing/Shiawassee Deanery grouping in the Diocese of Lansing's deanery plan.
- Msgr. George C. Michalek, J.C.L. — Pastor (since 2018)
- Msgr. Michalek also serves the Diocese of Lansing as Adjunct Judicial Vicar, Vice-Chancellor, and Diocesan Archivist
Visiting and Contacting St. Mary
Parishioners and visitors can reach St. Mary by mail at 509 N. Main Street, Morrice, MI 48857 (P.O. Box 310), or by phone at 517-625-4260. The parish is also listed on the Diocese of Lansing website, which provides a Map & Directions link from the parish page, and the parish maintains a website at stmarymorrice.org with information on its mission, ministries, schedule, and events.
- Address: 509 N. Main Street, P.O. Box 310, Morrice, MI 48857
- Phone: 517-625-4260
- Diocese of Lansing parish page with map and directions
- Parish website: stmarymorrice.org
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father Joseph Kraemerfrom 1870
First pastor of the Catholic mission at Corunna that included Morrice; helped Antrim Township Irish Catholics purchase the Alling Schoolhouse as a chapel in 1874, traveling from St. Johns and later Owosso for Mass.