About St. Mary of the Hills · Rochester Hills, Michigan
St. Mary of the Hills is a Roman Catholic parish in Rochester Hills, Michigan, in the Archdiocese of Detroit. Founded in 1989, it serves more than 1,600 registered families on the north side of the Rochester area along John R Road, just south of the border with the city of Rochester. The parish describes itself as 'a sacramental people led by the Holy Spirit, seeking to grow together in faith, love and charity' and called 'to be a welcoming presence of Jesus in our parish and community through worship, education, fellowship, and service.' Weekend Masses are offered Saturday evening and twice on Sunday morning, daily Mass is celebrated Monday, Tuesday and Thursday, and Eucharistic Adoration is held Thursday afternoons alongside Saturday afternoon confessions.
- Established
- 1989
- Patron
- The Blessed Virgin Mary (under the Marian title 'of the Hills')
- Rector
- Rev. Stanley Ulman
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Detroit
Why belong here
St. Mary of the Hills is a mid-sized parish where roughly 1,600 families are known by name, and the welcome is built into the mission statement: 'to be a welcoming presence of Jesus.' Daily and weekly Mass schedules are consistent and livestreamed, Thursday afternoon Eucharistic Adoration and Saturday confessions are readily available, and the parish takes seriously both formation (GIFT for K–5, MSP for middle school, and SMYG for high school youth, along with a faith-formation office) and outreach — most visibly its long-running partnership with the St. Michael Food Pantry in Pontiac, founded by Deacon Mike Merlo. A parish preschool, a Stephen Ministry for one-to-one caring in difficult seasons, and a vibrant music ministry round out a community where newcomers are quickly invited to register and get involved.
Mass times at St. Mary of the Hills
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday: 3:00 PM to 3:30 PM
Adoration times
- Thursday: 12:00 PM to 4:00 PM
Parish Identity & Mission
St. Mary of the Hills frames itself through its mission statement on the About Us page: 'We are a sacramental people led by the Holy Spirit, seeking to grow together in faith, love and charity. We are called by God the Father to be a welcoming presence of Jesus in our parish and community through worship, education, fellowship, and service.' The pastor's homepage welcome invites both newcomers and longtime Rochester Hills residents to make the parish their spiritual home.
- Mission statement focused on worship, education, fellowship, and service
- Over 1,600 registered families
- Located in Rochester Hills, Oakland County, in the Archdiocese of Detroit
Founding & History
The parish was created in 1989 when Father Eugene R. Strain petitioned Detroit Cardinal Adam Maida. Fr. Strain had been pastor of St. Andrew in Rochester since 1978, and the new parish on John R Road was established to serve the growing Catholic population of northern Rochester Hills. Fr. Strain led the parish through its first 15 years, retired as pastor in 2004, and remained as pastor emeritus — helping at weekend Masses — until shortly before his death in March 2019.
- Founded 1989 in the Archdiocese of Detroit
- Founding pastor: Rev. Eugene R. Strain (1989–2004)
- Holy Family Regional School was co-created by Fr. Strain as a regional Catholic elementary school
Clergy & Staff
Father Stanley Ulman has served as pastor since July 2004, succeeding Fr. Strain. The Archdiocese of Detroit directory lists three priests in solidum assigned to the parish (Rev. Joseph Horn, Rev. Gerard LeBoeuf, Rev. Brian Cokonougher) alongside deacons Joseph Karle and Ronald Valade. Liturgical and faith-formation staff include Director of Music Daniel Greig; Director of Discipleship Formation Holly Abolins; Lower Elementary Section Head María Gómez; Upper Elementary Section Head and Office Manager Heather Deller; Youth Minister Chris Kozlowski (retiring May 2026 after 28 years); and Marriage Preparation Coordinator Daniela Garza.
- Pastor: Rev. Stanley Ulman
- Priests in Solidum: Rev. Joseph Horn, Rev. Gerard LeBoeuf, Rev. Brian Cokonougher
- Deacons: Joseph Karle, Ronald Valade, Mike Merlo
- Pastoral staff: Daniel Greig (Music), Holly Abolins (Discipleship Formation), Daniela Garza (Marriage Prep), Chris Kozlowski (Youth Ministry)
Faith Formation for Children, Youth & Teens
Discipleship Formation at St. Mary of the Hills is organized under Director Holly Abolins and serves children from kindergarten through high school. GIFT (Growing in Faith Together) covers grades K–5, the Middle School Program (MSP) covers grades 6–8, and SMYG is the high school youth group, led by Chris Kozlowski. Sunday Morning Children's Programs and sacrament registration run alongside the grade-based programs. The parish office at [email protected] or 248-243-0252 handles enrollment and tuition.
- GIFT (K–5) — Holly Abolins, Director of Discipleship Formation
- MSP (6–8) — grades 6–8
- SMYG (high school youth group) — Chris Kozlowski
- Heather Deller (Upper Elementary Section Head & Office Manager)
- María Gómez (Lower Elementary Section Head)
- Jessie Parsons and Irene Rohlfing (administrative support)
- Office hours: Monday–Thursday 9 AM–3 PM (and during Formation Events)
Sacramental Preparation
The parish prepares Catholics for the sacraments of initiation and marriage through its Discipleship Formation office and the marriage-preparation ministry, with Reconciliation available Saturday afternoons. Couples preparing for marriage begin at least six months before their wedding date, work through a marriage preparation guidebook, and meet with Deacon Joe Karle on the first and third Monday evenings each month. Coordinator Daniela Garza assists with paperwork and scheduling.
- Baptism, First Eucharist, Confirmation through Faith Formation
- Marriage preparation: 6+ months; Deacon Joe Karle, 1st & 3rd Monday evenings
- Reconciliation: Saturday 3:00–3:30 PM
- Anointing of the Sick / Healing Mass offered periodically
Music Ministry
Music is led by Daniel Greig, Director of Music, whose email is listed on the parish website as [email protected]. The Music Ministry supports the parish's weekend and weekday Masses as well as weddings (which must follow the parish's music guidelines, coordinated through Dan Greig) and other liturgical celebrations.
- Director of Music: Daniel Greig ([email protected])
- Coordinated music for weekend and weekday liturgies
- Wedding music coordinated through Dan Greig
Stephen Ministry
St. Mary of the Hills offers a Stephen Ministry — a lay, one-to-one, confidential caring ministry grounded in Acts 6 and the biblical Stephen's example. Parishioners are trained to walk alongside people facing grief, illness, job loss, or other difficulties. To request a Stephen Minister, make a referral, or inquire about training, the parish provides a form on the Stephen Ministry page and an office extension (120) at 248-853-5390.
- Lay one-to-one confidential caring ministry
- Modeled on Acts 6 (St. Stephen)
- Inquiries and referrals: contact the parish office and ask for the Stephen Ministry Department (ext. 120)
Outreach & Charitable Works
St. Mary of the Hills has a long-standing partnership with the St. Michael Food Pantry in Pontiac, which was founded by Deacon Mike Merlo and is now run by volunteers from several parishes, including St. Mary of the Hills. Donation bins are kept in the hallway near the gym, and during Lent the parish runs a focused food drive. GIFT (K–5 faith-formation) families also prepare sack lunches for those receiving pantry support, and parishioners periodically serve meals at local homeless shelters and donate clothing and other goods to families in need.
- St. Michael Food Pantry partnership (food collection bins in the gym hallway)
- Lenten Almsgiving drive (annual)
- GIFT families prepare sack lunches
- Parishioner service at local homeless shelters
- Deacon Mike Merlo — food-pantry founder
Parish School & Preschool
While the parish elementary feeder is Holy Family Regional School — the regional Catholic school that Fr. Strain helped establish and that sits near St. Mary of the Hills — the parish itself operates a Preschool that hires part-time assistant teachers each year and offers VBS in the summer. The parish's Catholic Schools page helps families navigate their K–8 options.
- Holy Family Regional School (regional K–8 elementary, co-founded by Fr. Strain)
- St. Mary of the Hills Preschool (part-time assistant teachers hired annually)
- Vacation Bible School (summer, rainforest theme for 2026)
Office, Calendar & Communication
The parish office is open Monday through Thursday from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM and is closed on Fridays. Newcomers may register in person or through online registration via the website. A parish calendar, weekly bulletin, prayer-request form, and Mass livestream all live on smoth.org, and a 'Stay In Touch' option helps visitors and newcomers get connected. The parish phone is (248) 853-5390.
- Office hours: Monday–Thursday 9 AM–3 PM (closed Friday)
- Parish Calendar & Bulletin published on smoth.org
- Prayer Request form available online
- Main phone: (248) 853-5390
- Email: [email protected]
Family of Parishes
As part of the Archdiocese of Detroit's 'Family of Parishes' reorganization launched in 2021, St. Mary of the Hills is linked to neighboring parishes (including St. Andrew in Rochester) in a collaborative grouping that shares pastoral resources. The 'Family of Parishes' link on the About Us page directs parishioners to the broader configuration, and the AOD directory lists multiple priests in solidum assigned to the parish in addition to the pastor.
- Member of an Archdiocese of Detroit Family of Parishes
- Linked with neighboring Rochester-area parishes such as St. Andrew
- Multiple priests in solidum listed in the AOD directory
Getting Involved & Announcements
Volunteer opportunities, the Easter Egg Hunt (April 4, 2026, ages 0–5th grade), Vacation Bible School (summer 2026, rainforest theme), the Knit & Pray Group (meeting March 19, 2026 to make prayer shawls, blankets, hats, scarves, mittens, and baby items), and the parish blood drive (Red Cross) are among the recurring ways newcomers are invited to participate. The parish also publishes a livestream link, a Lent 2026 resource page, and a 'Join Our Parish' online registration form.
- Easter Egg Hunt (April 4, 2026)
- VBS 2026 — rainforest theme
- Knit & Pray Group
- Red Cross Blood Drive
- Volunteer sign-up and online parish registration on smoth.org
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Eugene R. Strain1989–2004 (founding pastor; pastor emeritus thereafter until his death in 2019)
Petitioned Cardinal Maida to create the parish; driving force behind the founding of Holy Family Regional School with neighboring parishes; returned as a weekend helper after retirement.
- Rev. Stanley Ulman2004–present
Succeeded Fr. Strain in July 2004 and remains the current pastor; oversees the Family of Parishes and continues the strong emphasis on Catholic education.