About St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception · Niles, Michigan
St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception is a Roman Catholic parish in Niles, Michigan, in the Diocese of Kalamazoo, tracing its Catholic origins to an Indian Mission at the nearby Fort St. Joseph in the late 1600s. The parish serves the Niles community and surrounding Berrien County from its location on South State Street (parish office) and its historic church on South Lincoln Avenue. The current pastor is Rev. Christian Johnston, assisted by Deacon Roger Gregorski. The parish offers Mass in both English and Spanish, daily and weekend Masses, Eucharistic Adoration, Confession, a parish school (Preschool through Grade 6), and an outreach Food Pantry operated by the parish's Christian Service Center.
- Established
- 1849 (parish moved into Niles; cornerstone 1866; dedicated 1870)
- Patron
- The Blessed Virgin Mary, under her title of the Immaculate Conception
- Rector
- Rev. Christian Johnston
- Diocese
- Diocese of Kalamazoo
Why belong here
St. Mary's is a historic, bilingual parish that welcomes Catholics of English and Spanish heritage to worship side-by-side, with a Sunday Spanish Mass at 1:00 PM alongside English Masses. The parish sustains a daily Mass schedule (Monday, Wednesday, and Friday mornings, plus Tuesday evening and Saturday Vigil), Confession twice a week, and a Monday evening Holy Hour with Eucharistic Adoration, including First Friday (Ladies Only) and Second Friday (Men Only) overnight adoration. Families can enroll children at St. Mary's School (Preschool through Grade 6), an accredited Catholic school with a small, family-style 'one-hallway' culture, and the parish's Christian Service Center operates a Food Pantry on Clay Street to serve those in material need in Niles.
Mass times at St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Monday: 6:30 PM to 6:55 PM
- Saturday: 3:30 PM to 4:00 PM
- Or by appointment
Adoration times
- Monday: 7:00 PM to 8:00 PM (Holy Hour)
- First Friday of the month: 8:00 PM (Ladies Only) — ends 5:30 AM Saturday
- Second Friday of the month: 8:00 PM (Men Only) — ends 5:30 AM Saturday
Parish Identity and History
St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception in Niles is one of the oldest Catholic communities in southwestern Michigan. A Michigan historical marker erected in 1971 records that the Catholic presence in Niles traces to an Indian Mission established at the nearby Fort St. Joseph in the late 1600s. That mission was reestablished at Bertrand three miles south of Niles in the 1830s and then moved into town in 1849, when it was renamed St. Francis's. In 1866 the cornerstone of the present building was laid, and on December 11, 1870, the church was dedicated to St. Mary. The pastorate of Father John Cappon, a Belgian-born priest, is credited as the formative era of the parish; he served more than thirty years and is known as the parish's greatest benefactor.
- Catholic origins: Indian Mission at Fort St. Joseph, late 1600s
- Reestablished at Bertrand in the 1830s
- Moved into Niles in 1849 as St. Francis's
- Cornerstone of present church: 1866
- Dedication to St. Mary: December 11, 1870
- Gothic tower completed 1890; architect Rufus Rose (with Father Cappon's modifications)
- Father John Cappon, Belgian-born, served as pastor for 30+ years
Clergy and Staff
The parish is currently led by Rev. Christian Johnston as Pastor, with Rev. Mr. Roger Gregorski serving as Deacon. The parish office secretary is Erika Kirtdoll. Fr. Christian Johnston also serves as Administrator of St. Gabriel Church in Berrien Springs per the Diocese of Kalamazoo parish directory.
- Pastor: Rev. Christian Johnston
- Deacon: Rev. Mr. Roger Gregorski
- Parish Secretary: Erika Kirtdoll
- Office hours: Mon-Thu 9:00 AM-3:00 PM; Fri 9:00 AM-12:00 noon
St. Mary's School
The parish operates St. Mary's School, a Catholic school enrolling Preschool through Grade 6 and described on its website as a small, family-oriented school 'fueled by faith.' The school is accredited by the National Catholic Education Association and the Michigan Nonpublic School Accrediting Association, and is part of the Schools of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Kalamazoo under Bishop Edward Lohse. St. Mary's School uses multi-grade classrooms in a single-hallway building, offers 'specials' in Spanish, Art, Music and Movement, Physical Education, and Technology, administers the NWEA standardized test three times per year, and is a Michigan-licensed Child Care Center.
- Preschool through Grade 6
- Accredited by NCEA and Michigan Nonpublic School Accrediting Association
- Multi-grade, single-hallway 'schoolhouse culture'
- Daily specials: Spanish, Art, Music & Movement, PE, Technology
- NWEA testing three times per year; IXL adaptive learning program
- Licensed Child Care Center in the State of Michigan
- School day 8:00 AM-3:00 PM; After School Club runs until 5:00 PM
- Phone: (269) 683-9191
Outreach: Christian Service Center Food Pantry
St. Mary's parish operates the Christian Service Center Food Pantry at 322 Clay St., Niles, MI 49120 (phone 269-684-0637). The pantry is open three days a week and serves residents of the Niles community; the parish asks those in need to call ahead before visiting.
- Address: 322 Clay St., Niles, MI 49120
- Phone: 269-684-0637
- Monday: 1:00-4:00 PM
- Tuesday: 1:00-4:00 PM
- Thursday: 10:00 AM-12:00 Noon and 1:00-4:00 PM
- Please call before visiting
Parish Communication and Other Links
Beyond its core worship and school ministries, the parish points its members to a number of wider resources from the Diocese of Kalamazoo and beyond. The parish uses Flocknote for parish-wide email and text alerts, maintains Facebook and X / Twitter accounts, and links to the Bishop's Annual Appeal, Catholic Answers, the USCCB, and the Stephen Ministry of SW Michigan confidential care line.
- Flocknote parish email/text signup
- Bishop's Annual Appeal online giving
- Diocese of Kalamazoo Sunday Experience
- Catholic Answers
- Stephen Ministry of SW Michigan — confidential line 269-479-5364
- Faith ND website
- USCCB website
- Parish Facebook and X / Twitter accounts linked from the homepage
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father John Capponserved for over thirty years
Belgian-born priest, designed by Rufes Rose with later modifications by Father Cappon; known as the parish's greatest benefactor; gave generously of his large personal estate for parish improvements