About St. Mary, Our Lady of the Annunciation · Rockwood, Michigan
St. Mary, Our Lady of the Annunciation is a Roman Catholic parish in the small downriver community of Rockwood, Michigan, in the southernmost tier of Wayne County along the Huron River. It belongs to the Archdiocese of Detroit and is one of the oldest Catholic communities in the region, with origins that the parish itself traces back to 1834. Today's parish was formed in July 2013 when the historic St. Mary parish was merged with St. Victor of Gibraltar; the combined community took the title 'Our Lady of the Annunciation' and continues to worship, run a religious education program, and serve the needy from its campus on Church Street. The parish is known for its downtown brick church (built 1911), its long-serving pastor Fr. Jim Rafferty, its daily and weekly Mass schedule, and a robust outreach network that includes St. Vincent de Paul, a food pantry, a clothing closet, and a Knights of Columbus council.
- Established
- 1834
- Patron
- Our Lady of the Annunciation (parish title); Saint Mary (historic patron)
- Rector
- Fr. Jim Rafferty
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Detroit
Why belong here
St. Mary, Our Lady of the Annunciation is a stable, debt-free downriver parish that worships in a century-old brick church, celebrates Mass every day of the week (including Wednesday evening), and offers generous confession and Eucharistic adoration schedules. It runs an active religious education program, a thriving Society of St. Vincent de Paul conference, a Giving Basket Food Pantry, Mary's Meals, a clothing closet, the Daughters of Mary women's study, a Regular Joe men's prayer breakfast, and a Knights of Columbus council that even offers a $1,000 college scholarship to graduating altar servers. It's a place that describes itself as a community where 'faith is nourished' and where 'God continues to make his love known' through Word, sacrament, and one another.
Mass times at St. Mary, Our Lady of the Annunciation
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Wednesday 6:00 p.m.
- Saturday 8:00 a.m.
- Saturday 3:00 p.m.
- First Friday 8:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m.
Adoration times
- Thursday 9:15 a.m. to 6:45 p.m.
- First Friday through First Saturday (overnight) 7:30 p.m. Friday to 8:30 a.m. Saturday, when First Friday and First Saturday are consecutive
Our Story: 1834 to the Present
The parish's own 'Our Journey 1834 – Present' narrative traces its roots to 1798 (Fr. Delhet from St. Anne in Detroit) and 1818 (Fr. Gabriel Richard's report of eight French Canadian Catholic families along the Huron River), but the formal founding is dated to 1834, when Fr. Vincent Badin supervised a small wooden church near where Lee Road now meets Jefferson. The community outgrew that chapel, was served by the Redemptorists, built a frame church dedicated as St. Mary in 1847, moved the church to Rockwood in 1876, and built the brick church (dedicated July 11, 1880) that preceded the present 1911 building. The parish also operates its own historic-site cemetery, with graves now relocated to Our Lady of Hope Cemetery in Riverview.
- 1834: Small wooden church built under Fr. Vincent Badin near Lee Rd. & Jefferson in East Rockwood
- 1847: Redemptorist priests replace chapel with a larger frame church dedicated as St. Mary Parish
- 1853: Bondy family donates land for a cemetery (now a Brownstown Township historic site)
- 1876: Church moved to Rockwood, near the Michigan–Ohio railroad and the Huron River
- 1880: New brick church (seating 400) built on land donated by Stephen Mannausa, dedicated July 11
- 1911: Present brick church built after a fire damaged the 1880 building; old bricks reused in the new bell tower
Mergers and the St. Victor of Gibraltar Partnership
As part of the Archdiocese of Detroit's response to declining vocations, St. Mary was paired with St. Victor of Gibraltar as a cluster. After a period of joint leadership, the recommendation to merge was submitted to the AOD, and in July 2013 the two parishes became one, taking the name St. Mary, Our Lady of the Annunciation. The St. Victor site in Gibraltar was closed and put up for sale; the current St. Mary campus on Church Street in Rockwood is the home of the merged parish.
- Cluster partnership formed with St. Victor of Gibraltar
- Merger effective July 2013; combined parish named St. Mary, Our Lady of the Annunciation
- St. Victor, Gibraltar site closed and listed for sale
Worship Schedule
Mass is celebrated every day of the week. The daily Mass is at 8:30 a.m. Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, with a Wednesday evening Mass at 6:30 p.m. and an additional 6:30 p.m. Mass on First Friday. The weekend schedule is a Saturday vigil at 4:30 p.m. and two Sunday Masses at 8:30 and 10:30 a.m. Confessions are heard Wednesday at 6:00 p.m., Saturday at 8:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m., and on First Friday at 8:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. Adoration is held Thursday 9:15 a.m. to 6:45 p.m., and on First Friday through First Saturday overnight (7:30 p.m. Friday to 8:30 a.m. Saturday) when those days are consecutive.
- Daily Mass: Mon/Tue/Thu/Fri/Sat 8:30 a.m.; Wed 6:30 p.m.
- First Friday additional Mass: 6:30 p.m.
- Weekend: Sat vigil 4:30 p.m.; Sun 8:30 & 10:30 a.m.
- Confession: Wed 6:00 p.m.; Sat 8:00 a.m. & 3:00 p.m.; First Fri 8:00 a.m. & 6:00 p.m.
- Adoration: Thu 9:15 a.m.–6:45 p.m.; First Fri–Sat overnight 7:30 p.m.–8:30 a.m.
Religious Education (Catechism)
Catechism classes meet on Tuesdays from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m. in the parish school, September through April, beginning with prayer in the church. Students are escorted to their classrooms by their catechists and dismissed from the school building; parents are asked to use the parking lot behind the school for pickup. First- and seventh-grade Religious Education is required the year before a child enters the 2nd- or 8th-grade sacramental year (First Communion and Confirmation). Families transferring from another parish or Catholic school must provide a letter stating the student's name, grade, year, classes attended/absent, and sacramental preparation.
- Catechism (Religious Education) on Tuesdays 6:00–7:30 p.m., September through April
- Director of Religious Education (DRE): Leslie Swayze — [email protected], 734-379-9248
- Catechism office is in the single-story building near the lobby entrance off the parking lot
- 1st-grade and 7th-grade Religious Education are required the year before sacramental years
- Open House & final registration: Tuesday, Sept. 8 at 6:00 p.m. in the school hall (for the 2025–2026 school year, per parish site)
- Registration forms and a copy of the child's Baptismal certificate (first year) are required
Catholic School: From 1930 to 2018
St. Mary School opened in September 1930 under the direction of the Sisters of St. Francis from Rochester, Minnesota, after the IHM Sisters from Monroe had begun teaching weekly catechism a few years earlier. The Adrian Dominican Sisters took over in 1962, the same year a school expansion doubled the classrooms. The school later pioneered a 1:1 iPad program and lived the motto 'Pray, Work, Study, Play, and Serve others in Christ's name,' but steady enrollment decline (down to about 50 K–8 students) forced the parish to close the school at the end of the 2017–18 academic year, a decision announced by Fr. Jim Rafferty on April 20, 2018. The school building continues to host the parish's Religious Education program, Mary's Meals pickup, the Regular Joe men's prayer breakfast, and other parish gatherings.
- 1929: Ground broken for a parish school (Cletus Laginess, John Normandin and two others)
- 1930: School opened under the Sisters of St. Francis, Rochester, Minnesota
- 1962: New school wing built (cost $180,240); Adrian Dominican Sisters take over teaching
- High point: more than 400 students across eight grades
- 1960s–70s: 'Shared-time' partnership with Gibraltar School District saved the school for 15 years until a Supreme Court ruling
- 'Save Our School' parish campaign in later years
- 2017–18: School year closed with roughly 50 K–8 students; closure announced by Fr. Rafferty April 20, 2018
Outreach: Serving Our Community
Christian service is a major part of parish identity. The parish's outreach page frames it this way: 'In serving those in need we fulfill God's call to feed the hungry, clothe the poor, give drink to the thirsty and many other acts of charity. By reaching out to others we are reaching out to Christ himself…' Practical ministries include the Giving Basket Food Pantry, Mary's Meals, the St. Mary Clothing Closet, and the parish's own chapter of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, which makes home visits, helps with rent and utilities, and 'twins' with other SVdP conferences to meet larger needs.
- Society of St. Vincent de Paul — St. Mary Conference: home visits, rent/utility assistance, beds, clothing, food, even hot water heaters; contact 734-277-5620
- Giving Basket Food Pantry: open 3rd Saturday of the month, 10:00 a.m.–noon, back of the parish office (enter from St. Stephen St.)
- Mary's Meals: pickup in the school hall on Thursday evenings; sign up at 734-280-8629
- St. Mary Clothing Closet: provides clothing for neighbors in need, supplied through SVdP and parish donations
- SVdP 'Twinning': combines resources across conferences to meet larger requests
Parish Groups and Devotions
Beyond worship and service, the parish supports several ongoing spiritual groups: the Regular Joe Men's Prayer Breakfast (twice monthly in the school hall), the Daughters of Mary ladies' prayer and study group (Tuesdays at 9:15 a.m. and 6:00 p.m., currently studying 'What We Believe' from Ascension Press), and a First Friday/First Saturday Communion of Reparation devotion with Rosary, Eucharist, Confession, and a Holy Hour of Adoration. The parish also offers family consecrations to the United Hearts of Jesus and Mary — a house-to-house blessing with blessed water, salt, rosary, and additional prayers, scheduled by appointment.
- Regular Joe Men's Prayer Breakfast — 2nd & 4th Thursdays, 5:45–7:00 a.m., school hall
- Daughters of Mary — Tuesdays 9:15 a.m. & 6:00 p.m., ladies' prayer & study
- First Friday/First Saturday Communion of Reparation — Rosary, Mass, Confession, Holy Hour
- Family Consecration to the Two Hearts — by appointment (contact Betty at 734-671-1987)
- Knights of Columbus — including an annual $1,000 altar-server college scholarship (contact Steven Kardel 734-306-4676)
Sacraments
The parish celebrates the seven sacraments, with Reconciliation heard on a published weekly schedule (Wednesday 6:00 p.m., Saturday 8:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m., and First Friday 8:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m.) and by appointment. First Communion is prepared in 2nd-grade Religious Education and Confirmation in 8th-grade Religious Education, both preceded by required 1st- and 7th-grade catechesis. Couples should contact the parish office for marriage preparation, and Fr. Rafferty is described as 'always ready and available to administer the Sacraments to us,' including Anointing of the Sick.
- Baptism — contact the parish office
- First Reconciliation & First Eucharist — 2nd grade (after required 1st-grade Religious Education)
- Confirmation — 8th grade (after required 7th-grade Religious Education)
- Matrimony — contact the parish office
- Anointing of the Sick & Viaticum — by request
- Reconciliation — published schedule plus by appointment
Church Building and Campus
The parish's downtown Rockwood campus includes the 1911 brick church (with bell tower built from the 1880 bricks and the original 1880 round window still in place over the choir loft), a rectory, and the former school building — now used for Religious Education, Mary's Meals pickup, the Regular Joe men's prayer breakfast, and other parish events. Under Fr. Jim Rafferty's pastorate, the church interior has been restored: new flooring, painting, renovated confessionals and choir-loft stairways, a Sacred Heart area, a new communion rail, a new handicapped ramp to the front, and major stained-glass restoration with new protective storm windows. A 'gathering space' addition was anticipated in the parish's published history.
- 1911 brick church (bell tower of 1880 brick; original 1880 round window over choir loft)
- Confessionals, choir-loft stairways, Sacred Heart area, and communion rail added during Fr. Rafferty's pastorate
- Handicapped ramp to the front of the church
- Former school building now used for Religious Education and parish gatherings
- Rectory and carriage-shed property on St. Stephen Street
- Parish office with two donation drop-boxes on the St. Stephen St. side
Contact, Giving, and Getting Involved
Parish office hours are Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday 9:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m., and Wednesday 9:00 a.m.–noon, with additional hours by appointment. The office is at 32477 Church St., Rockwood, MI 48173; the physical church address is 32467 Church St. Donations can be mailed to the parish office, sent by Echeck, or made online through the parish's myEoffering program (with the ability to designate a specific fund and frequency). New parishioners are invited to fill out the Parish Census form (available on the website) and return it by email, mail, or the collection basket. Flocknote text alerts are available by texting 'Rockwood' to 84576.
- Parish office: 32477 Church St., Rockwood, MI 48173; phone 734-379-9248; fax 734-379-6548
- Office hours: Mon/Tue/Thu/Fri 9–4; Wed 9–12; additional by appointment
- Online giving: myEoffering (designate fund and frequency)
- Parish Census form on the website — email, mail, or drop in the collection basket
- Flocknote text alerts: text 'Rockwood' to 84576
- Knights of Columbus scholarship: Steven Kardel 734-306-4676
- St. Vincent de Paul: 734-277-5620
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. John Helton1899–1903
First resident pastor of St. Mary Parish.
- Fr. Toussaint Rose1903–1934
Oversaw construction of the 1911 brick church; retired in 1934.
- Fr. Archibald Soest1934–c. 1962
Brought the parish from large debt to solvency through weekly envelopes and parish fundraisers during the Depression and post-Depression years.
- Fr. Gerald LeVasseurc. 1962–1966
Replaced the ailing Fr. Soest; the Adrian Dominican Sisters took over the school and a 1962 expansion doubled the classrooms at a cost of $180,240.
- Fr. Francis Zarrett1966–1969
Succeeded Fr. LeVasseur; served until 1969.
- Fr. Thomas Sauter1969–2002 (retired)
Longest-serving pastor (33 years); inherited an $800,000 debt, guided the parish through the shared-time school arrangement and 'Save Our School' campaign; died March 20, 2004.
- Fr. Marc Gawronski2002–2005
Served three years after Fr. Sauter's retirement; known for warm, humorous homilies that re-energized the parish.
- Fr. Jim Rafferty2005–present
Current pastor; led the church's interior restoration, the 2013 merger with St. Victor of Gibraltar, and the difficult 2018 decision to close the parish school.