About St. Mary-St. Paul Parish at St. Paul Chapel · Big Rapids, Michigan
St. Mary–St. Paul Parish is a Roman Catholic parish of the Diocese of Grand Rapids that serves both the small city of Big Rapids, Michigan, and the students of Ferris State University. The parish operates two worship sites: St. Mary Church at 1009 Marion Avenue and St. Paul Chapel at 1 Damascus Road on the FSU campus, which functions as the Catholic Newman Center. Established as a parish in 1873 and reorganized under its current dual-site structure in 2012, the community blends a long-standing Mecosta County Catholic heritage with a vibrant campus ministry.
- Established
- 1873
- Patron
- The Blessed Virgin Mary (St. Mary) and St. Paul
- Rector
- Rev. Jegar (Patrick Jegar N.) Fickel — Canonical Administrator
- Diocese
- Diocese of Grand Rapids (Northeast Deanery, Mecosta County)
Why belong here
St. Mary–St. Paul is one of the few parishes in the Diocese of Grand Rapids that genuinely bridges generations and callings: longtime Mecosta County families worship side-by-side with Ferris State University students at the Newman Center. The parish offers daily and Sunday Mass at two sites, weekday Eucharistic Adoration, a candlelit student Mass during the academic year, Penance Services, faith formation for families, a vibrant music program with the Alleluia Assembly and a men's schola, and a long-running PCCW Christmas Bazaar. Whether you are a Big Rapids native, a Bulldog looking for a Catholic home away from home, or a visitor passing through, the parish offers a real sense of community grounded in 150 years of faith.
Mass times at St. Mary-St. Paul Parish at St. Paul Chapel
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Monday: 11:15 a.m. – 11:45 a.m. (St. Paul)
- Wednesday: 8:30 p.m. – 9:10 p.m. (St. Paul, during FSU semester)
- Saturday: 4:00 p.m. – 4:45 p.m. (St. Mary) — Memorial Day to Labor Day schedule
- Saturday: 3:00 p.m. – 3:40 p.m. (St. Mary) — Labor Day to Memorial Day schedule
Adoration times
- Tuesday: 3:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. (St. Paul, when FSU is in session)
- Thursday: 9:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. (St. Mary)
History of St. Mary–St. Paul Parish
Catholic life in Big Rapids began in the early 1850s when settlers such as Patrick Savage organized their neighbors and traveled to Detroit to beg Bishop Lefevre for a priest. After years of monthly visits by missionary priests from Grand Rapids, the mission was formally established as a parish in 1873 under the Diocese of Detroit with Rev. Fr. Schaeken as the first resident pastor. In 1882 the parish became part of the newly created Diocese of Grand Rapids, and the community went on to rebuild after the 1901 fire that destroyed the original wooden church, dedicating a new brick church in 1902 and replacing it again with the current St. Mary Church in 1962–63.
- First Mass celebrated in Big Rapids: late 1850s at the Savage homestead.
- First wooden church built: 24x24 on Williams Street, late 1860s.
- Established as a parish: 1873, Diocese of Detroit.
- Diocese of Grand Rapids created: 1882; parish joined it.
- Original church destroyed by fire: 1901.
- Brick church dedicated: December 1902.
- Current St. Mary Church built: 1962–63.
- First Mass at St. Paul's Chapel (then Ferris State College): September 1959.
- Parish reorganized as unified St. Mary–St. Paul Parish: 2012.
- 150th anniversary celebrated: 2023.
Our Two Worship Sites
The parish operates two distinct worship sites under one administration. St. Mary Church on Marion Avenue is the historic heart of the parish, with the parish center attached and St. Mary's School nearby. St. Paul Chapel on Damascus Road sits on the Ferris State University campus near the Muskegon River and behind the Student Recreation Center, and serves as the Catholic Newman Center for students.
- St. Mary Church – 1009 Marion Ave., Big Rapids, MI 49307 — handicapped accessible, with attached parish center.
- St. Paul Chapel – 1 Damascus Rd., Big Rapids, MI 49307 — on FSU's East Campus, handicapped accessible.
- Business address: 1009 Marion Ave., Big Rapids, MI 49307.
Clergy and Parish Staff
The parish is led by Rev. Jegar (Patrick Jegar N.) Fickel, who serves as Canonical Administrator and Pastor, and is supported by a small lay staff handling faith formation, music, administration, and maintenance.
- Rev. Jegar Fickel – Canonical Administrator/Pastor ([email protected], 231-796-5202).
- Madeline Tassoni – Director of Faith Formation & Family Life.
- Erin Brown – Parish Director of Music.
- Mary Ann Mendenhall – Administrative Assistant.
- Beth Dake – Bookkeeper.
- Cathie Reed – Pastoral Associate.
- Amelia Topolinski – Director of Marketing.
- Tony Matthews – Maintenance.
St. Paul Newman Center — Catholic Campus Ministry
The St. Paul Newman Center is the campus-ministry arm of the parish, serving Ferris State University students out of St. Paul Chapel. Its stated mission is 'nothing less than making saints,' and it builds community through retreats, weekly gatherings, mission trips, theology talks, and simple shared meals — most notably the Sunday student brunch after the 12 p.m. Mass.
- Ignite Retreat — annual kick-off retreat each fall.
- Silent Retreats — Fall and Spring semesters, Friday evening through Sunday morning.
- Spring Break Mission Trip — Chicago, volunteering with Mission of Our Lady of the Angels.
- Fireside Theology — biweekly Thursday speakers.
- Men's & Women's Groups — biweekly Monday nights with Father Jegar, followed by Adoration.
- Pints with the Priest — 21+ monthly event, first Friday at 7 p.m.
- Student Brunch — Sundays after 12 p.m. Mass, cooked by parish volunteers.
- Campus Outreach — apple cider, root beer floats, Christmas cards for homebound.
- Volunteer opportunities — local food pantry and parish events.
Parish Ministries and Groups
Beyond campus ministry, the parish is sustained by a wide network of lay ministries — liturgical, musical, and service-oriented — many of them coordinated through the Parish Council of Catholic Women and the Knights of Columbus. The annual PCCW Christmas Bazaar, running for nearly 70 years, is one of the parish's signature events, alongside the Mother's Day Banquet and special anniversary celebrations.
- Alleluia Assembly — musicians and singers.
- Parish Council of Catholic Women (PCCW) — all women of the parish; runs Christmas Bazaar, Mother's Day Banquet, 150th Celebration.
- Knights of Columbus (KOC) — supports the Christmas Bazaar, hosts annual pancake breakfast.
- Music Ministry — choir at Saturday Mass, both Sunday Masses, Penance Services, concerts.
- St. Paul Newman Music — student-led Adoration music and men's schola (monthly chant before Mass).
- Lectors — read First and Second readings at Mass.
- Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion (EMHC).
- Altar Servers — with training videos.
Faith Formation and Sacraments
Faith Formation is led by Madeline Tassoni, the parish's Director of Faith Formation and Family Life. The office coordinates preparation for the sacraments — including Baptism, First Reconciliation, First Eucharist, Confirmation, and Marriage — as well as ongoing religious education for children and families. RCIA-style adult formation and sacramental preparation are part of this apostolate, supporting both lifelong parishioners and newcomers.
- Director of Faith Formation & Family Life: Madeline Tassoni.
- Pastoral Associate: Cathie Reed.
- Sacramental preparation: Baptism, First Reconciliation/First Eucharist, Confirmation, Marriage.
- Family-life programming.
Music and Liturgy
Music is a central part of parish life at both sites. Erin Brown directs the parish choir, which serves the Saturday vigil Mass, both Sunday Masses, Penance Services, and various concerts. The Alleluia Assembly brings together guitarists, singers, and instrumentalists, while the Newman Center students lead Adoration worship on Wednesday nights before the candlelit Mass and provide a men's schola that chants before Mass once a month.
- Parish Director of Music: Erin Brown.
- Choir: Saturday, both Sundays, Penance Services, concerts.
- Alleluia Assembly: guitarists and singers.
- Men's schola: monthly chant before Mass at St. Paul.
- Student-led Adoration music: Wednesdays at St. Paul during FSU sessions.
- Wednesday 9:15 p.m. candlelit Mass: a signature liturgical moment of the school year.
Getting Involved and Contact
Parishioners and visitors can get involved through liturgical ministries, the PCCW, the Knights of Columbus, music ensembles, or by volunteering at the local food pantry and Newman Center events. The parish office can be reached at the phone numbers and email addresses listed; bulletins, the parish app, and a parish email list are all available through the official website.
- Parish website: http://www.stmarystpaulbr.org/
- Liturgy page: stmarystpaulbr.org/church/liturgies/
- Bulletin available via the parish website and app.
- Diocese of Grand Rapids listing: grdiocese.org/parishes-location/saint-mary-saint-paul-parish-big-rapids/.
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Fr. Schaeken1873–1874
First resident pastor; transferred to St. Mary's, West Bay City, where he died shortly after.
- Rev. Andrew Herbstrit1874–c.1879
Remodeled the church with a facade on Marion Avenue; served about five years.
- Rev. Charles L. DeCeunick1879–1880
Arrived December 1879; died in Big Rapids in 1880 after a short pastorate.
- Rev. Fr. Grimmec.1880–1882
Bridge between old mission regime and the new Diocese of Grand Rapids (est. 1882).