About St. Mary · Westphalia, Michigan
St. Mary Parish is a historic German-Catholic farming community parish in the village of Westphalia, Michigan, founded in 1836 by immigrants from the Sauerland region of western Germany. It belongs to the Diocese of Lansing and is known as the first German Catholic settlement in central Michigan. The parish serves local families through St. Mary School (K-6), a parish school of religion with multiple programs, an active music ministry, Marian devotions, and a broad network of parish groups. Father Eric Weber serves as pastor with Father Peter Lawrence as associate pastor.
- Established
- 1836
- Patron
- Blessed Virgin Mary
- Rector
- Rev. Fr. Eric Weber
- Diocese
- Diocese of Lansing
Why belong here
St. Mary is a multi-generational Catholic farming community where many parishioners are descendants of the original 1836 German settlers, giving the parish a rare continuity of family and faith. The parish supports families from cradle to grave with St. Mary School (K-6), an extensive religious education program (Sunday School, MARY Program, Middle School classes, The Well high school youth group, and 4D Confirmation prep), active music and liturgy ministries, weekly Marian devotions, a healing ministry, a Rosary Prayer Group that has met every Wednesday since 1987, and outreach through programs like We C.A.R.E. and marriage and divorce ministries.
Mass times at St. Mary
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Monday: 5:30 PM – 6:45 PM
- Wednesday: 5:30 PM – 6:45 PM
- Thursday: 2:00 PM (before First Friday)
- Saturday: 3:00 PM – 4:15 PM
Adoration times
- Times vary — check the weekly bulletin for the current adoration schedule
- First Saturday Devotion: Adoration offered for one hour as part of Marian Devotions
Parish History
St. Mary Parish traces its origin to October 3, 1836, when Father Anton Kopp and the Eberhard Platte family arrived in New York aboard the Leontine from Bremen. After traveling by way of the Erie Canal to Detroit, Father Kopp walked the Dexter Trail to the Ionia land office and, on November 10, 1836, purchased 560 acres of Clinton County land that became the home of the new parish. Bishop Friedrich Rese of Detroit formally assigned Father Kopp to the German parish on November 19, 1836 — a moment Father Kopp himself described as 'the beginning of the rural Catholic Church in Michigan.' The settlers named their community Westphalia in memory of their German homeland.
- First Masses celebrated in settlers' homes beginning September 1837.
- First log church (two rooms, doubling as the priest's living quarters) completed March 1838.
- Larger frame church (St. Peter's) built in 1847, seating about 400.
- Present brick church begun 1867 by Rev. Fr. Godez; dedicated 1870 at a cost of about $70,000.
- Brick church destroyed by fire in 1959.
- Current church erected on the site of the 1838 log church and dedicated May 28, 1962.
- More than 300 German families emigrated to Westphalia between 1836 and 1923.
Faith Formation & Religious Education
St. Mary Parish offers a multi-tiered religious education program for children and youth who do not attend St. Mary School, in addition to the school's daily religious instruction. Programs are coordinated by Austin Fox, the parish's Youth Outreach Director and Parish Faith Formation Minister, with overall discipleship coordination by Vicki Noeker.
- Sunday School
- MARY Program — weekly religious education for elementary-age children not enrolled in St. Mary School.
- Middle School classes — 7th graders meet at St. Mary's Hall on Monday afternoons (2:00–3:00 PM via P-W bussing); 8th graders meet after school 3:15–4:15 PM.
- The Well — high school youth group (grades 9–12) meeting in the evenings at St. Mary's Hall with small-group CORE discussions.
- 4D Confirmation preparation offered every other year.
- Vacation Bible School
St. Mary School
St. Mary School is a parish-supported Catholic elementary school serving 264 students in kindergarten through 6th grade. The school's mission is 'We will come to know God, love God, and serve God and his people.' In addition to daily religious instruction, students participate in weekly Eucharistic adoration, sacramental preparation, and Christian service opportunities. The school partners with Pewamo-Westphalia Community Schools for band and offers clubs including Pro-Life Club, Young Disciples Club, Columbian Squires Club, and Drama Club, plus boys' and girls' choir, basketball, and volleyball.
- Enrollment: 264 students, K-6.
- Tuition assistance and scholarships available.
- Weekly Eucharistic adoration and sacramental preparation.
- Clubs: Pro-Life Club, Young Disciples Club, Columbian Squires Club, Drama Club.
- Athletics: boys' and girls' basketball and volleyball; band partnership with P-W Community Schools.
- School Advisory Council works with the parish Finance Council on school budget issues.
Marian Devotions & Prayer Life
Marian devotion is a hallmark of the parish, rooted in its German Catholic heritage. Every Saturday morning at 8:30 AM, the parish gathers for about 40 minutes of Marian prayer in the church, with a rotating weekly structure that includes the First Saturday Devotion of Fatima, reflections on Mary's life, the Seven Sorrows of Mary, and the Divine Mercy Chaplet.
- Marian Devotions — every Saturday 8:30 AM in the church.
- 1st Saturday: First Saturday Devotion (Fatima) — Adoration (one hour), Rosary, meditation on a Rosary mystery, Litany of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Memorare.
- 2nd & 4th Saturdays: Reflection on Mary's life, Rosary, Seven Sorrows of Mary Devotion, Litany of the Blessed Virgin Mary, meditation, Memorare.
- 3rd & 5th Saturdays: For the conversion of all sinners — Rosary, Seven Sorrows reflections, Divine Mercy Chaplet, Litany to Our Lady for the Conversion of Sinners, Memorare.
- Rosary Prayer Group — every Wednesday 10:00 AM at the church since 1987.
- Prayer Network — prays for any parishioner who calls with a request.
Parish Groups, Outreach & Pastoral Care
St. Mary maintains an extensive network of parish groups for adults, families, and those in need of pastoral care. The Discipleship Coordinator (Vicki Noeker) connects parishioners with ministries including marriage and divorce support, healing, spiritual direction, and small discipleship groups.
- Marriage Ministry
- Surviving Divorce Ministry
- We C.A.R.E. Ministry
- Healing Ministry
- Spiritual Direction (contact Vicki Noeker, 989-587-4211)
- Discipleship Groups (adults)
- Breast Cancer Support Ministry
- RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults)
Music & Liturgy
The parish supports a robust music ministry led by Brian Flynn, Director of Music, including a dedicated Weekday Mass Music Ministry. Beth Markel serves as Office Manager and Sacristan, supporting the liturgical life of the parish.
- Brian Flynn — Director of Music
- Weekday Mass Music Ministry
- Beth Markel — Office Manager, Sacristan
Parish Staff & Contacts
The parish is served by two priests and a staff of lay ministers and office personnel. In addition to the parish office, the campus includes St. Mary School, St. Mary Parish Hall, St. Mary Funeral Chapel, and The Ark.
- Rev. Fr. Eric Weber — Pastor ([email protected])
- Father Peter Lawrence — Associate Pastor
- Julie Trierweiler — Business Manager
- Brian Flynn — Director of Music
- Beth Markel — Office Manager, Sacristan
- Vicki Noeker — Discipleship Coordinator ([email protected], 989-587-4211)
- Barb Spitzley — Secretary
- Austin Fox — Youth Outreach Director & Parish Faith Formation Minister ([email protected], 989-587-4206)
- Parish Office: 989-587-4201 (fax 989-587-3838)
- The Ark: 989-587-4212
- St. Mary School Office: 989-587-3702
- St. Mary Parish Hall: 989-587-3961
- St. Mary Funeral Chapel: 989-587-3939
Sacraments
The parish celebrates the seven sacraments, with dedicated preparation pathways for baptism, marriage, and Confirmation. Reconciliation is offered weekly as listed above.
- Baptism — preparation information available on the parish website.
- Marriage — Marriage Ministry supports couples; preparation information available on the website.
- Reconciliation — Mon & Wed 5:30–6:45 PM; Thu 2:00 PM before First Friday; Sat 3:00–4:15 PM.
- Confirmation — preparation through the 4D program every other year.
- RCIA — for adults seeking initiation into the Catholic Church.
Visiting the Parish
St. Mary Parish is located at 201 N. Westphalia St. in the village of Westphalia, Clinton County, Michigan. The parish campus includes The Ark, St. Mary School, the Parish Hall, and the Funeral Chapel. Office hours and current bulletin deadlines are posted in the weekly bulletin.
- Physical address: 201 N. Westphalia St., Westphalia, MI 48894.
- Mailing address: PO Box 267, Westphalia, MI 48894.
- Parish Office phone: 989-587-4201.
- Parish Office email: [email protected].
- See weekly bulletin for current office hours.
Historical Memory & Heritage
The founding story of Westphalia and St. Mary's Parish is commemorated by a Michigan historical marker erected in 1986 by the Bureau of History, Michigan Department of State, located in the village of Westphalia in Clinton County. The marker recognizes the Westphalia Settlement as the first German-Catholic settlement in central Michigan and the parish as the first parish for German-speaking Roman Catholics in the region.
- Historical marker erected in 1986 by the Michigan Department of State.
- Recognizes Westphalia Settlement and St. Mary's Parish as the first German Catholic settlement and parish in central Michigan.
- Parish history page on the parish website also documents the 1836 founding and the 1959 fire that destroyed the 1870 brick church.
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Anton Kopp1836–1842
Pioneering German priest who founded the parish and celebrated the first Masses in settlers' homes. Returned to Westphalia in September 1837 and built the first two-room log church completed in March 1838. Later reassigned to St. Mary's in Detroit.
- Rev. George Godez1860s–1873
Built the present brick church (begun 1867, dedicated 1870) and, by some accounts, also oversaw an earlier church.
- Rev. Andrew S. Leitner1872–1874
Came to Westphalia in 1872 as assistant to Fr. Godez and became pastor when Fr. Godez was transferred in 1873. A brilliant German-language pulpit orator, educated in Europe.