About St. Matthias · Sterling Heights, Michigan
St. Matthias Catholic Church is a parish of the Archdiocese of Detroit located at 12311 Nineteen Mile Road in Sterling Heights, Michigan. Founded in 1960 as a mission of St. Lawrence Parish in Utica, it was formally established on June 24, 1960, with Father Leonard J. Partensky as its first pastor, and its first church building was dedicated by Archbishop John F. Dearden on August 26, 1961. The parish serves the Dresden Village and Tacoma Park area and today operates as part of the North Macomb Vicariate Family 1, joined with St. Kieran (Shelby Township) and St. Lawrence (Utica) parishes. It offers weekend Masses in both English and Spanish, daily Mass Tuesday through Thursday, a Catholic-school catechetical center, an active St. Vincent de Paul Society, and a full faith-formation program for all ages.
- Established
- 1960
- Patron
- St. Matthias the Apostle
- Rector
- Rev. Francisco Restrepo (Family Pastor / Priest In Solidum, primarily responsible for St. Matthias, since 2007; leading the North Macomb Vicariate Family 1 in-solidum team since July 2021)
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Detroit
Why belong here
St. Matthias is a multi-generational parish that combines a strong sacramental life — including a weekly Spanish Mass alongside English Masses, daily Mass Tuesday through Thursday, and Saturday confessions — with a robust faith-formation program for preschool through Confirmation and an active RCIA for adults. Parishioners can get involved in liturgical roles (Eucharistic ministers, lectors, altar servers, ushers, music ministry, hospitality) or in service through the St. Vincent de Paul Society, the Christian Women fellowship, the Fifty and Up Club, and a Van Driver ministry that brings seniors from Shorehaven, Lakeside Towers and Pine Ridge to Sunday Mass. As part of the Archdiocese of Detroit's North Macomb Vicariate Family 1, the parish also draws on the wider witness and ministry of two companion parishes — St. Kieran in Shelby Township and St. Lawrence in Utica.
Mass times at St. Matthias
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday: 3:00 pm (until all are heard)
History of St. Matthias Parish
St. Matthias was carved out of St. Lawrence Parish in Utica in 1960 and quickly grew from a mission celebrated in Sterling Junior High School into a permanent parish. Ground was broken January 15, 1961, the cornerstone was laid June 3, 1961, and Archbishop John F. Dearden dedicated the new church on 19 Mile Road on August 26, 1961. The first Sunday Masses were celebrated August 27, 1961, with a sanctuary seating 900 parishioners built at a cost of $129,000.
- Founded as a mission of St. Lawrence, Utica, February 1960
- Father Leonard J. Partensky appointed first pastor, June 24, 1960
- Ground broken for temporary church and rectory, January 15, 1961
- Cornerstone laid by Rev. Edward DeKeyser, June 3, 1961
- Church dedicated by Archbishop John F. Dearden, August 26, 1961
- First Sunday Masses: August 27, 1961 at 7:00, 9:00 and 11:00 a.m.
- First parish mission preached by Father Joseph Lima, February 1962
- School blessed by Bishop J. Donnelly and opened as catechetical center, September 1966
- Sisters moved into new convent, September 1966
Faith Formation & Religious Education
The Faith Formation Ministry provides catechetical programs for all ages, supporting sacramental preparation for Reconciliation, First Eucharist, and Confirmation, plus RCIA for adults and children. A weekly Bible study for adults meets Tuesdays at 9:45 a.m. during the program year.
- Pre-School Program — Sunday 11:00 a.m. to Noon
- Elementary Age Program — Monday 6:15–7:30 p.m.
- Junior High Program — Tuesday 6:30–7:30 p.m.
- Confirmation — Tuesday 6:30–7:30 p.m.
- Reconciliation Classes — February
- First Eucharist Classes — April
- Parent Meetings for Sacraments
- RCIA for children or adults — contact Donna Latimer at 586-731-0650
- Adult Confirmation classes — contact Donna Latimer at 586-731-0650
- Bible Study — Tuesday mornings
- Catechist Formation — as scheduled
Sacraments
The parish celebrates all the sacraments of Christian initiation, marriage preparation, and outreach to the homebound, coordinating preparation through the Faith Formation Office and the Worship Commission.
- Baptism — infants through adults; contact the Parish Office at least three months in advance for infants
- Confirmation — usually in the ninth grade; contact Faith Formation at 586-731-0650
- First Eucharist — preparation classes in April
- Reconciliation (First Penance) — preparation classes in February
- Marriage — preparation through Worship Commission
- Eucharist to the Homebound — through Homebound Ministers
Councils, Commissions & Committees
Parish life at St. Matthias is organized around a Parish Pastoral Council (visioning), a separate Finance Council, and five commissions — Education/Formation, Worship, Stewardship, Christian Service, and Evangelization — that carry out the parish's mission. The Finance Council is chaired by Carmelita Badia ([email protected]).
- Parish Pastoral Council — Jan Sieman, Chairperson
- Finance Council — Carmelita Badia, Chairperson
- Christian Education/Formation Commission — includes RCIA
- Worship Commission — Marie Bommarito, Chairperson
- Stewardship Commission
- Christian Service Commission
- Evangelization Commission
Liturgical Ministries
The Worship Commission recruits and trains the lay faithful who make Sunday and daily liturgies possible, and prepares seasonal and special-feast celebrations as well as baptisms, weddings, funerals, and ministry to the bereaved.
- Eucharistic Ministers — distribute Holy Communion at Masses
- Lectors — proclaim the Word of God
- Altar Servers — assist the priest at Mass
- Ushers — greet, seat, take up collection, distribute bulletins; CPR-trained
- Music Ministry — Director of Music: Kristin Glasgow (586-731-1300)
- Ministers of Hospitality
- Art & Environment Committee
Parish Life, Outreach & Service
Beyond liturgy, St. Matthias runs a number of fellowship and outreach groups that meet practical needs in the community — from a food pantry through the St. Vincent de Paul Society, to a Van Driver ministry that brings seniors from three local senior-living centers to Sunday Mass, to social and fundraising groups like the Christian Women and the Fifty and Up Club.
- St. Vincent de Paul Society — food pantry and utility-bill assistance (586-739-2922)
- Van Drivers — transportation for Shorehaven, Lakeside Towers, Pine Ridge residents to 11:00 a.m. Sunday Mass and select holy days
- Christian Women — November Bake Sale, Anniversary Mass in April, RCIA celebration after Easter Vigil, Graduation Mass in June
- Fifty and Up Club — monthly social activities
- Homebound Ministers — visiting and administering Communion
- Linens Coordinator — monthly laundering rotation
- Grounds and Garden — landscaping, planting, snow removal, grass mowing
Families of Parishes — North Macomb Vicariate Family 1
Since July 1, 2021, St. Matthias has been grouped with two companion parishes under the Archdiocese of Detroit's Families of Parishes model, forming North Macomb Vicariate Family 1. Father Francisco Restrepo was named Family Pastor of the in-solidum team that shepherds all three parishes.
- St. Matthias Parish, Sterling Heights — 12311 Nineteen Mile Road, 586-731-1300
- St. Kieran Parish, Shelby Township — 53600 Mound Road, 586-781-4901
- St. Lawrence Parish, Utica — 4463 [Mound Road area], 586-731-5347
- Family Pastor: Rev. Francisco Restrepo (Priest In Solidum, Primarily Responsible)
- Team Priests In Solidum: Rev. Roman Pasieczny, Rev. Joseph Mallia
- Full-Time Priest Support: Rev. Radoslaw Zablocki
Visit & Contact
New parishioners are warmly invited to register using the New Parishioner Registration Form on the parish website. The parish office can be reached by phone during weekday morning hours, and the parish email is monitored continuously.
- Address: 12311 Nineteen Mile Road, Sterling Heights, MI 48313
- Phone: 586-731-1300
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: http://www.stmatthiascatholicchurch.com
- New Parishioner Registration Form available on the parish website
- Parish Office Hours: Monday–Thursday 8:00 a.m.–1:00 p.m. (Friday closed)
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Leonard J. Partensky1960 – first pastor
Appointed June 24, 1960 as first pastor of the new mission; resided at St. Lawrence rectory in early months; served as Officer of the Mass at the 1961 dedication.
- Rev. Francisco Restrepo2007 – present
Ordained December 1, 1988 at Yarumal Seminary in Medellín, Colombia; came to the USA in 1993; appointed pastor of St. Matthias in 2007; named Family Pastor of North Macomb Vicariate Family 1 (St. Kieran, St. Lawrence, St. Matthias) effective July 1, 2021.