About St. Michael · Fryburg, Pennsylvania
St. Michael Parish is a Roman Catholic parish in the small Clarion County community of Fryburg, Pennsylvania, founded in 1820 by German Catholic pioneers and recognized as one of the earliest Catholic mission stations in what is now the Diocese of Erie. Today the parish is partnered with St. Joseph Parish in Lucinda (designated the main church) and St. Mary Parish in Crown, sharing clergy and worship resources under the name 'Watch 4 Deer Catholic.' St. Michael continues as a secondary worship site offering Sunday Mass, weekday Mass on Tuesdays and Thursdays, Eucharistic Adoration, and a Religious Education program, while the historic church on Route 208 remains the spiritual home of a multi-generational, largely German-heritage Catholic community in the woodlands of northwestern Pennsylvania.
- Established
- 1820
- Patron
- St. Michael the Archangel
- Rector
- Rev. Michael Polinek
- Diocese
- Roman Catholic Diocese of Erie
Why belong here
St. Michael is a small, multigenerational country parish with deep roots in Clarion County — the oldest Catholic community in the region, founded by German pioneers in 1820. Worshippers find a traditional Sunday Mass, quiet weekday Eucharistic Adoration before the Tuesday and Thursday 8:30 a.m. Masses, and a working faith-formation program for children and youth. Because St. Michael is now partnered with St. Joseph (Lucinda) and St. Mary (Crown) under the 'Watch 4 Deer Catholic' banner, parishioners benefit from shared clergy, a Catholic school at St. Joseph (Lucinda), and the wider ministry life of three linked parishes — while keeping the intimate, family-feel worship of their historic church in Fryburg.
Mass times at St. Michael
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 3:00 PM (on Saturday-Vigil Mass weekends — January, March, May, July, September, November)
- By appointment
Adoration times
- Tuesday 7:30 AM (followed by 8:30 AM Mass)
- Thursday 7:30 AM (followed by 8:30 AM Mass)
History of St. Michael Parish
St. Michael Parish traces its origins to 1820, when German Catholic pioneers John Deitz and Jacob Eisenmann settled what was then known as Copp's Settlement in Clarion County. A priest would visit the wilderness mission only every couple of months on horseback to baptize and bring communion, but the community grew: by 1828 the Eisenmans, Ditzs, Denslingers, and Fasenmyers had all arrived. The town was renamed Fryburg after Freiburg, Germany, the homeland of many of these founding families. A late-19th-century county history noted that 'a fine church edifice' had recently replaced the original house of worship and called it 'the most stately building in Clarion county.' St. Michael's School, opened in the late 1800s, was one of the first Catholic schools in the Diocese of Erie. Its baptismal and marriage registers from 1870–71 are preserved by the Western Pennsylvania Genealogical Society.
- Founded 1820 — one of the earliest Catholic mission stations in the Diocese of Erie.
- Early settlers: John Deitz and Jacob Eisenmann (1820); joined by Eisenmans, Ditzs, Denslingers, Fasenmyers by 1828.
- Originally known as Copp's Settlement; renamed Fryburg after Freiburg, Germany.
- St. Michael's School was one of the first Catholic schools in the Diocese (now closed).
- 1870–71 sacramental records preserved by the Western Pennsylvania Genealogical Society.
Partnered Parishes (Watch 4 Deer Catholic)
In October 2023 the Diocese of Erie formally partnered St. Michael (Fryburg) with the already-linked parishes of St. Joseph in Lucinda and St. Mary in Crown. St. Joseph was designated as the Main Church; St. Michael and St. Mary serve as secondary worship sites sharing clergy, deacons, and parish staff. The combined faith community publishes bulletins and operates a unified website under the umbrella name 'Watch 4 Deer Catholic.' At the same time, St. Ann Church in Marienville — formerly a mission of St. Mary — was reclassified as a secondary church 'without' mission status: it no longer offers Sunday Mass but remains available for weekday Mass, funerals, and weddings.
- St. Joseph (Lucinda) — Main Church of the partnership.
- St. Michael (Fryburg) — secondary worship site.
- St. Mary (Crown) — secondary worship site.
- St. Ann (Marienville) — secondary church without mission status; weekday Mass, funerals, weddings.
- Combined website: watch4deercatholic.church
Mass & Liturgical Schedule
St. Michael's Sunday Mass is celebrated at 11:00 AM. The parish also hosts the Saturday Vigil Mass at 4:00 PM during the odd-numbered months (January, March, May, July, September, and November); in the other months the Vigil is celebrated at St. Joseph in Lucinda. Weekday Mass is offered at St. Michael on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 8:30 AM, each preceded by a half-hour of Eucharistic Adoration beginning at 7:30 AM. On Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays the partner parishes rotate weekday Masses among St. Mary (Crown), St. Joseph (Lucinda), and (on Thursdays) St. Ann (Marienville).
- Saturday Vigil: 4:00 PM at St. Michael (Jan, Mar, May, Jul, Sep, Nov).
- Sunday: 11:00 AM at St. Michael.
- Tuesday: 8:30 AM at St. Michael (Adoration 7:30 AM).
- Thursday: 8:30 AM at St. Michael (Adoration 7:30 AM).
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Religious Education for the children of St. Michael Parish is organized through the partnered-parishes 'Watch 4 Deer Catholic' program, with Emily Weaver serving as Religious Education Leader. The program runs alongside the liturgical year and supplements the family-centered catechesis that has long been part of parish life in Fryburg. Information about the 2024–25 Faith Formation year is published on the partnered-parishes website.
- Religious Education Leader: Emily Weaver.
- Program coordinated across St. Joseph, St. Mary, and St. Michael parishes.
Catholic School
St. Michael's historic parish school — one of the first Catholic schools in the Diocese of Erie — has closed, but the partner-parish families are served by St. Joseph School in Lucinda. The school is led by Principal Betsy Ochs ([email protected]) and School Secretary Jennifer Ochs ([email protected]), phone 814-226-8018 / fax 814-223-9620.
- St. Joseph School, Lucinda — Principal Betsy Ochs.
- Phone: 814-226-8018; Fax: 814-223-9620.
Clergy & Staff
St. Michael Parish is served by the clergy and staff of the 'Watch 4 Deer Catholic' partnered parishes. The pastor is Rev. Michael Polinek ([email protected]), and the parochial vicar is Rev. Cory Pius ([email protected]). Deacon Michael Dittman ([email protected]) assists with liturgy and pastoral ministry. The business manager is Lisa Carroll, the parish secretary is Julie Lencer, the liturgical music contact is Cynthia Cyphert, and the religious education leader is Emily Weaver.
- Pastor: Rev. Michael Polinek ([email protected]).
- Parochial Vicar: Rev. Cory Pius ([email protected]).
- Deacon: Michael Dittman ([email protected]).
- Business Manager: Lisa Carroll ([email protected]).
- Parish Secretary: Julie Lencer ([email protected]).
- Liturgical Music Contact: Cynthia Cyphert.
- Religious Education Leader: Emily Weaver.
Visit, Contact & Practical Information
The parish church is located at 18765 Route 208, Fryburg, PA 16326, in Washington Township, Clarion County. The mailing address is P.O. Box 9, Lucinda, PA 16235. The parish office can be reached by phone at (814) 226-7288 or by email at [email protected]. The unified partnered-parishes website, watch4deercatholic.church, hosts the weekly bulletin, current Mass and confession schedules, faith-formation information, and parish news. The Diocese of Erie's own directory page for St. Michael (eriercd.org/Parish30910-St-Michael.html) carries an older reference to Rev. Brandon Kleckner, VF, and Rev. Chijioke (John) Nwankwo as pastor and parochial vicar; the most current parish bulletin (mid-2025) lists Rev. Michael Polinek as pastor and Rev. Cory Pius as parochial vicar.
- Physical address: 18765 Route 208, Fryburg, PA 16326.
- Mailing address: P.O. Box 9, Lucinda, PA 16235.
- Phone: (814) 226-7288.
- Email: [email protected].
- Website: https://www.watch4deercatholic.church.
- Diocese of Erie directory page: eriercd.org/Parish30910-St-Michael.html.