About St. Michael · Monroe, Michigan
St. Michael the Archangel Catholic Church is a Roman Catholic parish in Monroe, Michigan, located at 502 West Front Street along the River Raisin. Founded in 1852 by 14 German immigrant families, it is the second oldest Catholic Church in Monroe County and belongs to the Archdiocese of Detroit (Monroe Vicariate, South Region, "South Monroe 2" Family of Parishes). Today the parish serves more than 1,000 registered families under the leadership of Fr. Kishore Babu Battu, SAC, who became pastor on August 1, 2020. The parish runs the historic Gothic church (built 1866–1867 with its landmark 187-foot steeple), the 1874 rectory, the original 1918 school building (now the St. Michael Elementary Campus of Monroe Catholic Elementary Schools), and a wide range of ministries including Faith Formation, Music, St. Vincent de Paul, Catholic Christian Women, Michael's Men, and a collaborative K-8 elementary school.
- Established
- 1852
- Patron
- St. Michael the Archangel
- Rector
- Rev. Kishore Babu Battu, SAC
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Detroit (Monroe Vicariate, South Region, South Monroe 2 Family of Parishes)
Why belong here
St. Michael the Archangel is a place where more than 1,000 families from across Monroe worship together in a beautiful, historic Gothic church — the second-oldest Catholic parish in Monroe County. The parish combines a deep 19th-century heritage (German immigrant roots, the 187-foot steeple, three historic bells, hand-carved Stations of the Cross from Munich, and ceiling murals of the lives of Christ and the Blessed Virgin Mary) with a thriving, contemporary community life: weekend and weekday Mass, Saturday confessions, collaborative K-8 Catholic schooling, a robust Faith Formation program shared with neighboring parishes, music ministry, St. Vincent de Paul outreach, Catholic Christian Women, Michael's Men, Prayer Shawl ministry, and lively parish-school partnerships. It is also part of the Archdiocese of Detroit's 'South Monroe 2' Family of Parishes, so newcomers quickly find a strong network of fellow Catholics nearby.
Mass times at St. Michael
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 3:30 pm – 4:20 pm
- Also available by appointment
Welcome & Identity
Fr. Kishore Babu Battu, SAC, and the parish family of St. Michael the Archangel welcome visitors to a community of more than 1,000 registered families in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Detroit. The parish's stated vision is "Fearless disciples, Formed by the Word, Filled with the Heart of Jesus." Sunday worship centers on the 8:30 am and 10:30 am Masses (the 8:30 am is livestreamed on the parish Facebook page), with a vigil Mass Saturday evening at 5:00 pm and weekday Masses Monday and Friday at 8:15 am.
- Parish vision: 'Fearless disciples, Formed by the Word, Filled with the Heart of Jesus'
- More than 1,000 registered families
- Part of the Archdiocese of Detroit's South Monroe 2 Family of Parishes
History of the Parish
Founded in 1852 by 14 German immigrant families who wanted to worship in their native tongue, St. Michael's is the second-oldest Catholic parish in Monroe County. After five prominent families pooled $2,000 to buy the former home of Monroe's first mayor George B. Harleston, the residence was remodeled and blessed on the Feast of St. Michael, September 29, 1852. The present Gothic church was built 1866–1867 from the same plans as the Cathedral of Fort Wayne, Indiana; its 187-foot spire was added in 1883 and three magnificent bells were blessed in 1885. The parish marked its 150th anniversary in September 2002.
- 1845 — fourteen German families petition the Bishop of Detroit
- July 1852 — five prominent families purchase the former Harleston estate for $2,000
- September 29, 1852 — mayor's residence blessed as a temporary church (Michaelmas)
- June 12, 1866 — cornerstone laid for the present church
- October 2, 1867 — church consecrated by Bishop J. H. Luers of Fort Wayne
- 1874 — three-story brick rectory built ($5,000)
- 1883 — 187-foot spire added
- January 11, 1885 — three bells blessed by Bishop Henry Borgess as 'Jesus, Mary and Joseph'
- 1918 — original school building constructed
- 1923 — Stations of the Cross added by artisan Matthew Ising
- September 2002 — 150th anniversary celebrated
Architecture & Sacred Art
The Gothic-style church measures 60 by 145 feet with buttressed outer walls and a gable 100 feet above ground. Its 187-foot spire dominates the Monroe skyline. Inside, ceiling murals depict the Life of Christ and the Blessed Virgin Mary; donated stained-glass windows glow from the walls (a 2015 replacement value of $971,388); and the almost life-size Stations of the Cross — carved in wood and finished in plaster — were imported from Munich's Tyrolese Art Company in 1923. A late-1990s restoration under Fr. Stephen Rooney repainted the three altars, restored the original statuary, removed a wall in the choir loft to let in more light, refinished the organ, and laid new hardwood floors in the sanctuary.
- 60 x 145 ft Gothic nave with buttressed walls
- 187-foot spire; 100-foot gable height
- Rose window above the altar — the only surviving original window
- Three altars (main, and side altars to Mary and Joseph)
- Carved Stations of the Cross imported from Munich (1923)
- East entrance added in the 1980s
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Monroe Catholic Faith Formation is a collaborative religious-education program serving the children of St. Michael the Archangel, St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception, and St. John the Baptist parishes. The program teaches Catholic doctrine to help children grow in faith and knowledge of Christ and His Church, and assists parents in developing family prayer lives. Registration forms are available in both English and Spanish.
- Grades 1–8 collaborative program
- Director: Leslee Willis — 734-241-6097, [email protected]
- Registration forms offered in English and Spanish
- A ministry of the Faith Formation Commission
Monroe Catholic Elementary Schools
St. Michael the Archangel is home to the Elementary Campus of Monroe Catholic Elementary Schools (MCES), a Christ-centered PK–8 learning community committed to academic excellence and spiritual development. The St. Michael campus offers a childcare center starting at 6 weeks of age, plus 3- and 4-year-old preschool, Young 5s, and Kindergarten. The St. John Elementary Campus serves grades 2–4, and the St. Mary Campus houses a self-contained 5th grade plus a 6th–8th-grade middle school model.
- PK–8 Catholic school system on three Monroe campuses
- St. Michael campus: childcare (6 wks+), preschool, Young 5s, Kindergarten
- St. John campus: grades 2–4
- St. Mary campus: grades 5–8
- Principal: Frannie Jagielski
Parish Staff & Leadership
Fr. Kishore Battu leads a team of parish and school staff together with an active Parish Pastoral Council and three commissions (Faith Formation, Christian Service, and Worship). The Pastoral Leadership Team includes Ignacio Cuccia and Lynn Fedewa. The Worship Commission, chaired by Jean Brose, meets the first Wednesday of the month at 6:00 pm; the Parish Pastoral Council, chaired by Zachary Bruck, meets the third Monday of most months at 7:00 pm in the Archangel Room.
- Pastor: Fr. Kishore Battu, SAC — [email protected]
- Music Director: Chris Knudsen — [email protected]
- Office Manager: DeeDee Perkins — [email protected]
- Bookkeeper: Brian King
- Pastoral Associate: Sharon Venier — [email protected]
- Faith Formation Director: Leslee Willis
- Principal: Frannie Jagielski
- Parish Pastoral Council Chair: Zachary Bruck
Parish Ministries & Service Organizations
St. Michael's offers more than a dozen ministries and service organizations where parishioners can live out their faith — from liturgical roles at the altar and in the choir to outreach to the homebound, the bereaved, and those in need. The parish is also home to a Cub Scout pack and to Michael's Men, a Catholic men's fellowship, as well as Catholic Christian Women and a Prayer Shawl Ministry.
- Liturgical: Altar Servers, Lectors, Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion (church, hospital, Seacrest, homebound), Ushers, Choir, Music Ministry
- Outreach: St. Vincent de Paul Society, Funeral Luncheons, Wedding Ministry, Baptism Committee, Prayer Shawl Ministry
- Fellowship: Catholic Christian Women, Michael's Men, Cub Scouts
- Communications: Parish Bulletin, parish photographers (send photos to [email protected])
Sacraments & Pastoral Care
Beyond Mass and Confession, St. Michael's prepares families for the Sacraments of Baptism and Marriage, and brings Holy Communion to parishioners who are homebound, in the hospital, or at Seacrest. The Wedding Ministry helps couples plan their nuptial Mass, while the Baptism Committee walks parents through the preparation process. Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion also visit the sick and shut-ins on a regular basis.
- Baptism preparation — Baptism Committee (Nathan Olson)
- Wedding coordination — Wedding Ministry (Michele Bieszki)
- Communion to the sick — Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion (Jean Brose)
- Anointing and pastoral care available by calling the parish office
Worship & Music
Liturgy at St. Michael's is supported by a choir and music program under Music Director Chris Knudsen, with active involvement of lectors, altar servers, ushers, and extraordinary ministers. The Parish Bulletin, edited by Office Manager DeeDee Perkins, keeps parishioners informed of weekly Mass intentions, devotions, and events.
- Music Director / Choir: Chris Knudsen
- Parish Bulletin: DeeDee Perkins
- Worship Commission Chair: Jean Brose (meets 1st Wednesday at 6 pm)
Visiting & Contact
St. Michael the Archangel Catholic Church is located at 502 West Front Street, Monroe, MI 48161 (telephone 734-241-8645; email [email protected]). The parish office is open Monday through Friday, 9:00 am to 12:00 pm and 1:00 to 3:00 pm, with appointments preferred. The church itself is open for private prayer and devotions Monday–Friday and Sunday from 7:45 am to 7:00 pm, and Saturday from 9:00 am to 6:00 pm.
- Address: 502 West Front Street, Monroe, MI 48161
- Phone: 734-241-8645
- Email: [email protected]
- Parish Office Hours: Mon–Fri 9 am–12 pm & 1–3 pm
- Church open for private prayer: Mon–Fri & Sun 7:45 am–7 pm; Sat 9 am–6 pm
- Website: stmichaelmonroe.com
- Facebook: facebook.com/stmichaelmonroe
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Benjamin Schmittdiel1863–1899
First Diocesan pastor of St. Michael; native of Lancaster, PA; graduate of St. Thomas Seminary in Bardstown, KY; appointed Pastor one week after ordination; served 36 years until his sudden death in 1899. Also donated one of the stained-glass windows.
- Rev. Charles Bolte1899–1915
Succeeded Fr. Schmittdiel; served 16 years.
- Rev. Alphonse Bertele1915–1947
Third pastor; served 32 years — only the third pastor in 84 years of parish life.
- Rev. Bernard C. Loeher1947–1949
Pastor during whose tenure the original main-altar statues were removed after an angel nearly fell on him during Mass.
- Rev. Stephen Rooney1995–2008
Native of Belfast, Northern Ireland; oversaw major late-1990s repainting and remodeling that returned the church to its 19th-century appearance, including repainted altars, restored statues, removed wall in choir loft, refinished organ, new hardwood floors in the sanctuary, and added statues in the main altar.
- Rev. Philip Ching2015–2020
Born in Detroit, raised in Royal Oak; home parish the (Minor) Basilica of the National Shrine of the Little Flower; ordained 2009; previously associate pastor at St. Lawrence, then St. Augustine in Richmond and Holy Family in Memphis.
- Rev. Kishore Babu Battu, SAC2020–present
From Andhra Pradesh, Guntur region of India; educated in Pallottine boarding and seminary schools; ordained a Pallottine priest in 2008; served as associate pastor in Michigan at St. Michael in Livonia, St. Valentine and Our Lady of Loretto in Redford before becoming pastor here on August 1, 2020.