About St. Michael · New Lothrop, Michigan
St. Michael Parish of Maple Grove is a small Catholic parish in New Lothrop, Michigan, situated at 17994 Lincoln Road in rural Saginaw County. Founded in 1865 by German-Catholic settlers from Bavaria, it remains the spiritual center of the Maple Grove farming community in the Diocese of Saginaw (Vicariate 5). The parish serves its members with weekend Masses on Saturday evening and Sunday morning, weekday Masses, a thriving Faith Formation program, a choir, a Children's Liturgy of the Word, and a long tradition of Christian Service and youth ministry including Vacation Bible School.
- Established
- 1865
- Patron
- St. Michael the Archangel
- Rector
- Rev. Robert J. Kelm
- Diocese
- Diocese of Saginaw (Vicariate 5)
Why belong here
Saint Michael Parish of Maple Grove welcomes visitors and new members with the warmth of a small, multi-generational rural community. Weekday and weekend Masses, weekly Thursday evening Exposition/Adoration with Benediction, and a year-round slate of faith-formation options — Catechesis of the Good Shepherd, SPRED, Released Time religion, Sunday Morning classes, and youth ministry — give every age a place to grow. Outreach is hands-on and local: a food pantry, holiday food baskets, a Christmas Giving Tree for children, a Prayer Line, Vacation Bible School, and the parish cemetery all anchor the church to the life of Maple Grove.
Mass times at St. Michael
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Individual Reconciliation by appointment — call Fr. Kelm or the Parish Office to schedule.
Adoration times
- Exposition, Adoration and Benediction — Thursday evenings at 7:00 PM.
Parish History
Saint Michael Parish was born of a small Bavarian Catholic settlement in rural Saginaw County. The first Mass was offered on April 17, 1865, in the home of George Henige, attended by four pioneer families who had settled Maple Grove Township in the 1850s. They built a mission church around 1866 on the west side of Lincoln Road, where the parish cemetery still stands. In 1883 the mission was formally erected as a parish under Father Nicholas Irmen, and by 1889 a school and a new church had been dedicated on the same site. The parish commemorated its 150th anniversary in 2015 with two commemorative booklets available through the parish office.
- First Mass: April 17, 1865
- Mission church built c. 1866 on the west side of Lincoln Road
- Erected as a parish in 1883 under Fr. Nicholas Irmen
- Sesquicentennial commemorated in 2015
The 1922 Church and Former School
The present church, dedicated in 1922, is a Neo-Romanesque building constructed primarily by parishioners themselves. They drew on the land for their materials — timber from nearby forests, oak trim milled in Saginaw, and bricks from Clio and Montrose — while local stone carvers and masons did the masonry and the stained-glass windows were crafted in Germany. A Neo-Gothic school was added in 1930 and, after serving both as a parochial and (from 1938) a public school, returned to parochial use in 1953 and finally closed in 1971.
- 1922 — present Neo-Romanesque church dedicated
- 1930 — Neo-Gothic school building completed
- 1938 — school became public
- 1953 — reverted to parochial school
- 1971 — school closed
Parish Staff and Leadership
Saint Michael Parish is led by Fr. Robert J. Kelm and is supported by two permanent deacons, a parish staff, and a Pastoral and Finance Council. The Diocese of Saginaw's directory lists Fr. Kelm as pastor, Deacons Alan Wright and Lenn Stankiewicz, a Business Manager/Bookkeeper, a Secretary/Bulletin & Web Editor, a Director of Faith Formation, and a Director of Music Ministry. Pastoral and Finance Council chairs round out the leadership team.
- Pastor: Rev. Robert J. Kelm
- Deacons: Alan Wright, Lenn Stankiewicz
- Director of Faith Formation: Kelly Knieper
- Music Ministry Director: Anna Holmes
- Business Manager/Bookkeeper: Debra Bitterman
- Parish Secretary / Bulletin & Web Editor: June Butcher
- Pastoral Council Chair: Steve Henige
- Finance Council Chair: Cheryl Bishop
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Faith Formation at St. Michael's serves every age, from preschool through high school and beyond, with programs that meet children and families where they are. Catechesis of the Good Shepherd (Levels I and II) uses a Montessori-style Atrium on Tuesday evenings for ages 3–9; Released Time Religion coordinates with New Lothrop Schools so students in grades 1–8 walk to the parish's Good News Center for weekly catechesis; Sunday Morning Religion classes prepare middle-school students for Confirmation; SPRED welcomes individuals of any age with disabilities alongside mentors; and the high-school Youth Ministry uses a small-group discipleship model that combines faith-sharing with service projects such as making blankets for homeless children, shelter visits, and Vacation Bible School leadership.
- Catechesis of the Good Shepherd (Levels I & II)
- Released Time Religion (grades 1–8)
- Sunday Morning Religion (grades 6–8, Confirmation prep)
- SPRED — faith formation for individuals with disabilities
- High-school Youth Ministry (small groups + service)
Music Ministry
St. Michael's Music Ministry is led by Anna Holmes and involves both the parish choir and cantors. The choir sings a blend of classical and contemporary Catholic literature at the 4:00 PM Saturday and 9:00 AM Sunday Masses from September through June, and is open to all ages from third grade on up. A cantor announces and leads the hymns from the choir and intones the psalm from the ambo. The parish invites new members to join at any time.
- Parish choir (Sept–June, ages 3rd grade & up)
- Cantor ministry
- Funeral Liturgy music
Children's Liturgy of the Word
During the 9:00 AM Sunday Mass throughout the school year, children ages 4 to 10 are sent forth with a catechist for a Liturgy of the Word suited to their age, then return to their families in time for the Liturgy of the Eucharist. It is a gentle way for the youngest parishioners to engage with the Sunday readings.
- Ages 4–10 at the 9:00 AM Sunday Mass
Christian Service & Outreach
The Christian Service Ministry organizes the parish's outreach to the surrounding community: holiday food baskets, a year-round food pantry, and a Giving Tree at Christmas that provides children's gifts. The Prayer Line Ministry keeps parishioners, family members, and friends in intentional prayer; new prayer requests can be added by calling Sue Beldyga at 989-284-4667. A separate team of volunteer counters meets on Tuesday mornings at The State Bank in New Lothrop to count the weekend offerings.
- Holiday food baskets
- Food pantry
- Christmas Giving Tree for children
- Prayer Line (Sue Beldyga, 989-284-4667)
- Tuesday money counters at The State Bank, New Lothrop
Vacation Bible School & Family Events
Vacation Bible School is a five-day, family-friendly children's program held each year during the second or third full week of July, with music, stories, games, crafts, videos, and snacks built around an annual theme (in recent years, the wonders of the west, under the sea, and the beauty of space). The week closes with a Saturday evening Mass followed by a parish picnic of games, food, and fellowship. The youth group also runs an annual car wash fundraiser and the parish hosts an Ice Cream Social each September.
- Vacation Bible School (annual week in July)
- VBS closing Mass and parish picnic
- Youth Car Wash (late July / early August)
- Ice Cream Social (September)
St. Michael Cemetery
St. Michael's Cemetery has been part of the parish since its founding year. Established in 1865, the cemetery spans 7½ acres on Lincoln Road, split by the road itself: 5 acres on the west side and 2½ acres on the east. It is owned by St. Michael's Catholic Church, and burial records are kept at the parish office.
- Established 1865
- 7½ acres on Lincoln Road (5 west / 2½ east)
- Records held at the parish office, 17994 Lincoln Rd
Councils & Commissions
Parish life is shaped by the Pastoral Council and the Education Commission, both of which advise the pastor. The Education Commission is a standing commission of the Pastoral Council; it is advisory and consultative to the pastor in matters of evangelization, religious education, youth ministry, and family ministry — handling research, planning, mission-setting, program development, and two-way communication between pastor, staff, and parish community. The Parish and Finance Councils are chaired by Steve Henige and Cheryl Bishop, respectively.
- Pastoral Council (Chair: Steve Henige)
- Finance Council (Chair: Cheryl Bishop)
- Education Commission (advisory on Word/formation ministries)
Visit, Register, and Get Involved
The parish invites visitors and new members warmly. To register, use the 'Register with our Parish' link on the parish website or contact the Parish Office at 989-845-7010. The 'I'm New' page on the website answers practical questions about Mass times, confession, and how to find the church at 17994 Lincoln Rd., New Lothrop. Catechists, money counters, choir members, Prayer Line volunteers, and Christian Service helpers are all invited to step forward — the parish office is the front door for getting connected.
- Parish Office: 989-845-7010 / 989-845-7011
- Office hours: Mon–Fri 8:00 AM–4:00 PM
- Address: 17994 Lincoln Rd, New Lothrop, MI 48460
- Registration via website or parish office
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Father Louis Vandriss1865–
First pastor; served the original mission in Maple Grove.
- Rev. Father Nicholas Irmen1883–
First pastor when the mission was formally erected as a parish.
- Rev. Robert J. Kelm
Current pastor as listed by the Diocese of Saginaw.