About St. Michael the Archangel · Muskegon, Michigan
Saint Michael the Archangel Parish is a Roman Catholic parish in Muskegon, Michigan, founded in 1909 by Polish-American immigrants and now the second-oldest active Catholic parish in the city. It is part of the Diocese of Grand Rapids and is clustered with neighboring St. Francis de Sales Parish in Norton Shores, sharing pastors, a unified Mass and confession schedule, and Eucharistic adoration. The current church, completed in 1943 and consecrated on May 31, 1944, is a limestone Roman Catholic landmark often called the most beautiful church in Muskegon.
- Established
- 1909
- Patron
- Saint Michael the Archangel
- Rector
- Rev. Steven W. Geerling
- Diocese
- Diocese of Grand Rapids
Why belong here
St. Michael's offers parishioners a rare combination: a historically significant, consecrated Polish-heritage church with breathtaking limestone architecture and stained glass; the first perpetual Adoration Chapel in Muskegon (Divine Mercy Chapel, open 7 a.m. – 7 p.m. daily); and the warmth of a clustered parish sharing its pastor and ministries with neighboring St. Francis de Sales. With active liturgical and catechetical ministries — altar servers, lectors, extraordinary Eucharistic ministers, music ministry, Religious Education, and OCIA — alongside a long tradition of Polish-American customs such as blessed Easter baskets and Polish hymnody at special Masses, it is a parish where heritage and ongoing community life meet.
Mass times at St. Michael the Archangel
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Tuesday – 5:00 p.m. (at St. Michael)
- Wednesday – 5:00 p.m. (at St. Francis Marian Chapel)
- Thursday – 9:00–9:30 a.m. (at St. Francis de Sales)
- Friday – 9:00–9:30 a.m. (at St. Michael)
- Saturday – 4:00–4:30 p.m. (at St. Francis de Sales)
Adoration times
- Divine Mercy Chapel (St. Michael) — daily, 7:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.
- St. Francis Marian Chapel — every Thursday, 9:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Parish History
Saint Michael the Archangel Parish was established in 1909 to serve Polish-American immigrants settling in Muskegon's mills and factories. The first resident pastor, Rev. Andrew Narloch, purchased land in the heart of the Polish-American enclave in 1910, and the cornerstone was laid in 1912 for a combination church-and-school building with classes taught by the Sisters of Mercy. The present limestone church, designed by architect Edward J. Schultz, was completed in 1943 during the pastorate of Rev. Andrew Sikorski (1938–1972) and was consecrated on May 31, 1944, becoming Muskegon's first consecrated Roman Catholic church. In 1999, the parish opened the Divine Mercy Chapel, the first perpetual Adoration Chapel in Muskegon, across Sixth Street from the church.
- Founded 1909 by Polish-American immigrants
- First pastor on-site: Rev. Andrew Narloch (1910)
- Current church completed 1943, designed by Edward J. Schultz
- Consecrated May 31, 1944 — Muskegon's first consecrated Catholic church
- Longest-serving pastor: Rev. Andrew Sikorski (1938–1972)
- Divine Mercy Chapel opened 1999 — first perpetual Adoration Chapel in Muskegon
Architecture & Sacred Art
Architect Edward J. Schultz conceived St. Michael's to last for centuries, and the result is widely regarded as the most beautiful church in Muskegon. The exterior is built of Indiana limestone, with a massive carved figure of Saint Michael the Archangel above the main doors. Inside, striated St. Meinrad limestone walls, colored stained-glass windows bearing the names of 1940s donors, and meticulously painted oak rafters all serve the architect's intent of a 'noble way of honoring God.' The twelve consecration crosses required for a consecrated church are carved directly into the stone walls at seven-and-a-half feet above the floor, each marked by a vigil light in a silver holder.
- Architect: Edward J. Schultz
- Exterior: Indiana limestone with carved patron figure
- Interior: St. Meinrad limestone walls and painted oak rafters
- Circular rose stained-glass window above the choir loft
- Twelve consecration crosses carved into the stone walls
Polish-American Heritage & Customs
The parish was founded to serve Polish immigrants from a homeland tragically divided by Russia, Germany and Austria, and many old-country religious customs remain visible today. Visitors can still hear Polish hymns and lamentations during special Masses and celebrations throughout the year, and Easter baskets are still blessed and sumptuous Polish food served at events in the Family Center. St. Michael's today draws parishioners from a wide array of ethnic backgrounds, but the Polish devotions — including Oplatki and other traditions brought from villages such as Zale and Swieconka — remain a living part of parish life.
- Polish hymns and lamentations at special Masses
- Blessing of Easter baskets
- Polish food at Family Center events
- Old-country customs such as Oplatki continue
Cluster with St. Francis de Sales Parish
Saint Michael the Archangel is officially clustered with St. Francis de Sales Parish in Norton Shores and shares one pastor — currently Rev. Steven W. Geerling (appointed 2023). The two parishes share a unified schedule of Masses, confessions, and Eucharistic adoration, and parishioners regularly travel between the two worship sites. The cluster's main office number is (231) 755-1953.
- Clustered with St. Francis de Sales Parish, Norton Shores
- Shared pastor: Rev. Steven W. Geerling (since 2023)
- Combined Mass / Confession / Adoration schedule
- Cluster office: (231) 755-1953
Parish Ministries
Saint Michael's encourages parishioners to share their gifts through a variety of ministries serving liturgy, governance, formation, and outreach. The parish is led pastorally by the Pastoral Council and financially by the Finance Council, both consultative to the pastor under norms set by the Bishop of Grand Rapids.
- Pastoral Council — consultative body to the pastor
- Finance Council — oversees budget, income, expenses and buildings
- Altar Servers — open to youth 10+ who have received First Communion
- Music Ministry — choir, cantors and instrumentalists
- Lectors — proclamation of Sacred Scripture at Mass
- Extraordinary Eucharistic Ministers — Communion at Mass and to the homebound/hospitalized
- Religious Education
- OCIA / Adult Catechism — full sacramental initiation process
- Ushers
- Prayer Line
- Art and Environment
Sacraments & Faith Formation
Parishioners are invited to contact the rectory for information on scheduling Baptisms and weddings, and to enroll children in Religious Education classes for First Communion and Confirmation preparation. The OCIA / Adult Catechism ministry serves the unbaptized, baptized Catholics seeking the rest of the Sacraments of Initiation, and non-Catholic Christians preparing for full communion with the Catholic Church; the process generally takes about a year, and prior marriages needing annulment can be addressed as part of it.
- Baptism and Marriage — contact the rectory
- Religious Education for First Communion and Confirmation
- OCIA / Adult Catechism — typically a one-year process
Parish School & Family Center
St. Michael's parish school, originally built as a combination church-and-school, was the only local Catholic grade school with its own dedicated gymnasium and hosted an annual basketball tournament. The school was later consolidated into the Greater Muskegon Catholic School System and finally closed in 2006 due to declining enrollment, with ownership reverting to the parish. Today the building houses pre-school classes, and other classrooms have been remodeled into the St. Michael Family Center, the parish's social hub for Polish-food events, Easter basket blessings, and parish gatherings.
- Original combination church/school built 1912
- School once featured 8 classrooms, library, office, full kitchen and gymnasium
- Closed 2006 and returned to parish ownership
- Now houses pre-school and the remodeled St. Michael Family Center
Parish Staff & Leadership
The parish is served by Pastor Fr. Steve Geerling and Deacon Jim Cross, with a lay staff supporting liturgy, music, business, communications, and maintenance. Day-to-day operations are coordinated by Parish Secretary Lisa Cross; Business Manager Kimberly Plyler handles finances; Ellen McCarl directs the Music Ministry; Tim Duba oversees Art and Environment; and Randy Anderson handles maintenance. Pastoral Council representatives are Joe Zagar, Mike Bernhardt and Tim Duba, and Finance Council members are Ken Adamski, Bob Zayko, Bart Robinson and Dayne Robinson. John Sanocki coordinates the ushers; Audrey Adamczak and Marlene Evans lead the Prayer Line.
- Pastor: Fr. Steve Geerling — (231) 755-1953 ext. 222
- Deacon: Jim Cross — (231) 755-1953 ext. 225
- Parish Secretary: Lisa Cross — (231) 722-3071
- Business Manager: Kimberly Plyler — ext. 234
- Music Ministry Director: Ellen McCarl — ext. 232
- Art and Environment: Tim Duba
- Maintenance: Randy Anderson
- Pastoral Council: Joe Zagar, Mike Bernhardt, Tim Duba
- Finance Council: Ken Adamski, Bob Zayko, Bart Robinson, Dayne Robinson
- Ushers: John Sanocki — (231) 755-5524
- Prayer Line: Audrey Adamczak (231-759-8164) and Marlene Evans (231-670-6149)
Notable People
St. Michael's most internationally famous alumnus is the late Edmund Casimir Cardinal Szoka, a graduate of the parish school. Ordained a priest and rising through the American hierarchy, Szoka was named the first Bishop of the Diocese of Gaylord in 1971, Archbishop of Detroit in 1981, and was elevated to Cardinal by Pope John Paul II in 1988. He was a longtime close friend of Pope John Paul II, whose 1987 visit to Detroit's Silverdome Szoka helped arrange. Pope John Paul II later brought him to Rome to oversee Vatican finances and, as President of the Vatican State, to lead all internal operations of one of the world's smallest nation states. Szoka coordinated the Vatican's details for the 2005 funeral of Pope John Paul II.
- Edmund Casimir Cardinal Szoka — parish school alumnus
- First Bishop of Gaylord (1971), Archbishop of Detroit, Cardinal (1988)
- President of Vatican City State under Pope John Paul II
- Coordinated the Vatican's funeral details for Pope John Paul II (2005)
Contact & Visit
The parish rectory may be reached at (231) 722-3071, with office hours on Monday (8:30 a.m.–3:30 p.m.), Wednesday (8:30 a.m.–3:30 p.m.), and Friday (8:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m.). The cluster office number is (231) 755-1953. The worship site at 1716 Sixth Street is handicapped accessible, and the Divine Mercy Adoration Chapel is located across Sixth Street at the back of the church parking lot — open daily for those who wish to 'watch one hour' with the Lord.
- Address: 1716 Sixth Street, Muskegon, MI 49441
- Rectory phone: (231) 722-3071
- Cluster office: (231) 755-1953
- Office hours: Mon 8:30 a.m.–3:30 p.m.; Wed 8:30 a.m.–3:30 p.m.; Fri 8:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m.
- Handicapped accessible; parking available
- Divine Mercy Chapel across Sixth Street, at back of parking lot
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Francis Piaskowski1909–1910
Offered Polish-language Masses at other Muskegon churches before the parish had its own building.
- Rev. Andrew Narloch1910–1938
First resident pastor; purchased the parish land in 1910 and laid the cornerstone for the combination church-school in 1912.
- Rev. Andrew Sikorski1938–1972
Longest-serving pastor (34 years); a Grand Rapids native and former semipro baseball player who oversaw construction of the present limestone church. Muskegon Catholic Central's 'Sikorski Field' is named in his honor.
- Rev. Edward J. Bielskas1972–1982
Succeeded Fr. Sikorski upon his retirement.
- Rev. Eugene S. Golas1982–1988
- Rev. Thomas J. Hack1988–2002
- Rev. Mark Bauer2002
- Rev. James Wyse2002–2007
- Rev. Thomas J. Brown2007–2010
- Rev. Phillip P. Salmonowicz2010–2016
- Rev. Charlie Hall2016–2023
- Rev. Steven W. Geerling2023–present
Ordained June 3, 2017; serves as pastor of the St. Michael–St. Francis de Sales cluster.