About St. Michael the Archangel [Ukrainian] · Dearborn, Michigan
St. Michael the Archangel Parish in Dearborn, Michigan, is a vibrant Ukrainian Greek-Catholic community dedicated to preserving its Byzantine liturgical traditions while welcoming all Christians in full communion with the Catholic Church. Founded in 1952, it serves as one of six parishes in the greater Detroit area under the St. Nicholas Eparchy in Chicago. Services are conducted in both English and Ukrainian, and the parish emphasizes traditional worship, communal chant, and adherence to Ukrainian customs. The parish is known for its deep spiritual commitment, historical transformation of its church interior, and a small but devoted congregation.
- Established
- 1952
- Patron
- St. Michael the Archangel
- Rector
- Very Reverend Canon Wayne J. Ruchgy, Ph.D.
- Diocese
- St. Nicholas Eparchy for Ukrainian Catholics (Chicago)
Why belong here
St. Michael’s offers a rich, bilingual liturgical experience rooted in Ukrainian Byzantine traditions, with services in both English and Ukrainian. The parish community is deeply committed to preserving its heritage while remaining open to all Christians. Members participate in communal chant, traditional worship, and active ministries that foster spiritual growth and fellowship.
Mass times at St. Michael the Archangel [Ukrainian]
Confession times
- 1 – 2 PM on Holy Saturday (April 16, 2022 example)
Our History
Founded in 1952 by Reverend John I. Prokopovych, St. Michael’s current church building was constructed in 1964. The parish rectory was built two years later. Prior to building the present church structure, the parish worshiped at two other locations. The first was at a Community Center that was located on Horger in Dearborn. The second location was in a building just south of its present location that the parish had purchased. One of the unique characteristics of St. Michael’s Parish is that, during the past half a century of its existence, it has had only two pastors: Reverend John Prokopovych and its present pastor, Very Reverend Canon Wayne J. Ruchgy, Ph.D. Father John was pastor for the first 25 years of the parish’s history. He died on the day that the parish celebrated its 25th Anniversary (November 13, 1977). Father Wayne, who had been an assistant pastor at St. Michael’s prior to Father John’s death, was made pastor of the parish that same day by Most Reverend Jaroslav Gabro, the first Eparch of the St. Nicholas Eparchy. He has been pastor since that date. The original interior of the church building, like the exterior, was not in the style of Ukrainian tradition. The parish worshiped for almost 19 years in a building relatively unchanged from the time of its construction. After much prayer, study and hard work raising funds, the interior of the church building was transformed and subsequently rededicated in November of 1983. The Most Reverend Innocent Lotocky, the second Eparch of the St. Nicholas Eparchy, blessed the newly installed iconostasis, icons and redecorated interior. The iconography is the work of Reverend Theodore Koufos of Toronto, Ontario Canada. After 31 years of existence as a parish St. Michael’s spiritual family was able to finally worship in a truly Ukrainian Byzantine Catholic setting. The amazing history of development and transformation gives evidence of the vibrancy, dedication and loyalty of the members of this small, but vivacious, parish. It is a community of Christians that has become keenly aware that, in order to accomplish the goal of being a truly spiritual family, it must continue to engaged in a worship of our Triune God by ever-more closely adheres to the customs and traditions of the Church to which it belongs.
Worship & Liturgy
St. Michael’s is an Eastern Catholic Church that uses the ritual of the Byzantine Church and follows Ukrainian traditions, customs, and liturgical practices. Services are conducted in both English and Ukrainian. All sermons are in English and services are sung using traditional, communal chant. The parish is open to all Christians in full communion with the Catholic Church. All Catholics in good standing are able to partake of the Eucharist and can fulfill their obligations as stipulated by the Catholic Church.
Sacraments & Disciplines
Initiation into the Church includes Baptism, Chrismation (Confirmation), and Holy Eucharist. Roman Catholic children who have received their First Communion are also permitted to receive the Eucharist. Infants and children who have already been initiated into the Church in accord with the Byzantine Tradition are permitted to receive the Eucharist. The general discipline followed for the reception of the Eucharist is: (1) fast from alcohol for three hours, (2) fast from food for one hour, and (3) the reception of the Sacrament of Penance if not free from serious sin. For marriage, one person must be a member of the parish for a period of six months prior to the celebration of the sacrament of Matrimony. A dispensation (permission from the Bishop) is required for marriage if both parties are not Catholic. The parish does not recognize divorce and requires a declared annulment before allowing a second marriage.
Eparchy & Communion
St. Michael’s is part of the St. Nicholas Eparchy for Ukrainian Catholics, located in Chicago, and is in communion with the Bishop of Rome (Pope). The Eparch (Bishop) and Cathedral Church of the St. Nicholas Eparchy is located in Chicago Illinois and has parishes in 16 of the states west of Michigan, including Hawaii. The St. Nicholas Eparchy and its parishes are a part of the United States Province of the Ukrainian Catholic Church. The Metropolitan See is the Archeparchy of Philadelphia. There are also Eparchies in Stamford, Connecticut and Parma, Ohio. The United States Province is a part of the Greek-Catholic Church in Ukraine, a world-wide Church with eparchies and parishes in almost all of the countries of the world. Our Patriarch, His Beatitude Sviatoslav, resides in Kiev, Ukraine.
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Reverend John I. Prokopovych1952–1977
Died on the day of the parish’s 25th anniversary (November 13, 1977).
- Very Reverend Canon Wayne J. Ruchgy, Ph.D.1977–present
Appointed pastor by Most Reverend Jaroslav Gabro on the day of Father John’s death.