About St. Patrick · Clifford, Michigan
St. Patrick Chapel is a small Catholic mission chapel at 9851 Main Street in the village of Clifford, in Michigan's Thumb region. It is served by SS. Peter & Paul Catholic Church in nearby North Branch and is one of four worship sites that together form the Northern Lapeer County Family of Parishes, under the Archdiocese of Detroit. The simple Gothic-inspired chapel was built in 1884 for the area's Irish Catholic families and still serves the surrounding farming communities of Clifford, Marlette, North Branch, Mayville, Kingston, Silverwood and Wilmot.
- Established
- 1879
- Patron
- St. Patrick
- Rector
- Rev. Richard L. Treml
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Detroit
Why belong here
St. Patrick Chapel is a small, historic mission chapel that has served the Catholic faithful of Clifford and the surrounding Thumb-area farming communities for more than 140 years. Worshipping here means joining a living link to the Irish Catholic families who founded the parish in 1879 and built the simple Gothic chapel in 1884, while also being part of the larger Northern Lapeer County Family of Parishes, which pools its priests, faith formation, and pastoral resources across SS. Peter & Paul (North Branch), St. Mary's (Burnside), Sacred Heart (Brown City) and the chapel itself.
Mass times at St. Patrick
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 3:30 p.m. at SS. Peter & Paul, North Branch (until heard)
Adoration times
- Adoration and Benediction — Saturdays at SS. Peter & Paul, 3:00–4:00 p.m., followed by Rosary at 4:10 p.m.
- First Friday Devotion (family of parishes schedule)
History of St. Patrick Chapel, Clifford
Catholic life in Clifford began in 1879 when Father Clement Krebs, pastor of St. Agatha Church in Gagetown, began making regular visits to the area to serve local Catholic families — most of them of Irish descent. In 1884 the Diocese of Detroit acquired property in the village and built the simple Gothic-inspired church that still stands on Main Street; Father Krebs celebrated the first wedding in the partially completed chapel in August 1886. The stained-glass windows admit light into the sanctuary and honor the parish's Irish founders.
- 1879 — Father Clement Krebs begins monthly visits from St. Agatha, Gagetown.
- 1884 — Diocese of Detroit acquires property; current Gothic-inspired church is built.
- August 1886 — First wedding in the partially completed chapel.
- 1924–25 — Father Charles Coughlin ministers here before becoming the 'Radio Priest.'
- 2003 — Clusters with SS. Peter & Paul (North Branch) and St. Mary's (Burnside).
- July 1, 2021 — Becomes part of the Northern Lapeer County Family of Parishes.
Northern Lapeer County Family of Parishes
St. Patrick Chapel is one of four worship sites in the Northern Lapeer County Family of Parishes. Since July 1, 2021, SS. Peter & Paul (North Branch), St. Patrick's Chapel (Clifford), St. Mary's (Burnside) and Sacred Heart (Brown City) have shared clergy, staff, faith formation and sacramental preparation so that small rural communities can continue to be served.
- SS. Peter & Paul — 6645 Washington St., North Branch, MI 48461 (pastorate site).
- St. Patrick Chapel — 9851 Main St., Clifford, MI 48727.
- St. Mary's — Burnside, MI.
- Sacred Heart — Brown City, MI.
Clergy and Staff
The chapel is served by the priests and deacon of the Northern Lapeer County Family of Parishes. Office staff and faith-formation contacts are based at the SS. Peter & Paul parish office in North Branch.
- Rev. Richard L. Treml — Pastor
- Fr. Sama Muma — Associate Pastor
- Fr. Larry Delonnay — Senior Priest
- Deacon Pete Lynch
- Barb Sinka — Office Manager
- Paula Kaniut — Bookkeeper
- Margaret Almand — Secretary
- Lisa Juip — Sacred Heart Secretary
- Denise Edwards — Bulletin Editor (deadline Tuesday noon)
- Pam Orr — Webmaster
Devotions and Prayer Life
The family of parishes maintains a robust devotional life rooted in the Eucharist, the rosary and Divine Mercy. Adoration and Benediction are offered on Saturdays at SS. Peter & Paul, with the rosary prayed afterward.
- Divine Mercy Chaplet and Rosary — Thursdays at 3:00 p.m.
- Prayer Cenacle — Thursdays, 6:30–7:30 p.m., with Eucharistic Adoration and Confession (prayer packets provided).
- Adoration and Benediction — Saturdays, 3:00–4:00 p.m. at SS. Peter & Paul, followed by Rosary at 4:10 p.m.
- First Friday Devotion (family of parishes).
- Stations of the Cross during Lent.
- Adult Penance Service during Lent.
Sacraments
Sacramental preparation and scheduling are handled through the SS. Peter & Paul parish office, which serves all four worship sites of the Northern Lapeer County Family of Parishes.
- Baptism — call (810) 688-3797 for an appointment; preparation class and parish registration required.
- Marriage — must be arranged at least six months in advance; call (810) 688-3797 for an appointment with the pastor.
- Reconciliation — Saturdays 3:30 p.m. at SS. Peter & Paul, North Branch.
- Anointing of the Sick / Communion to the homebound — contact the parish office.
Ministries and Fellowship
Parishioners across the family of parishes are involved in a range of ministries that serve the spiritual, charitable and social life of the community.
- Knights of Columbus — regular meetings.
- Prayer Shawl Ministry — meets monthly.
- L.I.F.T. Women's Group.
- Women's Breakfast fellowship.
- Faith Formation for children and families.
- OCIA / RCIA for adults preparing for the sacraments.
- Parish Bulletin and Vicariate Newsletter.
- Special family-of-parishes events (e.g., Mass at St. Patrick's followed by potluck dinner and bingo).
Visiting St. Patrick Chapel
St. Patrick Chapel sits on Main Street in the small village of Clifford, in Michigan's Thumb region. Because the chapel is a mission, most parish registration, sacramental preparation and office business is handled through the SS. Peter & Paul parish office in nearby North Branch.
- Address: 9851 Main St., Clifford, MI 48727.
- Parish office (SS. Peter & Paul, North Branch): 6645 Washington St., North Branch, MI 48461.
- Parish office phone: (810) 688-3797.
- Parish office fax: (810) 688-2969.
- Email: [email protected].
- Office hours: Monday–Thursday 9:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.; closed Friday (closed for lunch 12:00–1:00 p.m. on open days).
- Keenan Hall (parish hall) phone: (810) 688-8343.
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father Clement Krebs1879
Pastor of St. Agatha, Gagetown; began monthly visits to Clifford Catholics in 1879 and celebrated the first wedding in the partially completed chapel in August 1886.
- Father Charles Coughlin1924–1925
Young assistant priest here before gaining national notoriety as the 'Radio Priest' of Royal Oak.