About St. Patrick, St. Vincent Pallotti Parish · Wyandotte, Michigan
St. Vincent Pallotti Parish is a Roman Catholic community in Wyandotte, Michigan, formed on July 1, 2013, from the merger of St. Patrick Parish (founded 1857), St. Joseph Parish (founded 1870), and St. Elizabeth Parish (founded 1924). The combined parish keeps both St. Joseph Church (334 Elm Street) and St. Patrick Church (135 Superior Blvd.) open as worship sites. It is staffed by the Pallottine Fathers (Society of the Catholic Apostolate), who have served the Wyandotte churches since 1990, and it belongs to the South Downriver 2 Family of Parishes in the Archdiocese of Detroit. The parish gathers as a family nurtured by the Word and the Eucharist, serving others through outreach, education, and evangelization.
- Established
- 2013
- Patron
- St. Vincent Pallotti (1795–1850), Italian priest and founder of the Society of the Catholic Apostolate (Pallottines); the parish also honors St. Patrick, patron saint of Ireland, at its worship site at 135 Superior Blvd.
- Rector
- Rev. Brendan McCarrick, S.A.C. (Pallottine)
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Detroit (Family of Parishes: South Downriver 2; Vicarate: Downriver Vicariate; Region: South Region)
Why belong here
St. Vincent Pallotti is a faith-centered family parish where parishioners are nurtured by the Word and nourished by the Eucharist, with two welcoming historic worship sites (St. Joseph and St. Patrick) right in the heart of Wyandotte. With three Sunday Mass options, daily Masses, weekday Eucharistic Adoration, and on-site Confession, it offers the rhythm of Catholic life for any schedule. Rooted in the spirit of St. Vincent Pallotti and served by the Pallottine Fathers, the parish runs active liturgical, faith-formation, outreach, and community ministries — from a parish chapter of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul and the Downriver Community Food Pantry to Youth Group, the Secular Franciscans – Lumen Christi fraternity, and opportunities for Eucharistic Adoration.
Mass times at St. Patrick, St. Vincent Pallotti Parish
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 3:00 PM — St. Joseph Church
- Tuesday 11:00 AM — Mt. Carmel Church
Adoration times
- Tuesday 11:00 AM – 11:55 AM
- Wednesday 11:00 AM – 11:55 AM
Parish Identity & Mission
St. Vincent Pallotti Parish describes itself as a Catholic community that 'gathers as a family to be nurtured by the Word and nourished by the Eucharist,' inspired by the Holy Spirit to serve others as Jesus did through outreach, education, and evangelization. The merged parish was officially established on July 1, 2013, by decree of Archbishop Allen Vigneron, combining three historic Wyandotte parishes; both St. Patrick and St. Joseph remain active worship sites. The parish belongs to the South Downriver 2 Family of Parishes within the Archdiocese of Detroit's Downriver Vicariate.
A Living History
Catholic roots in Wyandotte run to the 1850s, when French, Irish and German families were served from Ecorse. A small mission church on the south side of Superior Avenue became the seed of St. Patrick Parish in 1857, and German immigrants from the St. Boniface Society built — literally by hand — the brick church that became St. Joseph Parish, dedicated November 5, 1871. A recession in 1873 forced the two parishes to share one priest for fifteen years; they were reunited in 1888. Over the next century the parishes built schools, convents, rectories, a pipe organ and — at St. Patrick — a brand-new church in 1958–1960 on the former Arbeiter Hall site.
The 2013 Merger
In 2010, St. Patrick was clustered with St. Joseph and St. Elizabeth (founded 1924). Three years later, by decree of Archbishop Allen Vigneron, they merged into the new St. Vincent Pallotti Parish. St. Elizabeth closed in 2013, while St. Joseph and St. Patrick remained as worship sites. A subsequent decree later in 2013 extended the parish's territorial boundary to encompass all of Wyandotte. St. Patrick's ceiling and roof were repaired in 2017–2018, and weekend Masses resumed there later that fall.
Worship Sites
The parish operates from two active churches inside Wyandotte, with the historic Mt. Carmel Church retained for the Tuesday midday Mass and confessions.
- St. Joseph Church — 334 Elm Street, Wyandotte, MI 48192 (parish office address; houses the main parish offices and serves as the hub for Saturday and most Sunday Masses).
- St. Patrick Church — 135 Superior Blvd., Wyandotte, MI 48192 (serves as the Sunday 9:30 AM worship site, with weekday Masses on Monday and Wednesday).
- Mt. Carmel Church — site of the Tuesday noon Mass and Tuesday confessions (territory within the parish).
Parish Staff & Clergy
Day-to-day operations of St. Vincent Pallotti are shared between clergy assigned by the Pallottine Fathers and the South Downriver 2 Family of Parishes, and a lay staff that includes a Director of Religious Education, Business Manager, Office Manager, Business Office staff, Technology Coordinator, Music Director, and Religious Education secretary.
- Rev. David Bechill — Moderator / Priest In Solidum
- Rev. Brendan McCarrick, S.A.C. — Pastor ([email protected]; ext. 101)
- Rev. Stephen Mutie, S.A.C. — Associate Pastor ([email protected]; ext. 103)
- Rev. Don LaCuesta — Priest In Solidum
- Deacon Gerard ('Jerry') McGowan — Deacon
- Deacon Charles Dault — Deacon
- Jennifer Long — Director of Religious Education (ext. 102; [email protected])
- Emalie Shifflett — Religious Education Secretary ([email protected]; ext. 102)
- Kathy Szalay — Business Manager
- Susan Morman — Business Office ([email protected]; ext. 104)
- Kristine Martin — Office Manager ([email protected]; ext. 100)
- Patti Wienclaw — Technology Coordinator ([email protected]; ext. 108)
- Kim Kilburn — Music Director (734-282-5882)
Faith Formation & Religious Education
The Director of Religious Education coordinates formation for children Kindergarten through Confirmation, supported by a Religious Education secretary. Catechists, teacher aides, and teen/student helpers teach in the program, which is open for registration through the parish office. A Youth Group and Bible Study Group round out adult and teen ongoing formation. All parish volunteers are required to complete the 'Protecting God's Children' Virtus training and a current background check.
- Religious Education (K–Confirmation) — Director of Religious Education Jennifer Long, [email protected], ext. 102
- Youth Group
- Bible Study Group
- Catechist
- Teacher Aide
- Teen / Student Helpers
- Safe-environment: Virtus 'Protecting God's Children' + background check for all volunteers
Liturgical Ministries & Music
Parishioners are invited to serve at the altar, in the choir, and in supporting roles at all weekend and weekday Masses. The parish maintains a liturgical schedule that involves both adults and young people (Altar Servers).
- Ushers
- Altar Servers
- Lectors
- Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion
- Eucharistic Adorers
- Music Director: Kim Kilburn (734-282-5882)
Outreach & Community Service
Outreach is one of the three pillars of the parish mission. The parish hosts the local conference of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul and supports the Downriver Community Food Pantry. Volunteers also keep the church grounds and garden, decorate the church for the seasons, care for parish facilities, and assist with mailings and office work.
- Society of St. Vincent de Paul — parish conference
- Downriver Community Food Pantry
- Garden Committee
- Church Season Decorators
- Our Lord's Housekeepers
- Mailings / Office Help
- Hall Monitors
Faith Community & Vocation
Beyond sacraments and service, the parish supports intentional spiritual fraternities and lay vocations, including a local Secular Franciscan fraternity (Lumen Christi). Volunteers of every age — the parish says 'people aged 8 to 88 and beyond' — are welcomed to share their gifts.
- Secular Franciscans – Lumen Christi fraternity
- Volunteer opportunities across the parish — 'ages 8 to 88 and beyond'
Visit, Contact & Office Hours
The Parish Office is at St. Joseph Church, 334 Elm Street, Wyandotte, MI 48192 (phone 734-285-9840). Office hours listed on the parish directory: Monday–Thursday 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. (closed 12:00–12:30 for lunch); Friday 8:30 a.m. to noon. St. Patrick Church is at 135 Superior Blvd., Wyandotte, MI 48192. Driving directions to both worship sites are linked from the Contact Us page on stvpp.org.
- Parish Office: 334 Elm Street, Wyandotte, MI 48192
- Phone: 734-285-9840
- St. Patrick Church: 135 Superior Blvd., Wyandotte, MI 48192
- Website: https://stvpp.org
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. DeBeaver1872–1876
Pastor at St. Patrick's (shared priest arrangement ended in 1884).
- Rev. H.W. Grime1876–1878
- Rev. Hebstritone year (c. 1878–1880)
- Rev. F.H. Broeger1880–1883
- Rev. T. Roeper1883–1886
- Rev. George Laugell1886–1890
Came from Newport; oversaw construction of the first rectory in 1889 at $1,700.
- Rev. Francis O'Rourke1890–c.1894
- Rev. James Hally1894–1916
Nearly 22 years as pastor; laid school cornerstone (1906), added vestibule (1915), delivered address at first high school graduation (1916). Retired due to ill health.
- Rev. Edwin Fisherc. 1916–1928
- Rev. P.C. Ryan1928–1944
Remodeled the rectory and installed the first pipe organ in his second year.
- Rev. C.A. Doherty1944–
Introduced the public-address system and the parish bulletin 'The Shamrock'; oversaw the 1955 convent ($225,000, housed 18 sisters).
- Rev. Fr. Albert Georgeearly 1950s
Ordered the old church torn down; oversaw building of new St. Patrick Church (broken ground 1958, dedicated May 1960).
- Rev. Fr. Walter Hennes1954 onward
Prompted a capital campaign; purchased the former Arbeiter Hall site for the new church building.
- Rev. Joseph Bohrfrom 1961
Shepherded the parish through the years of Vatican II.
- Rev. Gerry Frawley, S.A.C.from 1990
First Pallottine pastor of St. Patrick after Cardinal Szoka assigned the parish to the Pallottine Fathers; encouraged construction of the parish hall.
- Rev. Michael Cremin, S.A.C.
Pastor before Fr. Brendan McCarrick (previously listed on parish directory).
- Rev. Brendan McCarrick, S.A.C.2013–present
Pastor of the merged St. Vincent Pallotti Parish since its 2013 establishment; assisted by Fr. Stephen Mutie, S.A.C.