About St. Paul the Apostle · Grand Rapids, Michigan
St. Paul the Apostle is a Roman Catholic parish in southeast Grand Rapids, Michigan, established in 1965 as a satellite of nearby St. Stephen Parish and now part of the Diocese of Grand Rapids. Located at 2750 Burton Street SE, the parish lives by the motto "Encounter, Belong, Engage" and serves its community with weekend and weekday Masses, a K-8 Catholic school, a Friday Eucharistic Holy Hour, and active outreach including a long-running student Haiti Mission. The current pastor is Rev. Peter O. Damian, and the parish belongs to the Grand Rapids South Deanery of the diocese.
- Established
- 1965
- Patron
- St. Paul the Apostle
- Rector
- Rev. Peter O. Damian
- Diocese
- Diocese of Grand Rapids (Grand Rapids South Deanery)
Why belong here
St. Paul the Apostle bills itself as 'a Catholic community, not just a church you go to on Sunday,' and its life together reflects that. Parishioners encounter Christ through daily and Sunday Masses, Saturday confessions, and weekly Friday Eucharistic Adoration; they belong through a parish school serving preschool through 8th grade, faith formation, youth ministry, and a full calendar of ministries; and they engage through a student Haiti Mission, Knights of Columbus council, school athletics, Home & School Association, and parish staff positions that are openly described as 'ministry to God.'
Mass times at St. Paul the Apostle
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 3:30 – 4:30 p.m.
Adoration times
- Friday 9:00 – 10:00 a.m. (following 8:30 a.m. Mass)
Parish Identity & History
St. Paul the Apostle was established in 1965 in Kent County and is part of the Diocese of Grand Rapids. According to the historical archive of its sister parish St. Thomas the Apostle (successor to St. Stephen), St. Stephen was responsible for starting St. Paul the Apostle during the 1960s as a satellite to serve southeast Grand Rapids. Over six decades the parish has grown into a self-sustaining family community at 2750 Burton St. SE, animated by the motto Encounter, Belong, Engage.
- Established 1965
- Grand Rapids South Deanery
- Motto: Encounter, Belong, Engage
- Originally a satellite of St. Stephen Parish
Clergy & Parish Staff
The parish is served by Rev. Peter O. Damian as pastor. The parish office and school office share the main 2750 Burton St. SE campus, and staff are reachable through the parish phone line and the [email protected] email address.
- Pastor: Rev. Peter O. Damian
- Parish office: [email protected]
- Phone: (616) 949-4170
St. Paul the Apostle School
St. Paul the Apostle School serves students from early childhood (including daycare) through 8th grade in southeast Grand Rapids. Its motto is 'Excellence in All Things,' and the school highlights a 14-to-1 student-teacher ratio, over 80% of staff holding Master's or graduate degrees, two dedicated language teachers (one fluent in five languages), a full-time resource teacher in Special Education, and a dedicated school counselor with a Master's in Psychology. Current enrollment is approximately 191 students (36 in preschool, 155 in K-8), and students annually outperform diocesan and national averages on NWEA MAPS testing.
- Preschool through 8th grade
- Daycare and After Care / Summer Care programs
- 14-to-1 student-teacher ratio
- Counseling, resource room, language, and speech services
- School Board chaired by Tim Gutwald; Principal Michelle Morrow
- Father Peter Damian serves as ex-officio priest on the School Board
Faith Formation & Youth Ministry
Beyond the parish school, the parish runs Faith Formation & Religious Education and a Youth Ministry program to accompany children and teenagers in their sacramental and spiritual growth. Schedules and registration details are coordinated through the parish office.
- Faith Formation & Religious Education
- Youth Ministry
- Sacramental preparation coordinated through the parish
Outreach & Community Life
St. Paul the Apostle's community life includes a student Haiti Mission program, an active Knights of Columbus council, parish athletics, and a Home & School Association that supports the school. The parish also maintains a Sacred Music program staffed by a full-time Director of Sacred Music who rehearses volunteer choirs and coordinates music for Sunday, Holy Day, school, wedding, and funeral liturgies.
- Student Haiti Mission
- Knights of Columbus council
- Parish Athletics
- Home & School Association
- Director of Sacred Music (full-time) and volunteer choirs
Visit, Contact & Directions
The parish welcomes visitors at 2750 Burton St. SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49546. The church is handicapped accessible. From I-96, visitors commonly exit west at 28th Street, turn right onto East Paris, then left onto Burton; the church is approximately one mile ahead on the left. The parish can be reached by phone at (616) 949-4170 or by email at [email protected].
- 2750 Burton St. SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49546
- (616) 949-4170
- [email protected]
- Handicapped accessible
- Directions: I-96 west to 28th St., right on East Paris, left on Burton