About St. Paul the Apostle Parish - St. Paul · Ithaca, Michigan
St. Paul the Apostle Parish is a Roman Catholic parish of the Diocese of Saginaw located in Gratiot County, mid-Michigan. It is a combined parish family of two churches: St. Paul the Apostle Church at 121 N. Union St. in Ithaca and St. Martin de Porres Church at 4010 W. Cleveland Rd. in Perrinton, which merged in 2013. The parish offers Saturday Vigil and Sunday Masses in both churches, weekday Masses, Thursday Eucharistic Adoration, regular confession, and a range of lay ministries (Lectors, Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion, Altar Servers, Greeters, Ushers, and Music). It is currently led by Pastor Rev. Edwin C. Dwyer with a small staff of parish administrators and a Music Director.
- Established
- 1952
- Patron
- St. Paul the Apostle
- Rector
- Rev. Edwin C. Dwyer
- Diocese
- Diocese of Saginaw
Why belong here
St. Paul the Apostle Parish offers a close-knit, two-church Catholic family serving Gratiot County, with Saturday Vigil and Sunday Masses in both Ithaca and Perrinton, daily and weekday Masses, and Thursday Eucharistic Adoration running until 8:00 p.m. The parish welcomes parishioners into a range of liturgical ministries — Lectors, Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion, Altar Servers, Greeters, and Ushers — plus a Music Director-led music program and Sacramental preparation for Confirmation and other rites. With more than seventy years of history and an engaged succession of priests guiding the community, it is a grounded place to worship, serve, and grow in faith.
Mass times at St. Paul the Apostle Parish - St. Paul
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Tuesday 5:00 p.m. – 5:50 p.m. (St. Paul the Apostle Church)
- Saturday 5:00 p.m. – 5:50 p.m. (St. Paul the Apostle Church)
- Also heard one hour before the Saturday 6 p.m. Mass
Adoration times
- Thursday 10:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m. (St. Paul the Apostle Church, following the 10 a.m. Mass)
About St. Paul the Apostle Parish
St. Paul the Apostle Parish is a Roman Catholic parish of the Diocese of Saginaw serving Gratiot County in mid-Michigan. It is a two-church parish family: St. Paul the Apostle Church in Ithaca and St. Martin de Porres Church in Perrinton. The two churches were joined into one parish community in July 2013 as part of the Diocese of Saginaw's wider restructuring described in Bishop Joseph R. Cistone's pastoral letter 'A Future Full of Hope.' St. Paul serves as the parish church, with St. Martin de Porres continuing to host Masses as an additional-use church. The parish belongs to Vicariate 5 of the Diocese of Saginaw.
- Two churches, one parish
- Located in Gratiot County, mid-Michigan
- Diocese of Saginaw, Vicariate 5
- Merger of St. Paul and St. Martin de Porres: July 2013
History of St. Paul the Apostle, Ithaca
St. Paul's origins go back to Pentecost Sunday, June 1, 1952, when more than 200 people gathered for the first Mass in a former auto dealership on Pine River Street. The first colonial-style church was built in 1953-54 and formally dedicated June 29, 1954 by Bishop Woznicki in Latin and Polish, featuring 10 stained glass windows, a choir loft, and a basement meeting hall. By the late 1960s the parish had outgrown the building — the basement regularly flooded during heavy rains — so on September 14, 1969 Bishop Francis F. Reh dedicated the present church, which features hand-made Facet Glass windows above the altar, crafted by a Midland artist and donated by the Dionise family. The parish marked its 50th anniversary in 2002, and the current church building celebrated its own 50th anniversary on September 19, 2019.
- First Mass: Pentecost Sunday, June 1, 1952 (Fr. Paul E. Foster)
- Original colonial-style church dedicated June 29, 1954
- Present church dedicated September 14, 1969 by Bishop Francis F. Reh
- Hand-made Facet Glass windows above the altar, by a Midland artist, donated by the Dionise family
- 50th parish anniversary: 2002
- 50th anniversary of current church building: September 19, 2019
History of St. Martin de Porres, Perrinton
St. Martin de Porres began as a mission of the Diocese of Saginaw in 1962, founded by Father Charles L. Ganley at the request of Bishop Stephen Woznicki. Father Ganley visited every Catholic family in the area, formed committees, and converted an empty Main Street building in Middleton (the 'Lucas building,' formerly Troub's Hardware) into a 'Store Front Church.' The patron saint — newly canonized in Rome on May 6, 1962 — was chosen by Father Ganley. The mission's first Mass was celebrated on Pentecost Sunday, June 10, 1962, with a special blessing from Pope John XXIII and an estimated 200 people present; two babies were baptized that day. A three-acre parcel at M-57 and Luce Road was purchased in 1963, ground was broken on July 14, 1963, and the $67,000 church was raised the week of January 12, 1964, with Father Ganley celebrating its first Mass on March 15, 1964. St. Martin de Porres celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2012 and merged with St. Paul the Apostle in July 2013.
- Founded March 1962 by Fr. Charles L. Ganley at Bishop Woznicki's request
- First Mass: Pentecost Sunday, June 10, 1962 in the 'Lucas building' on Main St., Middleton
- Special blessing from Pope John XXIII
- Patron St. Martin de Porres canonized in Rome on May 6, 1962
- Land purchased 1963 at M-57 and Luce Road
- Ground broken July 14, 1963; first Mass in new church March 15, 1964
- Construction cost: $67,000
- 50th anniversary: 2012
Pastor & Parish Staff
The parish is currently served by Rev. Edwin C. Dwyer, Pastor (since July 2020). He is supported by Kristin Benitez (Office Administrator), Ellen Mills (Bookkeeper), and Renu Maslovich (Music Director).
- Rev. Edwin C. Dwyer — Pastor ([email protected])
- Kristin Benitez — Office Administrator ([email protected])
- Ellen Mills — Bookkeeper ([email protected])
- Renu Maslovich — Music Director ([email protected])
Liturgical Ministries
The parish's Ministries page invites parishioners to 'Find Where You Belong,' describing several liturgical and hospitality roles and their responsibilities. New ministers receive initial training and ongoing formation; commitments are typically one year and renewable.
- Lectors — proclaim the Word of God at Mass; open to fully initiated parishioners age 13+
- Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion
- Altar Servers — minimum age 8, must have received First Communion; training with Fr. Dwyer
- Greeters — initial training provided
- Ushers — initial training provided
- Music Ministry — under Music Director Renu Maslovich
Sacraments
The parish website has a Sacraments page that, together with the regular confession schedule published on the homepage, outlines preparation for the Church's seven sacraments. The Penance (Reconciliation) schedule is given above. For Baptism, Marriage, Anointing of the Sick, and First Communion, parishioners are directed to contact the parish office.
- Confirmation preparation program available
- First Communion / Eucharist
- Penance / Reconciliation — Tuesday 5:00 p.m. & Saturday 5:00 p.m.
- Contact parish office for Baptism, Marriage, and Anointing of the Sick
Contact, Office Hours & Location
The parish office is at St. Paul the Apostle Church, 121 N. Union St., Ithaca, MI 48847 (phone 989-875-2852). Office hours are Tuesday 2:00–7:00 p.m., Wednesday 1:00–6:00 p.m., and Thursday & Friday 10:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m. St. Martin de Porres Church, the parish's second worship site, is at 4010 W. Cleveland Rd., Perrinton, MI 48871 (mailing address: 121 N. Union St., Ithaca, MI 48847-1349).
- Parish office: 121 N. Union St., Ithaca, MI 48847
- Phone: (989) 875-2852
- Office hours: Tue 2–7 p.m.; Wed 1–6 p.m.; Thu & Fri 10 a.m.–3 p.m.
- St. Martin de Porres Church: 4010 W. Cleveland Rd., Perrinton, MI 48871
Within the Diocese of Saginaw
St. Paul the Apostle Parish is one of several parishes in Vicariate 5 of the Diocese of Saginaw, in the same general area as St. Mary (Alma), Mt. St. Joseph (St. Louis), St. Martin de Porres (Perrinton), St. Cyril (Bannister), and parishes in Shepherd, Carson City, Merrill, and Hubbardston. The 2013 diocesan restructuring linked St. Paul and St. Martin de Porres into one parish community under Bishop Joseph R. Cistone's pastoral letter 'A Future Full of Hope.'
- Vicariate 5, Diocese of Saginaw
- 2013 parish merger part of 'A Future Full of Hope' restructuring
- Led at the diocesan level by Bishop Joseph R. Cistone
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Paul E. FosterJune 1952 – September 1952
Celebrated the parish's very first Mass on Pentecost Sunday, June 1, 1952, in a former auto dealership on Pine River Street.
- Fr. Charles L. GanleySeptember 1952 – June 1966
Led the building and 1954 dedication of the first colonial-style church; also founded the St. Martin de Porres mission in 1962-64 while pastor.
- Fr. Donald EppenbrockJune 1966 – July 1970
- Fr. Joseph FriskeOctober 1970 – January 1976
- Fr. John HoogterpMarch 1975 – July 1983
- Fr. Max FregoJuly 1983 – July 1992
- Fr. Harry SikorskiJune 1992 – June 1994
- Fr. John EdererAugust 1994 – October 1998
- Fr. Julius SpleetOctober 1998 – January 2014
- Fr. Andrzej BorochJanuary 2014 – July 2020
- Fr. Edwin C. DwyerJuly 2020 – present
Current pastor.