About St. Peter · Douglas, Michigan
St. Peter Catholic Church is a Roman Catholic parish in Douglas, Michigan, in the Diocese of Kalamazoo, serving the Saugatuck–Douglas lakeshore community and surrounding Allegan County. The parish offers weekend and daily Mass in English, plus a Spanish-language Mass at its sister community San Felipe de Jesús in Fennville, and is currently pastored by Fr. Fabio H. Garzón, VF. Worship is supported by Eucharistic Adoration, a weekly Reconciliation schedule, faith formation for families, RCIA, and a livestreamed Sunday Mass through the parish's Facebook page.
- Established
- 1884
- Patron
- Saint Peter (the Apostle)
- Rector
- Fr. Fabio H. Garzón, VF
- Diocese
- Diocese of Kalamazoo
Why belong here
St. Peter Parish is a lakeshore Catholic community that combines daily and weekend Mass, live-streamed Sunday worship, Eucharistic Adoration twice a week, and a regular Saturday confession schedule with a real formation life: RCIA, Adult Faith Formation, Bible Study, Open Vessels Women's Faith Sharing, Catholic Men's Fellowship, Family Faith Formation, a parish choir, and outreach to Spanish-speaking parishioners through San Felipe de Jesús in Fennville. Its pastoral mission — the Ministry of Word, Worship and Service — and its warm welcome for visitors and seasonal residents make it a fitting spiritual home for year-round parishioners, summer visitors, and snowbirds along the Lake Michigan shore.
Mass times at St. Peter
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday: 3:30 PM – 4:30 PM
- By appointment
- San Felipe de Jesús: Thursday afternoon, or by appointment
Adoration times
- Tuesday: 5:00 PM – 8:00 PM
- Friday: 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM
- Eucharistic Adoration on the 2nd Thursday of each month: 9:00 AM – 9:00 PM in the Church
- Holy Hour of Reparation in the Church on the 13th of each month at 6:00 PM (except Saturday and Sunday; otherwise the Friday before)
- San Felipe de Jesús: 3rd Sunday of the month, 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM (evening)
Parish History
St. Peter Parish traces its roots to 1884, when Catholic worship began in Douglas as a mission to workers at the local basket factory. Early Masses were celebrated in private homes until 1900, when a building at Washington and Chestnut Streets was purchased and converted into the first church. The community was formally established as an official parish in 1938 and grew steadily, adding a quonset-hut-style structure in 1952 to accommodate summer visitors. The present large church on Blue Star Highway was dedicated on June 29, 1958, and the original stained-glass windows were preserved in the new building. The parish has historically been served by the Midwest Augustinians (OSA).
Pastoral Mission & Vision
St. Peter's stated pastoral mission is 'the mission of Jesus.' As a people of God, the parish seeks to create a Community of Faith through the Ministry of Word, Worship and Service — proclaiming and teaching God's Word, celebrating the Sacred Mysteries, and serving the people of the Saugatuck–Douglas lakeshore region and beyond. Parish goals are built around that threefold mission.
Mass & Worship Schedule
Weekend Mass is offered Saturday at 5:00 PM and Sunday at 8:00 AM and 10:30 AM, with both Sunday Masses live-streamed on Facebook. Daily Mass is celebrated Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday at 8:30 AM (with First Saturday Mass at 8:30 AM). Holy Days of Obligation have two Masses at 8:30 AM and 7:00 PM. A Spanish-language Mass is offered through the sister mission San Felipe de Jesús in Fennville (Sunday 12:30 PM, Thursday 6:30 PM).
Parish Staff & Clergy
St. Peter is served by Pastor Fr. Fabio H. Garzón, VF, along with Deacons Tony Nethercott (Retired) and Arthur Morsaw, plus Deacon Maximino Rodríguez who serves the San Felipe de Jesús mission. Religious sisters on staff include Sr. Olivia Latiano, SND (Music Director) and Hna. María Eugenia Gómez, MSDE. Lay staff include a Pastoral Associate (Rick Hardy), Business Administrator (Ralph Hensley), RCIA / Pastoral Care / Administrative Assistant (Marianne Hoffman), Director of Faith Formation & Evangelization (Alisha Giles), Communication Coordinator (Liliana Van Dam) and Liturgical Director (Nancy Maslanka).
Faith Formation & Education
Faith formation at St. Peter spans children, youth, adults and families. Family Faith Formation includes Year 2 Confirmandi preparation, Advent Wreath Lighting at Mass, and intergenerational events like the annual Gingerbread House Making Party. Adult offerings include RCIA, Adult Formation, Bible Study, Open Vessels (Women's Faith Sharing) and Catholic Men's Fellowship. A Spanish-language Trauma Recovery Program and Spanish Class extend formation into the Hispanic community.
Music & Liturgy
Liturgy and music are coordinated by Liturgical Director Nancy Maslanka and Music Director Sr. Olivia Latiano, SND. The parish choir rehearses weekly and supports the Sunday 10:30 AM Mass and other liturgical celebrations throughout the year, including Advent and Christmas festivities.
Outreach & Hispanic Ministry (San Felipe de Jesús, Fennville)
St. Peter Parish sponsors San Felipe de Jesús, a Hispanic Catholic community in nearby Fennville, providing Spanish Mass on Sundays at 12:30 PM and Thursdays at 6:30 PM, as well as Thursday confessions and periodic evening Adoration. The mission also hosts a Spanish-language Trauma Recovery Program, Spanish Class, and other ministries. Parish administrator for San Felipe is Joe Marble, with Deacon Maximino Rodríguez assisting.
Prayer, Fellowship & Support Groups
Beyond Mass and formation, the parish hosts a variety of gatherings that build community: a Carmelites Meeting (Sundays 1–3 PM), AA Meetings (Mondays 8–9 PM and Saturdays at 12 PM in Room 10), the St. Peter Prayer Line for the sick and homebound, and parish-wide fellowship events such as potluck dinners and seasonal celebrations.
Stewardship & Giving
Parishioners can support St. Peter's through Online Giving, the annual Bishop's Appeal for the Diocese of Kalamazoo, and the 'On The Rock' Capital Campaign. The parish is also governed by a Pastoral Council and a Finance Council, both of which meet regularly to shepherd the parish's temporal and spiritual mission.
Visit, Contact & Location
St. Peter Catholic Church is located at 100 St. Peter Drive in Douglas, Michigan (P.O. Box 248, 49406), just off Blue Star Highway, south of the Saugatuck–Douglas Bridge and reachable via I-196 Exit 36 or 41. The parish office can be reached at (269) 857-7951, with the Pastoral Associate reachable at [email protected]. The church building is open daily from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM for personal prayer. Sunday Mass is livestreamed on the parish Facebook page (@stpeterdouglas) for those unable to attend in person.
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Fabio H. Garzón, VFCurrent (at least since 2018)
Current pastor; serves as Vicar Forane (Dean). Also pastorally connected to San Felipe de Jesús mission in Fennville.