About St. Philip · Battle Creek, Michigan
St. Philip Catholic Church is a Roman-Latin parish of the Diocese of Kalamazoo serving Battle Creek, Michigan from its historic home at 112 Capital Avenue NE. The parish traces its origins to the first Catholic ceremony in Battle Creek in 1847 and the first Mass there in 1849; today it offers a robust schedule of daily, Sunday, and Latin Masses, daily confessions, perpetual adoration, and a wide array of ministries. Worship is enriched by a notable Skinner organ and a choir tradition, and the parish works closely with Battle Creek Area Catholic Schools (BCACS), including St. Philip Catholic Central High School. Father James Richardson currently serves as pastor, with the parish rooted in more than 175 years of Catholic life in Calhoun County.
- Established
- 1869
- Patron
- St. Philip the Apostle
- Rector
- Rev. James Richardson (on sabbatical January 20 – April 21, 2025; Rev. Patrick Murphy appointed Administrator Pro Tempore during that period)
- Diocese
- Diocese of Kalamazoo
Why belong here
St. Philip is a historic downtown Battle Creek parish with one of the most liturgically generous schedules in the Diocese of Kalamazoo — daily Mass offered in both English and Latin, a Sunday 9 AM livestream, Tuesday evening Mass with Healing Prayers, frequent confession times throughout the week, and daily adoration. It is also a working parish: its music ministry (including the Skinner organ and adult choir) enriches the liturgy, the parish partners with Battle Creek Area Catholic Schools (BCACS) for K-12 formation, and a wide range of lay ministries serve the parish and the broader community of Calhoun County. Families and individuals looking for a parish anchored in Catholic tradition, beauty, and service will find a long-standing home here.
Mass times at St. Philip
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday: 3:00 PM – 4:00 PM
- Tuesday: 11:25 AM – 12:00 PM
- Weekdays (Monday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday): 7:15 AM – 7:55 AM
- Sunday: 8:15 AM – 8:45 AM (before 9:00 AM Mass)
- Sunday: 10:45 AM – 11:15 AM (before 11:30 AM Mass)
Adoration times
- First Friday: 12:00 PM Mass followed by adoration in the Perpetual Adoration Chapel (per legacy parish schedule)
Parish History
Catholic worship in Battle Creek began in 1847 with the marriage of Jeremiah McCarthy and Bridget Walsh celebrated by Fr. Cullen of Ann Arbor. The first Mass was offered in 1849 by Fr. Hennessy. After years of visiting priests from Marshall, Fr. William Herwit became Battle Creek's first resident pastor in December 1869. Local Catholics had purchased a former Quaker meetinghouse at auction in 1863 at the corner of Capital Avenue NE and West Van Buren, and a first brick church was built under Fr. F. J. Brogger (cornerstone 1878, dedicated Thanksgiving Day 1879 by Bishop Casper Borgess). After a 1928 fire, the present late-Romanesque Bedford-stone church was designed by local architect Adelbert B. Chanel, built in 1929, and dedicated in 1930. A Michigan Historical Commission marker was placed at the site in 2012, noting that this is the parish's fifth church on that corner.
- 1847 — first religious ceremony in Battle Creek (Fr. Cullen, Ann Arbor)
- 1849 — first Mass in Battle Creek (Fr. Hennessy)
- Dec 1869 — Fr. William Herwit becomes first resident pastor
- 1863 — local Catholics purchase Quaker meetinghouse at auction
- 1878 — cornerstone of first brick church laid
- Nov 27, 1879 — first brick church dedicated by Bishop Casper Borgess
- 1928 — original church destroyed by fire
- 1929 — present church constructed; dedicated 1930; designer: Adelbert B. Chanel
- 2012 — Michigan Historical Commission marker No. L2240 erected
Clergy & Pastoral Leadership
St. Philip is pastored by Father James Richardson, who was appointed by Bishop Paul J. Bradley effective November 23, 2020. He previously served as pastor of St. Mary's in Kalamazoo and of St. Ann in Augusta, and remains canonical pastor of St. Ambrose (Delton) and Our Lady of Great Oak (Lacey). In January 2025, Bishop Edward M. Lohse granted Father Richardson a sabbatical for personal and spiritual renewal (January 20 – April 21, 2025), during which Father Patrick Murphy serves as Administrator Pro Tempore. The parish was previously served by Very Rev. John Fleckenstein, V.E., who also served as Moderator of the Collaborative of St. Philip, St. Joseph, and St. Jerome parishes in Battle Creek.
- Current Pastor: Rev. James Richardson
- Administrator Pro Tempore (Jan–Apr 2025): Rev. Patrick Murphy
- Previous pastor: Very Rev. John Fleckenstein, V.E. (transferred to St. Joseph Parish, St. Joseph, Nov. 2020)
- Diocese of Kalamazoo — Bishop Edward M. Lohse (current diocesan bishop)
Music & Liturgical Arts
St. Philip maintains a strong liturgical music tradition rooted in the Church's teaching that 'sacred music is to be considered the more holy in proportion as it is more closely connected with the liturgical action.' The parish's Music Ministry welcomes singers, cantors, and instrumentalists to serve in the Adult Choir or Liturgical Ensemble to enhance the celebration of the Eucharist. The church houses a notable Skinner pipe organ, and additional specifications are available to those interested in the ministry. Reading music is helpful but not required for participation.
- Adult Choir
- Liturgical Ensemble
- Cantors
- Instrumentalists
- Skinner pipe organ
Lectors & Liturgical Volunteers
The lector ministry is one of the most visible roles of service at liturgy. As proclaimers of the Word, lectors facilitate the public prayer of the Church in the Liturgy of the Word, helping make the presence of God alive in the assembly. Lectors must be fully initiated (confirmed), practicing Catholics with a love of Scripture. Training is required and a workbook is provided; scheduling is matched to each lector's availability.
- Training and workbook provided
- Scheduling matched to availability
- Contact: Ministry Scheduler Kateri Herold, 269-968-6645, [email protected]
Education — Battle Creek Area Catholic Schools (BCACS)
St. Philip Catholic Central has historically operated as the parish's high school and now partners within Battle Creek Area Catholic Schools, a multi-campus system serving students across the area. Theology is a four-year faith-formation curriculum at the high school, and students participate in student-led Mass, retreats, service, and sacramental preparation. The school community continues to be a key part of parish family life.
- St. Philip Catholic Central High School
- Part of Battle Creek Area Catholic Schools (BCACS)
- Four-year Theology curriculum
- Weekly student-led Mass
- Retreats and service components
Contact, Location & Visit
The parish office is open Monday–Thursday 9:00 AM–3:00 PM and Friday 9:00 AM–12:00 PM. A Sacramental Emergency line is available at the parish phone. Mass is livestreamed each Sunday at 9:00 AM for those unable to attend in person. The church sits in downtown Battle Creek at a historically marked corner.
- Parish phone: 269-968-6645
- Sacramental Emergency: 269-968-6645
- Office fax: 269-216-7190
- Office hours: Mon–Thu 9–3, Fri 9–12
- Livestream: Sunday 9:00 AM Mass
Notable Heritage
St. Philip is one of the historic Catholic parishes of Calhoun County and has stood at the same Capital Avenue NE corner since 1863. Its sesquicentennial commemorated 150 years of continuous parish life, and the site carries a Michigan Historical Commission historical marker placed in 2012.
- Sesquicentennial (150-year) history book published
- Michigan Historical Commission marker No. L2240 (2012)
- Fifth church on the present site
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. William HerwitDecember 1869 –
First resident pastor of Battle Creek; celebrated Mass monthly in Stuart Hall on W. Main Street.
- Fr. F. J. BroggerJuly 1, 1877 – October 1880
Drove the parish's first building campaign; cornerstone laid 1878; first brick church dedicated Thanksgiving Day 1879 by Bishop Casper Borgess; transferred to Wyandotte with the building fully paid for.
- Fr. J. P. McManusOctober 1, 1887 – September 4, 1891
Transferred to St. Stephen, Port Huron.
- Fr. Richard Joseph Sadlier1891 – February 14, 1908
Purchased the house and lot next to the school and converted it into a rectory, remodeled and enlarged in 1905; died of Bright's disease.
- Very Rev. John Fleckenstein, V.E.through November 23, 2020
Also served as Moderator of the Collaborative of St. Philip, St. Joseph, and St. Jerome parishes in Battle Creek; transferred to St. Joseph Parish, St. Joseph.
- Rev. James Richardsonfrom November 23, 2020
Previously pastor of St. Mary's, Kalamazoo and of St. Ann, Augusta; remains canonical pastor of St. Ambrose, Delton and Our Lady of Great Oak, Lacey; on sabbatical Jan–Apr 2025.