About St. Pius X · Southgate, Michigan
St. Pius X Parish is a Roman Catholic parish in Southgate, Michigan, in the Downriver area southwest of Detroit. As a parish of the Archdiocese of Detroit, it is part of the Downriver Vicariate and the South Downriver 2 Family of Parishes, and serves its community with daily and weekend Masses, a parish school, and a range of lay ministries. The parish describes itself as a Eucharistic-centered community rooted in the Word of God, where parishioners journey together in faith. It is paired with a parish school offering education from Pre-School through 8th grade.
- Established
- 1950
- Patron
- St. Pius X
- Rector
- Rev. Don LaCuesta (Moderator of the South Downriver 2 Family; also listed as Priest In Solidum at St. Pius X)
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Detroit (Downriver Vicariate, South Region; Family of Parishes: South Downriver 2)
Why belong here
St. Pius X offers a full sacramental and community life — daily and weekend Masses, Saturday confessions, Eucharistic Adoration on First Mondays, Baptism and Confirmation preparation, and a parish school spanning Pre-School through 8th grade. Active lay apostolates such as the Knights of Columbus, Music Ministry, Children's Ministry, VBS, Lectors, and Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion give parishioners of every age a way to share their time and talent. The parish's own invitation — 'Come and See' — reflects its calling to walk together in faith as a warm, family-centered Catholic community in the Downriver area.
Mass times at St. Pius X
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 3:00 PM – 4:00 PM
- First Tuesday of the Month
Adoration times
- First Mondays
Welcome & Parish Identity
St. Pius X describes itself as a Eucharistic-centered community rooted in the Word of God, where parishioners journey together in faith. The parish's own invitation — 'Come and See' — comes from its patron: 'Where is the road that leads to Jesus Christ? It is before our eyes: it is the CHURCH.' Visitors are welcomed to attend Mass, meet staff, and explore the parish school.
History
Ground was broken on August 10, 1950, with Mass being held at McCann School during construction. Three Adrian Dominican sisters moved into the new convent on August 5, 1953, and a school groundbreaking followed a week later. The school opened in fall 1953 and was dedicated by Cardinal Mooney on September 15, 1954. In 1974, the school was renamed St. Pius School to resolve the long-standing dual-patron confusion.
- 1950 — Ground broken for the church (Aug 10)
- 1953 — Adrian Dominican sisters move into the new convent (Aug 5); school groundbreaking
- 1953 — School opens in the Social Hall with first grade
- 1954 — Cardinal Mooney dedicates the school (Sept 15)
- 1974 — School renamed 'St. Pius School'
- 2021 — St. Pius X assigned to the new South Downriver 2 Family of Parishes
Architecture & Worship Space
The church's most distinctive feature is its dropped, multi-faceted ceiling above the altar, with a Lamb of God depicted above the center door.
Parish School (Pre-K through 8th Grade)
St. Pius X is home to a parish school that provides a Catholic education from Pre-School through 8th grade. The school's principal, faculty, and staff describe their mission as nurturing the holistic development of students — their personal growth and ethical enrichment as well as their academic formation.
- Preschool through 8th grade
- Originally dedicated to St. Pius V (1953); renamed St. Pius School in 1974
- Grew from 8 classrooms to 32 in later years
- Site: saintpiusschool.org
Sacraments
- Baptism: third Sunday of the month after the 11:00 AM Mass; parents must be registered active parishioners for at least 3 months and complete a Baptismal Preparation Class
- Confirmation preparation offered
- Reconciliation: Saturday 3:00–4:00 PM and First Tuesday of the month
- Anointing of the Sick: first Saturday of the month after Mass
Ministries & Organizations
Lay faithful at St. Pius X take part in a wide range of liturgical and service ministries, with opportunities for both youth and adults to share their time and talent.
- Knights of Columbus — council meetings, exemplifications, Scripture study, donut Sundays
- Music Ministry / Parish Choir (weekly rehearsal)
- Children's Ministry
- Vacation Bible School
- Lectors
- Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion
- Event Volunteering
Parish Staff
Day-to-day parish operations are supported by a business manager, parish administrator, music director, maintenance supervisor, and other parish staff.
- Fr. Don LaCuesta — Moderator / Priest In Solidum
- Mark Formosa — Music Director
- Angie Mahar — (parish staff)
- Omar Berrocal — (parish staff)
- Brian Wolff — Parish Administrator
- Deacon Charles Dault
Lenten & Calendar Observances
The parish calendar highlights recurring seasonal events such as the Lenten Fish Fry, Stations of the Cross, Choir Practice, and Knights of Columbus Donut Sundays.
- Lenten Fish Fry (Fridays)
- Stations of the Cross (Friday evenings in Lent)
- Confirmation
- Knights of Columbus Scripture mornings
- St. Pius School Open House
Parish Registration
Visitors and newcomers are invited to register through the parish's online Parish Registration form. The registration process lets new families indicate interest in Sacraments, Music Ministry, Children's Ministry, VBS, Event Volunteering, Extraordinary Ministers, Lectors, the Knights of Columbus, or other ministries.
Family of Parishes (Archdiocese of Detroit)
St. Pius X is part of the South Downriver 2 Family of Parishes within the Downriver Vicariate (South Region) of the Archdiocese of Detroit, sharing pastoral care with Christ the Good Shepherd (Lincoln Park), Our Lady of the Scapular (Wyandotte), and St. Vincent Pallotti (Wyandotte).
- Vicariate: Downriver
- Region: South
- Family: South Downriver 2
- Partner parishes: Christ the Good Shepherd, Our Lady of the Scapular, St. Vincent Pallotti
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Bob McCabe
Pastor at the time of a 2019 Detroit Church Blog feature; known for his photography of Detroit's homeless.