About St. Stanislaus Catholic Church · Dorr, Michigan
St. Stanislaus Catholic Church is a historic Polish-heritage parish in the small community of Dorr, Michigan (Allegan County), founded in 1892 by immigrant families from Poland. Locally known as 'St. Stan's,' it is part of a three-parish collaborative with St. Mary's Visitation in Byron Center and Sacred Heart in Watson Township, all served by clergy of the Diocese of Kalamazoo. The parish shares its grounds with St. Stanislaus School, a PreK-8 classical Catholic school whose mascot is the Eagles, and continues to draw many of its families from descendants of the original Polish settlers.
- Established
- 1892
- Patron
- St. Stanislaus of Kraków
- Rector
- Rev. Christopher Derda (Pastor in Solidum, Senior Pastor) and Rev. Stephen Rodrigo (Pastor in Solidum, Moderator), with Rev. James Adams also appointed Pastor in Solidum of the collaborative (announced May 2023, effective July 5, 2023).
- Diocese
- Diocese of Kalamazoo
Why belong here
St. Stanislaus offers a small, multigenerational Catholic community with deep Polish-Catholic roots going back to 1876 and a still-active parish school on the same campus. Parishioners can attend daily and weekend Mass in English, pray before the Blessed Sacrament every Thursday from 10 AM to 6 PM, send children to a PreK-8 classical Catholic school (Eagles), and serve the broader Dorr/Byron Center/Allegan area as part of a three-parish collaborative with St. Mary's Visitation and Sacred Heart. It is the kind of place where many families are descendants of the original Polish founders and where faith, school, and parish life have remained closely intertwined for more than 130 years.
Mass times at St. Stanislaus Catholic Church
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 4:00 PM – 4:30 PM
- Saturday 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM (or by appointment)
- Tuesday 5:00 PM – 5:30 PM
- Tuesday 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM
Adoration times
- Thursday 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM (Eucharistic Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament)
Our Story: A Polish-Heritage Parish Since 1892
St. Stanislaus Catholic Church is the spiritual home of a Polish-Catholic community that has worshipped on 136th Avenue since 1892. Polish settlers first organized themselves in 1876 through two societies — the St. Stanislaus Society and the Rosary Society — that met both the social and spiritual needs of the newcomers. They built a parochial school in 1885, and in the winter of 1892 local men erected the present brick church on a fieldstone foundation. The parish was officially recognized in 1892 and remains today a multigenerational community in which many families are descendants of those original founders.
- 1876 – St. Stanislaus Society and Rosary Society founded by Polish immigrants
- 1885 – Parochial school built on land owned by Michael Burchardt (a convent once stood on the same site)
- 1892 – Current red-brick church built on a fieldstone foundation
- 1892 – Parish officially recognized
- October 1892 – Church dedication reported by The Wayland Globe
- 1893 – First parish wedding (Agnes & Stanley Kurdelski, Nov. 21, 1893)
- 1910 – Traditional stained glass windows installed
- 1971 – Becomes part of the newly formed Diocese of Kalamazoo
The Three-Parish Collaborative
St. Stanislaus today shares clergy and collaborative ministries with two neighboring parishes: St. Mary's Visitation in Byron Center and Sacred Heart in Watson Township (Allegan). The collaborative is led by a team of Pastors in Solidum appointed by the Bishop of Kalamazoo. Sacred Heart Mission, located at 2036 20th St. in Allegan, is historically tied to St. Stanislaus — Bishop Donovan gave it to St. Stanislaus as a mission church in 1980. The same phone line, (269) 793-7268, serves both St. Stanislaus and Sacred Heart.
- St. Mary's Visitation Parish – Byron Center, MI
- St. Stanislaus Parish – Dorr, MI (1871 136th Ave)
- Sacred Heart Parish – Watson Township / 2036 20th St., Allegan, MI
- Shared phone: (269) 793-7268
- Shared Pastors in Solidum: Rev. James Adams, Rev. Christopher Derda, Rev. Stephen Rodrigo
Sacraments
The parish prepares parishioners for and celebrates the seven Catholic sacraments. A 'Sacraments' menu on the parish website links to information on Baptism, Holy Communion, Confirmation, and others. The first-ever wedding in the parish — that of Agnes and Stanley Kurdelski on November 21, 1893 — is part of the parish's living history.
- Baptism
- First Holy Communion
- Confirmation
- Matrimony
- Anointing of the Sick
- Reconciliation (Confession) — see Mass & Confession Schedule
- Funerals
St. Stanislaus Catholic School (PreK–8)
Sharing the parish campus since 1885, St. Stanislaus School is a PreK–8 Catholic classical school with the Eagles mascot. The school describes itself as a 'thriving, family-oriented school, deeply rooted in the Catholic faith and traditions of its founders,' and it takes a 'classical back-to-basics' approach where 'students learn HOW to learn, not what to learn.' Students in grades 6–8 can play athletics through a co-op with Hopkins Middle School, and the school is a member of GRACEAC, a Grand Rapids-area Christian athletic conference. Students participate in weekly Holy Eucharist, regular confessions, adoration, benediction, and other liturgical experiences.
- Mascot: Eagles
- Grades: PreK through 8 (Enrollment around 66 students)
- Classical Catholic curriculum including Latin survey
- Weekly Holy Eucharist, monthly confessions, adoration, benediction
- Athletics co-op with Hopkins Middle School; member of GRACEAC conference
- Extracurriculars: art, orchestra, choir, robotics, Girl Scouts, Lego League, Student Council, Bring it On Book Challenge
- Principal: Camille DeLano
- School website: https://www.st-stans.net
School Staff & Priests at the School
St. Stanislaus School is served by three priests who interact with students at Mass, in the classroom, in the 'Saints vs. Priests' contest, and during monthly confessions. All core-subject teachers are certified and continue professional development in theology and teaching methodology.
- Fr. Stephen Rodrigo – Pastor in Solidum, Moderator
- Fr. Christopher Derda – Pastor in Solidum, Senior Pastor
- Fr. Christopher Derda – also Senior Pastor
- Camille DeLano – Principal
- Lori Fifelski – Administrative Assistant
- Heather Clarey – Preschool
- Kelli Schumacher – Aide
- Marti Newell – Kindergarten
- Samantha Sebright – 1st & 2nd Grade
- Katy James – 3rd & 4th Grade
- Randi Restau – 5th & 6th Grade
- Gail Flynn – 7th & 8th Grade
- Amy Skrycki – Librarian / Custodian / CGS
- Morgan Coon – Art Teacher
- Pam Laperna – Music Teacher
- Sheri Jaffurs – Orchestra
- John Tellkamp – PE & Theology
- Tim Henning – Latin
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Religious education for parish youth and adults is supported through the parish school and through the Diocese of Kalamazoo's online Religious Education Program, which is linked directly from the parish website's Quick Links. Sacramental preparation for First Communion and Confirmation is coordinated through the parish office.
- Diocese of Kalamazoo Online Religious Education Program
- Contact the Church / Contact the School links on parish site
- Sacramental preparation through parish office
Parish Life, Councils & Giving
Parish governance includes the Parish Council, Finance Council, and LCAB, with a 2023–2024 meeting schedule posted on the parish site. The parish encourages online giving through E-tithe and offers a mobile app for parishioners. The weekly bulletin is published online and shared between St. Stanislaus and Sacred Heart.
- Parish Council (PC), Finance Council (FC), and LCAB meetings (2023–2024 schedule posted)
- E-tithe online giving
- My Parish App (mobile)
- Weekly bulletin (linked from st-stanschurch.net)
- Joint bulletins with Sacred Heart at sh-ss.org
Annual Appeal & Diocesan Connections
As a parish of the Diocese of Kalamazoo, St. Stanislaus participates annually in the Bishop's Annual Appeal and promotes diocesan online religious education. The parish is part of the 1971-established Diocese of Kalamazoo and benefits from diocesan-wide communications and programs.
- Bishop's Annual Appeal (BAA) – annual diocesan appeal
- Diocese of Kalamazoo (diokzoo.org)
- Diocesan Online Religious Education Program
St. Stanislaus Cemetery
St. Stanislaus Cemetery sits in Section 3 of Dorr Township along 136th Avenue next to the church. Cemetery records were first transcribed on November 1, 1961 by Mrs. John VanderMolen and Mrs. C. A. Monte, with later readings in 1997 by Robert and Bonnie Pattok (descendants of the Pattock brothers who laid the church's brick in 1892). It remains the resting place of many of the original Polish founders and their descendants.
- Located in Section 3, Dorr Township, on 136th Avenue
- Original readings: November 1, 1961 (VanderMolen & Monte)
- Later readings: 1997 (Robert & Bonnie Pattok)
Visiting & Contacting St. Stanislaus
St. Stanislaus is located at 1871 136th Avenue in Dorr, Michigan (ZIP 49323), Allegan County. The parish office can be reached at (269) 793-7268 (the same line serves Sacred Heart Mission in Watson Township) or by email at [email protected]. The parish website is st-stanschurch.net, and the school website is st-stans.net.
- Address: 1871 136th Ave, Dorr, MI 49323
- Phone: (269) 793-7268
- Email: [email protected]
- Parish website: https://www.st-stanschurch.net
- School website: https://www.st-stans.net
- Sunday Mass livestream: St. Mary's Visitation @ 9 AM (YouTube)
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father William Devine, SCJ1974–1977
Appointed pastor in 1974; served until his retirement in 1977.
- Father Charles Fischer1977–1979
Also pastor of Ss. Cyril and Methodius (Gun Lake); appointed administrator of St. Stanislaus in 1977.
- Father Henry Gomulka1978–1980
Associate who lived in residence at Hilliards; transferred to Three Rivers in 1980.
- Father Dennis Boylan1979/1980–
In 1979 named administrator replacing Father Fischer; appointed pastor of St. Stanislaus in 1980 and given Sacred Heart in Watson Township as a mission.
- Father Jerome Winikaitis1971–death in office
First diocesan pastor when St. Stanislaus became part of the newly formed Diocese of Kalamazoo in 1971.
- Reverend Stanley Witekcirca 2009
Came from Poland to serve the parish; quoted in 2009 MLive/Pennasee Globe feature on parish life.