About St. Stephen King of Hungary · Skidway Lake, Michigan
St. Stephen King of Hungary is a small Catholic parish in the rural Skidway Lake / Prescott area of northeastern lower Michigan, part of the Diocese of Gaylord. Founded in 1957, the parish is clustered with neighboring St. Pius X in Hale and Holy Family in East Tawas under a single pastor, sharing ministry, staff and sacramental life across the cluster. St. Stephen offers Sunday Mass at 11:00 AM and a Wednesday morning Mass, along with a Council of Catholic Women, a parish food pantry, prayer chain, and Right to Life outreach. The patron is King Saint Stephen I of Hungary (c. 975–1038), the first Christian king of Hungary and founder of the Hungarian Church.
- Established
- 1957
- Patron
- Saint Stephen I of Hungary (King Saint Stephen)
- Rector
- Rev. Artur F. Duchnowicz (Father Art Duchnowicz), Pastor and Vicar for the Southeast Region
- Diocese
- Diocese of Gaylord
Why belong here
St. Stephen King of Hungary is a small, faith-filled country parish that worships in the rural Skidway Lake / Prescott area and is clustered with St. Pius X in Hale and Holy Family in East Tawas, so parishioners benefit from a wider community of clergy, ministries, and Masses while still being served by a parish office right on Greenwood Road. Parishioners can be involved in the Council of Catholic Women, a parish food pantry open Monday and Wednesday mornings, a prayer chain, Right to Life / pregnancy-center outreach, and funeral-lunch hospitality — practical ways to live the faith alongside neighbors. With weekly Sunday and Wednesday Masses and easy contact with the pastor and deacon, St. Stephen offers a warm, accessible Catholic home in the northern Michigan woods.
Mass times at St. Stephen King of Hungary
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Reconciliation can be scheduled before weekday Mass at St. Stephen by appointment (per parish directory listing)
About St. Stephen King of Hungary Parish
St. Stephen King of Hungary is a Catholic parish serving the Skidway Lake and Prescott communities in northeastern lower Michigan, in the Diocese of Gaylord. Founded in 1957, it is a small rural parish clustered with St. Pius X in Hale and Holy Family in East Tawas, sharing clergy, staff, and sacramental ministries. The parish is named for King Saint Stephen I of Hungary, the first Christian king of Hungary, who unified the country and established the Hungarian Church in the early 11th century.
- Founded: 1957
- Diocese: Gaylord
- Vicariate: Southeast
- Cluster partner parishes: St. Pius X (Hale) and Holy Family (East Tawas)
Clergy, Staff & Parish Office
St. Stephen is currently served by Father Artur F. Duchnowicz as Pastor (who also serves as Vicar for the Southeast Region of the Diocese), with Rev. Emmanuel Apagu Yilar as Parochial Vicar, Deacon Brent Hemker, and parish secretary/bookkeeper Elizabeth Hartman. Office hours at the St. Stephen office are Monday and Tuesday 9:00–11:00 AM and Wednesday 9:30 AM–2:30 PM. The office phone is 989-873-3340 and the fax line is 989-873-5209.
- Pastor: Rev. Artur F. Duchnowicz
- Parochial Vicar: Rev. Emmanuel Apagu Yilar (Diocese of Maiduguri, Nigeria)
- Deacon: Brent H. Hemker
- Secretary / Bookkeeper: Elizabeth Hartman
Parish Ministries & Outreach
St. Stephen supports a number of parish ministries through its cluster office and lay leaders, organized alongside its sister parishes. The Council of Catholic Women (led by Chris Nuttall) coordinates much of the parish's social and service life, including funeral lunches. The parish operates a Food Pantry open Monday and Wednesday mornings from 10:00 AM to Noon, providing direct help to neighbors in the rural Skidway Lake / Prescott area.
- Council of Catholic Women (Chris Nuttall, President)
- Parish Food Pantry (Mon & Wed, 10:00 AM – Noon)
- Prayer Chain (via parish office)
- Right to Life / Pregnancy Centers outreach (Susan Doyen)
- Funeral Lunches
- Knights of Columbus (cluster council)
The Cluster: St. Pius X and Holy Family
Since the Diocese of Gaylord's October 14, 2024 clergy announcement, St. Stephen has been formally clustered with St. Pius X Parish in Hale and Holy Family Parish in East Tawas under a single pastor, Father Artur F. Duchnowicz, who also serves as Vicar for the Southeast Region. A December 18, 2025 announcement added Rev. Emmanuel Apagu Yilar as Parochial Vicar serving the same cluster. The three parishes share Mass schedules, sacramental preparation, and ministries through the cluster website holythree.org, and the parish office for St. Stephen remains the local point of contact in Prescott.
- Cluster partner: St. Pius X Parish, 3900 M-65, Hale, MI 48739 — office 989-728-2278
- Cluster partner: Holy Family Parish, East Tawas, MI
- Shared website: holythree.org
The Patron: King Saint Stephen of Hungary
The parish is named for Saint Stephen I of Hungary (c. 975 – August 15, 1038), the last Grand Prince of the Hungarians and the first King of Hungary from 1000/1001 until his death. He unified the Carpathian Basin, established at least one archbishopric and six bishoprics, and was the founder of the Christian kingdom of Hungary. He was canonized by Pope Gregory VII in 1083 together with his son Saint Emeric and Bishop Gerard of Csanád. In Hungary his feast is observed on August 20, the day his relics were translated to Buda; in the general Roman calendar his memorial is celebrated on August 16, with the translation of his relics on September 2. He is venerated as patron saint of Hungary and protector of kings, masons, stonecutters, and children suffering from severe illness.
- Patron of Hungary
- Feast: August 20 (Hungary), August 16 (general Roman Calendar), September 2 (translation)
- Relic: the Holy Dexter (incorrupt right hand) kept in St. Stephen's Basilica, Budapest
Visiting & Contact
St. Stephen's church and office are located at 2811 Greenwood Road, Prescott, MI 48756 (also addressed as 2811 E. Greenwood Rd., Skidway Lake, MI 48756). Visitors are encouraged to call ahead to the parish office at 989-873-3340. The parish shares its bulletin and online presence with sister parishes through the holythree.org cluster website and a Facebook page under the name St. Stephen of Hungary Catholic Church.
- Address: 2811 Greenwood Rd., Prescott, MI 48756
- Phone: 989-873-3340
- Fax: 989-873-5209
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: holythree.org/st--stephen
- Facebook: facebook.com/p/St-Stephen-of-Hungary-Catholic-Church-100064619446384/