About St. Therese of Lisieux · Shelby Township, Michigan
St. Therese of Lisieux is a Roman Catholic parish in Shelby Township, Michigan, in the Northeast Region of the Archdiocese of Detroit. Founded in 1991, the parish serves roughly 3,000 registered families from a wide range of cultural backgrounds and is part of the Northeast North Macomb 2 Family of Parishes. The current parish home at 48115 Schoenherr Road was built and furnished with donated architectural and liturgical items gathered from closed and downsizing parishes across the Archdiocese and beyond. Today it offers daily and weekend Masses, Eucharistic Adoration, Reconciliation, faith formation for children and youth, and an extensive ministry network.
- Established
- 1991
- Patron
- St. Therese of Lisieux
- Rector
- Msgr. John Kasza
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Detroit
Why belong here
St. Therese is a large (~3,000 family), multicultural parish with a tradition of warm hospitality, anchored by daily and weekend Masses, Eucharistic Adoration, weekly Reconciliation, and faith formation from pre-K through Confirmation preparation. The parish channels its energy through an unusually broad lay ministry network — Comforting Ministers for the homebound, a Health Ministry with active parish nurses, MCREST rotating homeless shelter hosting, a Soup Kitchen Ministry, a St. Vincent de Paul Society, Grief Ministry, Career Ministry, Vocations Awareness, and youth and family ministries run by a full-time staff. Worship is bolstered by cantors, adult altar servers, a Worship Commission, and a Director of Worship, with the Sunday 9:45 AM Mass livestreamed for those who cannot attend in person.
Mass times at St. Therese of Lisieux
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Thursday at 3:00 PM
- By appointment
Adoration times
- Eucharistic Adoration is offered; the Archdiocese directory lists it on the parish's regular schedule (consult the parish bulletin/stol.church for the current weekly hour).
Parish History
The official parish history traces a 1991 founding led by Fr. Tom Sutherland as pastor, the drawing of the patron name from his chalice on August 4, 1991, the September 14, 1993 Archdiocesan approval of a $2.8 million construction loan, an October 30, 1993 groundbreaking, the first Mass on November 12, 1994, and the formal dedication of the building by Cardinal Adam Maida on January 15, 1995. Subsequent pastors were Fr. Jeffrey Monforton (2005–c.2006), Fr. Drew Tomasko (2006–2010), Fr. Larry Zurawski (2011–2019), and Msgr. John Kasza (2019–present). The parish now serves roughly 3,000 families.
- Founded in 1991; grew from a storefront on Hall Road in Utica to a 3,000-family parish.
- Namesake chosen by drawing a slip from Fr. Tom's chalice, August 4, 1991.
- Construction loan approved September 14, 1993.
- Groundbreaking: October 30, 1993.
- First Mass: November 12, 1994 at 4:30 PM.
- Dedication by Cardinal Adam Maida: January 15, 1995.
- Pastor succession: Fr. Tom Sutherland → Fr. Jeffrey Monforton → Fr. Drew Tomasko → Fr. Larry Zurawski → Msgr. John Kasza.
Church Building & Salvaged Treasures
Because the parish was built by a small, new community, its founders canvassed other metro Detroit parishes (and beyond) for furnishings. The result is a building made up of devotional and architectural pieces from many Catholic communities: an Italian-marble main altar carved by a Swiss designer in 1962 (from the Xavier Missionary Sisters in Detroit); a chapel altar crafted by Fr. Bohdan Kosicki from a Carmelite Monastery altar rail; statues of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Child Jesus, and St. Therese (from the Carmelite Monastery and the Cathedral of St. Joseph, Sioux Falls); stained glass from St. Thomas the Apostle in Detroit and from churches in Pennsylvania and New Jersey; a bell from Mary, Mother of the Church in Detroit; and a tabernacle and sanctuary lamp from St. Stanislaus in Detroit. The original pews (from St. Philip Neri in Detroit and St. Anastasia in Troy) were replaced in 2011 with new custom-fitted pews.
- Main altar: Italian marble, Swiss-designed 1962, from Xavier Missionary Sisters (Detroit).
- Chapel altar: built by Fr. Bohdan Kosicki from Carmelite Monastery altar rail.
- Statuary of St. Therese, the Blessed Virgin Mary, and Child Jesus: Carmelite Monastery and Cathedral of St. Joseph (Sioux Falls, SD).
- Stained glass: St. Thomas the Apostle (Detroit) + Pennsylvania and New Jersey churches.
- Bell: Mary, Mother of the Church (Detroit).
- Tabernacle and Sanctuary Lamp: St. Stanislaus (Detroit).
- Original pews from St. Philip Neri (Detroit) and St. Anastasia (Troy); replaced 2011.
Clergy & Parish Staff
The parish is pastored by Msgr. John Kasza as the fifth pastor and FOP Moderator, supported by four priests in solidum — Rev. Matthew Ellis, Rev. Sahaya Arul Alex, S.A.C., Rev. Ronald Victor, and Rev. Jaime Hinojos — and weekend associate priests Fr. Ron Essman, Fr. Charles Fox, and Fr. Bill Gruden. Deacons Greg Willoughby and Jeffrey Loeb assist in liturgical and pastoral ministry. A large lay staff and ministry leadership team runs faith formation, worship, family ministry, evangelical charity, mission support, engagement, and parish operations.
- Pastor / FOP Moderator: Msgr. John Kasza ([email protected])
- Priests in Solidum: Rev. Matthew Ellis; Rev. Sahaya Arul Alex, S.A.C.; Rev. Ronald Victor; Rev. Jaime Hinojos
- Deacons: Deacon Greg Willoughby; Deacon Jeffrey Loeb
- Weekend Associates: Fr. Ron Essman, Fr. Charles Fox, Fr. Bill Gruden
- Directors: Peggy Casing (Discipleship Formation); Chris Piebiak (Family Ministry); John Karski (Evangelical Charity); Matt Kush (Engagement); Chris Kozlowski (Mission Support); Michael Giannetti (FOP Buildings/Facility); Rebecca Poupard (Worship); Diana Devine (FOP Youth Minister)
- Faith Formation: Julie LaBrecque (Grow, Gr. 1–6, First Reconciliation & Communion); Veronica LaPlant (Mission, Gr. 7–8, Confirmation Prep); Susan De Benedetti (Sunday School Coordinator)
- Pastoral Care: Sister Mary Andrew, CSSF (Seniors/Homebound Ministry); Marilyn Cito (Parish Nurse)
- Office: Sue Juliano, Valerie Saunders, Ally LaBrecque, Kim Corsi, Andrea Ervinck
Ministries & Service Opportunities
The parish maintains an unusually broad lay ministry and commission structure, organized around Christian Service, Evangelization, Stewardship, and Worship commissions, plus a Parish Pastoral Council. Service ministries include St. Vincent de Paul, the Soup Kitchen Ministry, Meals from the Heart, MCREST (rotating homeless shelter hosted one week in August), Comforting Ministers bringing Holy Communion to the homebound, Grief Ministry, Career Ministry, Health Ministry (with active parish nurses), the Justice & Peace Team, and the Planned Giving Committee. Liturgical and catechetical volunteers serve as cantors, ushers/greeters, adult altar servers, catechists and assistants, Religious Education volunteers, and Vacation Bible School helpers. There is also a Vocations Awareness Ministry and a Communications/Technology Ministry.
- Commissions: Christian Service, Evangelization, Stewardship, Worship; Parish Pastoral Council
- Outreach: St. Vincent de Paul, Soup Kitchen, Meals from the Heart, MCREST (shelter week in August), Comforting Ministers (homebound/assisted living/nursing homes), Grief Ministry, Career Ministry, Health Ministry (parish nurses), Justice & Peace Team, Planned Giving Committee
- Liturgical: Cantor, Usher/Greeter, Adult Altar Server, Vocations Awareness
- Formation: Catechist/Assistant (Pre-K–8), Religious Education Volunteer, Youth Ministry (teen/adult leaders), Communications/Technology Ministry
Faith Formation & Family Ministry
Faith formation is delivered through two flagship programs: 'Grow' for Grades 1–6, which also prepares children for First Reconciliation and First Communion, and 'Mission' for Grades 7–8, which prepares youth for Confirmation. A Sunday School program is coordinated by Susan De Benedetti and runs during the Sunday morning Mass slot, and the Director of Family Ministry (Chris Piebiak) anchors family life programming. The Family of Parishes also benefits from a regional Youth Minister, Diana Devine, who coordinates youth ministry across the Northeast North Macomb 2 Family of Parishes.
- Grow program: Grades 1–6 with First Reconciliation and First Communion prep — Julie LaBrecque
- Mission program: Grades 7–8 with Confirmation prep — Veronica LaPlant
- Sunday School — Susan De Benedetti
- Family Ministry — Chris Piebiak (Director)
- FOP Youth Ministry — Diana Devine (covers the Family of Parishes)
Family of Parishes & Archdiocesan Identity
St. Therese of Lisieux sits within the Archdiocese of Detroit's Northeast Region, specifically the North Macomb Vicariate, as a member of the 'Northeast North Macomb 2' Family of Parishes. Msgr. John Kasza serves as FOP Moderator, with Michael Giannetti providing Family-level Buildings/Facility management and Diana Devine coordinating FOP Youth Ministry. The parish's Archdiocesan directory listing (parish #803) confirms its canonical status, and it shares clergy (priests in solidum) with neighboring parishes in the Family.
- Archdiocese of Detroit, Northeast Region, North Macomb Vicariate
- Family of Parishes: Northeast North Macomb 2 (parish #803 in AOD registry)
- FOP Moderator: Msgr. John Kasza
- FOP Buildings/Facility Manager: Michael Giannetti
- FOP Youth Minister: Diana Devine
- Phone: (586) 254-4433
Visiting the Parish — Address, Office & Contact
The parish campus sits at 48115 Schoenherr Road, Shelby Township, MI 48315, with the main office reached at (586) 254-4433 (fax 586-254-5463) and email [email protected] (parish office [email protected]). Office hours are Monday–Thursday 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM (with a staff lunch break 12:00–1:00 PM), Saturday 3:00 PM to 6:00 PM, and Sunday 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM; the office is closed on Fridays. Parking is on site, and the Sunday 9:45 AM Mass is livestreamed for those unable to attend in person.
- Address: 48115 Schoenherr Road, Shelby Township, MI 48315
- Phone: (586) 254-4433 — Fax: (586) 254-5463
- General email: [email protected]
- Parish office email: [email protected]
- Website: https://stol.church
- Office hours: Mon–Thu 9:00 AM–4:00 PM (lunch 12–1 PM), Sat 3:00–6:00 PM, Sun 9:00 AM–1:00 PM; closed Fridays
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Tom Sutherland1991–2005
Founding pastor; appointed by Archbishop Adam Cardinal Maida; oversaw the drawing of the patron name from his chalice (Aug 4, 1991), the loan approval (1993), groundbreaking (Oct 30, 1993), first Mass (Nov 12, 1994), and dedication by Cardinal Maida (Jan 15, 1995).
- Fr. Jeffrey MonfortonJuly 2005–~September 2006
Second pastor; about fourteen months; later named Rector/President of Sacred Heart Major Seminary, then consecrated a bishop.
- Fr. Drew TomaskoNovember 2006–September 2010
Third pastor; took a leave of absence in September 2010.
- Fr. Larry ZurawskiJuly 2011–June 2019
Fourth pastor.
- Msgr. John KaszaJuly 2019–present
Fifth pastor; now also serves as FOP Moderator of the Northeast North Macomb 2 Family of Parishes.