About St. Thomas Aquinas · Detroit, Michigan
St. Thomas Aquinas Parish was a Roman Catholic parish on Detroit's west side, founded in 1955 to serve the growing neighborhoods where Detroit meets Dearborn and Dearborn Heights. The parish church sits at 5780 Evergreen Road, at the northeast corner of Evergreen and Ford Road. In 2013, St. Thomas Aquinas merged with nearby St. Christopher Parish to form St. Christopher–St. Thomas Aquinas, and the merged parish was renamed San Juan Diego Parish on November 16, 2018, with the website now at familiamdei.com (also reachable via stjuandiegoparish.com). Worship continues at both former parish buildings today, with bilingual Mass in English and Spanish, and the parish is part of the Southwest Detroit Family of Parishes within the Archdiocese of Detroit.
- Established
- 1955
- Patron
- St. Thomas Aquinas
- Rector
- Rev. Jaime Hinojos (as moderator/pastor of the merged San Juan Diego Parish)
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Detroit
Why belong here
St. Thomas Aquinas (now part of San Juan Diego Parish) is a vibrant bilingual community where families of three generations frequently sit together at Mass. The parish is known for its family-oriented Hispanic culture and strong family formation programs, including the ten-week 'Rebirth/Renacer' evangelistic and catechetical journey for the whole family. It offers Mass in both English and Spanish, daily Eucharistic Adoration with Exposition and Benediction, Anointing of the Sick on the first Thursday of each month, and a First Saturday devotion — all in a setting where Detroit, Dearborn and Dearborn Heights meet on the west side.
Mass times at St. Thomas Aquinas
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Thursdays / Los Jueves 6:00 p.m. at St. Thomas Aquinas
- And by appointment
Adoration times
- Saturday 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. — Exposition & Benediction / Exposición y bendición del Santísimo
History of St. Thomas Aquinas Parish
St. Thomas Aquinas Parish was established in 1955 on Detroit's west side, carved from the territory of SS. Peter and Paul Parish, which had itself been founded in 1923 to serve Polish immigrant workers at Ford's River Rouge plant. The new parish was built during the postwar Catholic population boom along the Detroit–Dearborn border, with its church at the northeast corner of Evergreen Road and Ford Road — a spot where Detroit, Dearborn and Dearborn Heights come together. The parish school operated for many years before eventually closing; the building is now occupied by a charter school.
- Founded 1955
- Carved from SS. Peter & Paul Parish (est. 1923)
- Parish school later closed; building now a charter school
- Merged with St. Christopher Parish in 2013 to form St. Christopher–St. Thomas Aquinas
- Renamed San Juan Diego Parish on November 16, 2018
- Transferred to Southwest Detroit Family of Parishes July 1, 2024
San Juan Diego Parish Today
Since 2018, the St. Thomas Aquinas community has continued as part of San Juan Diego Parish, operating bilingually in English and Spanish. The parish is led by a team of priests-in-solidum with Fr. Noel Emmanuel Cornelio as primarily responsible, and Deacon Kenneth Fry assisting. Fr. Jaime Hinojos, who guided the merged parish through its renaming, remains closely associated with it. As of July 2024, San Juan Diego belongs to the Southwest Detroit Family of Parishes alongside Holy Cross (Hungarian), Most Holy Trinity, Our Lady of Guadalupe, the Basilica of St. Anne, and St. Francis d'Assisi–St. Hedwig.
- Worship continues at both the St. Christopher and St. Thomas Aquinas church buildings
- Pastoral team of priests-in-solidum with deacon support
- Member parish of the Southwest Detroit Family of Parishes (since July 1, 2024)
- Bilingual English/Spanish community with a strong family-oriented Hispanic culture
Devotions and Special Sacramental Moments
Beyond the regular schedule, the parish gathers for two special monthly devotions that tie the community together across its two worship sites. Anointing of the Sick is offered the first Thursday of each month, and a First Saturday devotion is observed each month.
- Anointing of the Sick — first Thursday of each month (Unción de los enfermos el primer jueves del mes)
- First Saturday devotion — monthly, 8:30–9:00 a.m. (primer sábado de cada mes)
Faith Formation, Youth and Family Ministry
Faith formation at San Juan Diego Parish / St. Thomas Aquinas is built around the family. The parish is recognized across the Archdiocese for its family-oriented Hispanic culture, with whole families of three generations often sitting together at Mass, and religious education offered alongside activities for adults and parents. The signature program is 'Rebirth/Renacer,' a dynamic ten-week evangelistic and catechetical journey for the entire family, with a one-day retreat after the sixth week — held in both English and Spanish.
- Faith Formation (Formación de Fe) for children
- Youth Ministry (Ministerio Juvenil)
- Family Ministry for young families and parents
- Rebirth / Renacer — 10-week family catechetical journey with one-day retreat
- Adult faith formation activities
Music and Liturgy
Music ministry supports the parish's bilingual liturgy, accompanying Mass in both English and Spanish. The Archdiocese directory lists Mass and Reconciliation as the parish's primary liturgical and sacramental offerings.
- Music Coordinator on staff
- Bilingual liturgical celebrations (English/Spanish)
Visiting and Contact
The St. Thomas Aquinas church site sits at 5780 Evergreen Rd., Detroit, MI 48228, at the northeast corner of Evergreen and Ford Road. The parish office can be reached at (313) 271-3266 or by email at [email protected]. The parish's online home is familiamdei.com — also accessible via stjuandiegoparish.com — reflecting its bilingual 'Family of God' identity.
- Address: 5780 Evergreen Rd., Detroit, MI 48228-3996
- Phone: (313) 271-3266
- Email: [email protected]
- Websites: familiamdei.com, stjuandiegoparish.com, stthomasaquinasdetroit.org
- Parking available on site
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Jaime Hinojos2013–present
Pastor since the 2013 merger of St. Christopher and St. Thomas Aquinas; also Vicar of the Trinity Vicariate; active in Hispanic evangelization.