About St. Thomas Aquinas · Saginaw, Michigan
St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church is a parish of the Diocese of Saginaw located at 5376 State Street in Saginaw Township, Michigan. Canonically erected on March 3, 1953 by Bishop Stephen Woznicki, the parish was founded in partnership with the Franciscan Fathers of the Assumption B.V.M. Province of Pulaski, Wisconsin, and began life with just 71 families gathering in the Saginaw Township Hall. Today the parish is served by Fr. Steven M. Gavit and Deacon Gary Patelski, offering weekend and daily Mass, regular confession, weekday adoration, and a faith-formation program for parishioners of all ages.
- Established
- 1953
- Patron
- St. Thomas Aquinas
- Rector
- Rev. Steven M. Gavit
- Diocese
- Diocese of Saginaw
Why belong here
St. Thomas Aquinas offers the rhythm of a classic Catholic parish — Saturday Vigil and three Sunday Masses (with a summer schedule), daily morning Mass on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and the first Friday, and a regular Saturday-morning confession schedule. The parish welcomes visitors for weekday adoration in the church, which is open for private prayer Monday through Thursday, and it maintains an active faith-formation program for children and families directed by its pastoral associate. With a pastor and deacon who are listed by name on the parish site, an online bulletin, online giving, and a parish app, the parish makes it easy for newcomers to plug in and stay connected.
Mass times at St. Thomas Aquinas
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 9:00 AM (2nd & 4th Saturdays)
- Other times by appointment — call the parish office
Adoration times
- Monday–Friday 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM (adoration, not exposition of the Blessed Sacrament)
Parish History
St. Thomas Aquinas Parish in Saginaw Township was canonically erected on March 3, 1953 by Bishop Stephen Woznicki and entrusted to the Franciscan Fathers of the Assumption B.V.M. Province. From a first Mass in the Saginaw Township Hall in September 1953 with 71 families, the parish grew steadily — building a 10-room school-and-temporary-church in 1955–1956, completing a second phase (gym, library, offices) in 1960, and constructing the present 1,000-seat church in 1973–1974. The parish came under diocesan care in 2008 when the Franciscans could no longer staff it.
- Erected March 3, 1953 by Bishop Stephen Woznicki
- First Mass: September 6, 1953, Saginaw Township Hall
- First census: 71 families
- First administrator: Fr. Angelus Stunek, OFM (1953)
- Current church cornerstone set October 4, 1974; dedicated December 8, 1974 by Bishop Francis Reh
- Returned to diocesan care in 2008; first diocesan pastor Fr. Randy Kelly
- 2010 church interior renovation
- Fall 2013 new east parking lot on State Street
The Church Building
The present church was designed by architect Robert Thiel of Schmidt-Thiel and Company of Milwaukee, with interior liturgical design by Stanley Estkowski. Built 1973–1974 to seat about 1,000 people, it reflects the Second Vatican Council's emphasis on active lay participation in the liturgy. Construction contracts were signed with Engelhardt Construction Company, Remer Plumbing and Heating, and Atherton Electric Company, bringing the total project cost to roughly $700,000. An extensive renovation in 2010 updated the interior to align with current liturgical norms.
- Architect: Robert Thiel, Schmidt-Thiel and Company (Milwaukee)
- Interior liturgical design: Stanley Estkowski (Milwaukee)
- Contractors: Engelhardt Construction, Remer Plumbing and Heating, Atherton Electric
- Cornerstone set October 4, 1974 (feast of St. Francis of Assisi)
- Dedicated December 8, 1974 by Bishop Francis Reh
- Interior renovation completed 2010
School and Faith Formation
St. Thomas Aquinas School opened in the fall of 1956 with 112 children, staffed by the Bernadine Sisters of Reading, Pennsylvania. The original wing was soon expanded with a second phase (gymnasium, library, school offices, faculty lounge, and basement hall) dedicated on October 16, 1960; the east wing was later added as a faith-formation area housing junior-high grades, and a 2000 expansion added space for Kindergarten and lower grades. After the 2006 creation of Saginaw Area Catholic Schools, St. Thomas Aquinas School merged with St. Stephen in fall 2014 to become Nouvel Catholic Central Elementary School, which continues to use the St. Thomas Aquinas school building. Parish faith formation today is directed by Pastoral Associate Deborah Kraklow.
- St. Thomas Aquinas School opened 1956 (112 students; Bernadine Sisters of Reading, PA)
- Second phase (gym/overflow church, library, offices) dedicated October 16, 1960
- First 8th-grade class graduated June 11, 1961
- East wing added as Faith Formation area (junior high)
- Kindergarten / lower-grade expansion completed 2000
- Saginaw Area Catholic Schools formed 2006
- Fall 2014: merged with St. Stephen to form Nouvel Catholic Central Elementary School (in the STA building)
- Current Faith Formation & Discipleship Director: Deborah Kraklow
Franciscan Heritage
St. Thomas Aquinas was the fruit of a long relationship between the Diocese of Saginaw and the Franciscan Fathers of the Assumption B.V.M. Province of Pulaski, Wisconsin, which Bishop William Murphy invited to Saginaw in 1940. The Franciscans ran the parish from its founding in 1953 until 2008, when declining vocations led them to return the parish to the diocese.
- 1940: Bishop William Murphy invites Franciscans (Assumption B.V.M. Province, Pulaski, WI) to Saginaw
- Franciscans established St. Leonard Friary (former Joseph Fordney home, 1400 block of Gratiot Avenue)
- 1953 land swap: Franciscans received 1.5-acre Berberovich subdivision plot on State Street in exchange for their friary
- Pastors Fr. Angelus Stunek, OFM and Fr. Chester Osowski, OFM led the early parish
- 2008: Franciscans returned the parish to diocesan care
Parish Staff & Leadership
The parish is led by its pastor with the help of a deacon, a pastoral associate who also directs faith formation, and office and maintenance staff. The pastor also serves the diocese as Vicar of Vicariate 3.
- Rev. Steven M. Gavit — Pastor (also Vicar of Vicariate 3)
- Deacon Gary Patelski — Deacon
- Deborah Kraklow — Pastoral Associate / Director of Faith Formation & Discipleship
- Pat Messing — Bookkeeper
- Dawn Drago — Secretary
- Dennis Burns — Maintenance
- Parish Office Hours: Monday–Thursday, 8:00 AM–4:00 PM
Diocese of Saginaw — Vicariate 3
St. Thomas Aquinas is one of more than a dozen parishes in Vicariate 3 of the Diocese of Saginaw, which also includes Holy Spirit (Shields), St. Agnes (Freeland), St. John Vianney, St. John Paul II, Christ the Good Shepherd, St. Dominic, St. Francis of Assisi, St. Francis de Sales (Bridgeport), St. Joseph, Holy Family, the Cathedral of Mary of the Assumption (Saginaw), and St. John XXIII (Hemlock).
- Diocese: Diocese of Saginaw
- Vicariate: 3 (Vicar: Rev. Steven M. Gavit)
- Vicariate Liaison: Taylor Piotrzkowski
Visiting, Giving & Staying Connected
Visitors and parishioners can find the latest bulletin online, register for ACH/online giving, and download the parish's 'App for Catholic Life.' The church is open for private prayer Monday through Thursday, and the parish office is open Monday through Thursday, 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM.
- Online bulletin available on the parish website
- Online Giving / ACH registration offered
- Parish app available ('The App for Catholic Life')
- Parish office: 5376 State St., Saginaw, MI 48603
- Phone: (989) 799-2460
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Angelus Stunek, OFM1953–1954
First administrator of the parish; celebrated the first Mass on September 6, 1953. Replaced due to ill health.
- Fr. Chester Osowski, OFM1954–
Succeeded Fr. Angelus; led the parish during construction of the 10-room school/temporary-church building (ground broken 1955; opened 1956).
- Fr. Randy Kelly2008–
First diocesan priest assigned as pastor after the Franciscan Fathers returned the parish to the diocese in 2008.
- Rev. Steven M. Gavitpresent
Current pastor; also serves as Vicar of Vicariate 3 for the Diocese of Saginaw.