About St. Veronica · Eastpointe, Michigan
St. Veronica Parish is a Roman Catholic parish in Eastpointe, Michigan (within the Archdiocese of Detroit), founded in 1926 as a mission serving the village of Halfway. Now nearing its 100th anniversary in 2026, the parish at 21440 Universal Avenue offers weekend and daily Masses, the seven sacraments, religious education, a Knights of Columbus council, youth ministry, and outreach rooted in a century of Catholic tradition in the northeast Detroit suburbs. The current church edifice was constructed in 1956 and houses a 2012-dedicated altar containing the relics of seven saints and a piece of the True Cross.
- Established
- 1926
- Patron
- Saint Veronica
- Rector
- Rev. K. A. Samy
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Detroit (Northeast Region, SERF Vicariate; Family of Parishes: Northeast SERF 2)
Why belong here
St. Veronica is a warm, century-old Catholic community on Universal Avenue in Eastpointe that combines traditional liturgy with active ministry life. Parishioners of every age can find a home here — from weekday Mass in the Convent Chapel, to faith formation for children, a youth ministry, a Knights of Columbus council (Leo XIII), Lectors and Eucharistic Ministers, and sacramental preparation for weddings, funerals, baptisms, and First Communion. The parish also regularly opens its doors for Eucharistic Adoration, parish events, and a centennial celebration in October 2026 that marks 100 years of faith in the northeast Detroit suburbs.
Mass times at St. Veronica
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturdays — 3:00pm
Adoration times
- Eucharistic Adoration is held periodically as scheduled parish events (e.g., a 7:00am–7:00pm day of Adoration was held May 13, 2024).
Welcome to St. Veronica Parish
St. Veronica Parish is a Roman Catholic community of nearly 100 years rooted in Eastpointe, Michigan, in the Archdiocese of Detroit. The parish describes itself as 'dedicated to serving the community with unwavering faith and love' and invites newcomers to register, attend Mass, and become part of a faith community that 'continues to evolve' alongside its members. Visitors are welcomed through the parish office at 21440 Universal Avenue, open Monday–Friday 9:00am–2:00pm.
Our 100-Year History
St. Veronica traces its origin to 1926, when farmers and shopkeepers in the village of 'Halfway' — halfway between downtown Detroit and Mt. Clemens — petitioned Bishop Michael Gallagher for their own parish. With the support of 350 family signatures, Father A. William Soest was sent to found the mission; the first Mass was celebrated in October 1926 in a rented storefront on Gratiot Avenue near Glander. The parish grew rapidly: a school opened in 1949, Rosary Hall was built in 1953, and the current church edifice was constructed in 1956. A 60th-anniversary booklet chronicles how 'a small storefront church evolved into a great church edifice,' and the parish now stands ready to celebrate its Centennial in 2026.
- 1926 — First Mass celebrated in October on the feast of Christ the King (parish records also note Oct. 31, 1926).
- Nov. 14, 1926 — First baptism: Evelyn Saurbeck.
- Dec. 8, 1926 — First funeral Mass: Jerome Somes, by Rev. Soest.
- April 9, 1926 — First wedding: Lawrence Erban and Helen (Tanner) Erban, by Rev. A. W. Soest.
- June 12, 1927 — First First Communion class, with Rev. Soest officiating.
- 1949 — St. Veronica School opens.
- 1953 — Rosary Hall built.
- 1956 — Current church edifice constructed.
- 1958 — Altar installed; 1973 — Altar renovations.
- 1991 — Parish school closes.
- 2013 — St. Peter the Apostle (Harper Woods) merges into St. Veronica.
- August 19, 2012 — New Altar of Sacrifice with saints' relics dedicated.
- 2024 — Chapel tabernacle, chapel, altar, and crucifix renewed.
- October 17, 2026 — Centennial Dinner Dance at The Palazzo Grande.
Parish Patron: Saint Veronica
Saint Veronica is the traditional woman of the Sixth Station of the Cross who, moved by pity, wiped the face of Jesus on the way to Calvary and received back her veil imprinted with His image — the 'Veil of Veronica' or 'true icon' (vera + eikon). Her feast is July 12. A statue of St. Veronica stands in the south transept of the church, and a painting of her adorns the apse. The Eastpointe parish, founded in 1926, was named in her honor by its founding pastor.
Clergy & Parish Staff
The parish is currently served by Rev. K. A. Samy as Pastor and Rev. Stanley Pachla as Priest in Residence. A team of lay staff supports parish operations, faith formation, youth ministry, communications, and the Knights of Columbus council.
- Rev. K. A. Samy — Pastor — (586) 777-0331
- Rev. Stanley Pachla — In Residence
- Chloe Haikio — Parish Secretary — (586) 777-0331
- Carolyn Mikula — Co-Director of Religious Education — (586) 777-5610
- Amanda Ross — Co-Director of Religious Education — (586) 773-5434
- Michael Amigliore — Youth Minister — (586) 242-4493
- Sofia Kirkman — Marketing and Social Media Manager — (313) 333-2886 — [email protected]
- Jan Krakowiak — Grand Knight, Knights of Columbus Leo XIII
Parish Ministries & Organizations
St. Veronica invites parishioners to grow in faith and serve through its ministries and parish organizations, which span liturgical service, faith formation, youth ministry, and fraternal Catholic life.
- Lectors — proclaim the Word at Mass.
- Eucharistic Ministers — distribute Holy Communion.
- Faith Formation / Religious Education — for children; Co-Directed by Carolyn Mikula and Amanda Ross.
- Youth Ministry — led by Michael Amigliore.
- Knights of Columbus — Leo XIII Council (Grand Knight: Jan Krakowiak).
Sacraments at St. Veronica
The parish celebrates the seven sacraments, including Baptism, First Communion, Confirmation, Marriage, Anointing of the Sick, and Holy Orders. Wedding inquiries and funeral arrangements can be made through the parish office. The parish's sacramental life is bookended by its earliest recorded milestones — the 1926 baptism of Evelyn Saurbeck, the 1926 wedding of Lawrence and Helen Erban, and the 1927 First Communion class — and continues today through ongoing faith formation and sacramental preparation.
- Baptism — preparation and celebration.
- First Communion — Faith Formation classes available.
- Confirmation — preparation for teens.
- Marriage / Weddings — inquiry through the parish office.
- Funerals — traditional Catholic funeral services.
- Anointing of the Sick.
- Holy Orders / Vocations discernment.
The Altar of Sacrifice & Relics (2012)
On August 19, 2012, the parish dedicated a new Altar of Sacrifice containing relics of seven saints and one Blessed, plus a piece of the Wood of the Most Holy Cross of Our Lord Jesus Christ. The altar's relics connect St. Veronica's local worship to the wider communion of Catholic saints across continents and centuries.
- St. Francis Xavier
- St. Paul of the Cross
- St. Catherine of Siena
- St. Elizabeth of Hungary
- St. Pius X
- St. Catherine Laboure
- Blessed Mary Angela Truszkowski
- Wood of the Most Holy Cross of Our Lord Jesus Christ
Centennial Celebration (2026)
St. Veronica Parish will mark its 100th anniversary in 2026 with parish-wide festivities culminating in a Centennial Dinner Dance on October 17, 2026 at The Palazzo Grande — featuring dinner, dancing, and live music. The parish encourages families, former parishioners, and friends to join in celebrating a century of Catholic faith in Eastpointe.
- Saturday, October 17, 2026 — Centennial Dinner Dance at The Palazzo Grande.
- Dinner, dancing, and live music.
- Opportunities to support the centennial celebration through donations and the New Parishioner Registry.
Visit & Contact
Parishioners and visitors are invited to attend Mass, register as parishioners, or contact the parish office during business hours. The parish also maintains a separate historic URL (stveronica.weconnect.com) that hosts the parish history booklet and altar-relics page.
- Address — 21440 Universal Ave., Eastpointe, MI 48021
- Phone — (586) 777-0331
- Email — [email protected]
- Office Hours — Monday–Friday, 9:00am–2:00pm
- Website — https://www.stveronicaeastpointe.org/
- Marketing — [email protected]
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. A. William (A. W.) Soest1926–
Founding pastor; celebrated the parish's first Mass in October 1926, officiated at the first marriage (April 9, 1926, Lawrence Erban and Helen Tanner/Erban), the first First Communion (June 12, 1927), and the first funeral (Jerome Somes, Dec. 8, 1926). Named the parish after Saint Veronica.
- Rev. Stanley Pachlalate 1990s–present
Long-serving pastor (now In Residence); oversaw the 2012 dedication of the new Altar of Sacrifice with saints' relics.