About St. Vincent de Paul (St. Damien of Molokai) · Pontiac, Michigan
St. Damien of Molokai Parish is a merged Catholic community in Pontiac, Michigan, in the Archdiocese of Detroit (South Oakland Vicariate), serving worshippers out of two historic church sites — St. Vincent de Paul on Woodward Avenue and St. Michael the Archangel on Lewis Street. It was formed in 2009 through the merger of three Pontiac parishes (St. Joseph, St. Michael the Archangel, and St. Vincent de Paul) under the patronage of St. Damien of Molokai, the Belgian-born missionary canonized that same year. The parish is bilingual (English and Spanish), with daily Mass at the restored Victorian Gothic St. Vincent church — the oldest Catholic church in the Pontiac Vicariate — and a perpetual adoration chapel at St. Michael.
- Established
- 2009 (as merged St. Damien of Molokai Parish; tracing its roots, St. Vincent de Paul Parish established in 1851)
- Patron
- St. Damien of Molokai (Saint Damien de Veuster)
- Rector
- Fr. Jacob VanAssche
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Detroit (South Oakland Vicariate, formerly Pontiac Vicariate)
Why belong here
St. Damien of Molokai offers something rare: a thriving Catholic community rooted in two of Pontiac's most historic churches, with daily Mass at St. Vincent de Paul and a 24/7 perpetual adoration chapel at St. Michael. It is a genuinely bilingual parish — Sunday Masses in both English and Spanish — that takes seriously the formation of children, teens, and adults through OCIA, sacramental prep, Bible studies, and youth ministry. Outreach and lay groups (Men of Faith, Women of Faith, Charismatic Prayer Group, FAMA) give parishioners a wide range of ways to belong, while ministries like Quinceañeras honor the rhythms of family life across cultures.
Mass times at St. Vincent de Paul (St. Damien of Molokai)
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Monday–Friday 11:15 AM–11:45 AM at St. Vincent
- Friday 5:30 PM–7:30 PM during Mercy Nights at St. Vincent
- Available in English and Spanish
Adoration times
- Perpetual Adoration Chapel — 24/7 exposition of the Blessed Sacrament at the St. Michael Church site
- Mercy Nights (Adoration and Confessions) — Friday 5:30 PM–7:30 PM at St. Vincent
About St. Damien of Molokai Parish
St. Damien of Molokai Parish is one Catholic community in Pontiac, Michigan served through two church sites — St. Vincent de Paul (the older, historic Gothic church on Woodward Avenue) and St. Michael the Archangel (the larger, mid-century church on Lewis Street) — together with the parish office at 46352 Woodward Ave. The parish was created in 2009 when the Archdiocese of Detroit merged St. Vincent de Paul, St. Michael the Archangel, and St. Joseph into one parish under the patronage of St. Damien of Molokai. According to the parish, it was 'the first parish in the Pontiac Vicariate … to be formed through a process of merger.' The St. Joseph worship site was closed in July 2013 and later passed to Terra Sancta Ministries (2015).
- Two active worship sites: St. Vincent de Paul (46408 Woodward Ave.) and St. Michael the Archangel (120 Lewis St.)
- Parish office at 46352 Woodward Ave., Pontiac, MI 48342
- One unified staff and pastor serving both church sites
- St. Joseph site closed July 2013; property acquired March 25, 2015 by Terra Sancta Ministries as St. Joseph's Chapel and Shrine of the Immaculate Heart of Mary
History of St. Vincent de Paul Parish (1851–2009)
The parish traces its oldest roots to St. Vincent de Paul Parish, established in 1851 by Bishop Peter Paul Lefevere and originally covering all of Oakland County plus parts of Genesee, Lapeer, and Macomb Counties. The first house of worship was the Academy Building; the congregation moved to Oakland Avenue at Lafayette in 1866. Pastor Rev. Fridolin Baumgartner (1876–1894) raised funds for a permanent church, hiring the Detroit firm of Donaldson & Meier to design a Gothic Revival landmark whose cornerstone was laid September 6, 1885 and which was dedicated September 18, 1887, with Bishop Casper Henry Borgess presiding. The school, staffed by the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, opened in 1897, was replaced in 1923, and closed in 1969.
- 1851 — St. Vincent de Paul Parish established by Bishop Peter Paul Lefevere
- 1876–1894 — Rev. Fridolin Baumgartner, pastor
- 1885 — Cornerstone laid September 6 (architects Donaldson & Meier)
- 1887 — Church dedicated September 18; ~5,000 attendees; 14-coach excursion train from Detroit
- 1890 — 6,600-pound H. Stuckstede bell installed
- 1895 — Rectory built; 1897 — St. Frederick School; 1911 — parish hall; 1923 — new school; 1926 — convent
- 1969 — Parish school closes
- 1987 — Designated a Michigan State Historic Site; 1989 — listed on the National Register of Historic Places
The 2009 Merger and the Choice of St. Damien of Molokai
The Archdiocese of Detroit merged St. Vincent de Paul, St. Michael the Archangel, and St. Joseph into one parish in 2009, choosing St. Damien of Molokai as patron. Father Damien (Saint Damien de Veuster, SS.CC.), the Belgian-born 'leper priest' who spent 16 years serving Hawaiians with Hansen's disease at the Kalaupapa colony on Molokai, had been beatified in 1995 and was canonized by Pope Benedict XVI on October 11, 2009 — the same year the merger took effect. He was the tenth person recognized by the Church as a saint from the United States. The merged parish adopted his name to reflect the new community's shared missionary identity.
- Three Pontiac parishes merged: St. Joseph, St. Michael the Archangel, St. Vincent de Paul
- Year of merger: 2009 — same year as St. Damien's canonization
- First merger-formed parish in the Pontiac Vicariate
Faith Formation for All Ages
St. Damien of Molokai's Faith Formation program is described by the parish as 'an ongoing journey that deepens year after year' and is open to children, teens, and adults. Formation for kids runs K–6 with first Communion preparation, while teens are served by the middle-school program and the Molokai Youth and Molokai Seek high-school groups; adult disciples can join Bible studies, OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults), and ongoing catechesis. The parish also runs a Vacation Bible School program each summer and a 'Molokai Tots' early-childhood ministry.
- Children's Formation (K–6) and First Communion prep
- Molokai Tots (early childhood)
- Youth Ministry: Molokai Youth (middle school) and Molokai Seek (high school)
- OCIA for adults
- Adult Bible Studies and ongoing catechesis
- Vacation Bible School (VBS) each summer
Parish Ministries, Prayer Groups, and Lay Life
Beyond Faith Formation, the parish supports a wide range of lay-led spiritual and cultural groups. Adult formation opportunities include Bible Studies and Prayer and Life Workshops. Family and devotional life is supported by separate Men of Faith and Women of Faith groups, the Our Lady of Guadalupe (OLG) Society, the Charismatic Prayer Group, and the FAMA Spanish-language community. The parish also celebrates and coordinates Quinceañeras.
- Bible Studies
- Prayer and Life Workshops
- Men of Faith and Women of Faith
- Charismatic Prayer Group
- OLG Society (Our Lady of Guadalupe)
- FAMA (Spanish-language group)
- Young Adults ministry
- Quinceañeras
Sacraments
The parish coordinates preparation and celebration of the seven sacraments. Baptisms, funerals, and OCIA are coordinated by Guadalupe Guzman (ext. 103); sacramental preparation for First Communion and Confirmation runs through the Faith Formation office under Director Maria del Carmen 'Carmen' Ochoa (ext. 104). Couples should contact the parish office for marriage preparation.
- Baptism — Guadalupe Guzman, ext. 103 ([email protected])
- Funerals — Guadalupe Guzman, ext. 103
- First Communion and Confirmation — Faith Formation, Carmen Ochoa, ext. 104
- OCIA — Guadalupe Guzman, ext. 103
- Marriage — contact the parish office
Parish Staff and Contacts
The parish operates with one unified staff serving both worship sites. Office hours are Monday through Thursday, 9:00 AM–12:00 PM and 1:30–4:30 PM. Karina Ramirez (ext. 101) handles Mass intentions, calendar events, and appointments.
- Pastor — Fr. Jacob VanAssche (248-332-0283)
- Associate Pastor — Fr. Nicholas Brown
- Permanent Deacon — Deacon Brian White
- Karina Ramirez — Office / Mass Intentions / Appointments, ext. 101 ([email protected])
- Guadalupe Guzman — Baptisms, Funerals, OCIA, ext. 103 ([email protected])
- Carmen Ochoa — Faith Formation Director, ext. 104 ([email protected])
- Lizbeth Trusty — Faith Formation Assistant, ext. 105 ([email protected])
- Miguel Leyva — Youth Minister, ext. 105 ([email protected])
- Plus Business Manager, Property Manager, and Pastoral Minister
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Bishop Peter Paul Lefevere1851
Established St. Vincent de Paul Parish covering all of Oakland County and parts of Genesee, Lapeer, and Macomb Counties.
- Rev. Fridolin Baumgartner1876–1894
Organized fund-raising for the present Gothic Revival church; cornerstone laid 1885; church dedicated 1887.
- Fr. James Kean2009–
First pastor of the merged St. Damien of Molokai Parish from the 2009 merger (per Detroit Church Blog).