Four Parishes to Mark New Beginnings with Masses of Unity

The weekend of June 30-July 1, four Catholic communities will celebrate new beginnings to the lives of their parishes as they formally mark mergers with Masses of Unity. Four other parishes will formally merge, with Masses of Unity to be scheduled at a later date. Additionally, as previously announced, St. Donald Parish in Roseville will celebrate its final Mass on July 1.

A Mass of Unity includes special elements, such as the renaming of the parish, a blessing for the new parish community and rites to combine sacred items and sacramental records from the former parishes. Here is a listing of the Masses of Unity to take place at the end of the month:

• St. Clement Parish in Center Line and St. Teresa of Avila Parish in Warren, will celebrate their Unity Mass at 4 p.m. Saturday, June 30, at the St. Clement site, 25330 Van Dyke in Centerline. Detroit Auxiliary Bishop Michael Byrnes will preside. A reception will follow at the St. Teresa of Avila site, 12255 Frazho Road, Warren. The parish will be renamed St. Mary, Our Lady Queen of Families Parish and will use both campuses. Fr. Robert Bauer will be its pastor.

• St. Genevieve and St. Maurice parishes, both in Livonia, will celebrate their Unity Mass at 11 a.m., Sunday, July 1 at the St. Genevieve site, 29015 Jamison. Detroit Auxiliary Bishop Francis Reiss will preside. The new, combined parish will be named St. Genevieve-St. Maurice Parish. The community will use the St. Genevieve campus. The pastor will continue to be Fr. Howard Vogan. Final Masses for the individual parishes of St. Genevieve and St. Maurice will both take place Saturday, June 30: 4 p.m. at St. Genevieve and 6 p.m. at St. Maurice.

Here is a listing of the additional mergers formally taking effect June 30:

• Our Lady of Lourdes Parish in River Rouge and St. Francis Xavier Parish in Ecorse: The combined parish will take the name St. André Bessette Parish, and will use the site of the current St. Francis Xavier Parish, 4250 Jefferson Ave. Fr. Cornelius Okeke will be the administrator upon the merger. A Mass of Unity is being planned for the fall.

• St. Joseph and St. Elizabeth parishes, both in Wyandotte: The combined parish will assume the name St. Joseph Parish. A final liturgy for St. Elizabeth Parish will take place at the St. Elizabeth site at 4 p.m. on Saturday, June 30. Fr. Michael Cremin, SAC, will continue to be the pastor.

The closing Mass for St. Donald Parish in Roseville will take place at 11:30 a.m. on Sunday, July 1. St. Donald is located at 16330 Twelve Mile Road in Roseville.