INTRODUCING “The Rouge Family of Parishes” including:
St. Alphonsus – St. Clement Parish, Dearborn
St. Barbara Parish, Dearborn
St. Kateri Tekakwitha Parish, Dearborn
St. Maria Goretti Parish, Dearborn Heights
The Rouge Family of Parishes Directors:
Larry Winey, Director of Discipleship Formation
Dcn. Regis Buckley, Director of Engagement
Therese Terns, Director of Evangelical Charity
Dcn. Thomas Leonard, Director of Family Ministries
Kevin Jakubowicz, Director of Worship
Rob Ciavaglia, Director of Mission Support
You may have been hearing about the new Families of Parishes restructuring for the Archdiocese of Detroit. Families of parishes are groups of parishes, generally three to six, sharing resources to advance the mission, including having multiple priests and deacons serving the family of parishes.
Let’s begin with a proper introduction to our new family. We are excited to share that beginning on July 1, 2022, St. Alphonsus-St. Clement, St. Barbara, St. Kateri Tekakwitha, and St. Maria Goretti will become a “Family of Parishes”, — working together and sharing resources and talents to further advance our shared mission.
How can the lay faithful support clergy during this transition that will take place over the coming years? Through Prayer, Encouragement, being engaged in your Parish- ask “How can I help?”, and ask God to open your heart to missionary conversion.
In the upcoming months, we will continue to publish bulletin articles, introducing everyone to what this new family structure means (One topic at a time), sharing the progress, and other details as we move forward together.
We encourage you to visit www.familiesofparishes.org for a list of Frequently Asked Questions.
Family of Parishes – Our Team of Priests – In Solidum
So, what does “In Solidum” mean?
In the In Solidum model, a group of priests share responsibility for a Family of Parishes, with help from deacons. One priest among the group will serve as a “moderator” for the family. Although priests may primarily minister at one or two parishes, they will share responsibility for every parish in the family. The moderator acts as a sort of “first among equals” who is tasked with coordinating collaboration, resolving differences, and speaking on behalf of the family.
So, let’s give a brief introduction to our team of Priests.
Fr. Gregory Deters – Currently serves at St. Alphonsus-St. Clement as Associate Pastor.
Fr. Zbigniew Grankowski – Currently serves as Pastor at St. Barbara.
Fr. Terrence Kerner – Currently serves as Pastor at St. Kateri Tekakwitha & Temporary Administrator at St. Alphonsus-St. Clement. Fr. Kerner has also accepted the role of Moderator of the family.
Fr. David Lesniak – Currently serves as Pastor at St. Maria Goretti.
The Commissioning Mass for our Family of Parishes took place on Sunday, Nov. 27 at 3:00 pm at St. Kateri. Bishop Battersby celebrated Mass and our Parish priests, Fr. Terry Kerner, Fr. David Lesniak, Fr. Gregory Deters and Fr. Zbigniew Grankowski were commissioned as our team of priests “In Solidum”. The new name was announced for our family: The Rouge Family of Parishes. Click on the photo below for more pictures of the mass. To view the video of the Commissioning Mass, click HERE.
Led by the Spirit on Mission A Pastoral Note from Archbishop Allen H. Vigneron on Families of Parishes (November 22, 2020)
Archbishop Vigneron Letter regarding Families of Parishes
Article on Detroit Catholic website
Sent on Mission is the next phase of our movement to Unleash the Gospel throughout southeast Michigan and beyond. It is the continuation of the work of the Holy Spirit to move us from maintenance to mission. It is our effort to realize the fruit of Synod 16 where the Holy Spirit spoke through the faithful in the Archdiocese of Detroit. Over the next two years, all parishes of the Archdiocese of Detroit will join other parishes in new groupings called “families of parishes.” Families of parishes are groups of parishes, generally three to six, sharing resources to advance the mission, including having multiple priests and deacons serving the family of parishes. This new model will allow the priests, deacons, and lay staff associated with each parish to better share their gifts and talents with the whole family of parishes. This is a significant change of the way our parishes are currently structured, but a necessary step in our missionary transformation. Just like the early Church and the missionary activity of the early apostles, the transition to this new structure will require docility to the Holy Spirit, a spirit of collaboration and innovation, and confidence in God who continues to lead us in our mission to unleash the Gospel in southeast Michigan.