Holy Redeemer Church sits on East Bristol Road in Burton, just outside Flint, and has become a hub for Catholic life in Genesee County. The parish is large enough to run a perpetual adoration chapel, a multi-tiered religious education program, and a food pantry, and small enough that the deacon who runs adult faith formation knows the people sitting in the pews. The parish is part of the Diocese of Lansing and takes seriously the diocesan call to make Sunday matter in everyday life. Its reputation rests on a few distinctive offerings: a Sunday Mass interpreted in American Sign Language, a 24-hour adoration chapel that has been running since 1993, a free children's ministry called SEEKERS, and a perpetual food pantry that opens three times a week.
A Sunday at Holy Redeemer
Holy Redeemer runs Mass every day of the week except Monday. The weekend begins on Saturday with a 10:00 a.m. daily Mass and the Vigil Mass at 4:00 p.m. Sunday brings three Masses: 9:00 a.m., 11:00 a.m., and 5:00 p.m. The 11:00 a.m. Mass is interpreted in American Sign Language, making it a destination for Deaf Catholics and their families from across the region. The 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. Sunday Masses are spoken English only.
Confessions are heard on Saturdays from 11:00 a.m. to noon and on Tuesdays from 5:15 p.m. to 6:15 p.m., just before the 6:30 p.m. weekday Mass. A priest is also available for First Friday confessions at 6:00 p.m. and by appointment through the parish office. The Adoration Chapel in the northeast corner of the church is open during office hours and accessible by key fob around the clock.
The parish envisions itself as a community where Sunday is the anchor of the week. The parish's music, homilies, and hospitality are intentionally designed to help worshippers encounter Christ in the Eucharist and carry that grace into the rest of the week. Children in grades K through 8 attend SEEKERS, religious education classes on Sunday evenings, and youth in high school gather as the New Apostles throughout the week.
The Perpetual Adoration Chapel
Holy Redeemer is one of a handful of parishes in Genesee County that maintains a Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration Chapel. Established in 1993, the chapel sits in the northeast corner of the church and exposes the Blessed Sacrament in the monstrance for prayer around the clock. Committed adorers sign up for the same hour each week, and the parish aims to keep at least one or two people in the chapel at all times so that Christ is never alone.
Adorers do not have to be Holy Redeemer parishioners. The key fob system lets registered adorers enter the chapel 24 hours a day, and the parish keeps a substitute list for anyone who cannot commit to a regular hour. There is a $5 fee for the key fob. On the first Friday of every month, the parish gathers in the church at 6:30 p.m. for the First Fridays Encounter, a longer period of communal adoration and worship.
On Fridays at 3:00 p.m., the parish prays the Divine Mercy Chaplet and a devotion to the Precious Blood of Jesus. The parish also walks through eleven saint shrines located around the church, each tied to a monthly devotion. Visitors can find guides to praying the Rosary, the Divine Mercy Novena, and a novena to the Holy Spirit in the church's online library.
Sacraments
Holy Redeemer celebrates all seven Catholic sacraments. Parents preparing for the baptism of an infant begin by meeting with the pastor, attending a baptism preparation class held on the third Thursday of every month, and choosing godparents, of whom at least one must be a practicing, confirmed Catholic over the age of 16. The parish keeps a list of recommended sponsors for those who do not have one. Adults seeking baptism move into the OCIA process described below.
Reconciliation is offered weekly as listed above, and the parish provides a printable guide to the sacrament for those who want to prepare their examination of conscience before arriving. Anointing of the Sick is arranged through the parish office and is celebrated not only at the end of life but also at moments of serious illness, surgery, or extended frailty.
First Communion and First Reconciliation at Holy Redeemer are open to children as early as first grade, provided the child can attend Mass consistently and complete a discernment process using worksheets distributed in SEEKERS. Parents are asked to write a brief letter to the pastor formally requesting the sacrament. Confirmation preparation begins in eighth grade and continues into high school through the New Apostles youth group. Confirmation candidates, ideally with sponsors, attend monthly check-in sessions and serve in a parish ministry once a month during their preparation year. Adults who have been baptized and received First Eucharist use a separate adult confirmation form; adults who have not yet been baptized enter through OCIA.
Couples preparing for marriage must have at least one Catholic party. Saturday weddings are the norm. A full Mass begins at 1:00 p.m. and a ceremony without Mass at 1:00 p.m. or 1:30 p.m. Current baptismal certificates no older than six months and a Michigan marriage license obtained within ten to thirty days of the wedding are required, and the marriage preparation process typically takes about a year. The parish recommends the Diocese of Lansing's natural family planning classes and Catholic Charities' "A Lasting Promise" program for engaged couples. The parish's liturgical music for weddings includes instrumental Canon in D and Joyful Joyful for the bridal procession.
Becoming Catholic: OCIA
Holy Redeemer's process for adults seeking full initiation into the Catholic Church is called OCIA, the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults, formerly known as RCIA. Deacon Bill Turner directs the program and meets individually with inquirers before the formal sessions begin in September.
Classes meet on Sunday afternoons from 12:15 p.m. and run from mid-September through the Easter Vigil in late March. The schedule follows the liturgical year and the United States Catholic Catechism for Adults, with topics including the Our Father, the Mass, the Creed, the sacraments, the Ten Commandments, and Mary. By February, the catechumens and candidates are sent to the bishop for the Rite of Election and then walk through the scrutinies of Lent. The journey concludes at the Easter Vigil, when those who are ready are baptized, confirmed, and receive First Communion. The parish notes that attendees are not committing to join the Church simply by showing up to the first class; some come for years before they decide.
Anyone who has been baptized in another Christian community is recognized as already baptized and enters the catechumenate at a later stage. The parish's FAQ addresses the practical questions that often come up: divorced and remarried individuals can attend classes while an annulment petition is pending, but reception into the Church must wait until the process is complete; sponsors must be confirmed Catholics over the age of 16 in good standing with the Church and attend sessions alongside their candidates. After Easter, OCIA continues for several more sessions to walk new Catholics into parish life.
SEEKERS: Children's Ministry
SEEKERS is Holy Redeemer's homegrown religious education program for children in kindergarten through eighth grade. It runs on Sunday evenings from 3:30 p.m. to 4:45 p.m. in the Holy Redeemer Ministry Center across the parking lot from the church, from late September through early May. The program is free, open to non-parishioners, and supported by parishioner tithing and planned giving.
Each gathering opens with a large group game, moves into praise and worship, a short teaching, and small group discussions. Groups are intentionally small, six to eight children with an adult small group leader. The youngest children, preschool and kindergarten, meet in the Atrium and focus on Bible stories, coloring, crafts, and prayer. First through fourth graders form the SEEKERS Adventure group, and fifth through eighth graders are SEEKERS Discovery. Children transition into the New Apostles youth group halfway through eighth grade, with a special welcome party in early January.
During the 11:00 a.m. Sunday Mass, the Kingdom Kids program dismisses children ages four to eight after the opening procession for their own Liturgy of the Word. They return to their parents during the offertory. SEEKERS also runs an annual Discovery Retreat for middle schoolers. The most recent retreat, "29:11: Full of Hope," was held in November during the Jubilee Year of Hope and included music, talks, testimonies, small group discussions, and an overnight stay ending Sunday at noon. Retreats are facilitated by adult staff and high school youth volunteers, and free for Holy Redeemer parishioners.
The Stewardship Committee offers Mass Buddy, a weekly Gospel coloring page for children available at the back of the church. Coloring pencils are provided during Mass, and each sheet has family activities on the back to extend the Gospel reading into the home during the week.
Vacation Bible School
Holy Redeemer's Vacation Bible School runs in two phases each summer. Captains Week prepares incoming sixth through eighth graders to lead the younger children and runs Monday through Thursday from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. with an overnight retreat at the end. The Main Week, open to children in kindergarten through fifth grade, follows the same daily pattern from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. and ends with a pizza and popcorn celebration on Thursday.
VBS is free and open to all children in the area, whether or not their families are parishioners. The 2026 program is "Detective Academy 3: Eucharistic Miracles," in which junior detectives travel through real Eucharistic miracle sites in Emmaus, Lanciano, Chirattakonam, and Sokolka. Children who register by early June receive a free VBS t-shirt. Raffy Urgino, the parish Director of Religious Education and Evangelization, directs the program with support from middle school captains, high school volunteers, and adult volunteers.
New Apostles Youth Ministry
Holy Redeemer's high school youth ministry is called New Apostles. The group meets weekly and is led by John Mira, the parish Youth Coordinator and Music director. The program aims to equip teens to know, love, and follow Jesus Christ and to share the Gospel in word and deed. Recent trips and events on the group's calendar include Redeemer Sport, the diocesan March for Life, and a service mission to Wixom.
Confirmation for high school students runs through New Apostles. Candidates work with sponsors, attend monthly check-in sessions, and serve in a parish ministry about once a month during their preparation. Sign-ups for confirmation preparation are open through the parish office and the youth ministry page.
Adult Formation and Small Groups
Holy Redeemer describes adult formation as a lifelong faith journey rather than a classroom subject. The parish offers a long list of small groups that meet in homes and on the parish campus, ranging from book studies and Bible studies to prayer and reflection groups. Each group follows a simple set of shared commitments: non-judgmental, non-political, non-gossiping, confidential, and open to everyone. Groups meet weekly, every other week, or monthly, with each session running from one to three hours.
The parish maintains a lending library of DVDs and books for small groups, including Symbolon, The Catholicism Series, Altaration, A Biblical Walk Through the Mass, Unlocking the Mystery of the Bible, Acts, Revelation, Consoling the Heart of Jesus, the Catholic Divorce Survival Guide, and the Great Adventure Timeline. The parish also subscribes to FORMED, an online platform with videos, books, and Bible studies, and uses the United States Catholic Catechism for Adults as the OCIA textbook.
Deacon Bill Turner writes the Catholic Q&A column, "Why Do We Do That?," which answers questions like why Catholics genuflect, how to enter a church, what ordinary time means, and what forgiveness looks like in Catholic teaching. The column is published in the bulletin and online.
Heart to Heart: Women's Ministry
Heart to Heart is Holy Redeemer's women's ministry. It meets in the Ministry Center, last room on the left, and welcomes women eighteen and older. The group's mission is to provide a safe and inviting space where women can grow in their knowledge and love of the Lord through scripture studies and to be open to anyone who wants to join at any point in the series. The current study is "Spiritual Warfare and the Discernment of Spirits" by Dan Burke, with meetings every other Tuesday from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. in rooms 8 and 9 of the Ministry Center.
Upcoming studies include Walking with Purpose: Passionate Discipleship. The parish provides a contact for registration so that enough materials and books can be ordered in advance.
Men's Bible Study
Deacon Bill Turner leads a weekly Men's Bible Study for men from high school age and up. The group meets in the Ministry Center at 6:00 p.m. for a discussion-driven walk through Scripture. The current study is the Gospel of Matthew, supported by handouts the parish provides and a personal Bible for each participant. Surprise speakers, including priests from neighboring parishes, join the group throughout the year.
Outreach and the Food Pantry
Holy Redeemer's Outreach Program provides groceries, personal care items, and occasional rent or utility assistance to families in need. The parish works with area churches and local food pantries to coordinate support. The pantry is staffed by volunteers and is always in need of non-perishable food and small size personal care items.
The food pantry is open Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. and Thursdays from 10:00 a.m. to noon and 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Donations and questions go through the Outreach line at 810-743-8530 or holyredeemeroutreach@yahoo.com.
On Thursdays, the parish hosts a free Community Lunch in the Family Life Center. The lunch is open to anyone in the wider community, whether homeless, hungry, or simply looking for company, and is cooked and served by volunteers with a different menu each week.
Knights of Columbus Council 10170
Holy Redeemer hosts Council 10170 of the Knights of Columbus, the Catholic fraternal service organization founded in 1882 by Venerable Father Michael J. McGivney. The local council joins the order's four pillars of charity, unity, fraternity, and patriotism through parish work, food drives, and support for local families. The Knights are an active presence in the parish and gather men from Holy Redeemer and the surrounding community.
Council of Catholic Women
The Holy Redeemer Council of Catholic Women (CCW) meets on the first Wednesday after the first Sunday of every month from September through May, beginning with a 6:00 p.m. potluck in the Family Life Center. The CCW cares for the material needs of the altar: communion wine, hosts, linens, vestments for priests and altar servers, palms, ashes, and other supplies. The council also sponsors two scholarship programs, one for a graduating high school senior and another for women pursuing further education, and supports Holy Redeemer Outreach, Heartbeat of Flint, Right to Life, and other parish and community causes.
Annual fundraisers include a fall bake sale, a scrapbook weekend in November, a Christmas cookie walk, and a February bake sale. The CCW also sponsors a mini-Lenten retreat. The national Council of Catholic Women affiliates the local group, and the parish keeps by-laws, board minutes, and a year-round newsletter archive online.
Funeral Planning
Holy Redeemer walks families through the funeral rite from the first call to the final reception. The parish prefers to celebrate funerals in the church as the best way to pray for the deceased and to celebrate their life. Staff explains the symbols used in the rite: the Paschal Candle, lit as a sign of hope in the resurrection; the Hail Mary sung at the close; the sprinkling with Holy Water to recall baptism; the placement of the pall over the casket as a reminder of the white garment given at baptism; the Liturgy of the Word; the reception of Communion; and the use of incense as a sign of honor and farewell prayer.
Holy Communion at a Catholic funeral is reserved for Catholics in union with the Church. Non-Catholic mourners are welcome to come forward for a blessing, indicating so by raising a hand. The parish provides a list of common readings from Sirach, Proverbs, Wisdom, Revelation, Romans, 1 Thessalonians, Matthew, and John, along with the parish's music selections and instructions for arranging flowers, a memorial candle, a Mass intention, a bequest, or attendance at the All Souls Memorial Service in November.
A dedicated group of women called By His Hands coordinates a funeral reception after the service with drinks and desserts provided by the parish and the option of donating untouched catered food to the local outreach ministry.
Grief to Grace and Divorce Support
Grief to Grace is Holy Redeemer's bereavement support ministry for adults grieving the loss of a loved one. The group meets at scheduled times and is offered free of charge, with donations accepted. The ministry's mission is to be present in the pain of others, offering the kind of comfort that comes from a person simply being there.
Divorce Support is a twelve-part program for men and women who are separated or divorced. Sessions include a DVD presentation, small group discussion, and time for prayer, and address personal healing, financial concerns, family and new relationships, the annulment process, and forgiveness. The group is led by Christine Deveaux and runs about an hour each week.
Stewardship
Holy Redeemer frames stewardship as a way of life: a grateful, prayerful, and giving community that returns a planned portion of time, talent, and treasure to the Church and the wider community. The parish's four pillars are hospitality, prayer, formation, and service. Stewardship materials, called "The Mustard Seed" newsletter, and a "Stewardship Corner" column are available.
The parish encourages online giving through a ParishSoft platform and offers legacy and education trust giving for those who wish to include the parish in their estate plans. About 275 families currently give online. The parish also participates in the Kroger Community Rewards program under organization number 90095. Holy Redeemer mails envelope packets every other month rather than monthly, and printed envelopes for occasional collections are available at the bulletin racks by the church doors.
Communications and the Parish Bulletin
The parish publishes a weekly bulletin that is posted online each Tuesday for the following weekend. The bulletin includes Mass times, parish announcements, and the Sunday prayer list, which is renewed each January. A Photo of the Week showcases parish life on the bulletin cover, and parishioners are invited to submit photos through a Google Form, with attention to permissions for any youth or vulnerable adults in the image. The parish uses Flocknote for weekend email updates, FORMED for online faith formation, and Google calendars to coordinate room use across the campus.
Holy Redeemer is also active on Facebook at HRCBurton, on Instagram at holy_redeemer_church, on Vimeo for the Echo Series and other parish video, and on YouTube, where weekend Masses and special events are livestreamed.
The Team
The parish is led by Fr. Seamus Kettner, the pastor. The team includes Deacon Bill Turner, who directs Family Ministry and OCIA and writes the Catholic Q&A column; Daniel Schmit, the Director of Worship who coordinates liturgical ministries and the ministry of hospitality; Lisa Tipton, who leads stewardship and communication; Raffy Urgino, the Director of Religious Education and Evangelization who oversees SEEKERS, VBS, Confirmation preparation, and the evangelization ministry; John Mira, the Youth Coordinator and Music director for the New Apostles; and John Doyle, who directs the Outreach Program and food pantry. The parish is supported by Norbert Dlugokinski, the Business Manager; Beth Clark, the Office Administrator; Nancy Elledge, the Bookkeeper; Alisa Wells, the Office Secretary and Family Life Center Operations; and Sarah Babetski, the Wedding Coordinator and Media Assistant.
The parish is part of the Diocese of Lansing, and the diocesan Victim Assistance Coordinator and the diocesan and state reporting hotlines are available for anyone who has been abused or victimized by someone representing the Catholic Church.
Visiting Holy Redeemer
The parish campus sits at 1227 East Bristol Road in Burton and includes the main church, the Family Life Center, and the Holy Redeemer Ministry Center across the parking lot. The parish office is open Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Saturday from 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m., and Sunday from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. The main office line is 810-743-3050 and the Outreach line is 810-743-8530.
Mass is celebrated Tuesday at 6:30 p.m., Wednesday through Friday at 8:30 a.m., Saturday at 10:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m., and Sunday at 9:00 a.m., 11:00 a.m. (ASL), and 5:00 p.m. Confessions are heard Saturday at 11:00 a.m. and Tuesday at 5:15 p.m. First Friday confessions are at 6:00 p.m. and First Friday adoration begins at 6:30 p.m.
Visitors and newcomers can register online, sign up for the weekend email newsletter through Flocknote, and pick up a copy of the weekly bulletin and the Mass Buddy coloring page at the back of the church. Those curious about the Catholic faith are invited to attend an OCIA session or to contact Deacon Bill Turner for a one-on-one conversation before the formal sessions begin in September.