“We’re a ‘full-Gospel’ parish,” said Fr. Terrien, adding that people particularly enjoy the parish’s reverence in celebrating the sacrifice of the Mass. “We also have an unusually large RCIA program with anywhere from 10-20 people each year.”
Fr. Douglas Terrien“We had a really active turnout,” Beam said.
Fr. Terrien said that with the parish’s grade school, Bishop Kelly Catholic School; its own cemetery; as well as its smaller St. Louise Chapel in Metamora, Immaculate Conception may in fact cover the most land in the archdiocese.
“It’s about 10 by 25 miles; multiplied, that is 250 square miles,” he said.
The parish also features 24/7 eucharistic adoration in the main church, as well as a shrine to St. Jude and St. Peregrine, which has statues and relics of the two saints.
The St. Jude statue and relic have a unique history in themselves.
Fr. Terrien explained that Danny Thomas had prayed before that very statue and relic in St. Dominic Parish, Detroit, while seeking a way to jumpstart his career as a young man.
Shortly thereafter, Thomas had become a highly successful entertainer, and in thanksgiving for his answered prayer, opened the now-renown St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Tennessee.
The statue and relic remained in the Detroit church until it closed in 2005; the items were then moved to Immaculate Conception.
Though the parish has not been without its bumps along its 150-year journey so far — such as renovations to add an accessible bathroom for parishioners, and the construction that brought air-conditioning to the establishment — Immaculate Conception continues to thrive.
Fr. Terrien remembers that one summer before the air-conditioning had been installed, the climate was so “brutally hot” that “the Easter candle started to bend over.”
“Now we just take that for granted,” Beam said.
In addition to common parish groups such as the Knights of Columbus and the Society of St. Vincent de Paul — which Fr. Terrien adds, “gives out $500-$800 per week” — Immaculate Conception also offers the “Tender Hearts” group for bereaved parents, and the “Welcome Ministry,” for fallen-away Catholics, non-Catholics and anyone interested in Catholicism.
The parish also offers “Fr. Terrien’s Famer’s Market” each Saturday from July through October for parishioners to sell local Michigan agricultural products to the local community.
Immaculate Conception Parish
814 West Nepessing, Lapeer, MI 48446 | (810) 664-8594
Founded: 1864
Founding pastor: Fr. John Busche
Current pastor: Fr. Douglas Terrien
Number of families: 2,100
Parish organizations, outreach: Knights of Columbus, adult social club, Bible study, Marian hour of prayer, Cenacle of Life rosary group, Ladies League, Society of St. Vincent de Paul, “Tender Hearts” group for bereaved parents, youth ministry, food pantry, Welcome Ministry, Word of Life prayer group, worship commission, Bishop Kelly Catholic School, Healing Shrine of St. Jude and St. Peregrine, farmers market
