Auburn Hills — It’s an assignment unlike any other in the archdiocese.

For 12 years, Msgr. Michael LeFevre was rector of Cathedral of the Most Blessed Sacrament, presiding over Mass and being the caretaker for the archbishop’s parish while he was away.

Appointed by Cardinal Adam J. Maida in 2003 and continuing under Archbishop Allen H. Vigneron, Msgr. LeFevre said it was a great honor to serve as rector, a position that creates an unusual situation for priests who are used to managing their own parish.

“As a priest, you’re pastor of your local parish,” Msgr. LeFevre explained. “At the cathedral, you’re not the pastoral leader; that’s the bishop’s role. Everything is set to the archbishop’s preference: the music, the Mass, the feel of the cathedral. Because at the end of the day, it’s his church.”

Rector is a position that’s nearly as old as the Catholic Church, charged with caring for the day-to-day operations of the cathedral. Historically, popes first greet the rector when visiting a cathedral.

“It’s not a figurehead position, it’s a real and important role to fill,” Msgr. LeFevre said. “People are curious about the cathedral, and it’s a great part about the job explaining the story behind all the details.”

If every church building tells a story, the story behind the Cathedral of the Most Blessed Sacrament is its parishioners, who personify the Body of Christ in Detroit, welcoming visitors to the area, Msgr. LeFevre said.

“We are supposed to welcome people to Detroit; we’re what people see when they take that first glimpse of the Church in Detroit,” he said.

Groups come in and out of the cathedral for special occasions, and parishioners at the cathedral — along with parishioners at cluster parishes Our Lady of the Rosary and St. Moses the Black — might feel they are squeezed out of special events at their own parish.

Msgr. LeFevre said Archbishop Vigneron makes sure to address local parishioners before speaking to a special audience.

“The archbishop always speaks to the parishioners first; he’s really good at that. He recognizes that sometimes it’s hard to be a parishioner at the cathedral,” Msgr. LeFevre said.

Msgr. LeFevre is enjoying his new role as pastor of St. John Fisher Chapel University Parish in Auburn Hills, where he started Aug. 1. The parish is made up of local families and students at Oakland University.

“Doing something different is always good, and that’s what’s nice about a college campus, it changes every year,” Msgr. LeFevre said. “It’s a new area for me; I know nothing about Oakland County. The traffic is horrible, people drive everywhere. I really liked riding my bike downtown and going though different parts of the city. But I think it’s important for priests to go to new places.”

After serving as rector for 12 years, Msgr. LeFevre is glad he’s passing the keys to Fr. J.J. Mech, but he doesn’t wish to pass on any advice to the newcomer.

“I never give advice to my successor; it’s a parish, it’s now under his care,” Msgr. LeFevre said. “I will say this: The best part about the parish isn’t the architecture; it’s the people. He’ll be the pastor of three (sets of) parishioners, and they are all different. J.J. is going in blind, but they are all parishes of the cathedral, and he will get to make his own mark as pastor.”