Sterling Heights — Fr. Ronald Milligan says he’s “very blessed to be the pastor” of St. Ephrem Parish in Sterling Heights, which recently celebrated its 50th anniversary.

“To me, the greatest thing would be that we were working together at making Jesus more evident in all of our lives,” said Fr. Milligan, who has served as pastor “just short of 18 years.”

He said while the church has acquired beautiful physical aspects, such as a new baptismal font, and a renovated social hall, “what matters more is transformation of the hearts of the people.”

Fr. Milligan said as the parish prepared for its 50th anniversary celebration on June 15, it was a “great way to prepare the parish for what’s coming next: the move to incorporate the New Evangelization in our parish, and when Archbishop Vigneron introduces the archdiocesan synod in the following years.”

Archbishop Allen H. Vigneron presided at the June 15 Mass, which was followed by an anniversary celebration luncheon, though Fr. Milligan was unable to attend due to an unexpected medical emergency.

“I’m so grateful that Archbishop Vigneron was here on Sunday, and I certainly was with everyone in spirit,” said Fr. Milligan, who is now doing better. “Thanks to modern technology, when the opening hymn began at Mass, a staff member called my cellphone and let me listen. She also emailed me some photos of the archbishop and the priests going down the aisle.”

“I’m blessed to be at the helm, but really it’s the people that make this parish run,” said Fr. Milligan.

Mary Kay Reith, co-chair for St. Ephrem’s 50th anniversary celebrations, said the past year’s planning has been time- and energy-consuming, but worthwhile.

“I’ve sat with people as they shared amazing stories of what God has done in their lives,” Reith said. “I’ve been humbled both by their steadfastness in faith through great adversity and also by their attentiveness to God’s whispers when they weren’t very connected to church.”

Reith said she’s met “wonderful people from very young, to very new parishioners, to the youth filled with enthusiasm and eagerness, to our ‘originals’ who were here when a field of tomato plants had to be moved and replanted when the work on the new parish began in those same fields.”

And through this journey to reach the half-century milestone, Reith added that “the spirit and the joy, the friendships and the kindnesses, faith strengthened and re-energized… it’s not over. It’s bursting forth!”

When Kathleen Prezeklas was asked to take the position as co-chair with Reith, “I never hesitated to accept the responsibility.”

“I knew that the faith, spirit of support and enthusiasm present in our community would make this an enjoyable year — and it was,” said Prezeklas. “I view this anniversary only as a mark on the line of time. It represents a beginning, not an end.”

She added that the 50-year mark begins “a new era of ministry during which more wonderful stories of the powerful work of God, the committed sacrifice of a people and the influential ministry of service to its community will be written.”

 

St. Ephrem Parish

38900 Dodge Park Road, Sterling Heights, 48312 | (586) 264-1230

Pastor: Fr. Ronald Milligan

Founded: 1964 | Founding pastor: Fr. John Gordon

Families: 600

Parish organizations, outreach: Food pantry; participation in MCREST; St. Vincent de Paul Society; religious formation class for those with special learning needs; blood drives; hosting Autism Society of Macomb; addiction groups; serving local soup kitchens; Knights of Columbus and many more service activities.