Rev. Nicholas Zukowski,
Pastor
Born in 1954 in Detroit Michigan
Schools attended: Holy Name of Jesus, Detroit MI
Burroughs Junior High, Detroit MI
Kettering and Denby High Schools, Detroit MI
University of Michigan, Dearborn Campus
St. Mary’s College, Orchard Lake MI
Pontifical North American College, Rome
Pontifical Gregorian University, Rome
Ordained a Transitional Deacon in Rome on April 17, 1980
Ordained a Priest at the Cathedral of the Most Blessed Sacrament
in Detroit MI on May 1, 1982
Assignments as Associate Pastor
St. Mary, Our Lady of the Snows, Milford (1981-1982 -- Internship Year)
Holy Cross, Marine City (1982-1985)
Our Lady, Queen of Apostles Parish, Hamtramck (1985-1990
St. Hugo of the Hills, Bloomfield Hills (1990-1993)
Arrived as Pastor, St. Mary Queen of Creation Parish, New Baltimore
on July 1, 1993
Son of Deacon Raymond and Rose Marie Zukowski (both deceased)
Brother of David, Patricia and Kathleen
Most people think of Holy Orders in terms of priesthood but a deacon also receives the sacrament. Priesthood is really the second level of Holy Orders. The bishop, at his consecration, receives the fullness of the sacrament.
After Vatican II the order of permanent deacon was restored. With the permission of his bishop, a deacon can baptize, distribute the Eucharist, witness marriages, bring Communion to the dying, and officiate at funerals. He leads the people in prayer, reads the Scriptures, preaches and teaches. In other words, he serves the People of God working in the image of Christ and following the example of those first deacons in the early Church.
A deacon must support his family and himself with work outside the parish. We come from all walks of life, each contributing to the service of the People of God what ever our skills, talents and training allow.
At present I am 72 years of age and retired from my lifetime occupation, which was in Graphic Arts. I am also on Senior Status, which means that I serve here in the parish to whatever extent I feel I can handle.
My wife, Alice, and I were married in 1956, at St. Catherine’s Church in Algonac, Michigan. That means that in this coming year we will celebrate our 50th wedding anniversary as well as my 30th anniversary of ordination. I was ordained to the deaconate at Blessed Sacrament Cathedral on April 25, 1976 with Cardinal John Dearden officiating.
We have six children. All but one of these six are married. We have 10 grandchildren, three great grandchildren, and expect two more to be born in the spring.
It has been my joy to serve God here at St. Mary Queen of Creation Parish for most of my 30 years of ordained ministry.
I grew up on the east side of Detroit and attended St. Philip Neri School for 12 years. I was taught by the wonderful Sisters of St. Joseph of Nazareth, Michigan. I entered that congregation in August of 1965 and professed final vows in May of 1975.
This year our founding community of Nazareth is uniting with six other founding communities of Sisters of St. Joseph to form one group which will now be called the Congregation of St. Joseph.
I was a primary teacher for 35 years primarily in the Archdiocese of Detroit and began my ministry here at St. Mary’s, as worship coordinator in June of 2005.
I have always loved working with liturgy and worship and am grateful for the opportunity to work with the wonderful parish family of St. Mary Queen of Creation in these areas.
My parents are now deceased and I have only one brother - Mike, a sister-in-law - Theresa and a Godchild – Jenny.
Some of my very favorite things are: flowers, dogs, good music, baseball, hockey and craft shows.
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WELCOME, DEBBIE WARREN
ST. MARY’S NEW CHRISTIAN SERVICE COORDINATOR!!! -
Mrs. Deborah Warren was selected as our new Christian Service Coordinator because of her strong belief to live out the mission of the Gospel, specifically by putting the social teachings of the Church into action. She was also selected because of her experience and her desire to continue to learn and to serve.
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Debbie has been the Christian Service Coordinator at St. Basil Parish in Eastpointe for about three years. She also completed her third year as the coordinator of the MCREST program for the homeless.
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Debbie has experience with the Advent Giving Tree, giving food assistance to the needy, chairing commission meetings as well as sharing in the faith formation program at St. Basil’s as a catechist.
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Debbie is pursuing a diploma in Pastoral Ministry at Sacred Heart Major Seminary and will graduate with this diploma this month. Her other work includes legal secretary/assistant, tax plan administrator and medical lab assistant. She is skillful with the Internet and many computer products and programs.
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Debbie is married to our Director of Music Ministries, Dave Warren. They have two children and have been members of St. Mary’s for three years.
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During our orientation, I told Debbie that the first priority will be to make sure that MCREST happens this year. She has already begun coordinating this project. Although her position will be part-time, I have every confidence that we will continue most of the outreach programs and events started by or overseen by Jackie Stringer when she was our Christian Service Coordinator.
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Debbie began working last week. Please join me in welcoming Debbie Warren as our new Christian Service Coordinator!
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Fr. Nick Zukowski, Pastor
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Carolyn Ann Elizabeth Bissett
I am a very satisfied Single Catholic Christian.
The Lord says that if we give up anything in order to follow him, we will receive it back ten times over- since I have almost 1200 beautiful children in our process- I think He has been even more generous to me than 10 fold! How blessed I am .
The Lord has honored me by calling me to service in many ways, some of them include:
Catechist for the Archdiocese of Detroit for 34 years
Associate Director of Religious Education, Sacred Heart, Imlay City 1985-86
Youth Minister, Sacred Heart Imlay City, 1980-95
RCIA Catechist and Coordinator 1980-96, Sacred Heart, Imlay City
Catechist Trainer for the Archdiocese of Detroit 1984-Present
Director of Religious Education & Pastoral Associate, Sacred Heart, Imlay City 1986-96
Director of Religious Ed. Faith Formation, St Mary Queen of Creation 1996-present
Protecting God’s Children Coordinator 2004-present
I have been blessed with being a lay student at Sacred Heart Major Seminary and St. Mary’s College, Orchard Lake. Living one’s life as a Vocation is the most awesome life choice anyone can make- you serve people, but my ultimate “boss” is our kind, loving and generous God- His retirement plan is out of this world and I wait in joyful hope for His coming!
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My wife and I celebrated our 40th wedding anniversary in December 2006. The Lord has blessed us with four children and twelve grandchildren ranging in age from eight months to eighteen years. We met when we were teenagers attending a local evangelical church. I am a mechanical systems technician who went on to mechanical systems design and sales and I eventually worked my way up to management. Before coming to St. Mary’s Church my favorite job had been a part time position teaching the mechanical trades where my love for teaching surfaced. There is no place I would rather be than right here at St Mary’s helping adults discover the Catholic faith.
Being born into a protestant family I spent the first 55 years of my life as an evangelical Christian and entered the Catholic Church, through the RCIA, during the Easter Vigil of 2002. I am very grateful for the bible teaching I received early on and for the reverence this upbringing has given me for the things of God. This background has laid a solid foundation for my faith today.
Entering my third year at Sacred Heart Major Seminary in Detroit is an exciting challenge. Attending class with future priests and then passing this knowledge on to others is a wonderful privilege. Working in adult faith formation gives me the perfect opportunity to share what I have learned. Assisting others in their journey of faith is as exciting for me as my own journey was. It is my hope and prayer to be a part of this ministry for the rest of whatever work life God will grant to me. I don’t ever want to retire.
I am available to discuss the Catholic faith with anyone. Whether you are a Catholic who would like to know about the faith, or if you are from another faith and just want to know more about what Catholics believe, or if you are someone interested in entering the Catholic Church, I can help you find the answers to your questions. If you would like to know more, please write, call or stop by.
Email: gmoomaw@smqoc.com Phone: 586-725-7579 Ex *835
St. Mary Queen of Creation Church
50931 Maria St.
New Baltimore, MI. 48047