Springfield Township has been the site of several new building projects in the last few years, but one isn’t of a commercial nature. Divine Mercy Church, a Catholic church, is planned by the Archdiocese of Detroit to be situated on 144 acres near Springfield Township’s civic offices.
The church must first pass planning commission and the township board, prior to any construction. Pastor John Budde hopes to begin construction in the next 2-3 years on a church large enough to seat 800 parishioners.
Township Supervisor Collin Walls said no plans have been submitted to the township, but the parish has met with Planning Director Leon Genre.
The property earmarked for the church is on Davisburg Road, a half mile west of Ormond Road.
The archdiocese made the decision to grant a parish to the area because of an influx of Catholics to Springfield Township.
‘So many people move out here that the existing, surrounding parishes would not be able to absorb that increase in population,? Budde said.
Budde cited demographic studies which indicate their could be as many as 2,500 families registered in the parish.
The parish has existed since 2005 as Davisburg Catholic Community at Davisburg Elementary, administrated by St. Rita’s Catholic Parish in Holly, prior to the announcement of the parish formation July 1.
Budde comes to the parish after 18 years with Holy Family Parish in Novi.
Budde said the church will welcome back churchgoers who may have shied away from church.
‘Our hope is that we can reach out to people who have for whatever reason decided to not be involved with the church,? Budde said. ‘We want to reach out to them and have them come back.?
The first phase of planning involves building Divine Mercy, the second a social hall or activity building. A third phase would incorporate a school. Budde said the main concern right now is getting the church built.
Laurie Cooper of Davisburg, a pastoral associate with the church, joined Davisburg Catholic Community three years ago from her former church, Saint Mary Magdalen in Brighton.
‘This is the first church in the area that has spirit and that sense of community I found at Saint Mary Magdalen,? she said.
‘This community offers something that the other established churches don’t. In some senses, people may want to come because it is a new church and they feel like they can have more of an impact.?
Cooper said the parish designation allows Divine Mercy to reach out to Springfield Township and, ‘become a full-service church that reaches out to the whole community, not just people that are coming to our Masses.?
Walls said preliminary discussions have begun for another church in the township. The River, whose parent church is Faith Baptist Church in Waterford, is operating at Holly High School. Property along the north side of Holly Road at I-75 has been purchased for the church.