From the Pastor — June 28th, 2026
Welcome Regina Scime: Our New Director of Sacred Music
I am thrilled to announce that we have hired Regina Scime as our new Director of Sacred Music! Of the around twenty candidates, Regina quickly rose to the top of the list. Her interview was outstanding as well as the references we received for her. Her music audition at the Church where she sight-read, conducted, and played the organ and piano was what sealed the deal. The decision to hire her was unanimous among both the interview team and the audition team. I’m very thankful for Steve, our outgoing Director of Music, and his help in our hiring process.
I asked Regina to write a little bit about herself to introduce herself:
Hello, St. Patrick! My name is Regina Scime, and I am delighted to begin to serve as the Director of Sacred Music here at St Patrick. Recently coming from Metro Detroit, I hail originally from southeast Michigan and am grateful to be back after spending 6 years of studies out-of-state. I studied liturgical/sacred music at Benedictine College in Kansas and the University of Notre Dame in Indiana, and have experience with professional, parish, and children’s choirs.
I come from a deeply Catholic family, where I was given the greatest gift from my parents: the faith. The greatest charism of my parents’ marriage is their hospitality: they have fostered three children and adopted two throughout their 26 years of marriage. I am the oldest of five daughters, each of whom are beautiful reflections of God’s heart in unique ways.
Through the gifts of Catholic education, family, and friends, I have come to deeply, wholeheartedly, and passionately love the Lord as Bridegroom. One of my favorite devotions is Eucharistic adoration. Each time I sit with my Beloved, I am floored as He reveals His love for His Church and for me in a nuptial light. I truly believe that every Mass is a wedding Mass for each person.
In that wedding Mass, we are invited into the love song of the Trinity. Every single time. As a sacred musician, my job is to sacramentalize - or make audible - that love song, and invite you to participate in it. My favorite thing in the world is to worship God at Mass, and praise Him in song. I can’t wait to pray with all of you through God’s gift of music!
Regina begins here at St Pat’s on Monday, July 6th. Steve will be staying on for two weeks for transition. We plan on having a goodbye reception for Steve on Sunday before he leaves, July 12.
welcome brenda ulmer: our new front desk secretary
I’m also pleased to announce that we have hired St Pat’s Parishioner Brenda Ulmer to our staff as our Front Desk Secretary. Here is some information about herself.
Hello St. Pat’s family, My name is Brenda Ulmer, and I have been a member of St. Patrick’s beginning in 1975 when my family moved to Brighton and we registered as members. I celebrated my sacrament of Confirmation here in 1978 when Bishop Povish was the head of our Diocese. In 1997, I took the steps as an adult and joined this parish for my own growing family. My late husband, Scott, and I were blessed with five children, and all were baptized and confirmed at this parish. Scott was confirmed in the Catholic faith in 2005 at the Easter Vigil and then was lovingly honored in 2022 at his funeral Mass, being laid to rest at Calvary Cemetery. With my history at St. Patrick’s church, I am blessed to now be a part of the staff and give back to such a beautiful parish that has been home to my family for so many years. I hope you will welcome me as the Front Desk Secretary. I am ready to help our parish family and staff in welcoming you. Please stop in and say hello sometime.
Part-Time Youth Discipleship Administrative Assistant Position
I am also excited to announce that we are hiring a part-time Youth Discipleship Administrative Assistant. The addition of this position will help us continue developing vibrant, discipleship-centered faith formation and youth ministry for grades Pre-K through 12. This team member will provide critical behind-the-scenes support for our Catechesis of the Good Shepherd, Sacramental Prep, and Youth Ministry programs. If you or someone you know possesses gifts of administration and desires to support the spiritual formation of our youth, we invite you to consider applying for this opportunity. To view the job description or submit an application go to the Diocesan Careers website.
Farewell Fr Joshua Fons
This is Fr Joshua’s last weekend at the parish. (If you missed his last homily, you can see it here)
I’m really going to miss Fr Joshua here at St Pat’s. I’ve known him since he was a new seminarian and stayed in touch in the years he was a FOCUS missionary. I was quite pleased to know he was going to serve at the parish as a deacon. His three years here at St Patrick, one as a deacon and two as a priest, have gone by quickly. From my vantage point, Fr Joshua has proven himself to be a quick learner in the ways of the priesthood. In addition to maturing a lot these years at the parish, we all know God has given him some serious gifts for ministry: his preaching, his joyful and jovial personality, his confident approachability, his spiritual insight into human nature, and his Christian leadership, especially of other men.
Most of what I’m going to miss with Fr Joshua is him being at my side as my brother priest. It’s not easy being a priest today, let alone of a large parish where there is so much going on. But Fr Joshua jumped right in and we worked so well together as brothers. We prayed together and laughed together often. Having joined the same priest fraternity that I’m in and having just graduated from the two-year Encounter School of Ministry, it’s not hard to see why we have a shared vision of priesthood. It’s very rare to have a pastor/associate pastor combo that works this well.
We know that Fr Joshua is quite happy to go serve the students at Michigan State University, but I know many of us are sad that we won’t see him for a long time, maybe never again. Personally, I’ll still be seeing him around at my fraternity meetings and so I’m not that sad :). Nevertheless, I know he’s going to do a great job at St Thomas/St John’s in East Lansing and that we will never forget all that God did through him at St Pat’s while he was here. Please join me in thanking the Lord for Fr Joshua Fons and praying for him as he moves into his next assignment.
Fr Peter Randolph begins his first priestly assignment here on Wednesday of this week.
Save the Date: sips & salvation (q&a event) Friday July 17 in O’Kelly Hall
Recently, several married couples approached me and asked if I’d be willing to do an event where I answer parishioners’ questions like Fr Paul did at St Mary Magdalen’s Pints and Ponderings. Absolutely! I actually really enjoy live questions about interesting, controversial, and fun topics. This evening will be a bring your own beverage/potluck event in which I give a short talk and people get to ask me all sorts of questions. Please watch the bulletin and parish email for more information about this!
Your servant in the Lord,
Fr. Mathias