Father Tom Belczak, serves as the fifth pastor of Saint Kenneth Parish. He grew up on the west wide of Detroit and attended Saint Stephen Grade School, Sacred Heart Seminary High School and graduated from Catholic Central High School in 1971. He continued his religious formation at Sacred Heart Seminary College in Detroit; he received a Master’s Degree in Religious Studies from the University of Detroit and continued his education and formation for priesthood attaining a Master of Divinity Degree at Saint John’s Seminary in Plymouth. Tom Belczak was ordained to the Diaconate in January, 1979 and was assigned to Sacred Heart Parish in Dearborn where he served as a Deacon until his ordination to priesthood on May 31, 1980.
His first assignment following ordination was to Our Lady of the Lakes Parish in Waterford, Michigan where he served as Associate Pastor for four years. On July 1, 1984 he was transferred to Saint John Neumann Parish in Canton where he served as Associate Pastor for five years. On July 4, 1989 he was appointed to Saint Valentine Parish in Redford Township where he served as Pastor for almost fifteen years. Father Tom Belczak moved to Plymouth and began his pastorate at Saint Kenneth in February 2004.
In addition to his parish responsibilities, Father Tom Belczak has been elected and served two consecutive terms on the Assignment Board of the Archdiocese of Detroit; one term as a representative on the Detroit Association of Priests; and two terms on the Archdiocesan Presbyterial Council; and has served as Chaplain to the “Friends of the Archbishop”, a fraternal service organization supporting the work of the Archbishop of Detroit.
A warm and loving shepherd to our community, he is seen at the doors of the church each weekend welcoming visitors and guests and greeting parishioners prior to or after the celebration of the Eucharist. Father Tom Belczak enjoys travel; socializing with his priest support group; fine dining with friends; and his once-a-year hobby: building and displaying his collectable “north pole” village pieces at his home each Christmas.