Alice N. Mastin

I began my ministry at the tender age of 10 helping my mother with her 5th graders at St. James in Ferndale. I would go to class on Monday after school and pass out papers, listen to prayers, and help clean up. I fell in love with talking about faith with others, especially children. When I was in high school, I became a Catechist in the preschool program. This was a new program they were starting and my friend Debbie Boozan and I were the first catechists. In 1969-1970, I took the original Phase I and Phase II at various churches in the Archdiocese of Detroit. I stayed at St. James in Ferndale, teaching various classes, including First Communion prep for my youngest sister until I was married. I then moved to St. Mary Magdalen in Hazel Park. When my son was 4 years old, I was part of the new preschool program and a Vacation Bible School there in the early 1980s. We moved to Waterford in 1987 and I taught 4th grade, 2nd grade and preschool at St. Perpetua. I became a certified Catechist. As my children grew, I started helping with Jr. High and then High School Youth Ministry. I became a certified Youth Minister and was hired part time by Our Lady of Refuge Parish in Orchard Lake. I was also hired as secretary in the Religious Formation office, where I began helping with the recruitment of catechists and working with the DRE to run a program for Sacrament preparation and the Religious Education classes. I took many Religion classes at St. Mary’s College in Orchard Lake and Youth Ministry topics at Sacred Heart Seminary. When my daughter graduated from high school, we moved to Warren. I was hired as an assistant to the Director of Religious Education at St. Anne. Here I volunteered for and became the Youth minister and began a program that lasted until I left in 2004. I also directed the VBS program for several years. I achieved certification as a DRE in 2004. In June of 2004, I became the Director of Religious Education at St. Ronald.

I have been married to my husband, Phil since 1974. Together we have 2 children and 5 grandchildren.