Meet Our Clergy

Very Rev. Canon Walter J. Ptak

Pastor

248-474-5720

[email protected]

 

 

Rev. Derik Peterman

Associate Pastor

248-474-5720

[email protected]

 

Fr. Derik is from Livonia, MI and received the Sacraments at what is now called St. Mary, Cause of Our Joy Parish in Westland, MI.

 

His parents are Bill and Debbie and he has three siblings: Jane, Kevin, and Mike. He went to public school, graduating from Churchill High School in Livonia in 2009. Before entering the seminary, Fr. Derik attended Michigan State University. There he was a Big Ten medalist on the varsity track team and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in physics in 2013. While in college, he became involved with the campus ministry program at the nearby student parish. He participated in a priesthood discernment group, helped to form a men’s group and bible study, and worked as a ministry intern. The fall after graduating from MSU, he entered Sacred Heart Major Seminary. In 2015 he earned his undergraduate degree in philosophy and in 2019, completed his theology studies. He was ordained to the priesthood on June 8, 2019 at Blessed Sacrament Cathedral in Detroit. Our Lady of Sorrows is his first assignment as a priest.

 

 

Weekend Assistant

248-474-5720

 

Follow Fr. Dave's PODCAST

 

Fr. Dave was born in Detroit, but originally hailed from St. Clair County, where he grew up for nine years outside of Marysville, and then 13 years outside of Marine City. Since 1990, his family have been parishioners at Immaculate Conception in Anchorville.  He heard the Lord's call at nine years old.

 

At 22 years old he went down to Ave Maria University in Florida.   During his first year at Ave Maria, he met the Lord, discovered His love, and fell in love with the idea of being a priest. Immediately after graduating from Ave Maria in 2010, Fr. Dave applied to seminary in the Archdiocese of Detroit and was accepted.  On May 14, 2016, he was ordained a priest.

 

His first assignment as a priest was at St. Linus in Dearborn Heights, for just the summer of 2016. He then returned to school for one more year of studies. In 2017, upon the completion of those studies, Fr. Dave was assigned to Our Lady of Good Counsel in Plymouth.  In July of 2020, Fr. Dave was assigned to Our Lady of Sorrows.   He is currently Priest Secretary to Archbishop Vigneron.

 

 

I come to you as an Irish Catholic native of Michigan. I was born into a beautiful, large Irish Catholic family. My parents were loving and faith-filled in their example to follow Jesus and love of the Church and the sacraments. I have four sisters and one brother. My mom continues to bless us with her presence for her six children and ten grandchildren. My father passed away suddenly and tragically in the mid-1990s.

Ordained to the priesthood on June 29, 1991, the Solemnity of the Feast of St. Peter and Paul, I was in active ministry as a priest for over 13 years. Those years of priesthood were blessed ones. The greatest joy I received was being presider at the sacraments. I remember my first Mass in holding the bread and wine in my hands and through the prayers of the Church in Christ these elements were blessed, broken and shared with one another. 

In my current assignment, I will to serve as chaplain to the Ascension hospitals in Novi and Southfield.