Meet Our Clergy

Very Rev. Canon Walter J. Ptak

Pastor

248-474-5720

Fr. Ptak was born in Wyandotte. He attended St. Mary’s College, Orchard Lake (Bachelor of Arts), and St. John’s Provincial Seminary, Plymouth Township (Master of Divinity).

He was ordained Nov. 14, 1987, at the Cathedral of the Most Blessed Sacrament, Detroit.

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.

Rev. Jim Livingston

In Residence

248-474-5720

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.