Deacon Stephen Hilker was born in Detroit, Michigan in 1953, the second eldest of five children. As a child, he attended Gesu Grade School in Detroit and as a young man, Detroit Catholic Central. He went on to attend Michigan State University where he earned a B.S. in Psychology and an M.B.A. in Management and has done post-graduate work in accounting. Deacon Steve is a CPA and holds a number of other financial certifications. He has studied Public Policy at the Doctoral level at Western Michigan University and recently completed a Master’s Degree in Pastoral Ministry from the Josephinum Pontifical University in Columbus, OH. (He says he is done with school.)

Deacon Steve retired from the State of Michigan after 37 years in various executive positions. He answered the call to serve the church as a Deacon on June 30, 1990, after 3 years of Diaconal studies with the Diocese of Lansing. He was ordained by Bishop Kenneth Povish.

 

Deacon Steve was fortunate enough to have Nancy, his wife, marry him on June 28, 1980. Nancy oversees and teaches in the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd program here at St. Mary Parish and School. They have nine children: Ruth (Ross Hunt, Dallas, TX), John (Catherine, East Lansing), Daniel Hilker, Esq. (Dr. Joanne, Haslett), Kathleen (Dr. Daniel Durusoy, Haslett), Mike (Kelsie, Fargo, ND), Mary (Dallas, TX), David (Ann Arbor), Stephanie (23), and Max (20). They also have ten grandchildren. Steve and Nancy reside in Haslett.

Deacon Steve served as a Deacon with St. Thomas Parish in East Lansing prior to transferring here to St. Mary Parish in early 2008. He serves in the areas of parish administration, liturgy, charitable works (St. Vincent de Paul and K of C), and teaching.