Our Mission Statement
is based on Jesus' Great Commission given in Matthew 28:19-20*:
"We, the members of Sacred Heart Parish, are dedicated to serving Christ by bringing the fullness of Catholic truth to the Gladwin community. We help good Catholics become holier Catholics, bring former Catholics ‘home,’ and lead non-Catholics into the fullness of the Faith."
*Matthew 28:19-20, "Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, to the close of the age."
is based on Jesus' Great Commission given in Matthew 28:19-20*:
"We, the members of Sacred Heart Parish, are dedicated to serving Christ by bringing the fullness of Catholic truth to the Gladwin community. We help good Catholics become holier Catholics, bring former Catholics ‘home,’ and lead non-Catholics into the fullness of the Faith."
*Matthew 28:19-20, "Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, to the close of the age."
A Prayer for Sacred Heart Parish:
Sacred Heart Parish is composed of intentional disciples like me.
I help make it what it is.
It will be welcoming if I open the door for others.
It will be holy if I strive for sainthood.
It will do great works if I volunteer.
It will defend the defenseless if I do.
It will be prayerful if I pray every day.
It will be knowledgeable of the Faith if I study it.
It will help the poor if I am generous.
It will share the Catholic Faith if I am fearless.
It will bring others into worship if I invite them.
Its pews will be filled if I attend Mass faithfully.
It will be a parish filled with faith, hope, and love if I, who make it what it is, am an intentional disciple.
Therefore, with the help of God, I now dedicate myself to the task of being all the things that I want Sacred Heart Parish to be.
Amen.
Sacred Heart Parish is composed of intentional disciples like me.
I help make it what it is.
It will be welcoming if I open the door for others.
It will be holy if I strive for sainthood.
It will do great works if I volunteer.
It will defend the defenseless if I do.
It will be prayerful if I pray every day.
It will be knowledgeable of the Faith if I study it.
It will help the poor if I am generous.
It will share the Catholic Faith if I am fearless.
It will bring others into worship if I invite them.
Its pews will be filled if I attend Mass faithfully.
It will be a parish filled with faith, hope, and love if I, who make it what it is, am an intentional disciple.
Therefore, with the help of God, I now dedicate myself to the task of being all the things that I want Sacred Heart Parish to be.
Amen.
Parish Leaflet
| Welcome to Sacred Heart |
pew cARD
| Pew Card for Sacred Heart Gladwin |
sacred heart parish history
On October, 5, 1881, Bishop Casper Borgess, of the Diocese of Detroit appointed Fr. James Byrne resident pastor at Midland, for Midland, Gladwin and part of Gratiot Counties. He came and offered Mass in the homes about every three months on a weekday. Lay people were appointed to give religious instructions until the priest came again.
In 1888, Gladwin became a Mission of Pinconning. Mass was offered at McClary's Hall in Gladwin on the third Sunday of every month. In 1892, pledges were made to raise money to build the original wooden Sacred Heart Church.
In 1908, Sacred Heart Mission was made a Parish with Coleman and Harrison as Missions. Mass was held on the first, second and fourth Sundays of the month in Gladwin, the third Sunday at Coleman and the fifth Sunday in Harrison. Fr. Wendell Miller, the first pastor of the new parish lived in a rented a house across the street from the future parish school until the rectory was built in 1911.
The school was completed in 1918 by the people of the parish using their own lumber and field stone. The building had four rooms, a full basement and was completed debt free. The school started with four Sisters of Mercy teaching eight grades. By 1920, there were five Sisters teaching ten grades. Some children were boarded at the school because of the size of the parish. The school was closed in 1931 due to the depression.
Around 1937, a 20 x 34 foot extension for a new sanctuary and sacristy was donated by Judge John Shaffer. In 1940, a new Wurlitzer organ was purchased and a new hot air furnace was installed in the church.
In 1952, at a cost of $15,000 the old school reopened with four Bernardine Sisters and 75 children. A new convent was also built for about $12,000 and $2,000 in furnishings.
In 1953, property for a school playground was purchased for $2,500. The cemetery property was purchased in 1959 for $1,100. With the donation of one lot and the purchase of three additional, the church and school grounds were enlarged in 1961.
Plans for a new 50 by 120 foot church were developed in 1961. The new church, with a seating
capacity of 650 was completed in 1962 for $110,000. The Knights of Columbus Council 5280 was also founded in 1962 with 79 charter members.
Ground was broken for a new school in 1966. When completed in 1967, it opened with four Bernadine Sisters, one lay teacher and 165 students.
On December 8, 1968, Bishop James Hickey consecrated the main altar of Sacred Heart Church with the relics of Saints Timothy, Irenaeus and Celestine; the Sacred Heart altar with the relics of Saints Timothy, Irenaeus, and Lucent; and the Blessed Virgin Mary altar with relics of Saints Irenaeus, Lucent and Aurelia.
In 2010, Bishop Joseph Cistone announced that he had accepted a recommendation from the
Pastoral Council to close Sacred Heart School. Approval came following increased tuition and parish costs and an enrollment report that showed only nine students had registered for the 2010-2011 academic school year.
In the fall of 2011, Bishop Cistone shared his pastoral letter, “A Future Full of Hope” with every
household in the diocese. The document would serve as a foundation for a broad plan to revitalize all parishes and strengthen the Diocese of Saginaw.
On January 20, 2013, after an 18 month planning process, Bishop Cistone assigned Sacred Heart Parish to Cohort 18 which also included St. Cecilia (Clare), St. Athanasius (Harrison), St. Henry (Rosebush), and St. Charles Mission (Leaton). Parishes with the cohort were to cooperate and partner in the future.
Sacred Heart and St. Athanasius parishes are currently linked and are slated to remain canonically distinct, sharing a priest and cooperatively sharing as many functions as possible.
No discussion regarding “community” in the Gladwin area would be complete without including the Sacred Heart Mission. From its beginning in basement of the old school in the 1940s, the Mission has been and continues to be an integral part of the Gladwin community.
Located approximately one mile east of the Sacred Heart campus, the Mission is open to the public Monday through Friday and provides a number of valuable services to the community including a food pantry, thrift store with clothing, toys, games, puzzles, kitchenware, and many other items.
The Mission coordinator reports directly to the Sacred Heart parochial administrator. The 10 member Mission board is composed of five (5) members from Sacred Heart and five (5) from other area churches.
During fiscal year 2014, volunteers logged almost 14,000 hours to help insure ongoing Mission success. Roughly 50 percent of the 40 plus volunteers are not members of Sacred Heart Parish. Individuals from the community also serve their mandated community service hours (court imposed, Department of Human Services, etc.) at the Mission throughout the year. Some volunteers have worked at the Mission for over 40 years, with several still working multiple days per week.
In 1888, Gladwin became a Mission of Pinconning. Mass was offered at McClary's Hall in Gladwin on the third Sunday of every month. In 1892, pledges were made to raise money to build the original wooden Sacred Heart Church.
In 1908, Sacred Heart Mission was made a Parish with Coleman and Harrison as Missions. Mass was held on the first, second and fourth Sundays of the month in Gladwin, the third Sunday at Coleman and the fifth Sunday in Harrison. Fr. Wendell Miller, the first pastor of the new parish lived in a rented a house across the street from the future parish school until the rectory was built in 1911.
The school was completed in 1918 by the people of the parish using their own lumber and field stone. The building had four rooms, a full basement and was completed debt free. The school started with four Sisters of Mercy teaching eight grades. By 1920, there were five Sisters teaching ten grades. Some children were boarded at the school because of the size of the parish. The school was closed in 1931 due to the depression.
Around 1937, a 20 x 34 foot extension for a new sanctuary and sacristy was donated by Judge John Shaffer. In 1940, a new Wurlitzer organ was purchased and a new hot air furnace was installed in the church.
In 1952, at a cost of $15,000 the old school reopened with four Bernardine Sisters and 75 children. A new convent was also built for about $12,000 and $2,000 in furnishings.
In 1953, property for a school playground was purchased for $2,500. The cemetery property was purchased in 1959 for $1,100. With the donation of one lot and the purchase of three additional, the church and school grounds were enlarged in 1961.
Plans for a new 50 by 120 foot church were developed in 1961. The new church, with a seating
capacity of 650 was completed in 1962 for $110,000. The Knights of Columbus Council 5280 was also founded in 1962 with 79 charter members.
Ground was broken for a new school in 1966. When completed in 1967, it opened with four Bernadine Sisters, one lay teacher and 165 students.
On December 8, 1968, Bishop James Hickey consecrated the main altar of Sacred Heart Church with the relics of Saints Timothy, Irenaeus and Celestine; the Sacred Heart altar with the relics of Saints Timothy, Irenaeus, and Lucent; and the Blessed Virgin Mary altar with relics of Saints Irenaeus, Lucent and Aurelia.
In 2010, Bishop Joseph Cistone announced that he had accepted a recommendation from the
Pastoral Council to close Sacred Heart School. Approval came following increased tuition and parish costs and an enrollment report that showed only nine students had registered for the 2010-2011 academic school year.
In the fall of 2011, Bishop Cistone shared his pastoral letter, “A Future Full of Hope” with every
household in the diocese. The document would serve as a foundation for a broad plan to revitalize all parishes and strengthen the Diocese of Saginaw.
On January 20, 2013, after an 18 month planning process, Bishop Cistone assigned Sacred Heart Parish to Cohort 18 which also included St. Cecilia (Clare), St. Athanasius (Harrison), St. Henry (Rosebush), and St. Charles Mission (Leaton). Parishes with the cohort were to cooperate and partner in the future.
Sacred Heart and St. Athanasius parishes are currently linked and are slated to remain canonically distinct, sharing a priest and cooperatively sharing as many functions as possible.
No discussion regarding “community” in the Gladwin area would be complete without including the Sacred Heart Mission. From its beginning in basement of the old school in the 1940s, the Mission has been and continues to be an integral part of the Gladwin community.
Located approximately one mile east of the Sacred Heart campus, the Mission is open to the public Monday through Friday and provides a number of valuable services to the community including a food pantry, thrift store with clothing, toys, games, puzzles, kitchenware, and many other items.
The Mission coordinator reports directly to the Sacred Heart parochial administrator. The 10 member Mission board is composed of five (5) members from Sacred Heart and five (5) from other area churches.
During fiscal year 2014, volunteers logged almost 14,000 hours to help insure ongoing Mission success. Roughly 50 percent of the 40 plus volunteers are not members of Sacred Heart Parish. Individuals from the community also serve their mandated community service hours (court imposed, Department of Human Services, etc.) at the Mission throughout the year. Some volunteers have worked at the Mission for over 40 years, with several still working multiple days per week.
about the devotion to the sacred heart of jesus
Devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus has been a popular form of religious expression for centuries. For a treatment of its doctrine and history please click here.
