The History of Sacred Heart Parish

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    Sacred Heart Church, in the town of Hudson, owes its existence chiefly to immigrants from Ireland, who, by indefatigable toil hoped to convert forest land into grain producing acres, and thus provide a livelihood for their families and themselves.

Although at the time of their coming, as early as 1846, they were very poor in the goods of this world, they were extremely rich in their faith, though they had left their native country, because of oppression, they did not abandon their religion, in spite of the fact that they were without the ministrations of the priests.

The Redemptorist Fathers were the first to come to their assistance. Mass was said at first in the family farmhouses, later the Irish immigrants constructed a meager little frame church, out of timber which the woods abundantly provided, on a hill in the township of Medina, which, even to this day, goes by the name "Catholic Hill". Mass was said in this church once a month, at which time the people were given the opportunity of receiving the sacraments.

    A Catholic school had been started, around 1853, on Catholic Hill. The number of pupils varied with the terms. During the winter term, there would be as many as ninety or more pupils in attendance. There are no records to confirm the number of years this school was in existence, it probably continued until 1872, when a district public schoolhouse was built on Catholic Hill. Since all the pupils were Catholic, morning prayers were recited and catechism was taught, in addition to the other subjects. Among the early teachers in the school were Miss Marya Lynch, Miss Lizzie Daly and Miss Nellie Collins.

    The practice of teaching catechism and reciting morning prayers was discontinued after 1902, at which time the school again returned to the non-sectarian curriculum of the school system.

    The Redemptorist Fathers work was discontinued in Hudson and Medina when the Most Illustrious Bishop, P.P. Lefevre, sent to Adrian a priest in the person of the Very Reverend Peter Joseph Kinderkins, placing upon him the injunction to extend his pastoral care to the Mission at Medina (Catholic Hill).

    In the year of 1858, Father Kinderkins purchased a small plot of land in the town of Hudson, on the corner of School and Spring Streets for $337.50. A barn twenty-two by thirty feet occupied the site at the time of the purchase, and this was converted into a temporary church.

    The year 1859, on the 23rd of October, the mission received as its rector and first resident pastor the Reverend Francis J. Van Erp, born and educated in Holland, at Harren, in the Diocese of Bosco, and ordained a priest at Detroit.

    Since he was of the seed of men through whom salvation came to Israel, a man of truly Apostolic zeal, as well as a man of learning, he took upon himself the arduous task of laying the foundations of the new parish.

    At the time of his arrival, there were about one hundred Catholic families living in sparsely settled districts in the townships of Hudson, Medina, Pittsford, and Wright. The temporary church in Hudson was nearing completion, although a debt of $670.28 remained on the property and building. Father Van Erp had even more serious worries than money, for a dissension had arisen between the congregation at Medina and the one at Hudson over the question of the location of the church. A man of strong character and unusual prudence, he found the task of reconciling the parties not too difficult, and he soon had a united congregation that supported him in every work during the thirteen years of his pastorate.

In the pioneer period of the parish history, both the temporary church in Hudson and the Medina Church were used. Mass was said in Hudson on three Sundays of each month and in Medina on the remaining one. Often the people, who had almost no means of transportation, walked miles to attend the Holy Sacrifice. Their pastor, too, at times obliged to walk the four miles to Medina in order that the people of that vicinity might have Mass celebrated in their church. In this circumstance, as in many others, priest and people were united in hardships.

According to very early records of the parish, Father Van Erp baptized four infants in the latter part of 1859, and thirty-three the following year. The first four names to appear in this Baptismal register are: Mary Jones, Edward Gray, John Hogan, and Catherine McNulty.

There are no marriages recorded for the year 1859, but in 1860, the following four are listed: John Hughes and Margaret Clifford; Bernard Rooney and ----------------- Viaganah; John Rielly and Ellen Hogan; Edward Linen and Brigetta Feerney.

First Communion and Confirmation were administered in Hudson for the first time on April 26, 1861. The following eighteen children received First Communion that year: John Dwyer, Elizabeth Dwyer, Joseph Dogherty, Thomas Rooney, Mary Ann Rooney, Mary Delany, Francis Dillon, Michael Dillon, Edmund Dillon, James Beck, John Morrison, Frank Morrison, Richard Bowden, Catharine Hasard, Michael White, John Lawlest, Elisa Lawlesf, Eliza Hasard.

Confirmation was administered by Bishop P.P. Lefevre the same day to the same group of children, with the following additions: James Lawlesf, Lawrence Rust, Eliza O'Kane, and Brigid O'Rielly.

Despite the difficulty in deciphering the initial letter of the family names in these old records, it is certain that many parishioners will be able to recognize branches of their family tree in the foregoing list of names.

In the year of Our Lord, 1861, Father Van Erp had a rectory constructed, in Hudson, near the temporary church. As a result of his unceasing labors, which conquered all obstacles the temporary church became too small for the growing congregation, and in the year of 1863, it became necessary to add a new addition to the structure. In the same year, he bought two and one-quarter acres of land, on the outskirts of Hudson for a cemetery. This place now is known as Webster's Park.

In 1866, thinking that the proper time had come, and it was clear that the temporary structure could not remain adequate, he began the building of a new church. Its location was nearby the temporary church. The following note by the pastor in the Hudson Gazette gives a good description of the church.

The Catholics intend to erect a church edifice worthy of our beautiful, thriving village. Its dimensions are 44 x 90 ft., height of steeple 115 it., style of archi­tecture - Gothic. Its exterior is to be of brick, set off with ornamental cut stone, its interior finished in the most elaborate style. The combined cost of the building is somewhat beyond our means, but being conscious that you take such an interest in the religious and material prosperity of this community, we respectfully and confidently solicit your aid.

This church also had a communion railing of hammered brass with an onyx top, furnished by the ladies of the Confraternity.

The Most Illustrious Bishop Lefevre solemnly blessed the cornerstone on the 15th of July, 1866. The first Mass was celebrated in the new church on the 30th of May, 1869, and on the same day, Reverend Francis Van Erp, the rector, blessed it with the provisory blessing "Novae Domus".

   A tribute is due both pastor and people, when, through their prayers and sacrifices, such a fitting tabernacle is raised to the honor and glory of God.

L.G. Brennan and Theresa Haley were the last couple to be married in this church.

On April 23, 1872, this beautiful church was solemnly blessed and consecrated to the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus by The Most Reverend Casper Henry Borgess, Bishop of Detroit. With this dedication, the pioneer stage of Sacred Heart Parish was now over.

In June, 1872, our pioneer pastor, Father Van Erp, was assigned to the Ann Arbor Mission.

His successor, our second pastor, was the Reverend M.D. Schaeken, who remained for one year, and in June, 1873, was succeeded by the Reverend J.F. Elsen.

Interior scenes from the church on school street

Reverend Elsen was a man inclined toward formality of dress, always wearing a tall silk hat and a coat with tails, even to the post office. He had the easy task of completing the work so wisely begun and continued by his predessor. During the early years of his pastorate, he placed a tower upon the church, bought a bell, and under the protecting help of God, started a parish school in the month of January, 1877.

An old, abandoned frame schoolhouse on State Street, just south of the church, was used for this venture, Miss Maria Lynch and Miss Lena Flanders were the first teachers. The enrollment ranged between twenty and twenty-five pupils, some of whom are included in the following list: William, Alice, Inez Wright; James Kane; Frank, Elizabeth, Mary, and James Moloney; Louis, William and Mary Brennan; Dan and Jim O'Connell; Edward, William and Peter LaVersa; Louis, Lillian, Pauline and Frances Steger.

The schoolhouse served a purpose other than that of instruction. Weekday Masses were said here during the winter months in order to eliminate heating the larger church. This practice was continued even after Father Elsen's pastorate.

The first Catholic Fair was held in Hudson in 1878. This activity was inaugurated in order to raise funds for an organ for the new church. Owing to the untiring labors of the various committees, the fair turned out to be a huge success, and the coveted organ, purchased for $1,300.00, was placed in the church.

As the organ was installed in the days before electricity, the bellows had to be pumped by hand power and as one compressed, the other expanded. In order to supply the air needed for the 1,127 pipes, great amounts were kept in reserve. There were several wind chests and the corners of each folded in and out like the corners at the bottom of a paper bag. When the present church was built, the organ was rebuilt and placed in the large gallery over the main entrance. An electric blower now supplies air instantly so very little storage of air is needed, so an estimated half ton of material had been removed. And to this day, its beautiful sweet tones enhance the Divine Worship services.

Sacred Heart Parish now comprised about one hundred and fifty families. Much progress had been made since its foundations were first established in 1859; a permanent church had Father Nacy attended public schools in Lapeer, MI, then St. John's Seminary  - Kitchiner, Ontario, Canada, and St. Mary's Seminary - Baltimore.

This fourth pastor of Sacred Heart had a winning personaliy and a friendly spirit that united him quickly to his new parishioners. God had blessed him with an outstanding vocal talent which he put to good used in liturgical ceremonies,and, occasionally, in secular performances.

In 1891, Father Nacy published a little booklet regarding the parish, entitled,"Sacred Heart Church, Hudson, Michigan.". In this brochure the rules and regulations of the parish are stated, among which the following might prove of interest.

The pew rent is the principal source of income on which we depend for the support of the church. The pews are rented as follows: The long pews, of six seating each, rented at the uniform price of $16 per annum; the short pews, of three seatings each, at the uniform price of $10 each; when one or two seatings only are taken in a pew, they will be rented at the uniform price of $4 per annum for each seating. Pew holders who desire further time to pay their rent, will notify the pastor. Pew holders cannot sublet their pews or any part of them.

By 1891, the parish school had discontinued, Sunday school was being held at 3:00 p.m.., except on the first Sunday of each month, when it was held after High Mass so that the country children could attend. Of the many Catechists who served, two will long be remembered at Sacred Heart Parish; Harriett Wright, and Lillian Steger.

It is interesting to note that Father Elsen was succeeded by Father Nacy both here and at St. Paul's in Grosse Pointe, where both priests died. Father Elsen was pastor at St. Paul's for ten years and was responsible for building their present church. In fact, when he died in January of 1899, the church was under construction, and the floor had to be rushed to completion to hold his funeral. The altar was two cider barrels and some planks covered with a cloth.

Father Nacy left Hudson in 1899 to succeed Father Elsen at St. Paul's. He was Pastor for thirty years, until his death January 27, 1929. He completed the church Father Elsen began, and also built a rectory, school, and convent. Perhaps, though, the people of St. Paul's remember Father Nacy for the same reason we do - his writings. He was very chatty In his writings, taken from St. Paul's history; "Remember when calling on the priest to make your visits as short as your business will allow. There are many others in the parish who require his attention, hence do not monopolize his time". To avoid horse and buggy traffic jams in front of the church he writes, "No one should allow his team to stand and block the way unnecessarily long. Others may not be able to spare the time for you to finish your interesting visit"! He writes, "There are those who complain that the priest has too many horses. Let those who do so buy the extra horses from the priest and he will make another donation to the Church"!

    Father Nacy's successor was the. Reverend Joseph F. Rani ssey from Detroit, Michigan.

Shortly after the arrival of Father Hallissey, plans were made and a subscription drive was inaugurated to build a new rectory on School and Spring Streets. In a short space of time the rectory, a two story brick structure, was completed.