In 1906 an account was opened toward the building of a new school. Since this account did not exceed $707.60, the plan for a school was not realized until twelve years later.

    The next six years saw a gradual development in the parish, both materially and spiritually. On the material side, additional items were purchased for the church, rectory and cemetery. On the spiritual level, the parish was growing in unity and faith.

    One of the items Father Hallissey purchased that still sparks our interest today is the Parish Chalice. The "Sacred Heart Chalice", as it has come to be known, is a very valuable and beautiful work of art. The ladies of the parish were asked to give their gold and jewelry to supply the materials with which the chalice would be made. The chalice is handmade of gold with inlaid silver filigree and encrusted with the diamonds, emeralds, and rubies that the ladies had donated.    It is reported that in 1949 the chalice was appraised for seventeen thousand dollars. Because of its value, the chalice is kept in a Hudson Bank safe deposit vault and only used for the most special of occasion, such as the 125th Anniversary Mass.

    In December of 1922. Father Hallissey was appointed pastor of St. Leo's Church in Detroit. Thus, Sacred Heart Parish lost one beloved leader only to find another in the person of the Reverend William J. Hayden, who was duly appointed pastor in December, 1922.

    The school fund, began by Father Hallissey, was not to acquire a new impetus. The need for a school was evident, and the new pastor's aims were high.

    In 1923, the property west of the church and rectory was purchased for $4,000. Additional property was purchased for $2,250 in 1924. Occupying this land was the. Kefuss house, which was moved in 1926. Improvements were then steadily made on the property, and the building was ready for the laying of the cornerstone. Father Hayden, surrounded by parishioners, performed this ceremony himself. Planning and supervising this construction was his main interest, an interest that continued even after the last brick had been put in place.

    Since it was evident that every parishioner was eager to help financially with this project, a bazaar was planned for November of 1928. A Shetland pony, by the name of "Nellie" was to he raffled off as a climax to the bazaar. The whole endeavor was very successful and the parish cleared the sum of $1,679.60.

    In April of 1929. the building of the school was completed. It was a magnificent brick structure with six spacious, well-lighted classrooms, a beautiful auditorium with a seating capacity of 650, and a large stage.

    When the school opened its door for the first time on Sept-ember 3, 1929, one hundred thirty students were in attendance, eighteen of whom were in their first year of high school. The succeeding three years of high school were to be added annually, one by one, until all four were offered. The teaching staff consisted of five sisters of St. Francis from Rochester, Minnesota, and one lay teacher, Miss Mary Ennis. A well rounded curriculum was offered to the students, including music classes of harmony and theory.

    His Excellency, the Most Reverend Michael James Gallagher Bishop of Detroit, and a number of clergy were present for the dedication of the school in September, 1929. After the Solemn High Mass, dinner was served in the basement of the new school to the clergy and members of the parish.

    So excellent were the academic standards of Sacred Heart High School that it earned the distinction of having been placed on the accredited list of schools by the University of Michigan, in the first year all four years of high school were offered. This honor and official recognition given by the State authorities, which places Sacred Heart School of Hudson among the Public and Parochial schools of the state whose instruction and equipment are of sufficiently high standard to admit their graduates to the State University without entrance examinations.

The first class to graduate from
Sacred Heart School

The first class to graduate from Sacred Heart School in June, 1933. were the following: Elizabeth Borck, Denis Dillon, Agnes Gutting. Bernice Hartley, Greta Haley, William Hairier, Cyril Hartley, Evelyn Kirkup, Ruth Malarney, John McGill, Paul Meredith, William Meredith, Florence O'Reilly, Ruth Russell, Rita Smith, and Mary Weber. Their motto, "For the greater glory of God", is indicative of the wonder­ful religious training they received from their years at Sacred Heart.

    For this recognition, much credit is due to Reverend Fr. W.J. Hayden, who labored long and hard in planning and supervising the construction of this attractive, commodious, and splendidly equipped building, and whose faithful, con­scientious and untiring efforts, deserve the support and co. operation, not only of every member of Sacred Heart Church. but of the entire community, which had always found in him a public spirited, loyal citizen, and a true friend.

    In June of 1937, the Sisters of St. Francis were withdrawn from their apostolate in Hudson in order that they might staff their many other schools closer to the Motherhouse in Rochester, Minnesota. Although these Sisters served Hudson for just eight years, the impression they left will be forever indelibly stamped on the hearts of their pupils.

    The Sisters of St. Dominic from Adrian. Michigan. were commissioned by Mother M. Gerald, O.P., to staff Sacred Heart School in September of 1937. The high standards of scholarship set by the Franciscan Sisters were maintained by the new faculty of six Dominican Sisters.

    The Reverend Henry Edmund Donnelly was ordained a priest in Sacred Heart Church August 17, 1930. The church was filled to its utmost capacity. In the entire liturgy, there is no ceremony so impressive, so solemn, and so sacred as the ordination of one of her members to the priesthood. On the following day Father Donnelly offered, for the first time, the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. Father William J. Hayden. the pastor of Sacred Heart Church, acted as arch-priest.

    Father Donnelly received his early education in the Hudson schools, after which he studied at the University of Dayton, Sacred Heart Seminary.

    On September 8, 1954, an outstanding honor was conferred upon Monsignor Henry E. Donnelly, who, having been ordained twenty-four years earlier in Sacred Heart Church, was raised to the ecclesiastical rank of Auxiliary Bishop of Detroit, and in November of the same year, His Excellency administered Confirmation in his home parish. Warmly, the people of Hudson welcomed back this son of whom they are justifiably proud.

    Owing to Father Hayden's poor health, the Reverend R.J.. Cunningham was assigned to Sacred Heart Parish in 1941, as an assistant. Both priests remained in Hudson until the tall of 1945. After bidding farewell to the school children, Father Hayden left for St. Lawrence Hospital in Lansing, October 18.

    There are no records recorded, but it is understood that Fattier Raymond McCormick was an assistant pastor, also, about this same time.

    Father Cunningham's new assignment was Annunciation Parish, Detroit, Michigan. He left Hudson November 15, 1945, which date also marked the arrival of the new pastor, the Reverend Bernard P. Hoey. A program was given by the school children to welcome Father Hoey to Sacred Heart. As the seventh pastor of this parish, he was the first to have both the school and church well established on his arrival. The task of the upkeep for these material structures and the faith and love for God that had been implanted in the parishioners lay ahead for this pastor and all the future ones.

    At the close of the school year, June. 1946, Father Hoey felt obliged to discontinue the high school because of its low enrollment the previous year. The elementary school perservered with an enrollment that was greatly increased through the provision of a school bus.

    In 1947, many improvements were made on the parish buildings. The church was redecorated at this time, and necessary equipment, including the school bus, was purchased.

    After the short pastorate of just four years, Father Hoey was appointed assistant chaplain to the Sisters of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, at Monroe, Michigan. He was succeeded on June. 14, 1949, by the Reverend James P. McCabe.

    Father McCabe, by nature a generous and friendly man, quickly cemented good relations between himself and his congregation. The work of upkeep still continued.

    A new asphalt tile floor was laid in the church, a new boiler installed in the school, and other needed repairs accomplished. Even the ringing of the Angelus bell was made automatic through the installation of an electrical device. This bell, placed in its tower as early as 1908, had been rung through the years by the faithful hands of the church sexton. And its message of "Glory to God in the Highest", inscribed on its outer surface, continues to sound throughout the town of Hudson.

    This beautiful bell is of bronze, measures 53" in diameter and weighs approximately 3300 pounds. The replacement value of this bell, in 1983, would be at least 540,000.

Inscribed on one side of the bell are the following six lines:

Glory to God in the Highest

In Honor of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus

Nativity of Our Lord

Pius X, Supreme Pontiff

John S. Foley. D,D. Bishop of Detroit

Joseph F. Hallissey, Pastor

    Inscribed on the other side are the names of the parishioners who gave generously, so this bell could be purchased by Sacred Heart. Following is a list of their last names only: Brogan, Burn, Caudle, Cavanaugh, Cosgrove, Dillon, Gahagan. Ebbitt, Flory, Hogan, Kelley, LaVersa. McNulty, Murray, O'Connor, Riddle, Steger, Whalon, Hagan, Haley, Hughes, Hughes-East Kingsley, Lennon, McKenna. Meredith, O'Riely, Rost, Seymour. Welch, White.

    It was at this time, August 15, 1952, that George. Meredith, a well known face on the parish grounds, became custodian of our parish and has served us faithfully for 32 years.

    In 1953, Father McCabe was assigned to St. Elizabeth Parish in Wyandotte, and his brief, but happy, stay in Hudson terminated on September 16th. His successor, the Reverend Dominic I. Foley, arrived on October 7th of the same year.

    The three years during which Father Foley served the people of Hudson were spent in performing well the ordinary duties of a parish priest. He was especially interested in everything that concerned the school and its betterment. Through his negotiations, a second school bus was soon purchased for the Addison route. During his stay here in Hudson, Ardyth Meredith helped Fr. Foley out at the rectory.

    Because of his failing health, Father Foley retired from his position as pastor of Sacred Heart on April 17, 1956. Father George Gaynor, chaplain from the Dominican Motherhouse at Adrian, arrived the same day to act as temporary administrator of the parish.

   Father Hurley had served his flock well in Hudson, and in the providence of God, he was now destined to accomplish great things elsewhere. Appointed pastor of Sacred Heart Church in GrosseIle, MI., Father Hurley left for his new assignment on June 26, 1959.

   In February. 1957. five Hudson Explorer Scouts received the highest honor the Catholic Church can give a boy in scouting when they were presented with the Ad Altare Dei Cross. A Court of Honor at the St. Joseph Church was attended by Catholic scouts horn both Monroe and Lenawee County. Reverend Father Hardy from Monroe, scout chaplain of the Wolverine Council, made the awards in a beautiful ceremony, which was attended by families, friends, and leaders of the eighteen boys from the two counties who received the award.

On June 10, 1959, the following communication was issued by the Detroit Chancery Office:

"Dear Father Loewen: The transfer of Father Edward Hurley will leave vacant the pastorate of Sacred Heart parish in Hudson. In order to provide for the pastoral care of this parish I hereby relieve you of your present duties at St. Martin's parish in Detroit and appoint you pastor of Sacred Heart Parish, Hudson, and St. Mary's Mission at Devils Lake. This appointment will take effect on Friday, June 26, 1959. I have every confidence that the good people of Sacred Heart Parish will receive you with affection and loyalty as their pastor..."

Sincerely yours in Christ 4- John F. Dearden,

Archbishop of Detroit

    Born in Detroit, Father Loewen attended St. Catherine grade and high school there. He received a B.A. from Sacred Heart Seminary College in Detroit and studied theology for four years at Mt. St, Mary of the West in Norwood, Ohio.

    The parish was planning to celebrate its centennial in the fall of '59. Father Hurley had started a fund drive to decorate the church in preparation for the event. The pledges were being fulfilled. The firm of Maloe and Jordanoff in Detroit were contracted to do the work at a contract price of $12,000 to $15,000.

    In observance of the 100th anniversary of Sacred Heart Church, a Pontifical High Mass of Thanksgiving for 100 years of blessings to the parish was celebrated by the parish's most distinguished son, the. Most Reverend Bishop Henry E. Donnelly, Auxiliary Bishop of the Detroit Archdiocese.

    Sixty priests and five visiting nuns were present. Bishop Donnelly spoke of the early history of the parish and gave a brief resume of its progress to the present time. He also spoke of the Mission Church at Devils Lake, built under the direction of the Rev. Father Edward J. Hurley. Bishop Donnelly reminded the parishioners of the spirit of sacrifice of the deceased members.

    The Bishop was assisted by the other priest sons of the parish. The Rev. Father Joseph Brannigan of Notre Dame, was arch-priest. The Rev. Father Fred Borck of All Saints Parish in Detroit was deacon, and the Rev. Father Raphael Dunnigan, pastor of Saint Luke Parish in Flint, was sub-deacon. Monsignor G. Warren Peek of Ann Arbor also was present. The Sacred Heart Men's Choir sang at the service.

    Following the Mass, the ladies of the parish served the many visiting priests and dignitaries a bountiful chicken dinner in the school dining hall.

    A souvenir booklet was prepared by Sister Marie Veronica. who was on the teaching staff of Sacred Heart School at this time. The school had eight grades, with a faculty of four nuns and two part-time lay teachers - Lucy Hartley and Frances Malarney. When the Dominican Sisters were no longer able to supply tour nuns, the 7th and 8th grades were dropped.

    This car was a Christmas gift from the parishioners of Sacred Heart and St. Mary on the Lake.

    Feast of Holy Family, 1964. Henry Reuter presents keys to '64 Dodge to Sister LaVerne, Superior, Sister Roselyn, Sister Andrew Bobola & Sister Siena Mary and Fr. Loewen

    To promote interest in the school, and to assist in a financial way, a Booster Club was organized, under the leadership of Cyril Hartley. At that time, there were no tuition fees, only a special monthly "pink" envelope to be used toward school support.

    Sacred Heart parish had been in the Detroit Diocese and under the jurisdiction of the Archbishop of Detroit. However, diocesan boundaries were changed on July 21. 1971, and Hudson and all Lenawee County came under the Bishop of Lansing and, thus, we became closer to our members living in Hillsdale County, which had been in the Lansing Diocese.

    A few statistics from the sacramental record books tells the spiritual growth of the parish during the pastorate of Father Loewen. Baptisms-688, of which 576 were children and 112 were adults, Marriages-241, Funerals-202.

    The history of Sacred Heart parish would be incomplete without mention of the faithful housekeeper, Susie Coscarelli. whose devotedness to duty for 18 years was outstanding. During Part of Father Loewen's stay in Hudson, Betty Eff helped out in some of the office responsibilities.

    The Oblates of St. Francis de Sales had been providing weekend assistance for over twenty years, coming first from Toledo, Ohio, where they staff St. Francis de Sales High School, and then from Lumen Christi High School in Jackson, Michigan, and summer help from Camp de Sales. When they were no longer able to provide weekend help, it became necessary to turn to the Bishop for advice. At the suggestion of Father Loewen, a pastor would be placed in Hudson and Father Loewen would be assigned to the mission church. This suggestion was accepted by the Bishop, and the new arrangement began in June of 1979, with the appointment of Father Eugene Beiter to the pastorate of Sacred Heart, thus bringing to a close an administration of twenty years - to quote Father Loewen - in the "finest parish with the finest people". It was a sad time when Father Loewen left. for after twenty years, he was part of our hearts, as well as our parish.

    Father Eugene J. Beiter succeeded Father Loewen in June of 1979. Father Beiter set about doing some of the needed repairs and maintenance, this was given priority. The church roof was leaking badly, and it was dealt with first. The chimneys were capped off, the eaves troughs repaired, and electrical cables were installed, hoping it would prevent the buildup of ice and snow. At this time, the pleziglass was added to the windows, the confessional remodeled, and a front room in the rectory was made into an office. This gave more room for the parish secretary, Cassie Camp, as well we providing a private office for the pastor.

Linda Borck was hired as housekeeper and cook during this time, and still helps out at the rectory.

    Being a conservative pastor and concerned about parish funds, he felt the school should be closed, and the funds be used elsewhere. Because of his stand about the school, the parishioners rallied, and the Booster Club was again formed to save the school.

    He was a community minded priest, was visible in Hudson, and a member of the Thorn Memorial Hospital Board.

    Father Beiter held scripture service for the football players each Friday, before the games, and this practice is still con­tinued by Father Wehrle.

    Feeling his duties were completed at Sacred Heart, he resigned his position as pastor, and left in June of 1982, to serve at St. Martin Church, Vicksburg, Michigan.

    Father Jonathan W. Wehrle, an Associate Pastor of Holy Redeemer at Burton, Michigan, succeeded Father Boiler as Pastor of Sacred Heart Church on June 30. 1982.

    Father Jon, as he became affectionately known, was baptized and raised at Sacred Heart Church, leaving with his family, July 4, 1957, to enter an Adrian parish, and, 25 years later - to the day - return to Hudson as their priest.

    With only two months until the beginning of school, his first mission was to keep the school open. In the person of Father Jon, a new surge of 'young' enthusiasm met the Sacred Heart people, with assigned goals and concern with his people, Father Jon told the parishioners, "we need to increase enrollment at our school, and we need to continue and preserve what our forefathers planned".

    Mr. Phillip L. Haack, a local teacher in the public schools, was hired to be principal. Father Jon and Mr. Haack worked closely in hiring a new faculty and changing the direction of the school. At the same time, Jennifer Ball was hired to be parish secretary. Jennifer had been parish organist for many years, a job she still continues.

    Kindergarten was added to our school in 1982, and by the fall of 1983, enrollment had gone from a critical 31 to 90 plus. The kindergarten, first and second grades were filled to capacity, and uniforms had been returned to the classroom, a great discipline aid.

    The year of 1983, Pre-Kindergarten had been added, and seventh and eighth grades had been returned to Sacred Heart. By 1984, enrollment was at 100.

    For the first time in several years, the. 1984-85 school year welcomed a Sister as Principal of Sacred Heart. Sister Viviana Custo', O.P., is teaching 5th and 6th grades, as well as being school principal. Sister is originally from Malta, and is now a member of the Adrian Dominican Community.

    The school is fully supported through church subsidies, and by the tuition payments of the students families. Tuition is now at $425.00 per student.

    On Wednesday nights, religious instructions are provided for the students who attend public schools. Sacred Heart has the distinction of having one of the highest attended CCD programs in the Diocese.

    Our school, which was the only parish school left in Lenawee County by 1977, has a great future, as a result of our zealous priest, and our hardworking and generous parishioners.

     The Hudson area Catholic families of 1904 did not realize that their dream of a new church would take nearly eighty years to complete, nor did they dream that their grandchildren and great grandchildren would he completing the work.

    Sacred Heart Parish had gone through numerous stages of formation, as does any area church, the longest being the completion of a social hall and full family facility that was started in October, 1906, and set for dedication in September, 1984.

    In January, 1983, six lay persons, some of whom were descendents of the committee in 1904, and Father Jon, decided what renovations were needed. Present at the meeting were: John (Bud) Monahan, Edward Hackett, Glenn Hackett, William Beal, Charles Casavant, and Richard Camp.

    In August, 1983, the first shovels were turned over by Scott and Steve Wright.

    A paved parking area extension to the east of the church, new sewers, sidewalks, wiring, and heating system came first.

    The parking lot was at ground level, perfect to make the church accessible to everyone. Large double doors were in stalled into the former coal room, transformed into a lower lobby, with an elevator and stairway up to the church.

    The 'old, dark basement', with a single light bulb suspended, had been opened up and transformed into a social ball with terrazo floor and a fully modern kitchen.

    Later, at the dedication, Bishop Povish would comment on how obvious it was that we had used as high of quality materials as our ancestors had used.

    Two doors on the east side, lower level, were cut through 28" granite stone walls-the stone having been brought from the fields eighty years ago. The doors were necessary to gain access to the church basement.

    Several design companies were contacted to see what ideas they might have in redecorating the church. Mosack's Design Consultants from Cleveland, Ohio, was hired as it was felt their design best brought out the spirit and mood of the sanctuary and nave.

A great effort was made to bring out the architectural detail in the church by the manner in which it was decorated. The colors used; mauves greys, and gold leaf, united with those in the stained glass windows, put continuity into the struc­ture and era.

    The painting of the church's interior was very detailed. Angel faces, which had been painted monotone for years, now glow with lifelike color and detail, each window rope and trim was painted in a contrasting hew, and the arching scroll work across the ceiling was accented with gold and charcoal grey.

    The stations of the cross statues, as well as altar and corner statues, were all in dire need of repairs. According to Father Jon, "Modern practice has many parishes tossing out the old and buying new. These were original and soul binding gifts of our ancestors. deserving of our preservation".

    The only structural changes on the main level were an east doorway and a semicircular extension in front of the communion rail, to facilitate weddings and children's Masses.

A large stained glass window on the west side of the church, behind the pipe organ, had heen sealed off when the church was built with three layers of brick. A crew of teenagers spent days removing each brick individually, placing them in a pail and handing them through a maze of pipes without any damage. One false move by the youths, it was either the pipe organ, or the stained glass window.

    The window had been bricked shut since the church was built in order to install the pipe organ from the first church. The architect who designed the church and rose window did not realize the window would be blocked by the organ. The organ had been in need of some repair, as well as a total cleaning, so the decision was made to expand the work into rebuilding and redesigning the pipe organ in such a fashion as to be able to see the rose window and retain the organ.

    Several pipe organ companies were contacted. One company told Father Jon he was crazy and what he wanted to do was impractical, if not impossible. Father made contact with Jim Aebel from Aebel Organ Service out of Royal Oak, Mi. Mr. Aebel got as excited about opening the rose window and redesigning the pipe organ as what Father was. A contract was drawn up and work begun in July, 1983. It would take until September, 1984, to complete the organ work be cause of the extent and size of the project.

    The famous composer, J.S. Bach, once said, "one organ pipe in the open was worth two enclosed". The redesigned organ was open in design, while the previous design was closed. As a result, the rebuilt organ sounded much clearer and crisper. A few complaints were heard about the volume of the organ being too loud. Father Jon announced he would receive complaints about anything, except the volume of the organ. Sacred Heart has a beautiful, historic organ befitting a beautiful, historic church.

    A beautiful nine foot diameter circular rose window is now illuminated artificially by night and naturally by day from behind the pipe organ. Special lighting was also installed to illuminate both bell towers and their windows at night.

    The pews were removed and refinished, and carpet was laid throughtout the main level.

    The exterior has remained pretty much the same as planned by the parishioners. The solid oak doors have been replaced by modern glass doors. framed in bronze, and the stone entry stairs have been carpeted.

     Our school also has been repainted, and some remodeling done, which includes a chapel in the dining room hall, and the old windows replaced with new ones.

 

    The cost of this remodeling project, including the new hall, decorating the church, and work on the school, was $472,000.00, a far cry from a few years ago, when, the church with its contents represented a cash outlay of $60,000.00.

    'When your children shall ask you tomorrow, 'What mean these stones?', You shall answer them: 'These stones were set for a monument of the people to the Glory of God". Leviticus 25.

    Our parish is now completed and ready to celebrate its 125th year, through the enthusiasm of Father Jon and the generosity of the parishioners.

    In June of 1983, Sacred Heart Parish had its first annual festival, entitled. 'Sacred Heart Spring N,2 Summer Festival'. which was an overwhelming success. The crowds that gathered all three days enjoyed rides, games, a craft room, home baked items, a flea market, and much more.

    Food was plentiful, ranging from a pig roast on Friday night serving 300, a chicken barbecue serving 700 on Saturday. and Swiss Steak on Sunday serving 460. Also available was hot dogs, Kielbasa and Kraut, ice cream, popcorn, peanuts and Pop.

    Four bands entertained throughout the Festival, with the Gadzinski Band on Sunday providing the polka music.

    The summer festivals, in addition to being a lot of fun, also raised about ten thousand dollars profit.

    September 30. 1984, Bishop Kenneth J. Povish came from Lansing to celebrate the 125th anniversary of the Parish, and dedicate the new fellowship hall. When the Bishop arrived in the morning, the first thing he said was, "Show me what has happened at Sacred Heart". Many changes had been made since the Bishop's last visit, two years earlier. The Bishop toured the school and church, noting the many changes that had been made and giving his approval as he made the tour.

    The church was filled with guests and parishioners for the 10:00 a.m. Anniversary Mass. In addition to Bishop Povish, the concelebrating priests that day were; Father Hurley and Father Loewen, former pastors, Father Paul Lynch, an Oblate Priest who had helped at the parish for many years. arid Father Wehrle, the current pastor.

    After Communion, during this special Mass, the congregation entered in a rousing chorus of "Holy God, We Praise Thy Name". It was pointed out to those assembled that this hymn was included during other historical celebrations of the parish and that we wanted to continue the tradition. Jennifer Ball, the parish organist, was instructed to "pull out all the stops" on the organ. The organ, which was totally rebuilt as part of the 1983 renovations, had much more volume than it had before, but the enthusiasm of the people was such that they were able to sing louder than the organ - a very rousing chorus, indeed.

    After Mass the recessional procession continued outside and around to the east entrance of the new hall for the Bishops' blessing. Two plaques were presented that day. One recog­nizing the support of the Knights of Columbus in donating the new elevator, and a second plaque acknowledging every-one who had worked to make the completion of the hall a reality.

Following the dedication of the hall, the visiting clergy and parishioners who were present enjoyed one of the famous Sacred Heart potluck dinners. It has been a time honored tradition of Sacred Heart, that, after we gather around the Lord's Eucharistic table to commemorate the high points of our history, we continue the celebration and fellowship around the dinner table. 

Fr. H. Paul Ruddy, O.S.F.S.

Fr. Richard Eberly, O.S.F.S.

 

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