Community Corner
Dearborn Sacred Heart Church Celebrates 175 Years
The oldest Catholic church in the city will hold a Sunday mass and dinner for their celebration.
In 1836, there was only one Catholic church in the then newly settled community of Dearborn.
This year, is celebrating their 175th anniversary as a religious entity in the city. And on Nov. 6, a year's worth of events will culminate with a Mass of Thanksgiving and celebratory dinner.
In those years, a multitude of other Catholic churches have sprung up in Dearborn, and much has changed for Sacred Heart.
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The humble church located on Mason Street in Dearbornville grew with the continued settlement of Irish Catholic pioneers. In 1916, the parish began plans to build a new structure on acquired property at the corner of Military Road and Michigan Avenue. Dedicated in 1937, the church continued to grow, and the Sacred Heart High School was opened in 1954. Now, that building houses the that exists today, though the high school was only operative until the mid-1970s.
Today, the church continues to stand as one of the pillars of Dearborn's religious community, as well as attracting students to its school from across metro Detroit.
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Sunday's mass will be presided over by Archbishop Allen Vigneron, who has not been to Sacred Heart since his installation over the Archdiocese of Detroit in January 2009.
"When he comes to preside, it’s always a very special occasion," shared Pastoral Associate Fran Helner.
It's a celebration that will be shared by the current parish community, as well as past priests, parishioners and students.
“A number of priests who used to serve here over the years are coming back for the mass," she added, "and past parishioners and folks who may have graduated from the high school."
The mass begins at 2:30 p.m., followed by dinner in the main hall at 4:30 p.m. The Sacred Heart Museum, previously housed in the convent building, will also reopen on Sunday for the celebration. The parish invites visitors to take a look at the collection of photographs, documents and other memorabilia reflecting the history of the parish community.
Learn more about Sacred Heart Parish and School and http://dearbornsacredheart.org.
