Prior to 1881, missionary priests traveled through the Gladwin area, perhaps every six months.  At those times, they would give instructions in the Faith, celebrate Mass in private homes, witness marriages and celebrate the Sacraments of Baptism and Reconciliation.

In 1881, Rev. James Byrne was appointed pastor in Midland for Midland, Gladwin and part of Gratiot counties.  About every three months he made the trip by stage coach into the country around Gladwin, where he would celebrate the Sacraments and visit the sick in surrounding areas.  Lay people were appointed to give religious instructions until the priest would return.

Gladwin became a Mission of Pinconning in 1888.  Fr. Schrems came from Pinconning and continued to minister in much the same way as Fr. Byrne had done.

In 1891 Fr. Charles Dequoy replaced Fr. Schrems.  Mass was now celebrated on the third Sunday on each month at McClary’s Hall.  The Mission of Sacred Heart was growing and more people could gather at the hall than in a private home.

Fr. LeFebvre replaced Fr. Dequoy in 1892.  One Sunday soon after his arrival, he found the hall unfit for services after the entertainment of the night before.  The necessity of a church building was apparent to all.  The people at the Mission of Gladwin became very active in raising money for the new church.  Everyone pledged as much as possible.  In just a few months, men began to haul gravel, stone and lumber for the building.  The first Sacred Heart Church was completed in 1893.

Fr. Edward Racette succeeded Fr. LeFebvre in 1905 and continued with the Mission Church of Sacred Heart in Gladwin.  They were fruitful years and on July 11, 1908, Sacred Heart was named a Parish with both Coleman and Harrison as Missions.

The first pastor of the new parish was Fr. Wendell Miller, who came to Gladwin in 1908.  He was without a doubt one of God’s most untiring and zealous priests ever to shepherd in the Gladwin area.  He was a friend to everyone and was often asked to be the main speaker at auspicious civic gatherings.  Many in Gladwin, not only Catholics helped him in his extensive work during his eleven years here.

He stayed at the home of a parishioner until the house across from the church was rented as a rectory.  By 1911, this rented rectory was replaced by the first rectory (now our parish gathering space).  This first rectory was a two story brick veneer structure (35'x50') and had ten rooms.

With the new rectory built, Fr. Miller turned his energies to the need for a Catholic school.  He conceived the idea of building the school of field stone which could be gathered from the fields of parishioners’ farms.  Some of the fieldstones came from as far away as 20 miles, hauled to the site by horse and wagon.  Nearly all the labor, as well as the lumber, was donated by the people of the parish.  The school was built next to the rectory and when completed was free of debt.
 
The school first opened in September 1918 with four Sisters of Mercy teaching grades one through eight.  By 1920, there were ten grades and five sisters.  Because of the wide area from which students came, many of the children boarded at the school, where the sisters also lived.

The priestly career of Fr. Miller came to an end in September 1919, when he died at the age of 42, mourned by the entire community.

Fr. Charles VanColen was appointed as pastor and remained until 1931.  Then Fr. Linus Schrems was appointed pastor and he remained until 1933.  During Fr. Schrem’s stay, he started a Mission at the town hall in Houghton Lake.  Rev. Albert Baumann became pastor of Sacred Heart in 1933, remaining until 1937.  While here, he spent much time developing the northern mission that later became Our Lady of the Lake Parish in Prudenville.
 
With great sadness, Sacred Heart School closed in September 1932.  It was the depths of the Great Depression and the parish was no longer financially able to keep the school open.  The school would remain closed until 1952.

With the school closed, the children began gathering in neighborhood homes for religious instructions.  Sisters would come each summer for a two-week school in preparation for First Communion. 

In December 1937, Fr. Edwin Kirchhoff became pastor.  Because the church building was becoming too small to accommodate all the people, an extension was made to the church to house a new sanctuary and sacristy.  Funds were donated by a parishioner.

Fr. Kyran McGinn became pastor in 1940, staying until February 1949.  During his pastorate, a new hot air furnace and Wurlitzer organ were purchased for the church.
 
In February 1949, Fr. Michael Wolfe became pastor and stayed until December 1951.  During Fr. Wolfe’s pastorate, a new main altar and two side altars were installed and the entire church was redecorated inside and out.

Fr. George Artman was appointed pastor in September 1951.  The Great Depression and  the Second World War were over and the economy was on an even keel once more.  Fr. Artman’s first project was renovating and re-opening the school.  By this time the school was in terrible condition.  Plaster was hanging on those walls still standing.  The furnace and plumbing were gone.  The roof leaked and water came in at the tops of windows.  But Fr. Artman and the men of the parish were undaunted.  The basement was cleaned, new walls were built with pine lumber and new ceiling were put up.  A hot water heating system and new plumbing were installed.  The floors were sanded, new desks purchased, the roof was replaced and the building was water-proofed.  The men of the parish donated hundreds and hundreds of hours of labor.  Building materials and furnishings cost $15,000. 

In August 1952, four Bernardine Franciscan Sisters came to teach.  Three sisters taught in the school while the fourth sister taught music to the children of the community.  Seventy-five children were enrolled as students.  A home for the sisters was needed.  Once again, men of the parish donated hundreds of hours in labor.  During the summer and autumn, Fr. Artman and the men built a new two-story full basement convent with five bedrooms and a chapel.  There was a tunnel underground that went from the convent to the school to protect the Sisters from the cold Michigan winters.

In 1959, Fr. Artman turned his attention to a parish cemetery.  Ten acres on Pratt Lake Rd. just northeast of town, were donated by a parish family.        

The post-war economy brought many tourists to Gladwin, overflowing the church space Sunday after Sunday.  It is said, by those who remember, that all the people could not get inside and so they stood in the parking lot - listening through open windows and participating as best they could.  The need for a bigger church was apparent.  In the spring of 1961, the original church was moved to the east boundary of the church property where it would be used while the new church was being built.  Charles Jones, with Fr. Artman’s help, designed the church which was built with the help of local tradesmen and donated labor under the supervision of Fr. Artman.  One June 2, 1962 the new church (seating 650 people) costing $110,000 was dedicated by Bishop Stephen Woznicki.  By year’s end, the old church was torn down.

During 1962, the parish purchased three lots just north of the school and another parcel was donated.  The land would be used for a new school and for parking.  

In 1962, the Knights of Columbus Council 5280 (now called the Fr. Artman Council) was formed with 79 members.

Ground was broken for a new school in August 1966.  Opening for classes in September 1967, the cost of the new building was approximately $125,000.  Enrollment was 165 students.

In September 1968, Fr. Edward Trombley became pastor.  The Second Vatican Council had completed its work.  Following one of the Council’s earliest directives, the parish’s first Parish Council was formed in 1973.

Some years prior to this time, several ladies of the parish had become involved in mission work.  Together with mission circles in Coleman and Edenville, they formed a group that held rummage sales and raffles to provide funds and needed articles to a Jesuit priest in India.  The rummage sales were held at any available space and the ladies were traveling constantly between the three communities.  During Fr. Trombley’s pastorate the mission circle moved to the old school building.  It was in the old school that the ladies were able to hold daily rummage sales in a “permanent” location.

In the spring of 1974, Fr. Joseph Castanier became the tenth pastor.  Soon an Usher’s Club was formed.  Two and a half acres of land were purchased along State Street for future expansion.  The interior of the church building was remodeled and a new organ installed.  The Legion of Mary was formed.  Bible classes began meeting weekly in the rectory.  Eucharistic ministers began serving at masses. 

Deacon Stan Belanger was ordained a permanent deacon in Detroit in 1972.  He and his wife, Marge, moved to Gladwin in 1978.  Deacon Stan and Marge served the people of Sacred Heart faithfully until his retirement in August 1992.  Working tirelessly in many areas of parish life, his warmth, openness and easy laughter were much appreciated by the people of the parish and the entire Gladwin community.  He was a fine example of the true meaning of “Deacon” which means “to serve.”

Fr. Don encouraged and empowered all parishioners to become involved in the areas of their personal interest and skill.  He helped us understand that the message found in Peter’s Epistle is not intended only for ordained priests, but for all of God’s people.  It is our privilege and duty to carry out the work of Christ on earth.

In the spring of 1992, Fr. Julius Spleet came to Gladwin as our 12th pastor.  Under his leadership, the church sanctuary has been redecorated.  A beautiful “Risen Christ” statue was commissioned to be hand carved by parishioner and artist, Alois vonMatt.  It was installed at Easter in 1996.  The Sacrament of Reconciliation is now celebrated in the Eucharistic Chapel area and the two “confessionals” have been made into shrine areas - one area for our Holy Oils and the other for our statues of Mary and Joseph and votive candles.

In 1993, a large cross, also carved by Alois vonMatt was erected as the focal point in our cemetery.  

In 1994, some renovation was done on the rectory with fresh paint, refinished woodwork and  wood floors.

In 1995, the convent was remodeled upstairs and down.  There is a new kitchen, new carpeting, new dry walling, wiring and appliances.

We had a Worship Commission which took on the priestly role of Christians.  They were concerned with all areas of worship: music, cannoning, ushering, Eucharistic ministry, lecturing, prayer chain, retreat coordinating, liturgy planning, and church cleaning and decorating.

The Education Commission took on the prophetic role of the Christian - proclaiming the “Good News.”  Members of this Commission were involved in our school, religious education for all ages, Scripture studies, Sacramental preparation, and Christian Initiation.
 
Members of the Christian Service Commission carried out the servant/king role that Christ assumed on earth.  In this role, parishioners served as Sacred Heart Mission volunteers, ministers of hospitality at weekend masses, funeral dinner volunteers and members of the Ladies Sodality.  Since 1988, a Community Christmas Day Dinner has been held on Christmas Day in our Activity Center.  Everyone in Gladwin County who is alone is invited to participate in this day’s events.

Commissions met periodically to coordinate the work of the committees within their area of
community, we are called to present the face of Christ - Priest, Prophet and Servant/King to our homes, our neighborhoods and our world.  These three areas of Christian action are embodied in our three Commissions.  

The last Bernardine Sister to serve the parish was in 2001 and the convent was then converted into a Parish Library/Resource Center, meeting rooms, Youth Group Recreation space, and sewing rooms for the Quilters.  

An Environmental/Building and Planning Committee was formed in the autumn of 1996.  The task of the committee was to study the needs of our parish in regards to buildings, meeting places, and handicap accessibility.  The study was done for both short-term and long term goals.

In 1997 it became necessary to develop the east side of the parish cemetery - so the new section was opened and a new sculpture was purchased.  The Cemetery Committee choose the beautiful work of Timothy P. Schmalz. The Holy family statute  “A Quiet Moment” adorns the new section of cemetery lots.

Under the direction of our Bishop, Ken Untener, the Restoration of the Sacraments of Initiation took place.  This involved restoring Confirmation as the second Sacrament, with Eucharist following Confirmation.

In 1999, Fr. Patrick Jankowiak came to pastor the people of Sacred Heart.  As a young pastor of 32 years of age - he brought with him wonderful gifts and a deep appreciation for worship.  His homilies  enlighten and encourage the parish community. 

With the support of the Administrative Committee a beautiful new baptismal font was installed as well as new carpeting and a much needed air conditioner system. 

In 2005, Fr. Jeffrey Donner became our 19th pastor.  Tragically, Fr. Jeff died unexpectedly Saturday, March 4, 2006, doing what he loved to do – celebrating the liturgy at his church in Gladwin.

Our current pastor, Fr. John Cotter, joined our parish in July of 2006.