Ruthven - Sacred Heart

RUTHVEN - Predominately Irish ancestors settled in the Ruthven area in the late 1880's and were instrumental in establishing Sacred Heart Parish.

A church was erected in 1889 under the direction of Father L. J. Carroll. The wood frame church cost $3,500. The rectory was built the following year. At that time, 12 families and their relatives made up the congregation.

The Sacred Heart Guild was formulated in the early years as a spiritual and financial aid to the parish. They have promoted many projects as fundraisers to serve their various causes.

In the 1950's, Father Elmer Thom had the foresight to start a building fund. From that campaign, the present brick structure became a reality. It was completed in December 1963 at a cost of $105,000. The bell tower was completed two years later for $8,000.

Father Al Loeffelholz is credited with directing the planning and completion of the present brick rectory in 1983 for a cost of $167,000.

Sacred Heart in Ruthven celebrated its centennial in 1989. Father Gerald Zeman was the pastor at the time and a book committee compiled the church centennial book. A parish dinner was held for the 114 households that were registered.

Presently, Ruthven shares its pastor, Father Ben Jensen, with Sacred Heart Church in Ayrshire. Along with Ayrshire, Immaculate Conception of Graettinger and Emmetsburg Holy Family are clustered together with Ruthven.

These ladies from the parish entered the convent: Sister Macrina (Agnes Currans), Sister LaSalette (Catherine Ruddy) and Sister Christopher (Catherine Noonan). Sisters Macrina and LaSalette entered the Sisters of Mercy and Sister Christopher joined the Dominican Order.

There have also been men to enter the priesthood from Sacred Heart: Father James M. Nolan, Brother John Slagle, Father Francis Schuler, Father James Fransco, Father Tomas Geelan and Father Michael Wempa.

Sacred Heart has 430 registered members and serve as a spiritual refuge for many vacationers and summer residents of the Lost Island Lake area.

Numerous pastors have served Sacred Heart, Ruthven: Father L. J. Carrol (1887-1899), Father D. F. McCaffery (1899-1907), Father J. Bigauette (1907-1908), Father Damouette (1908), Father E. W. Fowler (1908-1910), Father J. Bigauette (1910), Father A. G. Schaefer (1911-1913), Father Mathias Stork (1913-1916), Father James Kelly (1916-1917), Father L. J. Carrol (1917-1918), Father George Hicky (1918), Father P. J. Connolly (1918-1921), Father Dennis Clark (1921-1922), and Father A. J. Lynott (1922-1923).

Also, Father George Hicky (1923-1924), Father A. J. Nuel (1924-1926), Father T. A. Coleman (1926-1930), Father E. L. McEvovy (1931-1941), Father D. K. Hurley (1941), Father George O'Brine (1941), Father Henry Meyer (1941-1943), Father Charles Kneip (1943-1944), Father James A. Kane (1944-1950), Father A. A. Bausch (1950-1952), Father E. D. Thom (1952-1960), and Father M. J. Hood (1960-1967).