Sutherland - Sacred Heart

SUTHERLAND - The first Catholic services were conducted in the home of Michael Sweeney about 1883. Later, Mass was celebrated in Sutherland by Father Shehan from Sheldon. These were held in the Willow Creek school north of Sutherland. Father T. J. Sullivan from Sheldon also celebrated Masses in Sutherland occasionally in 1888-1889. In 1890, Father Tierney from Granville celebrated Mass in the Opera House or the C. D. O'Brien home.

In the fall of 1890, by much hard work and canvassing the country for subscriptions, a little church was started. Work continued in the spring of 1891 under the guidance of Father McCormick of Sanborn. It was not yet plastered when it was blown away by a cyclone on June 23, 1891. Mrs. Herbert Collier recalls her father, Elias Nelson, telling the story of being in town that day and watching the cyclone approach. He laid down in the ditch across the street and when the storm had passed, "all four walls of the little church laid flat on the ground."

Mass was once again celebrated in the Opera House or the D. C. O'Brien home, but not too regularly for some time.

The first resident priest was Father Campbell who came in 1898 and roomed at A. J. Sieh's. Under his guidance, the building of the present church was started in 1899.

Father McKoegh next served the church, coming in 1900 from Rolfe. He did not reside in Sutherland at the time, as he had two missions. Father McConley (1902), Father Logue (1902-1903), Father Joseph G. Murtagh (1903-1905), Father Michael Bradley (1905-1907), Father R. M. LeCair (1907-1913), Father M. Carey (1913-1914), Father E. S. Maynard (1914-1916), Father B. H. Loefflholz (1916-1917), Father Michael C. Wendl (1917-1925), Father Bausch (1925-1934) and Father Henry Pick (1934-1941) all served Sacred Heart during its' early years.

In the fall of 1903, the parish bough the E. O. Woodbury house directly east from the church for the sum of $2,000. Also, under Father Wendl's guidance, the present rectory was built in 1921 for a price of $12,000.

Father John Cullen (1941-1955), Father Jerome Koenig (1955-1956), Father Dean Walker (1956-1966), Father Albert Grendler (1966-1967), Father Lloyd White (1967-1971), Father Don Reis (1974-1979), Father Ronald H. Reicks, Father Anthony Pick, Father Harry D. McAlpine and Father Zeman all served their pastorate at Sacred Heart in Sutherland.

There are 80 families in the Sacred Heart Parish. Every first Sunday in October, the parish has an annual church supper.

From Sacred Heart Parish there have been two vocations, both from the Sweeney family: Sister Seraphia, daughter of Michael Sweeney and Sister Dorothy Sweeney, great-granddaughter of Michael Sweeney.