Education at Sacred Heart Parish  By Mary Beth Oravec, Sacred Heart Museum Volunteer....Publication date:  9/12/07- 

 

Sacred Heart Parish is fortunate to have recorded its history as early as the late 1800's. Early pastor Fr. Matthew Schaeken wrote a history of the earliest days of the parish from 1836 up to and including his ministry (1874-78), entitled "The Beginning and Development of Catholicity in Derbornville", Fr. Schaeken's manuscript is a charming and witty retelling of the earliest Irish Catholic pioneer families and their interplay with the many missionary priests assigned to their ministry. A copy of this manuscript, along with many other artifacts molding the parish history, are housed in the Sacred Heart Museum at Sacred Heart Parish. Basicaly a "walk-through scrapbook" of parish history, the museaum can be accessed in the old convent building, on the parish campus by appointment. The museum features many items of interest, including much on the parish educational history. (Interestingly I spoke with the author of this article today and was told that the information is now in storage since the convent is to be raized this year).

 Briefly, the construction of the 11 buildings of the Detroit Arsenal in Dearbornville in 1833 brought industry and military to the village. With that came the needs of civilized society. 1836 saw visits from missionary priests tending to the faith of the Irish Catholic pioneers in Dearbornville. By 1842, one such priest, Martin Kundig, was already recorded as taking great pains to instruct the children in Catholic doctrines. Another eloquent speaker, Fr. Dillon, was said to be often called on to lecture in the public school. So such religious servants came prepared and interested in educating the pioneer youth. By the 1840's the few Catholic families in the area set about to raise funds to erect a church. The frame church, though erected slowly, was finished by 1848 in large part due to the urging of Fr. John Farnham. The church at that time was known as  St. John's Church.

By 1852, the first resident pastor arrived, Fr. James Pulsers. An academic, who was later to become president of the American College in Louvain Belgium, Fr. Pulsers hired the first teacher for a church school, which continued for 25 years. By the time that Fr. Schaeken came in 1874, he saw the old church and school was in much need of repair. Father set about to move the church building to a more aesthetic location and then completely renovated its interior. In 1875 Father invited Bishop Borgess to visit from Detroit and rededicate the church/community to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Fr. Schaeken recognized the importance of teaching the rising generation. He conjoined two building parts-the old church vestry and a barn, and then created classrooms. As many as a hundred pupils visite the school for education during the next winter season. After Fr. Schaeken left in 1878, there continued a series of various pastors. There was no further reference about a parish school in the parish records, although Fr. Marker was reported a dearly loved country style pastor for 22 years who loved the parish children. He was said to have planted the Faith deep in the hearts of those children. The years leading up to Fr. Marker's death in 1915 shows early Dearborn history was ending quickly. The last years of Fr. Marker's life revealed a community in transition from a rural to city identity.