About Prince of Peace Parish - Sacred Heart · Kawkawlin, Michigan
Prince of Peace Parish is a Roman Catholic community in the Diocese of Saginaw that serves worshippers at two campuses: St. Anne Church in Linwood and Sacred Heart Church in Kawkawlin, Michigan. Formed on July 1, 2014 by merging St. Anne (Linwood), Sacred Heart (Kawkawlin), and St. Valentine (Beaver), the parish carries the patron of the original Kawkawlin community, the Sacred Heart of Jesus. The Kawkawlin campus — Sacred Heart — offers a Sunday morning Mass, weekday Masses on Wednesday and Friday, and faith formation programming for children through Grade 8.
- Established
- 1891
- Patron
- Sacred Heart of Jesus
- Rector
- Rev. Prentice A. Tipton
- Diocese
- Diocese of Saginaw
Why belong here
Prince of Peace Parish offers two campuses in the Bay County area, giving families a choice of Mass times and worship settings while staying rooted in one Catholic community. Sacred Heart in Kawkawlin provides a smaller, intimate Sunday Mass at 8:00 a.m., weekly weekday Masses on Wednesday and Friday mornings, and a strong faith formation program that walks children from preschool through Grade 8 — including sacramental preparation for First Eucharist and Reconciliation. The parish is served by a dedicated staff including a Faith Formation Coordinator and a Coordinator of Liturgical Music, with engaged Pastoral and Finance Councils.
Mass times at Prince of Peace Parish - Sacred Heart
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 3:00–4:00 p.m. at St. Anne Church, Linwood (parish-level schedule)
About Prince of Peace Parish
Prince of Peace Parish is a Roman Catholic community in the Diocese of Saginaw that worships at two campuses: St. Anne Church in Linwood (the parish church) and Sacred Heart Church in Kawkawlin (an additional-use church). The parish was formed on July 1, 2014, bringing together St. Anne (Linwood), Sacred Heart (Kawkawlin), and St. Valentine (Beaver). The parish is led by Fr. Prentice A. Tipton, assisted by Deacon Michael Arnold (emeritus) and a staff of office and ministry professionals. The parish is part of Vicariate 4 of the Diocese of Saginaw.
- Diocese: Diocese of Saginaw
- Vicariate: 4
- Pastor: Rev. Prentice A. Tipton
- Deacon Emeritus: Michael Arnold
- Mailing address: 315 W. Center St., Linwood, MI 48634-9217
- Phone: 989.697.4443
Sacred Heart Church — Kawkawlin Campus
Sacred Heart Church on East Beaver Road in Kawkawlin is the historic Catholic presence in the community, now serving as Prince of Peace Parish's Kawkawlin campus. It hosts a Sunday morning Mass, weekday Masses on Wednesday and Friday at 9:00 a.m., and is the parish's second worship site in addition to St. Anne in Linwood.
- Patron: Sacred Heart of Jesus
- Physical address: 1000 E. Beaver Rd., Kawkawlin, MI 48631
- Sunday Mass: 8:00 a.m.
- Weekday Masses: Wednesday 9:00 a.m. and Friday 9:00 a.m.
- Role within the parish: Additional Use Church
Patron and Feast
The parish is consecrated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, a devotion that emphasizes the unending love, compassion, and long-suffering heart of Christ for humanity. The feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus is celebrated 19 days after Pentecost and always falls on a Friday.
History of Sacred Heart
French missionaries arrived in 1891 to minister to French-speaking families in the Kawkawlin area. After years of hard work the first church was completed, but it was destroyed by fire in 1899. Supervision of the mission church moved between four parishes until 1911, when a permanent pastor was assigned. Father William J. Walsh became Sacred Heart's second pastor in 1957, and Father Chester Pilarski was named third pastor — the master planner of the present campus, whose construction began in 1970. A garden and statue of the Sacred Heart have since been added to the grounds.
- 1891 — French missionaries arrive
- 1899 — First church destroyed by fire
- 1911 — First permanent pastor assigned
- 1957 — Father William J. Walsh becomes second pastor
- Father Chester Pilarski — third pastor; planned the present campus
- 1970 — Construction of the present church begins
Architecture and Grounds
The present Sacred Heart church, begun in 1970 under Father Chester Pilarski, was designed to bring the congregation closer to the altar. It is noted for its white vinyl roof and an interior illuminated by free-form colored glass blocks, with no windows in the worship space. The grounds have been enhanced with a garden and a statue of the Sacred Heart of Jesus.
- White vinyl roof
- Interior lit by free-form colored glass blocks
- No windows in the worship space
- Garden and Sacred Heart statue on the grounds
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Faith Formation at Prince of Peace Parish walks children from preschool through Grade 8 in the Catholic faith. Classes are held at the Parish Office Center. Sacramental preparation for First Holy Eucharist and Reconciliation is family-based and normally takes place in the second grade; at least one parent or designated adult must attend each sacramental class.
- Preschool/Kindergarten (Ages 4–6): Catechesis of the Good Shepherd — hands-on materials for Bible, faith, and the Mass
- Grade 1: Pflaum Gospel Weeklies — weekly lessons following the liturgical year
- Grades 2–5: St. Mary's Press 'Discover! Finding Faith in Life'
- Grades 6–8: Ignatius Press 'Faith & Life' Third Edition
- Sacramental Classes (2nd grade and older): First Eucharist & Reconciliation — family-based, Tuesday evenings 6:15–7:30 p.m.
- Director of Faith Formation: contact via 989-697-4443 or [email protected]
Parish Staff & Leadership
The parish is led by the pastor, supported by deacon emeritus, office and formation staff, parish councils, and a coordinator of liturgical music. (Note: The Diocese of Saginaw directory lists Jill Friebe as Business Manager; the parish website currently lists Beth Anderson as Business Manager/Bookkeeper.)
- Rev. Prentice A. Tipton — Pastor ([email protected])
- Deacon Michael (Mike) Arnold — Deacon Emeritus ([email protected])
- Avery LeFevre — Coordinator of Liturgical Music ([email protected])
- Annette Szyperski — Faith Formation Coordinator ([email protected])
- Beth Anderson — Business Manager/Bookkeeper ([email protected]) [per parish website]
- Jill Friebe — Business Manager ([email protected]) [per diocesan directory]
- Jennifer Watts — Bookkeeper ([email protected])
- Karen Reed — Secretary ([email protected] / [email protected])
- Sarah Histed — Office Professional ([email protected])
- Scott Stewart — Pastoral Council Chair
- Troy Johnson — Finance Council Chair
Contact, Office Hours & Mailing
Mail and general inquiries are routed through the Linwood office. Sacred Heart's physical location is on East Beaver Road in Kawkawlin; both campuses share the same parish phone number and email. Office hours per the diocesan directory: Monday 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; Tuesday–Friday 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon.
- Mailing address: 315 W. Center St., Linwood, MI 48634-9217
- Sacred Heart physical address: 1000 E. Beaver Rd., Kawkawlin, MI 48631
- Phone: 989-697-4443
- Fax: 989-697-3630
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: www.princeofpeaceparish.net
- Office hours: Mon 8:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m.; Tue–Fri 8:00 a.m.–12:00 noon
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Permanent pastor (unnamed in published history)assigned 1911
First permanent pastor of Sacred Heart after mission-church status.
- Father William J. Walshbegan 1957
Second pastor of Sacred Heart.
- Father Chester Pilarski
Third pastor; master planner of the present Sacred Heart campus, built starting in 1970.