About Sacred Heart · Dent, Minnesota
Sacred Heart Catholic Church is a Roman Catholic parish located at 36963 State Highway 108 in the small town of Dent, Minnesota, in the Diocese of Saint Cloud. It is partnered with nearby St. Lawrence Catholic Church of Rush Lake (Perham, MN) as a two-site Catholic community, currently served by Fr. George Michael, VC as pastor. The parish offers Mass four times per week — including a Saturday Vigil, Sunday morning, Tuesday evening, and Thursday morning celebration — alongside Reconciliation, Faith Formation for youth, an active Christian Mothers group, and the well-known 'Seeds to Grow' charitable craft sale that helps neighbors burdened by medical expenses.
- Patron
- Sacred Heart of Jesus
- Rector
- Fr. George Michael, VC
- Diocese
- Diocese of Saint Cloud
Why belong here
Sacred Heart of Dent is a small, family-oriented Catholic community where parishioners know each other by name and pitch in together — from the annual Church Bazaar and Christian Mothers salad luncheon to Faith Formation classes on Wednesday nights. The parish offers the full Sacramental life (Mass four times a week, Reconciliation before weekend Masses, Baptism, Marriage, and Anointing of the Sick) and a real culture of outreach, especially through the Seeds to Grow craft fair that has helped neighbors with medical bills for over a decade. If you are looking for a welcoming rural Catholic parish rooted in the Diocese of Saint Cloud and committed to both traditional worship and tangible care for those in need, Sacred Heart is a place to call home.
Mass times at Sacred Heart
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- 30 minutes before weekend Masses (Saturday Vigil and Sunday)
- Thursday 9:00 AM – 10:00 AM (2nd Thursday of the month, per Discover Mass)
Welcome to Sacred Heart & St. Lawrence Catholic Churches
Sacred Heart Catholic Church of Dent and St. Lawrence Catholic Church of Rush Lake form a single Catholic community (the Northern Cross Area Catholic Community) in the Diocese of Saint Cloud. The parish website lists both addresses and phone numbers side by side: Sacred Heart at 36963 State Hwy 108, Dent, MN 56528 (218-758-2700) and St. Lawrence at 46404 County Hwy 14, Perham, MN 56573 (218-346-7729). Online giving is available through separate 'Give Now' buttons for each church on the parish website.
- Sacred Heart — 36963 State Hwy 108, Dent, MN 56528 — (218) 758-2700
- St. Lawrence — 46404 County Hwy 14, Perham, MN 56573 — (218) 346-7729
- Parish email: [email protected] (Sacred Heart) / [email protected] (St. Lawrence)
- Pastor email: [email protected]
Parish Staff & Leadership
Sacred Heart of Dent is led by Fr. George Michael, VC, who serves as pastor for both Sacred Heart and St. Lawrence of Rush Lake. A parochial vicar and deacon assist with the Sacramental life of the community. Lay leaders handle religious education, music, finance, the parish council, and cemetery care.
- Pastor: Fr. George Michael, VC — 218-758-2888 — [email protected]
- Parochial Vicar (per 2021 bulletins): Fr. Tom Skaja
- Deacon: Mark Stenger
- Secretary: Sandi Kollar
- Pastoral Council President: Kenny Moenkedick
- Trustees: Brenda Aschnewitz and Jan Januszewski
- Religious Coordinator: Joe & Diane Sazama
- Music Director: Diana Porath
- Christian Mothers/Women: Lisa Werner
- Cemetery Coordinators: Tim Stoll, John Kratzke, Mark Riestenberg
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Faith Formation classes for the parish's youth meet on Wednesday evenings during the school year. The parish recruits volunteer teachers and substitutes each fall, with a teachers' meeting in mid-September to plan the year. Returning students are automatically re-enrolled; new families are asked to contact the Religious Coordinator to register their children.
- Faith Formation classes held on Wednesday nights
- Contact: Diane Sazama — 218-849-7520 (after 5 PM, or text anytime) — [email protected]
- Volunteer teachers and substitutes welcome
Sacraments
Sacred Heart celebrates the seven Sacraments of the Catholic Church. The parish bulletins direct families to contact the pastor to begin sacramental preparation. Marriage preparation follows Diocesan policy requiring at least six months' notice before the anticipated wedding date.
- Baptism — contact the Pastor at 218-758-2888
- Marriage (Matrimony) — Pastor must be contacted at least 6 months in advance
- Reconciliation — 30 minutes before weekend Masses; 2nd Thursday 9:00–10:00 AM
- Anointing of the Sick and other pastoral needs — contact the parish office
Parish Life & Outreach
Beyond the Sacraments, Sacred Heart has a robust calendar of fellowship and charitable events. The Christian Mothers/Women's group hosts a spring salad luncheon. The annual Church Bazaar in August draws the wider community for Mass, a chicken & meatball dinner, silent auction, bingo, cake walk, country store, and raffle. The parish also observes a Sacred Heart Autumn Mass and Senior Harvest Meal, and a parish potluck breakfast after Sunday Mass on selected Sundays.
- Annual Church Bazaar (August) — Holy Mass at 10:00 AM, dinner 11:00 AM–1:30 PM
- Christian Mothers Salad Luncheon (spring)
- Sacred Heart Autumn Mass & Senior Harvest Meal
- Sacred Heart Potluck Breakfast after 8:30 AM Mass (selected Sundays)
Seeds to Grow — Charitable Outreach
Seeds to Grow is Sacred Heart's signature charitable ministry, named for the biblical parable of the seeds that fall on rich soil. Founded in 2010 by parishioner Rita York after winning seed money in a diocesan 'Pay It Forward' contest, the annual craft fair raises money for community members burdened by medical and travel expenses — including people who live 20–30 miles from the parish. Booths offer baked goods, Communion veils, jewelry with crosses and angels, kitchen items, crocheted and knitted goods, home décor, pottery, pillows, and Christmas items, with proceeds donated to those in need.
- Founded 2010 by Rita York with diocesan 'Pay It Forward' seed money
- Annual craft fair held on Labor Day weekend
- Funds help with hospital bills, travel, and other medical expenses
- Has served people from as far as 20–30 miles from the parish
- To request Seeds to Grow assistance: call 218-758-2700
Cemeteries
Sacred Heart maintains parish cemeteries and holds an outdoor Cemetery Mass each summer at St. Lawrence Cemetery. Parishioners are invited to bring lawn chairs; in case of bad weather the Mass moves into the church.
- Cemetery Coordinators: Tim Stoll, John Kratzke, Mark Riestenberg
- Annual Cemetery Mass held at St. Lawrence Cemetery on a Wednesday morning in summer
Diocese & Wider Catholic Community
Sacred Heart of Dent belongs to the Diocese of Saint Cloud (Bishop Donald Kettler, as listed in parish prayer intentions). The parish is part of the Northern Cross Area Catholic Community, partnering Sacred Heart with St. Lawrence of Rush Lake to share clergy and resources. The parish also participates in the Bishop's Annual Appeal, which supports diocesan ministries that undergird baptisms, First Communions, confirmations, weddings, and ordinations.
- Diocese of Saint Cloud
- Bishop Donald Kettler (listed in parish prayer list)
- Northern Cross Area Catholic Community
- Bishop's Annual Appeal participation
Visiting & Contact Information
Parishioners and visitors are warmly welcomed at Sacred Heart. The church building is handicapped accessible (with an elevator). The parish office is staffed on Mondays, Thursdays, and Fridays from 9:00 AM to 12:00 noon.
- Address: 36963 State Highway 108, Dent, MN 56528
- Phone: (218) 758-2700
- Email: [email protected]
- Office hours: Mon, Thu, Fri — 9:00 AM to 12:00 noon
- Handicapped accessible with elevator
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. George Michael, VCAt least 2021–present
Current pastor; also serves St. Lawrence of Rush Lake; phone 218-758-2888; email [email protected]
- Fr. Tom Skaja
Served as Parochial Vicar; listed in the parish prayer list in later bulletins. Phone 320-333-5307; email [email protected]