About Sacred Heart · Grosse Ile, Michigan
Sacred Heart Catholic Church is a Roman Catholic parish located at 21599 Parke Lane on Grosse Ile, Michigan — an island community in the Detroit River — serving as the only Catholic parish on the island. Founded as a parish in 1919 (with the original Sacred Heart Church cornerstone laid in 1915), it belongs to the Archdiocese of Detroit and today is a member of the Downriver Missionaries for Christ family of parishes. The current church was dedicated in June 1969 by Cardinal Dearden, and the parish has roughly 900 registered families who gather for weekend and daily Mass, Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, and a lively ministry of faith formation, music, youth ministry, and outreach to those in need on the island and beyond.
- Established
- 1919
- Patron
- Sacred Heart of Jesus
- Rector
- Rev. Gregory Banazak
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Detroit
Why belong here
Sacred Heart is the only Catholic parish on Grosse Ile, and that island setting has produced a tight-knit community where members look out for one another in practical ways. The parish offers daily and Sunday Mass in English (with seasonal outdoor Sunday Mass on the Rectory lawn in summer and weekday Masses in St. Anne Chapel), weekly Confession, and Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament every Tuesday and on First Fridays. Active ministries include a community garden that has donated roughly 7 tons of fresh vegetables to a local women's shelter, Vacation Bible School, ongoing faith formation for children and families, a youth ministry (EDGE), Knights of Columbus honor guard, music ministry, and Christian Service outreach.
Mass times at Sacred Heart
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday: 3:30 PM–4:15 PM at St. Joseph and 4:15 PM–4:45 PM at St. Cyprian (family of parishes)
- Sunday: 4:15 PM–4:45 PM at Sacred Heart Church
Adoration times
- Tuesday: 9:00 AM–4:00 PM in the Chapel (3rd Tuesday) or 4:00 PM–8:00 PM in the Church (all other Tuesdays)
- 1st Friday: 12:30 PM–4:00 PM in the Church
History of Sacred Heart Parish
Catholic life on Grosse Ile began informally with the Brodhead family — descendants of William Macomb, who purchased the island from the Potawatomi in 1776 — opening their home to priests so Mass could be celebrated. The first Catholic building on the island was the original schoolhouse, moved to a new site and renamed St. Anne Church; it was recognized as a mission in 1863. On August 15, 1915, Father John R. Command laid the cornerstone for a new Sacred Heart Church, built with donated stone and mostly volunteer labor. In 1919 the community petitioned successfully for a resident pastor and Sacred Heart was formally established as a parish. The current church was dedicated by Cardinal Deanden on June 14, 1969, and the 1915 building was renamed St. Anne Chapel and remains in use for smaller liturgies.
- 1863: St. Anne Church recognized as a Catholic mission on Grosse Ile
- August 15, 1915: Father John R. Command lays cornerstone of original Sacred Heart Church
- 1919: Sacred Heart formally established as a parish with a resident pastor
- June 14, 1969: Cardinal Deanden dedicates the current church
- 1990: Large vestibule added to the present church
- March 2014: Church closed for structural repairs; reopens by Christmas 2014
- August 16, 2015: Centennial Mass celebrated with Archbishop Allen Vigneron
Architecture, Chapel & Cemetery
The present-day Sacred Heart Church was built in 1968–1969 in a modern style, with a large vestibule added in 1990. A statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary stands on the church grounds surrounded by the Stations of the Cross; a Sacred Heart of Jesus statue stands in front, and a Holy Family statue hangs in the vestibule. The 1915 stone church survives as St. Anne Chapel, with a bell mount outside engraved 'S. Davis / Detroit / 1889.' A parish cemetery stands immediately behind the 1915 chapel.
- Current church dedicated June 14, 1969; vestibule added 1990
- St. Anne Chapel (the 1915 original) still in use for weekday Masses and devotions
- Freestanding bell mount with 1889 bell, engraved 'S. Davis / Detroit'
- Parish cemetery behind the original chapel
- Outdoor Stations of the Cross and Marian statue on the church grounds
Clergy, Staff & Parish Leadership
Sacred Heart is led by Pastor Rev. Gregory Banazak, who succeeded the long-serving Fr. Michael (Mike) Molnar (pastor 2008–2020, granted senior status July 1, 2020). The parish is served by Deacon Robert Tremmel with weekend priest support from Rev. Robert Johnson. A team of lay staff and religious directs the parish's ministries.
- Rev. Gregory Banazak — Pastor
- Deacon Robert Tremmel
- Rev. Robert Johnson — Weekend Priest Support
- Fr. Mike Molnar — Pastor Emeritus
- Sr. Helen Therese — Pastoral Associate
- Sr. Betty Leon, IHM
- Sue Biedlingmaier — Business Administrator
- Mary Hackstock — Director of Music and Liturgy
- Cheryl Reynolds — Director of Religious Education
- Pat O'Hara — Youth Minister
- Terry Morreau — Christian Service
- Mary Podzervinski — Admin
- Belinda Badyrka — Admin
- Richard Ratliff — Maintenance Supervisor
Family of Parishes
Sacred Heart is a member of the Downriver Missionaries for Christ family of parishes within the Archdiocese of Detroit's South Region and Downriver Vicariate. Being the only Catholic parish on Grosse Ile, Sacred Heart shares certain Mass, Confession and Adoration responsibilities with its Downriver sister parishes. Beginning on the Solemnity of Corpus Christi (mid-June) the parish hosts an outdoor Sunday 5:00 PM Mass on the Rectory lawn on East River Road; in inclement weather that Mass moves into St. Anne Chapel beside the Rectory, and after the Parish Picnic in late September it moves back inside the main church.
- Downriver Missionaries for Christ family of parishes
- South Region / Downriver Vicariate
- Sister parishes include St. Joseph and St. Cyprian
- Summer 5 PM outdoor Mass on the Rectory lawn (East River Road)
- Inclement-weather fallback into St. Anne Chapel
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Under the direction of Cheryl Reynolds, the parish runs an ongoing program of religious education for children and families — including weekly in-person Monday Catechesis in the Fall (3:15–4:30 PM), Family Catechesis on select Sundays at 3:30 PM, and EDGE middle-school youth ministry on select Sundays and Tuesdays. The parish also hosts an annual Vacation Bible School (in recent years held at the parish, 9 AM–12 PM, with themes tied to the liturgical year or national commemorations).
- Weekly in-person Monday Catechesis (Fall, 3:15–4:30 PM)
- Family Catechesis (select Sundays, 3:30 PM)
- EDGE youth ministry (select Sundays and Tuesdays)
- Annual Vacation Bible School
- Director: Cheryl Reynolds
Music & Liturgy
Music at Sacred Heart is directed by Mary Hackstock, Director of Music and Liturgy. The parish celebrates its music ministry as one of the marks of its Sunday worship — described on the parish website as 'a vibrant faith community where you can find God in prayer, in the music that enlivens the liturgy, and preaching that uplifts the soul.' Special musical performances (such as soloists singing 'Ave Maria' at the 2015 centennial Mass) are a hallmark of major feast-day celebrations.
- Director of Music and Liturgy: Mary Hackstock
- Parish choir at Sunday Masses and special feast-day liturgies
- Soloist performances for major celebrations (e.g., centennial Mass)
Youth Ministry
Sacred Heart's youth ministry, led by Pat O'Hara, includes EDGE (a middle-school program meeting on select Sundays and Tuesdays) along with the broader Family Catechesis program and Vacation Bible School.
- EDGE — middle-school youth ministry
- Annual Vacation Bible School
- Youth Minister: Pat O'Hara
Christian Service & Outreach
Outreach to those in need is a core part of Sacred Heart's mission. The parish runs a community garden that, in one recent year alone, donated 1,400 pounds of fresh vegetables to a local women's shelter; cumulatively the garden has produced roughly 7 tons of food for those in need. Christian Service is coordinated by Terry Morreau, and the Knights of Columbus provide an honor guard at major liturgies such as the centennial Mass.
- Community Garden — ~7 tons of donated produce to date; 1,400 lbs in a single recent year
- Christian Service coordinator: Terry Morreau
- Knights of Columbus honor guard at major Masses
Sacraments
The parish celebrates all the usual Catholic sacraments and partners with families and adults preparing to receive them. Sacramental preparation for First Reconciliation, First Communion and Confirmation is handled through Faith Formation and youth ministry. Anointing of the Sick is offered at the 1st-Friday 12:00 PM Mass. The parish also walks adults through the RCIA process.
- Baptism (infant and adult)
- First Reconciliation / First Communion
- Confirmation
- Marriage preparation
- Anointing of the Sick (1st Fridays)
- RCIA
Plan Your Visit
Visitors are welcomed on the parish's main page as a 'vibrant faith community where you can find God in prayer, in the music that enlivens the liturgy, and preaching that uplifts the soul.' Weekend Mass times are Saturday 4:30 PM (Sunday Vigil) and Sundays at 8:30 AM, 11:00 AM, and 5:00 PM (Sacred Heart Church), plus 10:30 AM at sister parish St. Joseph. Confession is heard before each Vigil and Sunday evening Mass. The parish office is open Monday–Thursday 9:00 AM–4:00 PM and Friday 9:00 AM–1:00 PM.
- Saturday Vigil 4:30 PM at Sacred Heart
- Sunday 8:30 AM, 11:00 AM, 5:00 PM at Sacred Heart
- Confessions Saturday 3:30–4:45 PM and Sunday 4:15–4:45 PM
- Parish office: Mon–Thu 9 AM–4 PM, Fri 9 AM–1 PM
- Address: 21599 Parke Lane, Grosse Ile, MI 48138
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father John R. Command1915
Laid the cornerstone for the original Sacred Heart Church on August 15, 1915.
- Fr. Edward Hurley
Identified as pastor in a circa-1961 groundbreaking photo for the school addition and church hall.
- Fr. Michael (Mike) Molnar2008–2020
Served as pastor beginning July 2008; led the 2014 church structural repairs and the 2015 centennial celebration; granted senior status effective July 1, 2020.