About Sacred Heart · Hudson, Michigan
Sacred Heart Parish in Hudson, Michigan is a historic Roman Catholic community in the Diocese of Lansing, founded in 1859 by Dutch-born Father Francis Joseph Van Erp, who organized 'The Church of the Sacred Heart Society' on October 23 of that year. The parish grew from about 100 scattered Catholic farm families across Hudson, Medina, Pittsford, and Wright townships into a thriving congregation that today worships in a fieldstone church on Market Street — with twin copper-domed towers — and operates its own PK-8 Catholic elementary school. Sacred Heart is also linked historically to St. Mary on the Lake in Manitou Beach, a summer mission begun from Hudson in 1956. Weekend Masses, weekday Masses, weekly Eucharistic Adoration, a Religious Education program, OCIA, the Altar Rosary Society, the Knights of Columbus, and an Adult Choir make up the rhythm of parish life.
- Established
- 1859
- Patron
- Sacred Heart of Jesus
- Rector
- Rev. Todd Koenigsknecht
- Diocese
- Diocese of Lansing (transferred from the Archdiocese of Detroit on July 21, 1971)
Why belong here
Sacred Heart is a small but deeply rooted parish where the rhythms of Catholic life are tangible week to week: two Sunday Masses, daily weekday Masses, Tuesday Eucharistic Adoration from 4:45 to 5:30 PM, and regular Confession on Tuesday afternoons and Saturday before the vigil Mass. The parish runs its own PK-8 Catholic school (Sacred Heart School), a K-9 Religious Education program between Sunday Masses, OCIA for adults, the Altar Rosary Society, the Knights of Columbus, an Adult Choir, a Prayer Chain, and youth events like the annual Totus Tuus summer program and a Youth Hike at Lost Nations State Game Area. With 17 pastors over 165 years and a parish cemetery that dates to 1861, it is also a place where generations of Lenawee County Catholic families are remembered and welcomed.
Mass times at Sacred Heart
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Tuesday 4:45 PM
- Saturday 3:30 PM
Adoration times
- Every Tuesday 4:45 PM – 5:30 PM (call office to verify, subject to change)
Our Parish Story
Sacred Heart is a 165-year-old parish in the Diocese of Lansing, rooted in the German and Dutch Catholic farming families who settled Medina Township from 1846. The Redemptorist Fathers first ministered to them in farmhouses and at a mission chapel called 'Catholic Hill,' before Father Francis Joseph Van Erp gathered the scattered families into 'The Church of the Sacred Heart Society' on October 23, 1859. The parish built a 44-by-90-foot stone-and-brick church on Spring Street in the 1860s, then the present Market Street church in 1905–1906, and has operated a Catholic school almost continuously since 1877.
Architecture and Campus
The Sacred Heart church on Market Street is the visual heart of Hudson. Built 1905–1906 of fieldstone with cut-stone trim, its two towers rise 86 feet and are capped by copper domes with gold crosses. A major interior redecorating was completed in fall 1959 in time for the parish's 100th anniversary. The parish also maintains its historic cemetery on Spring Street, purchased in 1861 from land at the south end of the original church site. Sacred Heart School shares the parish campus at 207 S Market Street.
Sacred Heart School (PK–8)
Sacred Heart School is a PK-8 Catholic elementary school on the parish campus at 207 S Market Street. Its mission states that it provides 'a faith-filled education built upon Catholic virtues and the life of Jesus Christ,' producing students who are 'balanced: confident of mind, academics and Catholic faith.' Students attend weekly Mass, receive the sacrament of Reconciliation during the year, and join First Friday Eucharistic Adoration. The school is part of the Diocese of Lansing Catholic Schools system; its principal is Anne Atkin. Sacred Art and Sacred Music instruction begin in 1st grade, and the school uses Google Classroom alongside a traditional core curriculum. Father Todd Koenigsknecht serves as pastor and as a member of the Education Commission, which meets 3–4 times per year.
- Grades: PreK through 8
- Principal: Anne Atkin
- School phone: 517-448-6405
- Weekly Mass and First Friday Adoration for students
- Diocese of Lansing Catholic Schools system
- Education Commission (Pastor, Principal, and parent leaders) meets 3–4 times per year
Religious Education and OCIA
The parish Religious Education program serves children from Kindergarten through 9th grade and runs from October through April. Classes meet between the Sunday Masses at 9:15 AM in the parish school. Catechists and parent volunteers walk children through prayer, learning experiences, and community-building in the Catholic tradition. For adults seeking full initiation into the Catholic Church, the parish runs an OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults) program.
- Religious Education for K–9, Sundays 9:15 AM (October–April)
- OCIA for adults on the journey to full initiation
- Totus Tuus summer youth program coming to St. Mary on the Lake in summer 2026
- Contact: Religious Education Coordinator Lisa Tinkey, 419-250-0456
Parish Ministries and Groups
Sacred Heart's ministries combine traditional parish life with hands-on service and fellowship. The Altar Rosary Society and the Knights of Columbus anchor the social and service life of the parish, while the Adult Choir enriches the liturgies. A Prayer Chain keeps parishioners in continuous intercessory prayer. Children who have made their First Communion can train as Altar Servers and are paired with experienced servers when they begin; Ushers help manage Masses as well.
- Altar Rosary Society
- Knights of Columbus
- Adult Choir
- Prayer Chain
- Eucharistic Ministry
- Altar Servers (after First Communion, with training)
- Ushers
Parish Events and Fundraisers
The parish calendar includes signature annual events: the Sacred Heart Golf Outing (held in mid-July, with sponsorships available through the parish office), a Youth Hike at Lost Nations State Game Area featuring Mass and recreation, and the annual parish picnic at St. Mary on the Lake in Manitou Beach — a reminder of the parish's deep historical ties to that mission, which was started from Sacred Heart in 1956.
- Sacred Heart Golf Outing (Saturday, July 18)
- Youth Hike at Lost Nations State Game Area
- Annual parish picnic at St. Mary on the Lake
Staff and Pastoral Team
The parish is led by Pastor Father Todd Koenigsknecht with the support of Deacon John Amthor and the parish staff. Anne Atkin serves as principal of Sacred Heart School, and Tammy Houser serves as parish secretary. Fr. Ginu Abraham, MSFS, served at Sacred Heart from 2021 to August 2024 before being appointed parochial vicar at parishes in Flushing and Montrose. An after-hours emergency line (517-258-0448) is available for priest emergencies.
- Pastor: Fr. Todd Koenigsknecht
- Deacon: Deacon John Amthor
- School Principal: Anne Atkin
- Parish Secretary: Tammy Houser
- Parish Office: 517-448-3811
- Emergency line: 517-258-0448
Getting Involved
Newcomers are warmly invited to join the parish for weekend Mass (Saturday 4:30 PM; Sunday 8:00 AM and 11:00 AM), to enroll children in Religious Education or Sacred Heart School, and to consider joining the Altar Rosary Society, Knights of Columbus, Adult Choir, Prayer Chain, or one of the liturgical ministries (Eucharistic Ministry, Altar Servers, Ushers). For adults interested in becoming Catholic, OCIA meets through the year. The parish office can be reached at 517-448-3811.
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Francis Joseph Van Erp1859–1872
First resident pastor; born in Oss, Netherlands, 1826; built rectory, cemetery, and the 44×90 stone-and-brick church (1866–1869); transferred to St. Thomas, Ann Arbor; died from a horse-and-buggy accident.
- Rev. H. M. Schaeken1872–1873
Second pastor; short tenure of about one year; transferred to Big Rapids.
- Rev. John Francis Elsen1873–1889
Third pastor; known for formality, wore a silk hat and tailcoat even to the post office; later moved to St. Paul's, Grosse Pointe.
- Rev. Alonzo H. B. Nacy1889–1899
Fourth pastor.
- Rev. Joseph Francis Hallissey1899–1922
Fifth pastor; led building of the present Market Street church (1905–1906) with twin 86-foot copper-domed towers; grew parish from 170 to 278 families.
- Rev. William J. Hayden1923–1945
Sixth pastor; 23 years of service; retired for health and died May 22, 1954.
- Rev. Bernard P. Hoey1945–1949
Seventh pastor; appointed November 15, 1945; later became chaplain at the Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary Motherhouse in Monroe.
- Rev. James P. McCabe1949–1953
Eighth pastor; appointed June 14, 1949; transferred to Wyandotte in September 1953.
- Rev. Dominic I. Foley1953–1956
Ninth pastor; appointed October 7, 1953; resigned April 1956 for health reasons.
- Rev. Edward Hurley1956–1959
Tenth pastor; started the summer mission to Catholic vacationers at Devil's Lake (predecessor of St. Mary on the Lake); died 1995.
- Rev. Gerald R. Loewen1959–1979
Eleventh pastor; served both Sacred Heart and St. Mary's on the Lake for 20 years; later full-time at St. Mary's; died September 6, 1988.
- Rev. Eugene J. Beiter1979–1982
Twelfth pastor; avid sports fan; took great interest in Sacred Heart School.
- Rev. Jonathon Wehrle1982–1988
Thirteenth pastor; previously associate at St. Mary's, Jackson; transferred June 29, 1988 to a new parish in Okemos.
- Rev. Paul Ruddy1988–2001
Fourteenth pastor; background in teaching and school administration; served as principal of Sacred Heart School in 1992 to save costs.
- Rev. Richard Thomas Eberle, OSFS2001–2012
Fifteenth pastor; taught religion classes at Sacred Heart School; transferred in 2012.
- Rev. Joseph Krupp2012–2018
Sixteenth pastor; born and raised in Montrose, MI; ordained 1999; oversaw repair and restoration of church, rectory, and school buildings; transferred July 1, 2018 to Grand Blanc.
- Rev. Todd Koenigsknecht2018–present
Seventeenth pastor; grew up attending Catholic elementary school; oversaw development of a combined pastoral plan with priorities of growth, worship, service, and parish programs.