About Sacred Heart of Mary · Dowagiac, Michigan
Sacred Heart of Mary is a small, historic Catholic parish in rural Silver Creek Township, just north of Dowagiac in Cass County, Michigan, within the Diocese of Kalamazoo. Founded in 1838 by the Pokagon Band of Potawatomi under Chief Leopold Pokagon, who deeded the original forty acres to the Bishop of Detroit, it is one of the oldest Catholic parishes in southwest Michigan. Today the parish is part of a collaborative with Holy Maternity of Mary (Dowagiac) and Holy Family Church, served by Father Pangiraj J. Nathan, MSFS, and includes the adjoining Sacred Heart Cemetery and a parish hall used for education and fellowship.
- Established
- 1838
- Patron
- Sacred Heart of Mary (Blessed Virgin Mary)
- Rector
- Fr. Pangiraj J. Nathan, MSFS
- Diocese
- Diocese of Kalamazoo
Why belong here
Sacred Heart of Mary offers a small, old-fashioned worship community rooted in more than 185 years of faith and the living legacy of the Pokagon Potawatomi who founded it. The parish gathers a welcoming mix of nationalities that triples in summer when many return to worship outdoors on the historic grounds, with a parish hall that serves as both an educational and fellowship center. Members support one another through outreach like the Saint Francis food pantry, the Tuka Memorial Scholarship, and the Dowagiac Knights of Columbus Council #2113, growing in faith together while caring for the surrounding community.
Mass times at Sacred Heart of Mary
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- 2nd and 4th Friday of each month, 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM (before the 12:15 PM Mass)
- By appointment: call the priest at (269) 782-8048
Parish History & Pokagon Potawatomi Founding
Sacred Heart of Mary's origins go back to 1838, when Chief Leopold Pokagon and the Pokagon Band of Potawatomi built a log church here and deeded the forty surrounding acres to the Catholic Bishop of Detroit. Pokagon, who had secured a provision in the 1833 Treaty of Chicago allowing his people to remain in the region, converted to Catholicism and sought priests to serve his band. Holy Cross Fathers from Notre Dame, Indiana, came in the early 1840s, and Father Theophile Marivault became the parish's first permanent resident priest in 1844. Pokagon himself was buried on this site in 1841, where he and his wife still rest.
- Original 1838 log church and forty-acre land deed
- Pokagon Band of Potawatomi as founding community
- Holy Cross Fathers (C.S.C.) of Notre Dame in early 1840s
- Father Theophile Marivault, first resident priest, 1844
- Father Louis Baroux, 1847-1870, buried here 1897
The Church Building
The present church is a simple Gothic, brick structure with a single, centrally located tower. It was built in 1886 on the same site as the original 1838 log church, immediately replacing a white-frame church constructed in 1861 that had burned. Parishioners still describe the building today as 'a small old-fashioned church' surrounded by scenic beauty.
- Built in 1886 after 1885/1886 fire of the 1861 frame church
- Gothic style brick with single central tower
- Adjoining parish cemetery on the grounds
Parish Staff & Collaborative Leadership
Sacred Heart of Mary is served through a collaborative with neighboring parishes. The current shepherd, Father Pangiraj 'Raj' J. Nathan, MSFS, of the Missionaries of St. Francis de Sales, came to the collaborative from Our Lady of the Lake in Edwardsburg and St. Ann Catholic Church in Cassopolis, where he had served as pastor for several years. Parish office staff include a bookkeeper and secretary.
- Fr. Pangiraj J. Nathan, MSFS — Administrator/Pastor (Missionaries of St. Francis de Sales)
- Marcie Lechlitner — Bookkeeper
- Debbie Krueger — Secretary
Collaborative Parishes
Sacred Heart of Mary shares pastoral care with two neighboring parishes in the Diocese of Kalamazoo's Southern Deanery: Holy Maternity of Mary in Dowagiac and Holy Family Church. Collaborative Mass schedules, holy day observances and sacramental services rotate among the parishes (e.g., the November 1 Holy Day schedule in 2023 included Vigil Mass at Sacred Heart of Mary, morning Masses at Holy Family and Holy Maternity, and an evening Mass at Our Lady of the Lakes).
- Holy Maternity of Mary — Dowagiac
- Holy Family Church
- Deanery: Southern (Diocese of Kalamazoo)
Devotions & Prayer Life
Beyond Mass, the parish gathers for Monday morning prayer at 9:15 AM following the 8:30 AM Mass, and lists an ongoing Friday 6:30 PM gathering on its events calendar. The parish also welcomes requests for Mass intentions, with open dates available through the parish office for a $10 suggested donation.
- Monday prayer at 9:15 AM after 8:30 Mass
- Friday 6:30 PM gathering
- Mass Intentions available — $10 suggested donation (call 782-8048)
Sacraments
The parish celebrates the full range of Catholic sacraments. Parents should contact the priest for Baptism; couples are asked to schedule the priest at least six months in advance for Marriage; and inquiries about First Reconciliation, First Holy Communion, Confirmation, and Anointing of the Sick are directed through the parish office at (269) 782-8048.
- Baptism
- Marriage (6 months advance notice)
- First Reconciliation & First Holy Communion
- Confirmation
- Anointing of the Sick
- Reconciliation (Confession)
Sacred Heart Cemetery
The adjoining Sacred Heart Cemetery — also known as Saint Mary's Cemetery or Silver Creek Catholic Cemetery — is tended under a Cemetery Board with published policies. Its mission statement pledges 'understanding and caring service' at the time of grief and assistance with pre-planning for a final resting place. Vaults are required for all burials, including cremains.
- Gravesite pricing: $500 for registered parishioners; $800 for others
- Free gravesites for enrolled members of the Pokagon Band of Potawatomi (honoring the original 1838 agreement)
- Maximum of two gravesites per family without board approval
- Front of all stones face west (toward Leach Rd)
- Standard headstone footing 2" wider than item on all sides, flush with ground, 1 ft deep
- Seasonal decorations must be removed by November 1 and March 1
Outreach, Knights of Columbus & Tuka Memorial Scholarship
Sacred Heart of Mary participates in community outreach through the Saint Francis food pantry, whose volunteers maintain operations and updated pantry hours. The parish is closely tied to the Dowagiac Knights of Columbus Council #2113, which partners on the Tuka Memorial Scholarship — a $1,000 award given to a graduating senior who meets the committee's criteria, with applications due in early spring.
- Saint Francis Outreach Food Pantry — volunteers and updated hours posted
- Dowagiac Knights of Columbus Council #2113
- Tuka Memorial Scholarship — $1,000 to a graduating senior (application deadline in spring)
Parish Life, Facilities & Getting Involved
Sacred Heart of Mary describes itself as 'a small old-fashioned church' where 'a variety of nationalities constitute the parish family.' In summer, when parish numbers triple, Masses are often celebrated outside. The parish hall serves as an educational and fellowship center. Visitors and newcomers can register online through the parish website.
- Outdoor summer Masses when attendance triples
- Parish hall used for education and fellowship
- Online Parish Registration available on website
Visiting & Contact
The parish office is open Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday from 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM (a separate contact page also notes Monday and Friday 9 AM-1 PM hours). The mailing address and physical location are both at 51841 Leach Road, Dowagiac, MI 49047. Reach the office by phone at (269) 782-8048.
- Office hours: Mon/Tue/Wed 9 AM-1 PM (also listed Mon & Fri)
- Phone: (269) 782-8048
- Address: 51841 Leach Rd, Dowagiac, MI 49047
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Holy Cross Fathers (C.S.C.) of Notre Dameearly 1840s
Traveled from Notre Dame, Indiana, to minister to the Pokagon Band during the early 1840s.
- Father Theophile Marivaultfrom 1844
Became the church's first permanent resident priest in 1844.
- Father Louis Baroux1847-1870 (most of those years)
Long-serving second resident priest; buried at the parish cemetery in 1897.