About St. John the XXIII Parish - Sacred Heart · Merrill, Michigan
St. John XXIII Parish of Hemlock and Merrill is a Roman Catholic parish in the Diocese of Saginaw that was formed on July 1, 2014, when Bishop Joseph Cistone merged three historic congregations — St. Mary in Hemlock (the parish church), Sacred Heart in Merrill (an additional-use church), and St. Patrick in Ryan (an occasional-use church). Parishioners chose the name St. John XXIII to honor the legacy of Vatican II and the Pope who convened it. Sacred Heart Church, located at 445 S. Midland Street in Merrill, was established as a congregation in the late 19th century and remains in active use for one Sunday Mass each week along with weekday Masses on Thursday and Friday mornings.
- Established
- 2014 (parish); 1886 (Sacred Heart congregation organized); 1896 (Fr. Brown named first pastor)
- Patron
- Sacred Heart of Jesus (the church); St. John XXIII (the parish)
- Rector
- Rev. Sunil Kumar Pallela (Parochial Administrator)
- Diocese
- Diocese of Saginaw (Vicariate 3)
Why belong here
St. John XXIII Parish welcomes those seeking a faith community grounded in the legacy of Vatican II — good liturgical theology, ecumenism, Christian service, and the priesthood of the faithful. Sacred Heart in Merrill offers a beautiful Sunday Mass in a historic church with stained-glass windows and a sanctuary designed around treasured wood-carved statuary, while the wider parish offers Bible study, RCIA, faith formation for children and adults, a Christian Service commission serving the poor and hungry, and a music ministry. Visitors can worship in a smaller, traditional setting and still be part of a tri-site parish family that also gathers at St. Mary in Hemlock and St. Patrick in Ryan.
Mass times at St. John the XXIII Parish - Sacred Heart
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Sacred Heart — Friday after the 8:30 a.m. Mass
About St. John XXIII Parish
St. John XXIII Parish of Hemlock and Merrill was founded on July 1, 2014, when Bishop Joseph Cistone merged the former St. Mary (Hemlock), Sacred Heart (Merrill), and St. Patrick (Ryan) parishes as part of a diocesan-wide reorganization. Parishioners chose the name St. John XXIII to sustain the legacy of Vatican II — good liturgical theology, ecumenism, Christian service, and the priesthood of the faithful. The parish encompasses three church sites that retain their original dedication names. In the merger each building was given a use designation: St. Mary in Hemlock serves as the parish church (the principal place of worship), Sacred Heart in Merrill as an additional-use church, and St. Patrick in Ryan as an occasional-use church. Mission statement: "We, the people of St. John XXIII parish, strive to be a welcoming community, prayerfully guided by the Holy Spirit — who seek to become holy, healthy Catholic disciples."
- Founded July 1, 2014
- Formed by merger of St. Mary (Hemlock), Sacred Heart (Merrill), and St. Patrick (Ryan)
- Named for Pope St. John XXIII and the spirit of Vatican II
- Part of the Diocese of Saginaw, Vicariate 3
Sacred Heart Church — Merrill
Sacred Heart Church is the Merrill worship site of St. John XXIII Parish. It is designated an additional-use church, meaning a Sunday Mass is offered here in addition to those at the parish church in Hemlock. Weddings and funerals are still celebrated at Sacred Heart for people who had a prior connection to the former parish; otherwise these liturgies take place at St. Mary in Hemlock. The parish hall at Merrill is used for social functions of the new parish.
- Sunday Mass at 9:00 a.m.
- Weekday Masses Thursday and Friday at 8:30 a.m.
- Confession Friday after the 8:30 a.m. Mass
- 445 S. Midland St., Merrill, MI 48637
History of Sacred Heart
The organization of Sacred Heart parish began in 1886. Fr. Brown was named its first pastor in 1896. A rectory was constructed in the heart of the village in 1897 and remains a recognized historic structure today. The first parish school was built in 1906, and an additional school building was constructed adjacent to the church in 1952. The high school closed in 1960, followed by the elementary school in 1970.
- 1886 — parish organization begins
- 1896 — Fr. Brown named first pastor
- 1897 — historic rectory constructed
- 1906 — first school built
- 1952 — second school building added
- 1960 — high school closes
- 1970 — elementary school closes
The Church Building & Art
The present Sacred Heart church was erected after a fire destroyed the earlier church in the early 1950s. It was designed by George Moutstatson of Traverse City, who incorporated the church's original wood-carved statuary and the large crucifix that had been saved from the fire. In 1977 beautiful stained-glass windows were installed, using elegant cut glass embedded in a sand-epoxy matrix — a relatively new mode for stained glass at that time. That same year, a bell-tower project extended and reinforced the existing tower, and exterior lighting and an electronic carillon chime system were added.
- Built after a fire destroyed the previous church in the early 1950s
- Designed by George Moutstatson of Traverse City
- Original wood-carved statuary and large crucifix salvaged and reused
- 1977 stained-glass windows using sand-epoxy matrix
- 1977 bell-tower extension and electronic carillon chimes
Parish Staff & Leadership
St. John XXIII Parish is served by Fr. Sunil Kumar Pallela as Parochial Administrator, together with a small lay staff. The parish is also guided by a Parish Council, Finance Council, Education/Faith Formation Commission, and Christian Service Commission.
- Rev. Sunil Kumar Pallela — Parochial Administrator ([email protected])
- Irene Kruth — Bookkeeper ([email protected])
- Dennis Newman — Music Ministry ([email protected])
- Keri Fabien — Faith Formation Coordinator ([email protected])
- John Letts — Maintenance ([email protected])
- Amy Alcock — staff
Councils & Commissions
Parishioners help shape the life of the parish through several councils and commissions. The Parish Council advises the Parochial Administrator on matters of importance. The Finance Council helps determine how parish funds are allocated. The Education/Faith Formation Commission develops and supports programs for evangelization and catechesis across all ages. The Christian Service Commission directs the parish's outreach to the poor, hungry, homeless, and sick.
- Parish Council
- Finance Council
- Education / Faith Formation Commission
- Christian Service Commission
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Faith formation at St. John XXIII Parish is organized through the Education/Faith Formation Commission and includes programs for children, youth and young adults, and adults. Bible Study sessions are offered at the Parish Center in Hemlock (times posted in the bulletin). The RCIA program welcomes adults seeking baptism, those baptized in another Christian tradition, married to Catholics, and adult Catholics who have not yet received the Eucharist or Confirmation. Most adults not yet baptized are received into the Church at the Easter Vigil, celebrating the Sacraments of Initiation together.
- Adult Faith Formation
- Children's Faith Formation
- Youth / Young Adult Ministry
- Bible Study (Parish Center, Hemlock)
- RCIA — Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults
Sacraments
The parish celebrates all seven sacraments in line with Catholic teaching. Because the Sacraments of Initiation welcome a person into the broader faith community rather than a particular building, baptisms, First Communions, and Confirmations are normally celebrated at the parish church (St. Mary) in Hemlock. Infant baptisms take place during a Sunday Mass, with a brief period of instruction for parents and godparents. Children at the age of reason (around age 7 and older) prepare through an age-appropriate process connected to RCIA. Marriage is normally celebrated in Hemlock, but if the bridal party has a prior connection to Sacred Heart or St. Patrick, the sacrament may be celebrated there; arrangements should be made at least six months in advance. Confessions are heard Saturday afternoons at St. Mary and Friday after Mass at Sacred Heart.
- Baptism — celebrated during Sunday Mass at the parish church in Hemlock
- Eucharist / First Communion — prepared through Faith Formation
- Confirmation — prepared through Faith Formation or RCIA for adults
- Marriage — contact parish office; six months' notice required
- RCIA — for adults seeking full initiation into the Catholic Church
- Penance — Saturday 3:30–3:50 p.m. at St. Mary; Friday after Mass at Sacred Heart
Music Ministry
Music at St. John XXIII Parish is coordinated by Dennis Newman ([email protected]). The music ministry supports the liturgical life of all three worship sites — St. Mary, Sacred Heart, and St. Patrick — and welcomes parishioners who wish to serve as choir members or instrumentalists.
- Music Ministry led by Dennis Newman
- Supports liturgies at all three worship sites
Getting Involved
The parish encourages parishioners to find their apostolic "niche." Opportunities include helping with the regional pantry, preparing funeral luncheons, serving in music ministry, helping with office work, or taking on one of many other volunteer roles. The parish office can provide a list of current opportunities.
- Regional food pantry outreach
- Funeral luncheon preparation
- Liturgical roles (lector, Eucharistic minister, altar server, choir)
- Office and administrative volunteers
Visiting Sacred Heart
Sacred Heart Church sits on South Midland Street in the village of Merrill, Michigan. Visitors coming from M-46 turn south onto Midland Street and continue for four blocks to reach the church. Parish office hours for the wider St. John XXIII Parish are Monday through Thursday, 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., and can be reached at (989) 642-5606 or [email protected].
- Address: 445 S. Midland St., Merrill, MI 48637
- Directions: M-46 to Midland St, four blocks south
- Phone: (989) 642-5606
- Parish office hours: Monday–Thursday, 9:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m.