Settlers started to arrive in the county in 1881‑1882. There were four or five Catholic families in this group. Bishop Marty would make a trip to visit these families two or three times during this period.
In 1887 the Sacred Heart Catholic Church was established as a member of a circuit which was served with priests from Jamestown. Rev. Father Cassidy was assigned as priest for this area. At this time the number of Catholic families had grown to about 30. The following year the first church was completed in 1890. It was attended by Father Cassidy until 1891. Services were held once a month.
The first resident priest was Father Powers.
In 1902 a new church was built with a seating capacity of 180 at a cost of $7,000 under the direction of Father S.A. McDonald. The old church was moved to Bordulac where it was renovated.
The parochial residence was erected by Father Murphy in 1896.
The present church, a brick structure, was built in 1959 with an auditorium connected to it. It has a seating capacity for 400 persons. The cost of the construction was about $225,000. A new residence also built of bricks was constructed in 1974. It provides facilities for the pastor as well as visiting clergy. Educational rooms are located in the basement.
Many of the furnishings of the church were donated by the parishioners.
1980 saw the installation of stained glass windows, a remodeling of the entryway, and the reconciliation room. The windows are designed to tell the story of Jesus while he was here on earth; starting with his birth, continuing with his years of teaching, his death and burial, and finally his resurrection.
One window depicts five of the miracles that Jesus performed; number three tells about five parables that Jesus told while preaching. Other windows depict the story of the Beatitudes, Crucifixion, resurrection and the establishment of the Church.
The remaining windows tell the story of the sacraments that Jesus gave to us to help us to get to heaven. The windows above the altar show that God came to us with His grace and our striving to reach Him.
Rev. Powers‑1893 ‑1895
J. Murphy‑1895 ‑1896
Asst. Rev. B. Kaus‑ December 1897
J.A. McDonald‑ 1898 ‑1911
Michael J. Harte‑1911‑1957
Peter Bannon‑ 1957 ‑ 1958
Martin J. Brennan asst. 1938 Pastor‑1957 ‑1970
Felix J. Preske‑1970 ‑ presently serving.
The Intern Program was established in 1973. The program is set up for seminarians to spend six months in a parish to assist with the various duties of the parish as a part of their education. Those coming to Sacred Heart were:
Robert Laliberte, Fargo‑ 1973. Stayed for two months, He had a teaching position in fall.
Robert Dalzell, Walhalla‑ 1977 ‑ 78
Jack Evans, Fargo‑ 1978‑79
Sister Borgia Sondag came to Carrington in September 1980 to assume duties as director of religious education and church music. She is a native of Sykeston and a member of the Sisters of Presentation in Fargo. She came to the parish with many years of experience in teaching in the various schools in North Dakota.
When Father McDonald came to the area he was placed in charge of 22 missions in Benson, Eddy, Foster, McLean, Wells, Kidder, and Burleigh counties.
He would ride the Turtle Lake Branch train to the various parishes. In 1907 he was given the parishes of Carrington, Bordulac, and Fessenden.
Father McDonald was originally from Prince Edward Island, where he grew up and attended school. He was teaching in Quebec when he received an urgent call in 1898 from, Bishop Shanley of Fargo to come to North Dakota.
During his career he built ten churches. He returned to his native land in 1911 because of ill health.
He was described as one of the most popular clergymen, both with Catholics and non‑Catholics, that Carrington had ever known. Coming here in an early date he had a prominent part in the development of the community and underwent all the hardships that are required of a priest in a pioneer country by the many demands of his people. He died in 1915 in Canada.
Rev. Michael J. Harte was born January 22 1880 in Ireland. He came to New York at the age of seventeen, eventually going to St. Paul, Minnesota to attend college. He was ordained a priest in 1910 and served as an assistant in a Fargo parish until moving to Carrington in 1911.
In his early days in Carrington, Father Harte also served congregations at Bordulac, Fessenden, Denhoff, and McClusky, traveling by horse and buggy.
He served the Sacred Heart Church until 1958 when he retired and moved to the Holy Family rest home. He died in 1968.
Replacing Father Harte was his nephew Rev. Martin J. Brennan. He was a native of Ireland, too, and had spent some time in the area from 1933‑37 as an assistant. He took over his duties in 1959. While he was pastor, a new church was constructed.
He was pastor at Neche before coming to Carrington. He retired in 1970 and returned to Ireland, where he died in 1971.
Rev. Felix J. Preske, a native of Indiana, was named to succeed Father Brennan. He was ordained in 1948 at Evansville, Ind., and then came to the Diocese of Fargo. He served as an assistant at St. Anthony's parish in Fargo. Following this he served as assistant pastor in Langdon. He was pastor at Marion, Verona, before coming to Sykeston in 1963, where he stayed until 1969. At that time he went to Grafton until coming to Carrington in 1970.
Father Preske is an active member in community affairs as well as serving on committees on the state level.
Ladies Aid organized in July 1898 Ladies Benefit Society 1907
Children's Sodality 1908 Knights of Maccabees June 21, 1894
Confraternity of Christian Doctrine CCD 1969 educational program grades 1‑8
Catholic Youth Organization CYO 1969 Educational program grades 9‑12
Knights of Columbus 1960
Council No. 4951 was chartered on April 10, 1960 with 68 charter members. In 1980 the roll consisted of 106 members. The first Grand Knight was John Bujalski and the first financial secretary was Morris E. Martin.
The Knights carry on various programs during the year to assist people in the community in a secular as well as a religious manner.
Their colorful attire and actions have also been a part of special celebrations that may be held in the church during the year.
Source: A History of Foster County 1983 Page 238