Among the first 40 colonists who arrived in Glen Ullin on May 7, 1883, were E. R. Steinbruck and family, Hugo Schneider and Hugo’s brother, Serverin, and his family.  The Jacob Grewer family arrived in the fall of 1883.  Joining this group in the spring of 1884 were the families of Nick Classen, John Mainzer, John Bohr and Matt Zinsmaier.  The Catholic community now numbered 54, all of them from German descent except two who were Irish. 
On June 15, 1884, the first meeting concerning the organization of a parish was called.  This was in response to a request from Bishop Martin Marty of Yankton, whose diocese included the entire Dakota Territory.  The parish was officially on June 22, 1884. 
     On July 9, 1884, Fr. Martin Schmitt made his first visit to Glen Ullin and said Mass in the house of Jacob Grewer.  Father Schmitt was stationed in Mandan and from there tended to all 44 missions west of the Missouri River to the Montana boarder.  He came to Glen Ullin regularly once a month.
As the number of Catholic settlers increased, it became necessary to consider building a church.  Since all the settlers were very poor, Ernest Steinbruck went to Cleveland, OH, to raise funds.  He obtained land for a building site at the eastern end of town from the Northern Pacific Railroad Company.  This land, three acres, extend from South ‘Avenue and East Street to Elm Avenue.
     A building committee was chosen on May 13, 1885, and the construction began the first part of September.  The first Mass celebrated in the new church was a High Mass, complete with choir accompanied by clarinet, on Dec.[ember] 14, 1885.  The church as dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus on April 13, 1886, by Abbot Ebebrock of St. John’s Abbey of Minnesota. During the summer of 1886, 31 acres of land south of town was purchased and set aside for a cemetery.
     As the parish grew it became necessary to build a house the parish priest, Father Ambrose.  The church as situated in a low area which collected water, so the parish house was built on the hillside just south of the present Catholic cemetery.  After the house was completed, the church was moved up to the same location.  Father Ambrose planned and directed the building, and did much of the labor himself.
In 1896, while Father Valentine Stimmler was pastor, arrangements ere made to move the church and house back to town.  This time the church was situated in the 100 block of South B Street. 
In the spring of 1897 Father Ambrose saw a need to build a larger church.  Midnight as was celebrated in the new building on Christmas Eve, 1897.  The church was completed in October 1900 and it was dedicated June 5, 1902, by Bishop Shanley.
     A large rectory was built about 1908 and in 1924 a house was built to provide living quarters for the Benedictine Sisters who taught at the parochial school.
    
      Father Adelbert Kraft Kept the parish intact through the drought and depression years of the 1930’s. 
     The entire block became the property of Sacred Heart parish when Father Michael Messer purchased the remaining lots.
     Father Fredrick Mundt arrived in 1951.  Plans were begun for the construction of a parish hall.  This bu8ilding has been the site for many community activities over the years.  Perhap0s the most notable was the presentation of the Passion Play.  For five years parish members under the direction of Father Fredrick, presented the play during Holy Week.
     Fathers Florian Fairbanks, Mark Renner and John Odermann served the parish from the late 1950’s until the late 1970’s.  In 1978 Father Lawrence Wagner began his assignment as pastor of Sacred Heart and Father Cyprian Meier was appointed assistant pastor.  After a short time Father Lawrence assumed his duties as Abbot of the Assumption Abby, Richardton, ND, and Father Cyprian was appointed pastor.
After many years of debate and planning, ground was broken for a new church on June 22, 1980.  The first Mass, the Easter Vigil Mass, was celebrated in the new church on April 11, 1981.  Bishop Hilary Hacker presided at the dedication on June 26,81.
PASSION PLAY
     . . .  Father Fredrick Munt, pastor of Sacred Heart parish, urged his parishioners to take part in the production of the Passion Play as a way of observing Lent.  Play practice began the first Monday of Lent, with the play presented in Holy Week. The first production, in 1956, was staged three times and in spite of bad weather over 900 people saw it, so it was presented again in 1957.  Each year attendance increased, with peak attendance of over 3,200 in 1958 and so the number of performances increased.  Father Fredrick left in 1960, have been assigned to head a missionary teaching staff in Bogota, Columbia.
     The parish hall had a stage., but in addition, the production crew had the tremendous job of constructing many sets such as Pilate’s Place, the Temple, Calvary, etc.  The stage (125 feet in length) extended in a curve from the south door to the north door.  Sr. Michele spent weeks painting “stones” and designs for interiors.  The ladies on the costume committee worked many hours designing costumes from pictures.  The lighting staff using spotlights and blending colors for a 0platform built on the overhead steel girders added the enhancement needed to make the production “professional.”  Each year changes and improvements were made.  After the first year the men began growing their own beards right after Christmas.
     When the audience viewed the scenes that took place and witnessed the drama of the Crucifixion of Christ as depicted by ordinary everyday people of Glen Ullin, everyone, including the members of the cast and production staff, was amazed at the impact.
 

Glen Ullin Yesteryears 1883-1983 Volume I, 110-111.

     Sacred Heart Church has cared for the spiritual needs of its people since the parish was established on June 22, 1884.
     The past twenty-five years have brought some major changes.  Except for the years 1891 through 1895, the pastors at Sacred Heart have been Benedictine priests.  In the early years, our pastors were members of St. John’s Abbey in Minnesota.  Since 1904, all our pastors have come to us from
Assumption Abbey in Richardton, ND.  This long tradition ended on July 4, 2007, when Fr. Sebastian Schmidt O.S.B. was reassigned and Fr. Arul Joseph Irudamoney of the Missionary Society of St. Francis Xavier, was appointed Parochial Administrator of Sacred Heart Parish by Bishop Paul Zipfel.  Fr. Joseph, a native of Tamil, Nadu, South India, also served in Tanzania, East Africa, before coming to the United States.  Fr. Claude Seeberger, O.S.B., a native of Glen Ullin, served the parish from 1983 to January 2000, when Fr. Sebastian Schmidt was assigned to Sacred Heart. 
      In July of 2003, Sacred Heart became part of a parish cluster.  Our parishes in the cluster are St. Ann, Hebron; St. Joseph, Grant County; and St. Clement, Haymarsh.  One pastor serves all of the parishes.  Since the early 1970’s, from Memorial Day to Labor Day, the Sacred Heart pastor has celebrated Sunday Mass at Lake Tschida.
     Two [Three] young men from our parish community, David Morman, and Chad Wilhelm [Jarad Wolf] were ordained to the priesthood during the [past 30 plus years].
     Thanks to the generosity of those who honored their pledges to the building fund and several generous bequests, the parish was able to held a mortgage burning celebration.  This took place on October 12, 1997.  The new church building completed in 1981, was debt free.
     The most recent improvements have been made to the cemetery.  Damaged headstones have been replaced and white fencing was installed on the north and east boundaries of the cemetery.
     The Parish Hall continues to serve the needs of the community.  It is used for parish and community events, family gatherings and during the school year, for sports practices and occasional games.
     The Sacred Heart Christian Mothers, the Welcoming Committee and the Knights of Columbus, Bishop Ryan Council continue to minister to the spiritual and physical needs of the parish.

Glen Ullin Yesteryears 1983-2008 Volume II, 46.

 
Priests who have served Sacred Heart
   Fr. Martin Schmidt, OSB                1884-1897
  Fr. Val Stimmler, OSB                    1896
Fr. Ambros Lethert, OSB                1887-1891
Fr. Adolph Dingman, OSB              1901-1904
Fr. Alponse Henn, OSB                   1904-1915
Fr. Bede Witzig, OSB                      1915-1918
Fr. Matthew Seattele, OSB              1918-1919
Fr. Max Speckmaier, OSB               1919-1926
  Fr. Adalbert Kraft, OSB                    1926-1941
Fr. Michael Messer, OSB                1941-1952
Fr. Florian Fairbank, OSB              1960-1967
Fr. Mark Renner, OSB                   1967-1971
Fr. John Odermann, OSB               1971-1978
   Fr. Lawrence Wagner, OSB           1978
   Fr. Cyprian Meier, OSB                 1978-1983
   Fr. Claude Seeberger, OSB            1983-2000




Fr. Sebastian Schmidt, OSB          2000-2007

    Fr. Arul Joseph I.                          2007 – 2012
   Fr. Jeff Zwack                              2012-2021
Fr. Gary Benz 2021-Present