LAURENS - About the time Laurens was being platted in the early 1880's, Catholic  church services in the town were also just getting started. The first Mass was probably celebrated in the fall of 1882 by Father P. J. Carroll, pastor of the Dover church (now Varina). The baptismal records began with Oct. 21, 1882.

It is known that Father Carroll and his successor Father D. F. McCaffre visited Laurens and said Mass about once a month until 1895. The priest usually came on Saturday, said Mass in one of the homes on Sunday, and went home on Monday.

Father Dennis McKeough was appointed pastor of Laurens and Rolfe in 1895. He decided to live in Rolfe and said Mass every other Sunday at Laurens.

In 1901, title to a lot located in the northeastern part of town was taken by Edward F. Lynch, J. J. Lynch, Thomas Eberle and Frank Halder as trustees, and the first Catholic church was built in Laurens that same year. The cost was $1,850 without the altars. The church seated about 100.

There were some 30 families who attended Mass in the early 1900s. Father P. H. McCauley and Father Joseph F. Murtagh succeeded Father McKeough. The parish was extended to Sutherland in 1902, and Mass was given at regular intervals in Laurens.

Father D. K. Hurley (1905-1908) and Father F. McNeill (1908-1909) came to Sacred Heart. Father J. M. Mallinger (1909-1920) and Father George Theobald (1920-1927) also served in the parish.

Many improvements were made in the church in 1909 including a new furnace, a basement and the addition of a gallery for the choir. The church seating capacity was increased to 150.

Father Wm. J. Sellig (1927-1928) was the first resident pastor at Laurens, but was quickly succeeded by Father Edmond J. Hayes (1928-1931). These men lived in the Dr. P. E. Fagan home until a rectory was built in 1929 at a cost of $5,496. Sioux Rapids was added as a mission at this time.

The church was remodeled in 1938 at a cost of $7,000 under the supervision of Father Clarence E. Farrelly (1931-1944). Father Arnold J. Ahlers (1944-1956) followed and two Masses were given each Sunday at Laurens. Father Ahlers made many improvements to the church and grounds.

Father John Eagan (1956-1961) succeeded Father Ahlers and organized the Knights of the Altar and the first Parish Advisory Board to pursue plans for a catechetical center. The building fund was launched in 1958 with money from the estate of Father Ahlers.

The total cost for the catechetical center was $88,369.65, with the building completed in 1960.

A special event in Sacred Heart of Laurens was the ordination of a member of the parish, Donald Slaven, to the Holy Priesthood on June 3, 1967.

Various projects have been completed by our succeeding pastors: Father Gerald Skahill (1961-1964), Father William Ortmann (1964-1968), Father Clemens A. Knobbe (1968-1969), Msgr. Robert Quinn (1969-1970), Father Donald Smith (1970-1976), Father Peter Fransco (1976-1982), Father Jerome A. Degen (1982-1989), Father Dennis Sefcik (1989-1996) and Msgr. Leonard Ziegmann (1996-present).

A new church was built beginning in 1984, with completion in 1985. The cost of the church, along with some construction on the parish center and rectory, was $550,000.

Catechism classes began as early as 1921 through 1923 on Sundays after Mass. During the pastorate of Father Farrelly, catechism classes ran 15 to 20 minutes after the Mass on Sunday mornings. The high school students had a class during the noon hour one-day a week during the school year.

The celebration of the 100th anniversary of the construction of the first church for Sacred Heart Catholic Church of Laurens began on April 22, 2001, with a nine-week celebration. Each week a decade of history was commemorated. The Centennial Mass on June 24, 2001 concluded the festivities.

Currently, there are 150 members at Sacred Heart in Laurens.