Welcome to the Historic Sweetest Heart of Mary Catholic Church web site

When Polish immigrants came to America back in the late 1800s and early 1900s, they found comfort and community in their churches.Sweetest Heart of Mary Church was a cornerstone of the Polish community in Detroit. It remains a source of pride and a beacon of faith for Polish Americans in the metro Detroit area to this day.

With a long tradition of celebrating Polish customs, Hearts, as it is affectionately referred to, still connects its parishioners with the homeland of their ancestors. Our parish is an active one and we invite you to join us for Mass or for any of the many events thru out the year that honor our Polish roots.
Bóg Zapłać!

Cemetery

Sacred Heart of St. Mary Cemetery is located at 5800 E. Davison, Detroit, MI 48212-1350


For a map to the cemetery, CLICK HERE.








Cemetery Hours
Gates Close:
6:30 pm April through October
4:40 pm November through March


Cemetery Rules


Any decorations destroyed, stolen, damaged, or removed for any reason are at your own risk.
Winter blankets and wreaths are permitted from October 15 to March 15
Summer decorations permitted from March 15 to October 15 (no stones allowed)
All visitors are at own risk when walking on unsettled graves.
Lock your car when visiting graves.


Sweetest Heart of Mary is one of a few parishes in the city of Detroit which has its own cemetery. Given that many of the early parishioners had been excommunicated from the church (for following Father Kolasinski), it was necessary to find an appropriate and acceptable burial ground for their deceased family members. Father Kolasinski initially bought 12.5 acres near Davison and Mound Rds. in what was then "Norris" or North Detroit (Hamtramck Township) and consecrated it himself.


In 1898 when Father Kolasinski died, he was buried in the parish cemetery. Later a mausoleum was built and his remains were transferred to it. In 1902 an additional 10 acres was purchased which extended the cemetery limits to McNichols Rd. In just a short time all the available spaces were sold out. So, in 1910 an additional purchase of land was made south of McNichols Rd. which substantially increased the burial grounds. Burials began in the new section of the cemetery in 1940. In 1986 the acreage on the southern most portion of the cemetery was developed for burials. In January 1989 a fire destroyed the cemetery office and garage but they have since been rebuilt.


It is believed that there are over 10,800 persons buried in the cemetery but the exact number is unknown. Many records were lost for several time spans during the late 1890s and early 1900s due to fire/flood at the church offices. Each Memorial Day a Mass is held on the cemetery grounds and members of the AmVets Post 9 participate in a special ceremony honoring the men and women who lost their lives serving our country. On All Souls Day, members of the Men's Club and parishioners visit the cemetery and pray for all those who find their resting place in the Sacred Heart Cemetery.


A note for genealogists: Sacred Heart cemetery was called "Greenwood" in the old days. Many death certificates will report it as such. The Polish Genealogy Society of Michigan has made a project of trying to catalog the gravestones in this cemetery. The project is still ongoing. If you'd like to volunteer your help contact a PGSM board member at www.pgsm.org.


Directions:
From the Western Suburbs...
Take I-96 East (stay in local lanes). Exit at the Davison Ave. (Exit #186B, on the left). Davison becomes MI-8 E/Davison Frwy E. Then becomes Davison St. E. Stay on it until you reach Mound Rd. Turn right (you will see the cemetery on your right) on Mound (heading south) to the signal light at McNichols. Turn right on McNichols and the entrance to the older part of the cemetery will be on your right, the newer section's entrance on the left.
From the Northern Suburbs...
Take Woodward Avenue south to 8 Mile Rd. Turn left on 8 Mile Road (heading east) to Mound Rd. Turn right on Mound (heading south again) to the signal light at McNichols. Turn right on McNichols and the entrance to the older part of the cemetery will be on your right, the newer section's entrance on the left.
From the Eastern Suburbs...
Take I-696 west to the Mound Rd. exit. Take Mound Rd. south to the signal light at McNichols. Turn right on McNichols and the entrance to the older part of the cemetery will be on your right, the newer section's entrance on the left.
From the Southern Suburbs...
Take I-75 north to I-375 (south to Downtown/Flint). Keep left and merge onto I-75 north. Exit on Davison Frwy East (exit # 56A). Stay on Davison St. until you get to Mound Rd. Turn right (you will see the cemetery on your right) on Mound (heading south) to the signal light at McNichols. Turn right on McNichols and the entrance to the older part of the cemetery will be on your right, the newer section's entrance on the left.
From Sweetest Heart of Mary Church...
Take Russell Street north to Warren Ave. Go left (west) on Warren to the I-75 Frwy. Take I-75 north to the Davison exit (# 56A). Go right on Davison (heading east) to Mound Rd. Turn right (you will see the cemetery on your right) on Mound (heading south) to the signal light at McNichols. Turn right on McNichols and the entrance to the older part of the cemetery will be on your right, the newer section's entrance on the left. It is roughly 6 miles from the Church to the Cemetery.
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