GROSSE ILE— Whether it’s the parish’s remoteness, the $5 round-trip cost on the toll bridge or all the surrounding Catholic churches in southeast Michigan, Fr. Michael Molnar admits Sacred Heart Parish doesn’t receive many visitors.

As the lone Catholic church on Grosse Ile, the reclusiveness of the 100-year-old parish has created a stand-alone community Fr. Molnar said comes together in times of need.

“We don’t get a lot of visitors, but at the same time everybody in Grosse Ile has to come here, because nobody likes to leave the island,” Fr. Molnar said. “The river has become a barrier and we act like our own little country, but we are open to all.”

Sacred Heart Parish opened its doors to all Aug. 16, celebrating the parish’s 100-year anniversary with Archbishop Allen Vigneron.

Archbishop Vigneron, calling himself a “spiritual coach,” congratulated parishioners during the special Mass. The archbishop noted some recent challenges for the parish to overcome, including repairing the church’s foundation after it was weakened by water damage in 2014.

“As I was coming over the bridge today, I was reminded that I need to congratulate you and Fr. Molnar on making sure there was a roof over our heads today,” Archbishop Vigneron said. “I remember Fr. Molnar briefly having a look of despair when he told me of the water damage, but I reminded him that often we inherit problems that are not of our own doing, but God still finds a way for us.”

The church was closed from March 2014 as six wooden beams were reinforced with steel after absorbing 40 years’ worth of water damage. The parish community, with approximately 900 families, moved Mass to its parish center before the renovations were completed in time for Christmas.

“We had to borrow $600,000 from the archdiocese, and since then we have raised twice that amount to pay back the three-year loan,” Fr. Molnar said. “You hear it all the time, but being the only parish on the island, there is a strong sense of community spirit because we are a bit on our own.”

Members of the Knights of Columbus honor guard were on hand during the Mass, and parishioner Meagan Wozny performed a stirring rendition of “Ave Maria” after Communion.

Afterward, parishioners met at the parish center for lunch and spent the time looking at pictures from the parish’s past and discussing memories.

“What I would like people to take away from this centennial celebration is for them to know all the work that has been put into Sacred Heart Parish these past 100 years,” Fr. Molnar said. “We’ve been providing the Eucharist to this community every Sunday for the past 100 years, and that is an amazing thing when you think about it.”