In 1882, Rev. Francis Shulak baptized Edward Hovel in a schoolhouse on the north side of Manly and recorded the first Baptism in Sacred Heart Parish. It is still the only Catholic parish in Worth County.

Before the completion of the first church in the 1880s, priests came occasionally from neighboring communities for the celebration of Mass and the sacrements in a section house or school. The congregation composed of Bohemian, German and Irish families was fortunate to be visited by priests who spoke their native languages.

Four acres of land was acquired at the present site in the name of Holy Trinity Society of Manly Junction; a church was built later and named Holy Trinity Church. Rev. Michael Farrelly was appointed the first resident pastor in 1897. Beginning with his appointment, the pastor of Manly also cared for the mission church at Plymouth. St. Michaels Church in Plymouth was open from 1872 - 2004. In 1900, a second church dedicated to Sacred Heart was built. In 1892, the parish purchased four acres for a cemetery.

The parish built a combination church and school in 1939. In 1940, the Sisters of Charity (BVM) came from Dubuque to staff the school of kindergarten to tenth grade. Sacred Heart joined with other area parishes in opening Newman Catholic High School in Mason City in 1961.  The Newman Catholic School System is located on the southwest side of Mason City and currenly is a K-12 school with a preschool and daycare.

In 2010, Sacred Heart was linked with Holy Family Parish in Mason City. In 2013 Mason City's two parishes of St. Joseph and Holy Family were merged and re-named Epiphany Parish.

The linked parishes have three churches: Sacred Heart in Manly, St. Joseph in Mason City and Holy Family in Mason City.

Epiphany Parish's Parish Center is at the St. Joseph Church campus and is the old convent/rectory.

The parish rectory is at Holy Family Church Campus.


adapted from the book: Archdiocese of Dubuque 1837-2012