The following information is from Dorr Township, 1980.

The early Catholic pioneers of Hilliards, which was named ater a rich land owner - David Hilliards, settled here around 1870. They attended Mass at either St. Mary's Church in New Salem or Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary Church in North Dorr. As more and more Catholic farmers bought land around the Hilliards area, they decided to build thier own church. Mr. Michael Burchardt donated the original two acres as the property on which the buildings of the newly organized parish were to be erected. The cemetery grounds, which lie a half mile west of the church property, were donated by Mr. Frank Pattok.

The people, being aware of the need for a Catholic education for their children, built the first school in 1885, a few years before they built their church. A lay teacher was hired and taught for the first two years. Father Ponganis of St. Adalbert Parish in Grand Rapids, secured the Felician Sisters to teach at the new school and they began teaching in 1887. The first Felician nuns were: Sister M. Kunegunda, Principal and Superior, Sister M. Hedwig, and Sister M. Casmir.

Father Bronikowski of St. Mary's Church in New Salem came to say the first Mass in Hilliards. As there was no rectory, he would stay overnight at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Michael Burchardt. Father L. Moczygemba, coming from Texas to Hillards, built the rectory and remained in Hilliards but a short time. Father Casimir Wolajtys built the present church in 1892.

Stanley Kurdelski and Agnes Rutkowki were the first couple to be married in the newly-built St. Stanislaus Church. Their wedding was solemnized on November 21, 1893. Married over 53 years, they are still living in Dorr, Michigan and belong to the parish. The first wedding records in the parish books is that of Adalbert Chylewski (Hilaski) and Josephine Morawska, but this wedding took place in St. Mary's Church in New Salem on August 6, 1889. The first baptim recorded in the parish books is that of Nicodem Laskowski who has already passed to his eternal reward. Maximilian Belka was the second child baptized in the parish on July 31, 1889. He is residing with his family on R#2 Wayland, Michigan. The first funeral recorded is that of Bronislaus Chylewski who died August 13, 1889.

The following priests have served St. Stanislaus since 1889: Father Casimir Wolajtys, Father Victor Rodowicz, Father Sylvester Kokiewicz Father Joseph Lempka, Msgr. Alexander Grudzinski, Msgr. Adalbert Zakala, Father Michael Barnet, Father Joseph Wilemski, Father Joseph Prybylski, Father Joseph Koper, Father Louis Pilarowski, Father Leo Zielinski, Msgr. Adalbert Radowski. From 1950 until 1961, St. Stanislaus was under the care of the Franciscan Fathers. In 1961, Father Peter Jakubowski was appointed pastor (the first diocesan pastor since 1950). From 1961 until 1971, St. Stanislaus was under the spiritual care of Father Peter Jakubowski. In 1971, St. Stanislaus became a part of the newly formed Diocese of Kalamazoo and Father Jerome Winikaitis was named pastor. He served until his death in 1974. In 1974, Father William Devine SCJ was appointed pastor and served until his retirement in 1977. In 1977, Father Charles Fischer, pastor of Sts. Cyril and Methodius (Gun Lake) was appointed administrator. In 1978, Father Henry Gomulka was appointed to serve as an associated to Father Fischer and he lived in residence at Hillards until his transfer to Three Rivers in 1980. In 1979, Father Dennis Boylan, pastor at Gun Lake's St. Cyril was named administrator replacing Father Fischer who had moved to Wayland as pastor of St. Therese. In 1980, Bishop Donovan appointed Father Boylan as pastor of St. Stanislaus and gave it a mission church -- Sacred Heart in Watson Township.

Dated: 1980

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