In the late 19th century, Catholic families in Harlan gathered for Mass in private homes due to anti-Catholic sentiment. Before St. Michael’s Church was established in 1888, Father Weber of Westphalia traveled to Harlan to celebrate Mass with the faithful.

Father P. Brommenschenkel of St. Boniface in Westphalia helped purchase land for a small-frame church, where Mass was held monthly. In 1896, Father Anthony Tyszka became St. Michael’s first resident pastor, followed by a series of visiting priests until Father John Burkheiser’s appointment in 1916. From that point on, St. Michael’s has been blessed with a full-time resident pastor.

As the parish grew to 60 families, Father Maurice Aspinwall oversaw construction of the current Spanish Mission-style church in 1925, located at 8th and Laurel Streets. The church was dedicated on September 29, 1925, the feast of St. Michael the Archangel. A matching rectory was added in 1927.

Father Leo J. Gannon arrived in 1945 and began a new era for the parish, purchasing land and overseeing the construction of St. Michael’s School, which opened in 1954. Staffed by the Sisters of Notre Dame, the school was a cornerstone of Catholic education in the area for decades.

By the 1960s, the parish had again outgrown its church. In 1964, a new church was built adjacent to the school to accommodate the growing congregation and reflect the liturgical changes from Vatican II. Under Fr. Gannon and later Fr. Anthony J. Palmer, the parish continued to thrive, adding a new rectory and convent.

During Fr. Richard Wagner’s time as pastor (1976–1982), the parish reached 550 families—making it the largest rural parish in the Diocese of Des Moines. In 1979, construction of the Rosman Parish Center began, and in 1980, St. Michael’s celebrated the ordination of its first permanent deacon, Pat Davitt.

The centennial celebration took place in 1988 under Fr. David Polich. The former convent was sold, and plans for a new foundation were initiated. In 1989, Msgr. Edward Kelly became pastor and established the St. Michael Foundation, emphasizing devotion to the Blessed Mother and improving parish facilities.

In the years that followed, St. Michael’s saw continued growth and renewal:

• Expansion of educational facilities
• Air conditioning added to the church
• Major interior renovations completed in 2002 under Fr. Jack McClure
• A strong focus on adult faith formation and morning prayer groups

In 2004, the six Catholic parishes in Shelby County joined together to form Shelby County Catholic School, with the main campus at St. Michael’s. The parish also began collaborating with neighboring parishes on RCIA, youth rallies, and county-wide missions.

In more recent years:

• Fr. John Frost became pastor in 2010
• Fr. Dan Gehler began serving in 2020 with Fr. Clement Owusu as Associate Pastor
• After Fr. Gehler’s passing, Fr. Clement Owusu became pastor and was officially installed by Bishop William Joensen on March 25, 2023

Today, St. Michael’s Catholic Church remains a vibrant, welcoming community with a deep legacy of faith, service, and education—a spiritual home for generations of Catholic families in Harlan and beyond.