The abandoned sacred heart church in the heart of Arizona’s desert is a sad sight to behold. This church was once one of the poorest parishes in the Diocese of Phoenix. Now, it’s only open once a year.
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Sacred Heart Parish was crowded beyond capacity
During different times, Sacred Heart Parish was both a church and an institution. It served the Catholic community, but also a reflection of the immigrant population of the area.
The mission of the parish was to train children in the Catholic faith. For this purpose, the Sisters of Atonement, a special group of nuns, labored in religious training of the children.
As the population grew, so did the need for a new school and a place to worship. Plans were made to build a combined church and school. The parish acquired property on 38th Avenue between 216th and 217th Streets. A building was built in 1924.
When Father William T. Brady was appointed pastor, the parish was thriving. There were fifteen families. But the school was overcrowded.
The Sacred Heart Parish was crowded and out of space. Fortunately, a neighboring Episcopal Church was for sale. In order to provide adequate religious education to the kids, the church purchased the property.
Sacred Heart Parish was one of the poorest parishes in the Diocese of Phoenix
Sacred Heart parish is one of the oldest in the archdiocese. Its 140-year-old building is still in use. The parish’s pastor has made an effort to hire more bilingual workers. He recently began a fundraising campaign for a new high school.
Catholics in the Diocese of Phoenix have grown and adapted to the needs of a growing community. As a result, many of the diocese’s priests are from other countries. Priests from Africa, the Philippines, and India are among those who serve in the diocese. In addition, Catholic universities have arrived, as well.
A major growth spurt came after the death of George Floyd, who was one of the diocese’s first bishops. His death challenged the church to provide a welcoming environment and be a force for social justice.
Among the first priests ordained in the newly drawn diocesan boundaries were William Parenteau and Robert Skagen. During his tenure, a number of parishes were established. Some of them served Hispanic communities.
Sacred Heart Parish was sold to a couple who had plans to make the Sacred Heart Parish into a Special Education school for children
A little known fact about the Church of the Sacred Heart is that it was sold to a couple who had plans to turn it into a Special Education school. The couple split up before the school could be opened. It took a lot of moving parts to make the church a reality, and this is a good example of the power of community.
The Parish’s first Holy Mass was celebrated on Christmas Day 1901. That same year, Rev. Father Emmeram Kausler was appointed pastor. He sped up construction of the church and organized the first Holy Mass in the new building.
Sacred Heart School opened in September 1912. During the two academic years the school was in operation, a temporary location near Highway 2 was used. Until the April 1997 flood, the school’s pediment hung in the gymnasium.
In 1972, the school had an enrollment of 250 students. Frank Wurzbacher was a member of the first eighth grade graduating class.
Sacred Heart Parish now opens only once a year
The Sacred Heart Parish has served Northeastern Queens for 140 years. It was founded in 1878 by John Loughlin. In the following years, Sacred Heart Parish experienced growth and expansion.
For a number of years, Sacred Heart Church was located on a 19-acre lot. During the 1970s, the church was threatened with demolition. But it remained standing until 30 years ago.
At the time, Sacred Heart Parish was financially stable. In fact, the church was paid off for the first time in 40 years.
Several years later, a new rectory was constructed on East and Montrose Streets. A handicapped restroom was installed in the church foyer. Also, Sacred Heart Grammar School was added to the campus. After the school was completed, a handicapped elevator was added to the rear of the building.
One of the most unique features of the Sacred Heart School is its high school. Originally, the school only enrolled 235 students. However, this number increased to 375 in the 1920s. Afterward, the school was reclassified as a diocesan high school.
