Brawley Catholic - Sacred Heart

About the Parish

Sacred Heart Parish is the historic flagship church of the Catholic Communities of Brawley & Westmorland (CCBW) in California's Imperial Valley. Located at 402 S. Imperial Avenue near Brawley's central city square, it has served the city's Catholic families since 1908 and today offers Sunday Mass in both English and Spanish, weekly Wednesday Mass, and Sunday confessions. The parish belongs to the Diocese of San Diego and is administered alongside its sister churches St. Margaret Mary (Brawley, 1934) and St. Joseph (Westmorland).

History of Sacred Heart

Sacred Heart is Brawley's first Catholic church. The first Mass was celebrated on December 13, 1908 in a small wooden structure by Rev. Francis Burelbach, who lived in El Centro. He moved to Brawley in January 1910 and built the present church, dedicated in late 1912 by Bishop Thomas J. Conaty. In 1915 he opened Sacred Heart School next door, staffed by the Sisters of St. Joseph of Eureka. Father Burelbach resigned July 15, 1917 and was succeeded by Rev. J. A. Martin. The school ran for 110 years before closing in June 2018.

• 1908 — First Mass celebrated December 13 by Rev. Francis Burelbach in a modest wooden structure
• 1910 — Father Burelbach takes up residence in Brawley (January 18)
• 1912 — Permanent church completed and dedicated by Bishop Thomas J. Conaty, D.D.
• 1915 — Sacred Heart School dedicated, staffed by Sisters of St. Joseph of Eureka, California
• 1917 — Father Burelbach resigns (July 15); succeeded by Rev. J. A. Martin
• 1934 — St. Margaret Mary Church founded in east Brawley
• 2018 — Sacred Heart School closes after 110 years of Catholic education

Clergy and Staff

The Catholic Communities of Brawley & Westmorland is led by a pastor supported by an associate pastor, two permanent deacons, a religious sister directing faith formation, and parish office staff. As of July 1, 2026 the pastor is Rev. Antonio Morales, formerly of St. Patrick Parish in Calipatria and dean of the El Centro deanery, succeeding Father Bernardo Lara (who transferred to Our Lady of Angels Parish in San Diego).

• Rev. Antonio Morales — Pastor (effective July 1, 2026)
• Rev. Claro Ortiz — Associate Pastor
• Deacon Alberto Moya — Permanent Deacon
• Deacon Marcos Lopez — Permanent Deacon
• Sister Monica Del Hoyo — Director of Faith Formation & Catechetical Evangelization
• Alma Gonzalez — Office Manager & Bookkeeper
• Gaby Ramirez — Parish Secretary

Faith Formation

The parish runs a catechetical program for children, directed by Sister Monica Del Hoyo, that walks parents and children through the Catholic faith, the sacraments, Scripture and the liturgical year. Registration has historically opened in late summer, with classes running through the school year at the Sacred Heart parish office.

• Catechism classes for children (English and Spanish tracks)
• Family-focused formation: parents and children journey together
• Registration has run through late September; contact (760) 587-4018

Youth Ministry

Brawley Catholic's youth ministry serves teens both before and after Confirmation. Students preparing for Confirmation complete a two-year program, while teens who have already been confirmed are invited into YDisciple to continue growing closer to God.

• Two-year Confirmation preparation program
• YDisciple ongoing formation for post-Confirmation teens

Sacraments

The parish celebrates the full sacramental life of the Catholic Church: the Eucharist at Sunday and weekday Mass, Reconciliation on Sunday mornings, and preparation for Baptism, Confirmation, Marriage, and Anointing of the Sick through the parish office.

• Baptism, Confirmation, and Marriage preparation available
• Sunday Reconciliation 11:45 AM – 12:15 PM
• Daily and Sunday Eucharist (see Mass schedule)

Catholic Communities of Brawley & Westmorland (CCBW)

Sacred Heart is the historic anchor of a combined parish community that also includes St. Margaret Mary Church (620 S. Cesar Chavez St., Brawley, founded 1934) and St. Joseph Church (300 N. Center St., Westmorland). Together the three churches serve roughly 1,100 families, making CCBW the third-largest Catholic parish community in Imperial Valley. A single pastor and shared staff minister to all three.

• Sacred Heart — 402 S. Imperial Ave., Brawley • (760) 679-3505
• St. Margaret Mary — 620 S. Cesar Chavez St., Brawley • (760) 550-9830
• St. Joseph — 300 N. Center St., Westmorland • (760) 679-3505

Annual Catholic Appeal

Each year Sacred Heart participates in the Diocese of San Diego's Annual Catholic Appeal, which funds diocesan schools, faith-formation programs for all ages, retired priests, and seminarians preparing for priesthood.

• Supports diocesan schools and faith-formation programs
• Provides sustainability for retired priests and seminarians

Sacred Heart School (1915–2018)

Opened in 1915 adjacent to the church and staffed by the Sisters of St. Joseph of Eureka, Sacred Heart School provided Catholic education in Brawley for 110 years. After enrollment dropped to just 48 students and an annual deficit of roughly $100,000, the parish and Diocese of San Diego closed the school in June 2018. The diocese offered $1,000 scholarships to continuing students at St. Mary's (El Centro) or Our Lady of Guadalupe Academy (Calexico), and reassigned staff to other Imperial Valley Catholic schools.

• Founded 1915; closed June 2018 (110 years)
• Originally staffed by Sisters of St. Joseph of Eureka, California
• Closure attributed to declining enrollment and a ~$100,000 annual deficit