Sacred Heart

About Sacred Heart Parish

Sacred Heart is a Catholic parish in Big Stone Gap, in the far southwestern corner of Virginia, and one of the four parishes of the Holy Trinity Parish Cluster within the Diocese of Richmond. According to the parish's website, 'Sacred Heart Church was first established in 1902 in Stonega, and has continued thru the years to the present day, and to its present location here in Big Stone Gap.' The community welcomes all who are seeking a parish family and describes its place in both the larger Big Stone Gap community and in the lives of generations of Catholics.

History

Sacred Heart traces its roots to 1902, when it was founded in Stonega — a coal-mining community in Wise County. The Glenmary Home Missioners, the society that ministered to mission territories in the rural United States, staffed the parish in its early decades and in 1956 opened a mission church (St. Pius X, now Holy Spirit Catholic Community) in Appalachia. In 1966 the parish itself was relocated from Stonega to Big Stone Gap at 1821 Holton Avenue East, its present home. After the Diocese of Richmond assumed responsibility in 1984, Sacred Heart continued to share pastoral ministry with its mission parish.

• 1902 — Parish founded in Stonega, Virginia
• 1956 — Glenmary Home Missioners open St. Pius X (later Holy Spirit) as a mission of Sacred Heart
• 1966 — Sacred Heart relocates from Stonega to Big Stone Gap
• 1984 — Diocese of Richmond takes over Sacred Heart and Holy Spirit
• 2005 — Holy Trinity Parish Cluster formally created, uniting Sacred Heart, Holy Spirit, and St. Anthony (Norton)
• 2006 — St. Joseph (Clintwood) joins the cluster

Clergy & Staff

Sacred Heart is served as part of the Holy Trinity Cluster Parishes. The Parochial Administrator is Rev. Ritche Sarabia, originally from the Philippines, who began serving the cluster in July 2023 after two years elsewhere in the Diocese of Richmond. Rev. Daniel L. Kelly serves as Sacramental Priest and Chaplain, and Rev. Les Schmidt, G.H.M. (a Glenmary Home Missioner) is in residence. The cluster's Business Manager is Linda Alsup, and the Finance Officer is Harve Mooney.

• Rev. Ritche Sarabia — Parochial Administrator
• Rev. Daniel L. Kelly — Sacramental Priest and Chaplain
• Rev. Les Schmidt, G.H.M. — Priest in Residence
• Linda Alsup — Business Manager
• Harve Mooney — Finance Officer

Sacraments

Through the Holy Trinity Cluster, Sacred Heart parishioners have access to the full sacramental life of the Church. The cluster's website explains that sacraments are outward signs that actually convey the grace they signify, drawing the faithful into deeper communion with God. Reconciliation (Confession / Penance) and Anointing of the Sick have dedicated pages, and Baptism, Confirmation, Eucharist, Marriage, and Holy Orders are coordinated through the parish office.

• Reconciliation (Confession / Penance)
• Anointing of the Sick
• Baptism, Confirmation, Eucharist, Marriage, Holy Orders — preparation through the parish office

Ministries & Outreach

Sacred Heart and the Holy Trinity Cluster extend the parish's mission beyond its walls through ministries to prisons, hospitals, nursing homes, and the local community college. The Diocese of Richmond lists Wallen's Ridge State Prison, Lonesome Pine Hospital, and Heritage Hall Nursing Home as the parish's apostolates, and identifies Mountain Empire Community College as a campus served by the parish.

• Prison Ministry at Wallen's Ridge State Prison
• Pastoral care at Lonesome Pine Hospital
• Pastoral care at Heritage Hall Nursing Home
• Campus ministry at Mountain Empire Community College

Holy Trinity Parish Cluster

Sacred Heart is one of four parishes that make up the Holy Trinity Parish Cluster, representing 'the westernmost edge of the Diocese of Richmond.' The cluster is a cooperative effort in which small parishes — Sacred Heart (Big Stone Gap), Holy Spirit Catholic Community (Jonesville), St. Anthony (Norton), and St. Joseph (Clintwood) — share resources and pastoral staff while each maintaining its own identity. A Cluster Council meets quarterly to coordinate activities and pursue common goals, helping these small mountain parishes present 'a fuller and more unified Catholic presence in a largely non-Catholic region.'

• Sacred Heart — Big Stone Gap (Sunday 11:30 a.m.)
• Holy Spirit Catholic Community — Jonesville (Sunday 10:00 a.m.; Friday 5:00 p.m. with Adoration until 6:00 p.m.)
• St. Anthony — Norton (Sunday 8:00 a.m.; Thursday 6:00 p.m.)
• St. Joseph — Clintwood

Faith Formation & Community Life

Across the cluster, regular formation and community activities supplement Sunday Mass. Religious Education meets on Sundays at 9:00 a.m. in the St. Anthony church hall; Adult Faith Formation meets on the 2nd and 4th Sundays after Mass; and Bible Study gathers on Thursdays at 6:30 p.m. A Parish Community Meeting is held on the 3rd Sunday of each month after Mass at St. Anthony, providing a forum for parishioners across the cluster.

• Religious Education — Sundays at 9:00 a.m. at St. Anthony church hall
• Adult Faith Formation — 2nd and 4th Sundays, after Mass
• Parish Community Meeting — 3rd Sunday of each month, after Mass
• Bible Study — Thursdays at 6:30 p.m. at St. Anthony

Visit & Contact

Sacred Heart is located at 1821 Holton Avenue East in Big Stone Gap, Virginia 24219. The parish phone number is (276) 523-1588, and the cluster's shared email is [email protected]. The parish's online home is part of the Holy Trinity Cluster website, where Mass times, sacramental information, and cluster news are posted.

• Address: 1821 Holton Ave. E, Big Stone Gap, VA 24219
• Phone: (276) 523-1588
• Email: [email protected]
• Website: https://holytrinitycluster.org/parishes/sacred-heart/