About Sacred Heart · Brevard, North Carolina
Sacred Heart Catholic Church is a parish in Brevard, North Carolina, in the heart of Transylvania County's Blue Ridge Mountains, part of the Diocese of Charlotte. The parish serves the local Catholic community with Mass celebrated in both English and Spanish, an extensive Adoration schedule, and a wide network of ministries including faith formation for children, youth, and high schoolers, a parish life commission, and outreach programs. The current church building on Brian Berg Lane was dedicated in 1988, replacing the original 1949 church built on Caldwell Street by thirty founding families.
- Established
- 1949
- Patron
- Sacred Heart of Jesus
- Rector
- Reverend Shawn Michael O'Neal
- Diocese
- Diocese of Charlotte
Why belong here
Sacred Heart welcomes longtime parishioners, newcomers, and visitors alike as part of its parish family, with a mission to glorify God in the Eucharist, proclaim the Gospel, and reach out to the poor and neglected. Members can grow in faith through bilingual Masses (English and Spanish), nearly round-the-clock Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament including 24-hour Adoration from Friday afternoon through Saturday afternoon, and a robust schedule of Faith Formation for children (K-6), middle-school EDGE (7-8), and high-school FYSH groups. A network of ministries — from Caring Shepherds and Stephen Ministry to Ladies Guild, REACH, Community Outreach, and Eucharistic Ministers to the Homebound — gives parishioners many ways to serve one another and the wider Brevard community.
Mass times at Sacred Heart
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Wednesday: 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM
- Thursday: 5:45 PM – 6:30 PM
- Saturday: 2:45 PM – 3:30 PM
- Other times by appointment
Adoration times
- Monday – Thursday: 10:30 AM – 7:00 PM
- Saturday & Sunday: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
- 24-hour Adoration: Friday 3:00 PM – Saturday 3:00 PM (use the outside door of the new chapel)
Parish History
Sacred Heart traces its roots to 1820, when the first Catholics are recorded in the area. After nearly a century, the 1939 opening of the Ecusta Paper Corporation in Pisgah Forest provided the catalyst: the company transported Catholic employees to Sunday Mass in Hendersonville. By 1941, Brevard became a mission of the Hendersonville parish, with Mass offered in civic halls, bank buildings, a beauty parlor, and private homes. In 1946, local Catholics organized as the Brevard Catholic Society, purchased Caldwell Street land in 1947, and built the first church, dedicated August 28, 1949, by Bishop Vincent Waters of Raleigh. The current church on Brian Berg Lane was dedicated November 17, 1988.
- Earliest Catholic presence in the area: 1820
- First Masses in Brevard: 1941 (as a mission of Hendersonville)
- Land on Caldwell Street purchased: August 1947
- First pastor: Father Charles O'Connor, 1949
- Original church dedicated: August 28, 1949 by Bishop Vincent Waters (cost: $36,000; 75 members)
- Thirty founding families commemorated on a plaque on the current church's portico
- St. Jude Chapel (Cashiers/Sapphire Valley) mission established: 1972
- Current church dedicated: November 17, 1988 (planned by Fr. Ray Berg)
- Original Caldwell Street church later became the Transylvania Community Arts Council
Clergy & Staff
The parish is led by Father Shawn Michael O'Neal, Pastor, supported by a small staff of lay ministers and an office manager. Contacts are reached through the parish office at (828) 883-9572.
- Fr. Shawn O'Neal — Pastor
- Mrs. Tricia Poche — Director of Religious Education
- Miss Jenni Pogue — Office Manager
- Mrs. Guadalupe Lambert — Communications
- Mr. Jose Adame — Maintenance
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Sacred Heart's Faith Formation program, directed by Tricia Poche, welcomes children and youth from kindergarten through high school. Classes for grades 1–6 meet Sunday mornings from 9:15 to 10:15 AM, while middle-school EDGE (grades 7–8) and high-school FYSH provide age-appropriate youth ministry. The parish also coordinates Sacramental preparation for Confirmation in the 10th grade.
- Faith Formation Grades 1–6: Sundays 9:15–10:15 AM
- EDGE Middle School Ministry (grades 7–8)
- FYSH High School Youth Ministry
- Confirmation preparation begins in 10th grade (two prior years of formation required, 85% attendance)
- 24 hours of approved service and a group service project required for Confirmation
- Bilingual registration and parent letters available in English and Spanish
Sacraments
The parish accompanies families and individuals through the Sacraments of Initiation, Healing, and Vocation. Parents wishing to baptize their child should contact the parish office to set up a baptismal preparation class; Confirmation is generally celebrated in 10th grade after two prior years of Faith Formation.
- Baptism — contact the parish office to arrange a baptismal preparation class
- First Holy Communion — through Faith Formation
- Confirmation — preparation begins in 10th grade
- Marriage — contact the parish office
- Anointing of the Sick — through Pastoral Care ministry
Parish Life & Pastoral Care
The Parish Life Commission coordinates a wide range of ministries that care for members of the parish family, including homebound visits, support during illness and loss, and Sunday fellowship.
- Caring Shepherds
- Ladies Guild
- Pastoral Care
- REACH
- Sunday Fellowship
- Eucharistic Ministers to the Homebound
- PACK
- Stephen Ministry
Liturgy & Liturgical Ministries
The Liturgical Commission organizes all aspects of weekend and Holy Day Masses, recruiting and scheduling liturgical ministers. Volunteers serve as altar servers, lectors, and Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion.
- Altar servers
- Lectors
- Extraordinary Ministers of the Mass / Eucharistic Ministers to the Homebound
- Music ministry (coordinated within the Liturgy Commission)
Community Outreach
Rooted in its mission to reach out to the poor and neglected, Sacred Heart's Community Outreach ministry coordinates the parish's service to the wider Brevard and Transylvania County community.
- Outreach coordination led by Brian White
- Parish mission includes reaching out to the poor and neglected
- Connection with Diocese of Charlotte outreach efforts
Councils & Parish Governance
Two councils support the pastor in guiding the parish: the Parish Pastoral Council and the Finance Council.
- Parish Pastoral Council
- Finance Council
Visit, Contact & Getting Involved
Parishioners and visitors are warmly welcomed. The parish office is open Monday–Thursday from 10:30 AM to 3:30 PM and closed on Fridays. For Spanish-speaking ministry inquiries, the parish celebrates a Saturday 7:00 PM Spanish Mass and a Thursday 7:00 PM Spanish weekday Mass.
- Office Hours: Monday–Thursday 10:30 AM – 3:30 PM; Friday closed
- Phone: (828) 883-9572
- Fax: 828-883-9581
- Address: 150 Brian Berg Drive, Brevard, NC 28712
- Website: sacredheartbrevard.org
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father Charles O'Connor1949
First pastor of Sacred Heart; oversaw construction and dedication of the original Caldwell Street church on August 28, 1949
- Father Ray Bergmid-1980s
Initiated planning for the current church building, which was dedicated November 17, 1988