About Sacred Heart Catholic Church · Auburn Hills, Michigan
Sacred Heart Catholic Church is a parish in Auburn Hills, Michigan, belonging to the Archdiocese of Detroit. It is one of five parishes in the Northwest South Oakland 3 Family of Parishes, alongside St. Thomas More (Troy), St. Hugo (Bloomfield Hills), St. Damien (Pontiac) and St. Benedict (Waterford). The parish grew out of a small chapel built in the late 1940s and was formally established as a parish in 1959; it now serves a multigenerational Catholic community in northern Oakland County with daily and weekend Masses, faith formation for children and adults, and active lay ministries including the Knights of Columbus Council 8659.
- Established
- 1959
- Patron
- Sacred Heart of Jesus
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Detroit (South Oakland Vicariate, Northwest South Oakland 3 Family of Parishes)
Why belong here
Sacred Heart offers a warm, multigenerational Catholic community in the heart of Auburn Hills with daily and weekend Mass, year-round Eucharistic Adoration, and a robust sacramental life. Parishioners grow in faith through children's Religious Education by grade, OCIA (RCIA) for adults, Scripture studies, retreats and workshops, while serving through ministries such as the Knights of Columbus Council 8659, a parish food bank, OCIA team, choir, lectors, Eucharistic ministers, altar servers, and a developing Family Ministry. As part of the Northwest South Oakland 3 Family of Parishes, the parish shares priests and resources with four neighboring Catholic communities, ensuring that every member — from cradle Catholics to those coming home or entering the Church — is welcomed and supported.
Mass times at Sacred Heart Catholic Church
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 3:00 P.M. (or by appointment)
Adoration times
- First Friday of every month, 9:30 A.M. – 10:00 A.M. (Adoration & Benediction)
- Third Wednesday of every month, 7:00 P.M. – 8:00 P.M. (Adoration & Benediction)
Parish History
Sacred Heart's story begins in 1947 with the Archdiocese of Detroit's authorization of a chapel and church hall in Auburn Heights, dedicated in 1948 by Cardinal Edward Mooney. It was formally erected as a parish on June 28, 1959, with Fr. Francis Dietz as its first pastor. Six pastors have since led the community through parish hall construction, a major 1984–86 church enlargement dedicated by Archbishop Szoka, a 2000 expansion/renovation, and the parish's 40th, 50th and 60th anniversaries. A pipe organ installed in the late 1990s was dedicated in memory of Fr. Dan Rebain, and since 2021 the parish has been part of a five-parish Family of Parishes under the Archdiocese of Detroit's restructuring plan.
- 1947 – Archdiocese authorizes chapel/church hall construction
- 1948 – First church dedicated by Cardinal Mooney
- 1958 – Parish hall constructed
- 1959 – Sacred Heart officially becomes a parish (1st pastor: Fr. Francis Dietz)
- 1965 – Fr. Henry Kreft appointed pastor
- 1984–1986 – Church enlargement approved, broken ground, dedicated by Archbishop Szoka; Fr. Dennis Harrity becomes pastor
- 1992 – Fr. Dan Rebain appointed pastor
- 1997 – Fr. James Mayworm appointed pastor; new pipe organ installed and dedicated in Fr. Rebain's memory
- 1999 – 40th Anniversary
- 2000 – Church expansion and renovation
- 2009 – Fr. Richard Cavellier appointed sixth pastor (50th Anniversary)
- 2019 – 60th Anniversary
- 2021 – Fr. Cavellier retires; Sacred Heart joins South Oakland Vicariate Family of Parishes
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Sacred Heart's Religious Education program is sacramental-based, building on the faith nurtured in the home. Classes meet weekly and are coordinated by Faith Formation Director Brenda Savage. Adult faith formation is offered through workshops, retreats, Scripture Studies, prayer and faith-sharing experiences, and OCIA (the new name for RCIA) for those entering or returning to the Catholic Church.
Children's Faith Formation
Grade-by-grade formation walks children through the central sacraments and the life of the Trinity. First and Second Grade focuses on Holy Communion and the Gift of being loved by God; Third through Fifth Grade focuses on God's mercy, forgiveness, and justice and preparation for First Reconciliation; Sixth through Eighth Grade centers on Confirmation and being chosen to share the 'good news' through the gifts of the Holy Spirit.
- Grades 1–2 — focus on Holy Communion and God's love
- Grades 3–5 — focus on mercy, forgiveness, justice, and First Reconciliation
- Grades 6–8 — focus on Confirmation and witness to the Gospel
- RCIC — for children age 7+ who have missed sacraments at the usual age (call 248-852-4170 Ext. 15)
Adult Faith Formation & OCIA
Adults can deepen their faith through a variety of formation experiences, including prayer and faith-sharing, topical workshops, retreats, courses, and Scripture Studies. The parish welcomes anyone interested in becoming Catholic or completing their sacraments through the OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults) process; sessions are held on Sundays and weeknights during Lent and beyond.
- Scripture Studies and topical workshops
- Retreats and faith-sharing groups
- OCIA (RCIA) for unbaptized adults and those entering full communion
- Contact: Parish Office, 248-852-4170
Knights of Columbus Council 8659
Sacred Heart's parish Knights of Columbus Council 8659 lives out the principles of Charity, Unity, Fraternity and Patriotism. The Council sponsors the annual Keep Christ in Christmas card design contest, Lenten Fish Dinners, a Father-Daughter Dance, scholarships for Catholic education, the Baby Bottle Boomerang for HELP Pregnancy Crisis Center, and partnerships with Catholic missions. Joe Cichon serves as Grand Knight, with Dominic Caradonna as Membership Director.
- Annual Keep Christ in Christmas card contest
- Lenten Fish Dinners
- Father-Daughter Dance
- Catholic education scholarships
- Pro-life support (Baby Bottle Boomerang / HELP Pregnancy Crisis Center)
- Website: kofc8659.com / sacredheartkofc.org
Parish Staff & Leadership
Pastoral leadership is shared within the Northwest South Oakland 3 Family of Parishes. Deacon Michael Stach serves as Pastoral Associate and Administrator for daily parish life; Deacon David Fleming coordinates Christian Service. Senior priests (Pastor Emeritus Fr. Joseph Grimaldi, Msgr. Anthony Tocco, Fr. Brian Chabala, Fr. George Hazler, and Fr. Juan Gonzalez) assist with Masses and pastoral care, while the Family's Priests in Solidum (Rev. Mark Brauer, Rev. Nicholas Brown, Rev. Jacob VanAssche) share sacramental ministry across the five parishes.
- Deacon Michael Stach — Pastoral Associate & Administrator
- Deacon David Fleming — Deacon & Christian Service Coordinator
- Brenda Savage — Faith Formation Director
- Mary Ann Hannigan — Worship Ministry Coordinator
- Robert Meyer — Director of Music
- Amy Norris — Parish Secretary / Administrative Assistant (Mon–Wed)
- Barb Zelinski — Office Assistant (Thu–Fri)
- Tammy Bliss — Bulletin Editor
- David Michalak — Project Manager
- Joe Cichon — KOC Grand Knight
- Dominic Caradonna — KOC Membership Director
Worship & Music Ministry
Worship at Sacred Heart is supported by a coordinated team of lay ministers — altar servers, lectors, and Eucharistic ministers — led by Worship Ministry Coordinator Mary Ann Hannigan. Robert Meyer directs the parish choir, which rehearses on Thursday evenings at 7:00 PM and provides music at weekend liturgies.
- Altar servers
- Lectors
- Eucharistic Ministers
- Parish Choir (rehearsal Thursdays 7:00 PM)
Family Ministry & Christian Service
Sacred Heart describes itself as 'a warm and welcoming community in Christ,' and a developing Family Ministry gathers parishioners to discern and share the charisms God has given them through the Holy Spirit. Practical Christian Service includes a parish food bank coordinated through Deacon David Fleming, funeral luncheons, support notes to U.S. service members, phone calls to homebound parishioners, and social gatherings such as card games, trivia, and movie nights in the MPR.
- Parish food bank
- Funeral luncheon ministry
- Cards and outreach to U.S. service members
- Homebound visitation and phone outreach
- Morning Movie in MPR (social gatherings)
- Family Ministry discernment gatherings in Fr. Kreft Hall
Office & Visiting Information
The parish office is open Monday through Thursday from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM and Friday from 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM; closed Saturday and Sunday. Visitors can reach the office by phone at 248-852-4170 (fax 248-852-5745) or email at [email protected]. Detailed driving directions from the north, south, east, and west are posted on the parish website.
- Office Hours: Mon–Thu 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM; Fri 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM
- Phone: 248-852-4170
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: www.esacredheart.org
- Social: @sacredheart7009 on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter
Sacraments & Pastoral Care
All seven sacraments are celebrated at Sacred Heart. Baptisms and Marriages are arranged through the Parish Office; First Communion is prepared in Grades 1–2, First Reconciliation in Grades 3–5, and Confirmation in Grades 6–8. Adults seeking initiation enter the OCIA process, and children age 7 and older who have missed sacraments are served through the RCIC program. Funeral Liturgies and funeral luncheons are supported by parish staff and lay ministers, and the Anointing of the Sick is available by appointment and during times of illness.
Family of Parishes
Since July 1, 2021, Sacred Heart has been part of the South Oakland Vicariate's Northwest South Oakland 3 Family of Parishes, formed by Archbishop Allen Vigneron to address the growing priest shortage in the Archdiocese of Detroit. The priests of the Family serve 'in solidum' — as equals within a team — and share responsibility for shepherding all five parishes: Sacred Heart (Auburn Hills), St. Thomas More (Troy), St. Hugo (Bloomfield Hills), St. Damien (Pontiac), and St. Benedict (Waterford).
- Sacred Heart — Auburn Hills (Pastor: Fr. Mark Brauer — Moderator)
- St. Thomas More — Troy (Msgr. Tom Rice)
- St. Hugo — Bloomfield Hills (Fr. Richard Dorsch)
- St. Damien — Pontiac (Fr. Jacob VanAssche, Fr. Andrew Mabee)
- St. Benedict — Waterford (Fr. Jim Mayworm, added January 2024)
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Francis Dietz1959–
First pastor when Sacred Heart was formally established as a parish.
- Fr. Henry Kreft1965–1986
Shepherded the parish for over two decades; oversaw the 1984–86 church enlargement, dedicated by Archbishop Szoka.
- Fr. Dennis Harrity1986–
Became pastor when Fr. Kreft retired.
- Fr. Dan Rebain1992–1997
Pastor until his death; new pipe organ dedicated in his memory in 1998.
- Fr. James Mayworm1997–
Led the 40th anniversary in 1999 and the 2000 church expansion/renovation.
- Fr. Richard Cavellier2009–2021
Sixth pastor; appointed during the 50th anniversary; oversaw the 60th anniversary; retired 2021.