About Sacred Heart Catholic Church · Dade City, Florida
Sacred Heart Catholic Church is a historic Roman Catholic parish located at 32145 St. Joe Road in Dade City, Florida, in the heart of the Saint Joe community in Pasco County. Founded in 1888 by German-Catholic pioneer families who had migrated from Minnesota, it is one of the oldest parishes in the Diocese of Saint Petersburg and was historically served by the Benedictine monks of nearby St. Leo Abbey. The current pastor is Father Robert G. Romaine, assisted by Rev. Daniel T. Kenna, OFM (in residence), and the parish runs a faith-formation program, OCIA, monthly Anointing of the Sick, weekly adoration, and a daycare ministry on the original site.
- Established
- 1888
- Patron
- Sacred Heart of Jesus
- Rector
- Rev. Robert G. Romaine
- Diocese
- Diocese of Saint Petersburg
Why belong here
Sacred Heart is a small, deeply-rooted rural parish where generations of the same Saint Joe and Dade City families have worshipped since 1888. Members find a genuine community built around the Eucharist, with daily Mass Monday–Friday, two Sunday Masses, weekly Friday adoration, monthly Monday evening adoration, and a First Thursday Anointing of the Sick with Fr. Bob. Confession is offered Saturday afternoons as well as after the First Thursday Mass, and parents can walk their children through Faith Formation, First Communion, Confirmation, and OCIA in a parish where the catechists, the DRE, and the OCIA director are named and accessible.
Mass times at Sacred Heart Catholic Church
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 3:00 PM – 3:45 PM (or by appointment, call parish office)
- First Thursday of each month, 8:30 AM – 9:30 AM (following the Anointing of the Sick Mass)
- Diocese notes confession is offered in English and Polish
Adoration times
- Friday following the 8:00 AM Mass (Exposition & Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament)
- First Monday of the month, 6:30 PM – 7:30 PM
Parish History
Sacred Heart Catholic Church traces its beginnings to a settlement of German-Catholic immigrant families who left Minnesota in the 1880s and established the St. Joseph community east of Dade City. On October 1, 1888, these pioneer families — the Barthles, Blommels, Boettingers, Buttweilers, Fritzlers, Gerners, Gudes, Nathes, and Zierdens — raised a small frame 'Jubilee Chapel' that served as both school and chapel, and Father Gerald Pilz celebrated the first Mass, naming the parish for the Sacred Heart of Jesus. The parish was historically entrusted to the Benedictine monks of St. Leo Abbey, with the Benedictine Sisters of Holy Name Convent teaching in the school from 1889 until 1981, and today the property carries a Florida State Historical Marker.
- First Mass celebrated October 1, 1888 by Father Gerald Pilz, OSB
- Pioneer families: Barthle, Blommel, Boettinger, Buttweiler, Fritzler, Gerner, Gude, Nathe, Zierden
- Sacred Heart Cemetery established 1889 on land donated by August Gerner
- Original church replaced in 1978
- Florida State Historical Marker site
Mass & Worship Schedule
Sacred Heart offers a full week of Masses centered on daily morning worship. Weekday Mass is celebrated Monday through Friday at 8:00 AM, Saturday Vigil Mass is at 4:00 PM, and Sunday Masses are at 8:00 AM and 10:30 AM. The parish publishes a single schedule covering everyday devotion and the special monthly sacraments.
- Daily Mass: Monday–Friday, 8:00 AM
- Saturday Vigil Mass: 4:00 PM
- Sunday Masses: 8:00 AM & 10:30 AM
Faith Formation & Sacraments for Children
The parish's Faith Formation program, directed by Terry Pawlicki, 'seeks to nurture children and youth in the knowledge and love of Jesus Christ and His Church.' Through prayer, catechesis, sacramental preparation, and community, the program accompanies families as children receive the Sacraments of First Holy Communion and Confirmation.
- First Holy Communion preparation — catechesis in the Mass and Eucharist (cf. CCC 1324)
- Confirmation preparation — strengthened by the gifts of the Holy Spirit (cf. CCC 1303)
- Faith Formation staff led by Terry Pawlicki, DRE
OCIA & Adult Faith Formation
The Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (OCIA), the current form of the RCIA after the parish's reception of the revised liturgical books, is directed by Kelli Crabb. The parish also promotes ongoing adult enrichment under the title 'Faith Matters' together with a Ministry Fair and initiatives related to the Bishop's Pastoral Plan, coordinated in 'Education & Continuing Education' leadership by David Goswick.
- OCIA Director: Kelli Crabb
- Faith Matters adult enrichment series
- Ministry Fair
- Bishop's Pastoral Plan initiatives
- Education & Continuing Education coordination (David Goswick)
Sacred Heart Daycare
After Pasco County built a one-room schoolhouse on the church grounds in 1918 (later expanded with a second room in 1924), and the public school eventually closed, the parish purchased the building and property and converted it into the Sacred Heart Daycare — continuing more than a century of Catholic education on the site.
- Housed in the original 1918 county school building next to the church
- Operated by the parish
Parish Staff
Sacred Heart is led pastorally by Father Robert G. Romaine and is joined in residence by Father Daniel T. Kenna, OFM. Lay staff include the Director of Religious Education, the OCIA Director, a parish administrative assistant, and the Education & Continuing Education coordinator.
- Rev. Robert G. Romaine — Pastor
- Rev. Daniel T. Kenna, OFM — In Residence
- Terry Pawlicki — Director of Religious Education ([email protected])
- Kelli Crabb — OCIA Director
- Alicia Sillen — Parish Administrative Assistant
- David Goswick — Education & Continuing Education Coordinator
Visit & Contact
The parish office is open Monday through Thursday from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM and is closed Friday through Sunday. The parish priest can be reached at a separate line, and visitors are warmly invited to Mass or to contact the office with questions about sacraments, faith formation, or OCIA.
- Parish Office: (352) 588-3641
- Priest line: (352) 710-8876
- Email: [email protected]
- Office Hours: Monday–Thursday 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM (closed Fri–Sun)
- Mass celebrated daily — visitors welcome