About Sacred Heart Catholic Church · Hattiesburg, Mississippi
Sacred Heart Catholic Church is a diverse Roman Catholic parish located at 313 Walnut Street in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, and is the oldest Catholic parish in the city. A parish of the Diocese of Biloxi, Sacred Heart serves the downtown Hattiesburg community with three Sunday Masses (including a Spanish Mass at 1:30 p.m.), a daily Mass schedule, and an attached elementary school that has educated local children since 1900. The parish operates Faith Formation classes for grades 1–11, an OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults) process, a Family Life Ministry, and outreach rooted in Catholic social teaching.
- Established
- 1900
- Patron
- Sacred Heart of Jesus
- Rector
- Father Sergio A. Balderas
- Diocese
- Diocese of Biloxi
Why belong here
Sacred Heart is the oldest Catholic parish in Hattiesburg and one of the largest families in the Diocese of Biloxi, offering the sacraments, daily Mass, and a weekly Spanish-language Mass that reflects the diversity of the community it serves. Parishioners can grow in faith through Youth Faith Formation for grades 1–11, an adult OCIA process, Family Life Ministry, and adult formation programs like the Credo and Rescue Project series. Outreach rooted in the seven tenets of Catholic social teaching, alongside its long-running elementary school, makes Sacred Heart a place where families, school, and parish together form intentional disciples.
Mass times at Sacred Heart Catholic Church
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday: 3:15–3:45 p.m.
- Sunday: 1:00–1:30 p.m.
- Wednesday: 5:15–5:45 p.m.
- By appointment
Adoration times
- Monday: 8:45 a.m.–7:00 p.m. (Adoration follows Monday Daily Mass)
- Wednesday: 3:00–5:45 p.m.
About Sacred Heart Catholic Church
Sacred Heart Catholic Church is a diverse Roman Catholic parish located at 313 Walnut Street in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, and is the oldest Catholic parish in the city. A parish of the Diocese of Biloxi, Sacred Heart is committed to living and spreading the Gospel of Jesus Christ as expressed through the Roman Catholic faith, with both English and Spanish ministries serving the community.
- Oldest Catholic parish in Hattiesburg (founded 1900)
- Located at 313 Walnut Street, Hattiesburg, MS 39401
- Part of the Diocese of Biloxi
Parish History
The first Catholic church in Hattiesburg was a small wooden structure built in 1890 at what is now the corner of Walnut Street and Southern Avenue. Bishop Thomas Heslin formally established Sacred Heart as a parish in January 1900 and appointed Father Sylvester Griemel as its first pastor. A fire destroyed the first frame church in March 1900, and a new church plus four-room rectory were built by that summer. The present Late Gothic Revival brick church was erected in 1927 under Father Joseph Enis on land donated by lumberman Joseph Semmes.
- 1890: First wooden Catholic church built in Hattiesburg
- 1900: Parish formally established by Bishop Thomas Heslin; Father Sylvester Griemel named first pastor
- 1900: First Catholic school opens with 35 students
- 1902: Sisters of Mercy arrive to staff school and Gulf and Ship Island Railroad hospital
- 1927: Present brick church built under Father Joseph Enis for $65,000
- 1951: New brick school built under Monsignor John J. Igoe
- 1977: Monsignor James McGough becomes first Chancellor of newly formed Diocese of Biloxi
- 1999: Parish grows to ~1,100 families, one of the largest in the Diocese of Biloxi
Sacred Heart Catholic School
Sacred Heart Catholic School is a ministry of Sacred Heart Parish, located on the parish grounds and serving students in the Hattiesburg area. The school is described as rooted in the Christian heritage of the past while focused on the present and future, with a mission to instill in youth a conviction of truth consistent with the doctrine and values of the Catholic Church. Father Sergio Balderas serves as Pastor of both Sacred Heart Catholic Church and School. The current elementary building was constructed in 1951, and the former convent (built 1959) now houses administrative offices and an art room.
- Catholic elementary school on parish grounds
- Current elementary building built 1951
- Former convent (1959) now used for administrative offices and art room
- Pastoral oversight by Father Sergio Balderas
Faith Formation and Religious Education
Sacred Heart runs a Youth Faith Formation program for children in grades 1 through 11, with First Communion preparation in 2nd grade and Confirmation preparation in 11th grade. Classes meet from 9:15 to 10:15 a.m. on Sundays in the Sacred Heart Elementary School, and registration is offered online. Christopher Vineyard coordinates the Religious Education program, and the parish emphasizes forming intentional disciples who will share the Good News of Christ in the domestic church — the home.
- Youth Faith Formation for grades 1–11
- First Communion (2nd grade) and Confirmation (11th grade) preparation
- Sunday morning classes 9:15–10:15 a.m. in Sacred Heart Elementary School
- Religious Education coordinated by Christopher Vineyard
OCIA – Order of Christian Initiation of Adults
Sacred Heart invites adults who are curious about the Catholic faith, returning after time away, or seeking full communion with the Church to join the OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults) program. Sessions run through the Easter Season and meet on Wednesday evenings at 6:30 p.m., following the 5:45 p.m. Mass. Each session is led by a parish member and incorporates video from the Eucharistic Revival, Rescue Project, and Credo series.
- Wednesday evenings at 6:30 p.m. following Mass
- Runs through the Easter Season
- Features Eucharistic Revival, Rescue Project, and Credo video series
- Open to the curious, returning, and those seeking full communion
Adult Faith Formation and Discipleship
Under the leadership of Father Sergio Balderas, Sacred Heart has placed a strong emphasis on adult faith formation, with the philosophy that if adults (parents and godparents) are formed in faith, they will help share the Good News of Christ in the domestic church. The parish is walking the discipleship pathway, having moved from the Eucharist Revival into the Credo series. Adult Faith Formation Classes are open to anyone seeking to deepen their understanding of the Catholic faith.
- Fr. Sergio's vision: formed adults form the domestic church
- Discipleship pathway: Eucharist Revival → Credo series
- Adult Faith Formation Classes offered regularly
Parish Ministries and Outreach
Sacred Heart's parish ministries include the Family Life Ministry, Religious Education and Youth Ministry, and a Faith and Justice Ministry that implements the seven tenets of Catholic social teaching through education and training, practical outreach to those in need, and appropriate works of advocacy and solidarity with the People of God. Liturgical and music ministries include an Adult Choir (Olivia Drinkwater), Hispanic Music Ministry (Blanca Berdion), and musicians Brian Murphy and Doug Rust, with liturgy coordination by Dr. Rafael Sánchez.
- Family Life Ministry
- Religious Education and Youth Ministry
- Faith and Justice Ministry (Catholic social teaching)
- Adult Choir, Hispanic Music, Liturgy team
- Baptism Coordinator (Shannon Bennett) and Social Coordinator (Joan Brady)
Clergy, Staff, and Parish Leadership
The parish is served by Father Sergio A. Balderas as Pastor (also Pastor of Sacred Heart Catholic School) and Father Tomasz Powroźnik as Parochial Vicar, along with Deacons Warren Goff and Randy Duke. The Diocese of Biloxi lists Father Balderas as pastor of Sacred Heart Parish. Parish staff include a secretary, bookkeeper, religious education coordinator, liturgy director, music ministers, and communications, baptism, and custodial staff.
- Pastor: Father Sergio A. Balderas
- Parochial Vicar: Father Tomasz Powroźnik
- Deacons: Warren Goff, Randy Duke
- Parish Secretary: Patty Nowell
- Bookkeeper: Kristie Jones
- Religious Education: Christopher Vineyard
- Liturgy: Dr. Rafael Sánchez
Visiting and Getting Involved
The parish welcomes new visitors and offers practical guidance on parking, where to take young children, and how to register with the parish. Parking is limited behind the church but ample across the street in the Sacred Heart Elementary School lot. A cry room above the church provides audio of the Mass and large windows overlooking the sanctuary for parents with noisy babies, and at the 10:30 a.m. Sunday Mass younger children are invited to 'children's church' for age-appropriate readings. The parish invites newcomers to attend a Mass, learn more, and register online.
- Behind-church parking is limited; school lot across the street has ample parking
- Cry room available above the church with audio and view of Mass
- Children's Church offered at 10:30 a.m. Sunday Mass
- Online parish registration available
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father Sylvester Griemel1900–1906
First pastor of Sacred Heart; opened the parish's first Catholic school in October 1900 with 35 students; retired due to ill health.
- Father Patrick O'Reilly1906–1914
Enlarged the convent and school to accommodate boarding students; later transferred to St. Peter's, Jackson.
- Father Joseph Enis1915–1933
Served over 18 years; oversaw erection of the present brick church in 1927 at a cost of $65,000 on land donated by lumberman Joseph Semmes.
- Father Cornelius Mulvihill1933–1941
Succeeded Father Enis as pastor.
- Father Leo F. Fahey1941–1948
Initiated a $200,000 fundraising drive for a new school; named Bishop of Baker City, Oregon in 1948.
- Monsignor John J. Igoe1948–1953
Built the new brick school in 1951; killed in a train accident in 1953.
- Monsignor John T. Martin1953–1967
Acquired land for parish center, built new convent and gymnasium (1954); built the office building/former rectory in 1959; later transferred to St. James, Gulfport.
- Monsignor Michael McCarthy1967–1971
Succeeded Monsignor Martin.
- Monsignor James McGough1971–1977
In 1977 became first Chancellor of the newly formed Diocese of Biloxi under Bishop Joseph L. Howze.
- Father Ronald Herzog1977–1980
Administrator from 1977, then pastor 1978–1980.
- Father Liam Pentony1980–1982
Appointed pastor in 1980.
- Monsignor John Scanlon1982–1995
12th pastor; arrived September 10, 1982; died in office in June 1995.
- Father George Murphy1995–
Succeeded Monsignor Scanlon; oversaw remodel of the old rectory into offices and purchase of a new rectory home on Walnut Street.