About Sacred Heart Church · Bloomfield, Connecticut
Sacred Heart Parish is a Roman Catholic faith community in Bloomfield, Connecticut, established in 1878 as a mission of St. Joseph Cathedral in Hartford and elevated to parish status in 1947. Today the parish serves more than 800 households from its home at 26 Wintonbury Avenue under the pastoral care of the Archdiocese of Hartford. The contemporary-style church, dedicated in 1963, was recently refreshed with new flooring, an elevated altar, a refurbished choir loft and new artwork, and offers daily and weekend Masses, Eucharistic Adoration, Reconciliation and a wide network of lay ministries.
- Established
- 1878 (mission); 1947 (parish)
- Patron
- Sacred Heart of Jesus
- Rector
- Rev. Stuart (Stu) H. Pinette
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Hartford
Why belong here
Sacred Heart is a welcoming mid-sized parish of more than 800 households that lives out its faith through daily Mass, weekly Eucharistic Adoration (Tuesday evenings and Friday mornings), Saturday Reconciliation, and an unusually wide range of lay ministries. Whether you are looking for Religious Education for grades 1–8, Youth Alliance and Young Adult Ministry, Music Ministry, Eucharistic Ministers, Lectors, Altar Servers, the Breakfast Ministry, Prayer Shawl & Sewing, the Parish and Finance Councils, or simply a place to pray in a recently refreshed contemporary worship space, there is a place here for you.
Mass times at Sacred Heart Church
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday: 3:30 pm – 4:15 pm (or by appointment; call the parish office at 860-242-4142)
Adoration times
- Tuesday: 6:00 pm to 7:30 pm
- Friday: after morning Mass to 11:00 am
Parish History
Sacred Heart traces its roots to 1878, when Father Joseph Reid of St. Joseph Cathedral, Hartford, said the first Mass in Bloomfield. Father William Harty built the original church on Woodland Avenue; Bishop Thomas Galberry blessed its cornerstone and Bishop Lawrence S. McMahon dedicated the finished edifice. Through the late 19th and early 20th centuries Sacred Heart served as a mission of St. Bernard (Tariffville), St. Michael (Hartford), and St. Justin (Hartford), before being placed under the care of St. Thomas Seminary in 1934. In 1947 Father Harold F. Daly became its first resident pastor and the mission became a parish. The current church and an attached school, staffed by the Sisters of Charity from Baltic, were dedicated by Archbishop Henry J. O'Brien on April 27, 1963; the school closed in June 1988 and was converted into a Family Life Center.
- 1878 — First Mass in Bloomfield offered by Father Joseph Reid of St. Joseph Cathedral, Hartford.
- 1878 — Father William Harty builds the original church on Woodland Avenue.
- 1881 — Bloomfield becomes a mission of St. Bernard, Tariffville.
- c. 1900 — Father John T. Downey of St. Michael Parish, Hartford, ministers to Bloomfield.
- 1924 — Sacred Heart becomes a mission of the newly built St. Justin Church, Hartford.
- 1934 — Sacred Heart reverts to the care of St. Thomas Seminary, Bloomfield.
- 1947 — Sacred Heart becomes a parish under Father Harold F. Daly, its first resident pastor.
- May 13, 1962 — Ground broken for new church and school.
- April 27, 1963 — Sacred Heart Church and School dedicated by Archbishop Henry J. O'Brien.
- June 1988 — Parish school closes; building converted into a Family Life Center.
- 1995 — Christ The King Church closes; Father Joseph DiSciacca named pastor of expanded Sacred Heart.
Sacred Heart Church Building
The present worship space is a contemporary-style Catholic church dedicated in 1963. In 2024 it underwent a significant interior renovation that gave it a refreshed look while preserving its mid-century modern character: new flooring was installed throughout, the altar was elevated, the choir loft was cleaned up, and a mix of old and new artwork was introduced. According to the Archdiocese of Hartford, then-pastor Father Ruminski saw the remodel as 'beauty and purpose coming together' — theologically ordered, beautiful, and sounding great for liturgy. The adjacent former school building now serves the parish as the Family Life Center.
- Contemporary architectural style, dedicated April 27, 1963.
- 2024 renovation: new flooring, elevated altar, refreshed choir loft, new and restored artwork.
- Family Life Center occupies the converted 1962 parish school building.
Clergy and Parish Staff
Sacred Heart is led by its pastor, Father Stuart (Stu) H. Pinette, who came to Sacred Heart in 2025 after assignments at St. Marianne Cope (Broad Brook), St. Elizabeth Seton (Rocky Hill), Mary Magdalen (Oakville), St. Bernadette (New Haven), St. Michael's (Hartford), Blessed Sacrament (Hamden), and most recently St. Louis de Montfort Parish in Litchfield. Father Stu was ordained in 1995 and holds a B.A. in History from the University of Hartford, an M.A. in Politics & Philosophy from Oxford, and both a Master of Divinity and a Licentiate in Systematic Theology (Ecclesiology) from St. Mary's Seminary & University. He is assisted by three Permanent Deacons — Deacon Robert Barry, Deacon Anthony Nwankwo, and Deacon Richard Santos — and a lay staff including an Office Manager, Religious Education Coordinator, and Director of Music/Accompanist.
- Rev. Stuart (Stu) H. Pinette — Pastor (arrived 2025)
- Deacon Robert Barry — Permanent Deacon (arrived 2025; ordained 2012)
- Deacon Anthony Nwankwo — Permanent Deacon
- Deacon Richard Santos — Permanent Deacon (ordained 2004; returned to Sacred Heart in June 2010)
- Rian Grimmer — Office Manager
- Doris Battle — Religious Education Coordinator
- Mary Swetcky — Director of Music / Accompanist
Religious Education & Youth
The Religious Education (CCD) program serves children from 1st grade through 8th grade, with the academic year running from October through the first week of May. Teachers are dedicated to providing age-appropriate instruction that passes on the faith and teachings of the Catholic Church. The parish also maintains a Youth Alliance and a Young Adult Ministry for older teens and young adults seeking to grow in faith and community.
- Religious Education (CCD) Classes & Children's Liturgy — grades 1–8, October through early May.
- Contact: Doris Battle or the Parish Office, 860-242-4142.
- Youth Alliance.
- Young Adult Ministry.
Liturgical Ministries
Parishioners serve the liturgies of Sacred Heart as Altar Servers (adults and youth), Lectors, Eucharistic Ministers, and members of the Music Ministry and Church Beautification Ministry. Greeters, Ushers and Collectors welcome and serve the assembly at weekend Masses.
- Altar Servers (adults and youth)
- Lectors
- Eucharistic Ministers
- Music Ministry
- Church Beautification Ministry
- Greeters, Ushers, Collectors
Parish Life & Fellowship
Beyond liturgy, Sacred Heart nurtures community through the Breakfast Ministry (serving parishioners), the Book Club, the Dinner Club Ministry (a fundraising effort), the Prayer Shawl & Sewing Ministries, a Funeral Support ministry, a Parish Community Engagement Ministry, Community Outreach, Adult Spiritual Enrichment, and a developing ministry for Visiting the Elderly & Housebound. These groups give parishioners of every age and stage of life a way to belong.
- Breakfast Ministry Serving Parishioners
- Book Club
- Dinner Club Ministry (Fundraising)
- Prayer Shawl & Sewing Ministries
- Funeral Support
- Parish Community Engagement Ministry
- Community Outreach Ministry
- Adult Spiritual Enrichment
- Visiting the Elderly & Housebound (new ministry being developed)
Parish Council & Finance Council
The Parish Council is a group of parishioners appointed by the Pastor who serve prayerfully on behalf of the entire parish community. The council reviews committee reports, addresses concerns, discusses issues, and makes recommendations — including identifying the need for new ministries. The Finance Council assists the Pastor in preparing the annual budget, reviewing monthly operating results, tracking investment performance, monitoring the sale of real property, and overseeing the physical condition of parish buildings. Finance Council members typically serve three-year terms and meet every other month.
- Parish Council Members: Maria Ettienne-Modeste, Janet Lamenzo (Chairperson), Paul Lichtenberger, David O'Brien, Amy Ranallo, Michaela Rosenberg.
- Trustees: Lenny Cossette, Marilyn LaMontagne.
- Finance Council Members: Tim Brannack (Chairperson), Vincent Chidozie, Anne Clubb, Renee Santos, John Staunton, Susanne Vignati.
- Communications Committee.
Sacraments
Sacred Heart celebrates the three sacraments of Christian initiation — Baptism, Confirmation, and the Eucharist — together with the sacrament of Marriage. Baptism is celebrated on Sundays, with parents asked to contact the Parish Office to arrange the celebration and preparation class; the website also explains requirements for godparents. Confirmation, as the Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches (CCC #1285), is necessary for the completion of baptismal grace and is conferred by the bishop or priest. For Marriage, couples are asked to contact Fr. Stu at least six months before the wedding date; preparation uses the Archdiocese of Hartford's Marriage Preparation Registration Form.
- Baptism — celebrated on Sundays; contact Parish Office to schedule and take the preparation class.
- Confirmation — completes baptismal grace; conferred by the bishop or priest (CCC #1285).
- Holy Communion (Eucharist) — the real presence of Jesus Christ, Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity.
- Marriage — contact Fr. Stu at least six months in advance via the Parish Office; uses the Archdiocese of Hartford Marriage Preparation Registration Form.
Visit, Contact, and Directions
Sacred Heart Church is located at 26 Wintonbury Avenue, Bloomfield, CT 06002. The parish office can be reached by phone at 860-242-4142, by fax at 860-286-0044, or by email at sacr [email protected]; office hours are Monday–Friday, 8:30 am to 1:30 pm. Driving directions are published on the parish website: from I-91 take the appropriate exit toward Hartford, follow Route 178 (Park Avenue) into Bloomfield, cross Route 178 at the light and turn right onto Wintonbury Avenue; Sacred Heart is on the left less than a quarter mile from the turn, in the center of Bloomfield.
- Address: 26 Wintonbury Avenue, Bloomfield, CT 06002
- Telephone: 860-242-4142 | Fax: 860-286-0044
- Email: sacr [email protected]
- Office Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:30 am – 1:30 pm
- Website: http://sacredheartbloomfieldct.com/
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father Joseph Reid1878
Said the first Mass in Bloomfield as pastor of St. Joseph Cathedral, Hartford; Bloomfield was a mission.
- Father William Harty1878
Succeeded Father Reid and built the original church on Woodland Avenue.
- Father John T. Downeycirca 1900
Ministered to Bloomfield from the newly created St. Michael Parish in Hartford.
- Father Francis P. Nolan1924
Built St. Justin Church in Hartford; Sacred Heart became its mission.
- Father Harold F. Daly1947
First resident pastor when Sacred Heart Mission became a parish.
- Father Joseph DiSciacca1995
Named pastor of the expanded Sacred Heart after the closing of Christ The King Church.
- Father Aidan Donahue1999–2012
Previously President of St. Thomas Seminary; strengthened and expanded the parish committee structure and lay involvement.
- Father Collins Anaeche2012–2015
Named Administrator; later assigned Administrator of St. Bernard Church in Tariffville in July 2015.
- Monsignor Douglas Clancy2015–2020
Arrived from St. Bridget and Helena parishes in West Hartford; retired at the end of August 2020.
- Father Mathieu Isaac2020–2022
Joined as Administrator in September 2020; appointed Pastor of St. Justin-St. Michael Parish in Hartford in January 2022.
- Father Michael Ruminski2022–2025
Commissioned the 2024 interior renovation; reassigned in 2025 to St. Thomas and St. Timothy Parish in West Hartford.
- Father Stuart (Stu) H. Pinette2025–present
Current pastor; ordained in 1995; holds degrees from University of Hartford, Oxford, and St. Mary's Seminary & University.