About Sacred Heart · Cicero, New York
Sacred Heart Catholic Church is a Roman Rite parish in Cicero, New York, in the Diocese of Syracuse. It is now linked with the nearby parish of Divine Mercy in Central Square, forming a two-parish family known as "The Parishes of Sacred Heart and Divine Mercy," with a shared pastor and staff serving both faith communities. The parish's stated mission is "Worship — Evangelization — Care of Those In Need," and it serves Catholics in the northern Syracuse suburbs from its location on Brewerton Road, opposite the Cicero Town Clerk. Weekly worship includes Sunday Mass, three weekday Masses at Sacred Heart, weekly Eucharistic Adoration, and regular Confession.
- Established
- 1888
- Patron
- Sacred Heart of Jesus
- Rector
- Father Christopher Seibt
- Diocese
- Diocese of Syracuse
Why belong here
Sacred Heart is a long-standing Catholic community (since 1888) with two Sunday Masses, three weekday Masses, weekly Confession, weekly Eucharistic Adoration, and access to a 24/7 Adoration Chapel by code through the parish office. Faith formation for children, OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults) for adults and teens entering the Church, a youth ministry led by Jennifer Brown, a vibrant music ministry, and a staffed parish council give newcomers multiple ways to get involved. Worship, evangelization, and care of those in need form the parish's stated mission — so parishioners who want to pray, learn, and serve will find a place to do all three.
Mass times at Sacred Heart
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Tuesday 5:30 PM – 6:30 PM at Sacred Heart, Cicero
- By appointment — call the parish office
Adoration times
- Tuesday 5:30 PM – 6:30 PM at Sacred Heart, Cicero
- 24/7 Adoration Chapel access by code — call the parish office for the code
About the Parish
Sacred Heart Catholic Church is a Roman Rite parish serving Cicero, New York, in the Diocese of Syracuse. The parish's stated mission is "Worship — Evangelization — Care of Those In Need." It is now twinned with Divine Mercy Parish in Central Square and together they are known as "The Parishes of Sacred Heart and Divine Mercy — Two Parishes, One Family."
History and Diocese
Sacred Heart was established in 1888 and remains a long-standing Catholic community on Brewerton Road in Cicero, directly across from the Cicero Town Clerk. It belongs to the Diocese of Syracuse and is part of the diocese's paired-pastoral model linking Sacred Heart with Divine Mercy in Central Square, sharing clergy, music, faith formation, and administration across both campuses.
- Founded: 1888
- Diocese: Syracuse
- Twinned parish: Divine Mercy, Central Square (since the partnership that formed "Two Parishes, One Family")
Clergy and Parish Staff
Father Christopher Seibt serves as Pastor of the combined parishes and is also Vice Chancellor of the Diocese, Tribunal judge, and Episcopal Master of Ceremonies. Father James Buttner is the Parochial Vicar, and Monsignor Timothy Elmer serves as Senior Priest. Four deacons — Deacon Dan Reynolds, Deacon Brian Lauri, Deacon Mark Berube, and Deacon Jim Morris — serve the family of parishes.
- Father Christopher Seibt — Pastor ([email protected])
- Father James Buttner — Parochial Vicar ([email protected])
- Monsignor Timothy Elmer — Senior Priest ([email protected])
- Deacon Dan Reynolds — Parish Deacon and Director of Family Faith Formation ([email protected])
- Deacon Brian Lauri — Parish Deacon ([email protected])
- Deacon Mark Berube — Parish Deacon
- Deacon Jim Morris — Parish Deacon
Parish Administration and Leadership
Lay leadership and staff keep the parish running day-to-day, including the parish administrator, receptionists, finance director, communications coordinator, youth minister, and facilities manager. A Pastoral Council, Finance Council, and Strategic Planning Committee advise the pastor and represent both parishes of the family.
- Donna Shutts — Parish Administrator, Sacred Heart ([email protected])
- Lynn Broussard — Receptionist, Sacred Heart ([email protected])
- Jack Antonacci — Director of Stewardship and Finance
- Jeff Magistro — Facilities Manager
- Anthony Carella — Maintenance Worker
- Rebecca Waterman — Communications Coordinator
- Trustees at Sacred Heart: Michael Smith and Michelle Koehler
Faith Formation and OCIA
Faith formation covers every age. Deacon Dan Reynolds oversees the Family Faith Formation program; the OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults) welcomes the unbaptized, Christians seeking full communion, and baptized Catholics preparing for First Eucharist or Confirmation, with the annual Easter Vigil the celebrated moment of initiation.
- OCIA — for the unbaptized 8 and older, for those baptized in another Christian tradition, and for Catholics needing First Eucharist or Confirmation
- Children under 8 preparing for Baptism register through the Faith Formation office (315-699-7678 or [email protected])
- Family Faith Formation — parish-wide program for children and youth
- Confirmation preparation for teens
Youth Ministry and Confirmation
Jennifer Brown serves as Youth Minister and Confirmation Coordinator for the parish family, walking teens through Confirmation preparation and gathering young parishioners together for formation, fellowship, and service.
- Confirmation preparation — Jennifer Brown, Coordinator ([email protected])
Music Ministry
Music at Sacred Heart is led by Nicholas Cantello, Director of Music and Organist for both parishes, together with Jim McCarthy, Music Minister. The program supports the sung liturgy of the weekend Masses and the seasonal celebrations of the church year.
- Nicholas Cantello — Director of Music & Organist
- Jim McCarthy — Music Minister
- Contact: [email protected]
Stewardship, Council, and Parish Life
Lay stewardship organizes the time, talent, and treasure of the parish. Jack Antonacci directs Finance and Stewardship; councils and committees from both parishes work with the pastor to plan the future of the family of parishes and to keep the lights on — financially and spiritually.
- Stewardship and Finance — Jack Antonacci, Director
- Pastoral Council with representation from Sacred Heart and Divine Mercy
- Finance Council / Strategic Planning Committee
- Trustees: Michael Smith and Michelle Koehler (Sacred Heart)
Sacraments
The parish celebrates all the standard sacraments and welcomes inquiries from those preparing for Baptism, First Communion, Confirmation, Marriage, or seeking Anointing of the Sick. OCIA is the formal pathway for those becoming Catholic; the Family Faith Formation office handles preparation for the children's sacraments.
- Baptism — through the Faith Formation office
- First Eucharist and Confirmation — through Family Faith Formation
- OCIA — adults and teens entering the Church; Easter Vigil initiation
- Confession — Tuesday 5:30–6:30 PM and by appointment
- Anointing of the Sick — through the parish office for the sick and homebound