About Sacred Heart · Columbia, Missouri
Sacred Heart Catholic Church is a Roman Catholic parish in Columbia, Missouri, belonging to the Diocese of Jefferson City. It is the oldest Catholic parish in Columbia, with Catholic worship in the area traced back to 1835, and the parish formally established in 1876-77. The parish serves a culturally diverse community at 105 Waugh Street, offering Mass in both English and Spanish, weekday and Sunday liturgies, the Sacrament of Reconciliation, Eucharistic Adoration, a Parish School of Religion, and a robust social-concerns ministry. The current limestone Romanesque church was dedicated in 1914 and continues to serve as a spiritual home for Columbia's Catholics, including many students and families connected to the nearby University of Missouri.
- Established
- 1876
- Patron
- Sacred Heart of Jesus
- Rector
- Fr. Dan Merz, SLD
- Diocese
- Diocese of Jefferson City
Why belong here
Sacred Heart is the oldest Catholic parish in Columbia and remains a vibrant, culturally diverse community that explicitly welcomes anyone — students, families, long-time residents, and Spanish-speaking Catholics alike — to 'join us as parishioners on the journey.' The parish offers daily and Sunday Mass (with a weekly Spanish Mass), regular Reconciliation, Eucharistic Adoration, a K-8 Parish School of Religion, youth ministry (Life Teen), access to Columbia Catholic School, a Knights of Columbus council, and an active Social Concerns commission supporting a monthly food drive, a Community Easter Banquet for the hungry, a Giving Tree, and a Tri-Parish Health Ministry. With nearly 150 years of history and a beautifully restored Romanesque church at the corner of Waugh and Locust Streets, Sacred Heart is both deeply rooted and warmly engaged with the wider Columbia community.
Mass times at Sacred Heart
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Wednesday 4:30–5:15 p.m.
- Saturday 3:30–4:15 p.m.
Adoration times
- Wednesday 9:00 a.m.–5:30 p.m. (Adoration and Benediction)
Parish History
Catholic life in Columbia began in 1835, when Rev. Fr. LaFevre celebrated Mass in the home of John H. Lynch. It was not until 1876-77 that Mass was celebrated regularly and a parish was formally established; Bishop Ryan offered the first Mass in the County Courthouse on June 3, 1877. The first Sacred Heart church, a frame building with a 75-foot spire, was completed in 1881 on the corner of Locust and Grand Avenue, with Mrs. Catherine Lynch Clapp credited as the driving force behind its construction and furnishing.
- 1835: First Mass in Columbia at the Lynch residence
- 1877: First regular Mass in the Boone County Courthouse by Bishop Ryan
- 1881: First Mass in the original Sacred Heart church (June 19)
- 1886: Original frame church dedicated
- 1908: Fr. Thomas Lloyd begins planning a larger church
- Feb 22, 1914: Cornerstone of the present church laid
- Aug 18, 1914: Old frame church destroyed by fire
- Nov 8, 1914: Present limestone Romanesque church dedicated by Archbishop John Glennon
- 1927: New brick convent and school built north of the church
- Nov 21, 1950: Cornerstone of the Activity Building laid
- 2006–2007: Interior restoration and landscaping projects
- 2009: Convent/rector converted to Gathering Space
- 2015: Gathering Space becomes Parish Office and rectory
Parish Staff & Clergy
Sacred Heart is led by a pastor supported by an associate pastor, a priest assigned for the Spanish Mass, two deacons, and a lay staff responsible for liturgy, parish office administration, religious education, and youth ministry.
- Fr. Dan Merz, SLD — Pastor ([email protected])
- Fr. Ignitius Nimwesiga — Associate Pastor ([email protected])
- Fr. Gregory Clever — Spanish Mass ([email protected])
- Deacon Bill Caubet ([email protected])
- Deacon Edwin Pacheco — Spanish ([email protected])
- Barbara Head — Office Manager ([email protected])
- Chris Vitt — Director of Liturgy ([email protected])
- Sonia Potts — Office Staff ([email protected])
- Rose Caubet — Office Staff ([email protected])
- Maria Cox — Director of Parish School of Religion ([email protected])
- Anne Lim — Youth Ministry ([email protected])
- Jim Head — Custodian
Faith Formation
The Faith Formation Commission fosters personal and spiritual growth for children, youth, and adults. The Parish School of Religion (PSR) offers Catholic faith formation for public-school children from Kindergarten through eighth grade, using Loyola Press's 'Finding God' curriculum. Older students may attend Columbia Catholic School, the interparish school shared by the three Columbia parishes. Adult faith formation events and Life Teen for high school youth round out the program.
- PSR: Sundays 9:50–10:50 a.m., K–Grade 8
- Curriculum: 'Finding God' (Loyola Press)
- Registration fee: $25 per student per year
- PSR contact: Maria Cox, [email protected]
- Columbia Catholic School / Our Lady of Lourdes Interparish School (K-8); 16:1 student-teacher ratio; ~545 students
- Sacred Heart averages 25–30 CCS families
- Adult Faith Formation events hosted by the Faith Formation Commission
- COMO Life Teen youth ministry ([email protected])
Becoming Catholic (RCIA)
Adults interested in becoming Catholic or returning to the practice of the faith are invited to inquire through the parish. The Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults is offered regionally, with the Columbia parishes collaborating in team members, sponsors, and ritual support.
- Inquiry link available on the parish homepage ('How does a person become Catholic?')
- Sacrament of Baptism, Eucharist and Confirmation celebrated at the Easter Vigil
Pastoral Care
Pastoral Care reaches Sacred Heart parishioners who live at home or in residential care facilities and cannot easily participate in parish life. Trained Eucharistic Ministers and visitors bring the Eucharist, pray with the homebound, and offer the Sacrament of the Sick during Advent and Lent/Easter. There is also an annual senior luncheon with Anointing of the Sick in the fall, and transportation can be arranged when needed.
- Visits and Eucharist brought to the homebound
- Pastoral visits with the Sacrament of the Sick in Advent and Lent/Easter
- Annual senior luncheon with Anointing of the Sick in fall
- Transportation assistance to weekend Mass when needed
Social Concerns & Outreach
The Social Concerns Commission continues Christ's ministry through parish, local, and global outreach. Activities include a monthly food drive for the Central Missouri Food Bank, the Community Easter Banquet on Holy Wednesday, the Giving Tree at Advent, parish socials, Coffee and Doughnuts between Sunday Masses, funeral dinners, and the parish Bazaar. There is also a Tri-Parish Health Ministry that addresses the mind-body-spirit needs of parishioners across all three Columbia parishes.
- Community Easter Banquet (Wednesday of Holy Week; originated by the late Sister Agnes Schlereth)
- Monthly food drive (~500 lbs/month for Central Missouri Food Bank)
- Giving Tree at Advent (partners with the Voluntary Action Center)
- Funeral dinners for bereaved parishioners
- Coffee and Doughnuts between Sunday Masses
- Bazaar and parish socials
- Global outreach supporting Peru missions (annual Spaghetti Supper) and disaster relief
- Tri-Parish Health Ministry (mind-body-spirit / 'wholistic' care)
- Contact: Barbara Head, [email protected]
Knights of Columbus
Sacred Heart is home to Knights of Columbus Council #14414, which meets in the basement of the Education Building on the parish grounds.
- Council #14414 — Columbia, Sacred Heart
- 1st Wednesday: Social meeting at 6:30 p.m.
- 3rd Wednesday: Business meeting at 7:00 p.m.
- 1st Saturday: Workday (TBD)
- Mailing address: 105 Waugh St., Columbia, MO 65201
Liturgy & Music
The parish's Director of Liturgy, Chris Vitt, coordinates liturgical ministries including music and other liturgical arts. Mass recordings are posted to the parish's YouTube channel so that those unable to attend in person can participate remotely.
- Director of Liturgy: Chris Vitt ([email protected])
- Sunday Masses recorded and uploaded to YouTube
- Eucharistic Adoration with Benediction on Wednesdays
Parish Office & Giving
The parish office is located in the Parish Office and rectory (the former convent/Gathering Space converted in 2015). Online giving is available through WeShare, and a printable registration form allows new parishioners to join the parish.
- Phone: (573) 443-3470
- Fax: (573) 442-1082
- WeShare online giving: sacredheart-church.weshareonline.org
- New parishioner registration form available on the website
Cursillo & Small Communities
Sacred Heart is an active site for Cursillo in mid-Missouri, with the parish hosting periodic Ultreya gatherings in the Activity Building. The diocese's Mid-Missouri Cursillo Community has met at Sacred Heart for evening Ultreyas coordinated by local Cursillistas.
- Mid-Missouri Cursillo Ultreya meetings hosted in the Activity Building
- 105 Waugh St., Columbia, MO 65201
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Fr. LaFevre1835
Said the first recorded Mass in Columbia at the home of John H. Lynch.
- Bishop Ryan1877
Offered the first regular Mass in the Boone County Courthouse on June 3, 1877.
- Fr. Thomas Lloyd1908–1914
Pastor who envisioned and oversaw construction of the present limestone Romanesque church; cornerstone laid Feb 22, 1914; witnessed the loss of the old frame church to fire on Aug 18, 1914.