About Sacred Heart · Corpus Christi, Texas
Sacred Heart Catholic Church (Parroquia del Sagrado Corazón) is a bilingual Catholic parish in downtown Corpus Christi, Texas, belonging to the Diocese of Corpus Christi. Founded in 1916, it is one of the historically Hispanic parishes south of Leopard Street and has served as the mother parish for several later Corpus Christi congregations, including St. Joseph and Holy Family. The parish's present church, built in 1941 and designed by architect Richard S. Colley in a regionalist style with bright interior murals by artist Antonio García, is currently hosting the liturgical schedule of Corpus Christi Cathedral while the Cathedral undergoes major renovation. Sacred Heart offers Mass in both English and Spanish, runs a full program of parish ministries (Knights of Columbus, Guadalupanas, prayer groups, lay liturgical roles, RCIA), and coordinates faith formation with the Cathedral.
- Established
- 1916
- Patron
- Sacred Heart of Jesus (Sagrado Corazón de Jesús)
- Rector
- Very Rev. James G. Stembler (Parochial Administrator; also Rector of Corpus Christi Cathedral)
- Diocese
- Diocese of Corpus Christi
Why belong here
Sacred Heart is one of the oldest Hispanic parishes in downtown Corpus Christi and remains a true bilingual community, with the regular Sunday Mass celebrated in Spanish and a Saturday Vigil in English. The parish offers a deeply traditional devotional life — daily prayer, monthly Guadalupana rosary, Spanish and English prayer groups, Stations of the Cross in Lent, and Eucharistic Adoration on First Fridays — alongside practical ministries for parishioners of every age: Knights of Columbus Council #2710, lay liturgical roles (altar servers, lectors, Eucharistic ministers, ushers, sacristans), a parish pastoral council, finance council, and faith formation for children and adults through the Cathedral's religious education program. With the Corpus Christi Cathedral closed for renovation, Sacred Heart is also a unique window into the wider diocesan liturgy of the diocese.
Mass times at Sacred Heart
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- First Fridays, 5:30 p.m. – 5:50 p.m.
- Saturdays, 4:00 p.m. – 4:50 p.m.
Adoration times
- First Fridays (in conjunction with confession, 5:30 p.m. – 5:50 p.m.)
About Sacred Heart Parish
Sacred Heart Catholic Church is a bilingual parish of the Diocese of Corpus Christi located at 1322 Comanche Street in downtown Corpus Christi. Founded in 1916, it is one of the historically Hispanic parishes south of Leopard Street and has served as the mother parish from which both St. Joseph and Holy Family parishes later grew. The parish mission, as stated on the website, is to 'proclaim the Gospel of Christ to our local community in word, deed, and truth.' The current Parochial Administrator is Very Rev. James G. Stembler, who also serves as Rector of Corpus Christi Cathedral.
- Parish mission: To proclaim the Gospel of Christ to our local community in word, deed, and truth.
- Parochial Administrator: Very Rev. James G. Stembler
- Diocese: Corpus Christi
- Founded: 1916
Parish History
Sacred Heart traces its origins to 1916 in downtown Corpus Christi. From its earliest days it served a predominantly Hispanic neighborhood south of Leopard Street, and its pastors founded or supported mission outposts that became other parishes: in 1932 Father Alvarez built a chapel on 17th Street that grew into St. Joseph Parish, and in 1946 Father Anthony Elsing used a land donation and help from the Catholic Church Extension Society to open a Mission-Center on MacArthur Street that became Holy Family in 1952. The Sisters of Mercy of the Blessed Sacrament worked alongside the priests of Sacred Heart in those mission years.
- 1916 — parish founded in downtown Corpus Christi
- 1932 — Pastor Father Alvarez builds a 17th Street chapel that becomes St. Joseph Parish
- 1946 — Pastor Father Anthony Elsing opens the MacArthur Street Mission-Center (future Holy Family)
- 2013 — Fr. Angel transferred to Sacred Heart as pastor
- Present — hosting Corpus Christi Cathedral Masses while the Cathedral is under renovation
The Church Building and Architecture
The present Sacred Heart church replaced an earlier structure on the same site in 1941. According to the SAH Archipedia entry for the building, it was designed by Corpus Christi architect Richard S. Colley early in his career, shortly after he opened his office in 1938 following work in Monterrey, Mexico, and the restoration of Espíritu Santo Mission in Goliad. The complex is a regionalist courtyard plan: a dome over the crossing echoes San Antonio's Mission San José, and a catenary arch shapes the front elevation. The chancel interior is decorated with bright murals by Antonio García, a Monterrey-born, Art Institute of Chicago-trained artist.
- Architect: Richard S. Colley (1941)
- Style: Regionalist courtyard complex
- Dome inspired by Mission San José (San Antonio)
- Catenary arch at the front entrance
- Chancel murals by Antonio García of Monterrey
Becoming Catholic — RCIA
The Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults (RCIA) at Sacred Heart follows the ancient practice restored by the Second Vatican Council as the ordinary way adults prepare for full communion with the Catholic Church. The process moves through the Pre-Catechumenate (Period of Inquiry), the Catechumenate (a longer period of formation), the Rite of Election, the Sacraments of Initiation at the Easter Vigil, and finally Mystagogy. Registration is handled through the Corpus Christi Cathedral faith-formation office at cccathedral.com/faith-formation.
- Pre-Catechumenate (Period of Inquiry)
- Catechumenate (formation and study)
- Rite of Election
- Sacraments of Initiation at the Easter Vigil — Baptism, Eucharist, Confirmation
- Mystagogy
Religious Education and Sacraments
Religious Education classes for Sacred Heart are currently being held at Corpus Christi Cathedral during the Cathedral renovation. The program provides catechetical instruction for children ages 3 through high school, with First Holy Communion after a two-year preparation typically in Grade 2 or 3. Children ages 3–5 who are not yet baptized attend classes alongside their parents in preparation for Baptism. Registration is $30 per student or $60 per family, and a copy of each child's birth and Baptism certificates is required for new students.
- Religious Education, Grades 1–8
- First Communion & First Penance Preparation (two years, usually Grade 2–3)
- Confirmation Preparation
- High School Youth Ministry
- Baptism Preparation (ages 3–5) — parents attend classes with children
- Director of Religious Education (Cathedral): Nelissa Serna
- Assistant Director (Cathedral): Mariza Rodriguez
- Registration: $30/student or $60/family
Parish Ministries and Organizations
Sacred Heart runs a wide range of lay-led ministries covering liturgical service, prayer, social life, finance, and grounds care. The Knights of Columbus Council #2710 is based at the parish and serves the wider Corpus Christi Catholic community; the Guadalupanas lead a monthly rosary; and prayer groups meet weekly in both Spanish and English. Liturgical roles include altar servers, lectors, Eucharistic ministers, ushers, sacristans, and greeters, while the Parish Pastoral Council and Finance Council support parish governance.
- Knights of Columbus Council #2710 — Grand Knight Roland Flores, 361-904-6971
- Guadalupanas (monthly rosary)
- Grupo de Oración (Spanish Prayer Group)
- English Prayer Group
- Altar Servers
- Lectors (Cecilia Flores, 361-563-1521)
- Eucharistic Ministers
- Ushers, Sacristans, Greeters
- Parish Pastoral Council
- Finance Council
- Fellowship Committee, Offertory Counters, Flowers and Grounds
Music Ministry
Music ministry at Sacred Heart is shared with the Pontifical Chorale, the adult choir of Corpus Christi Cathedral, which rehearses and sings for the combined Cathedral Masses now being celebrated at the parish during the Cathedral's renovation. The choir welcomes singers with high-school choral or musical experience, requires all members to complete CMSE safe-environment training and a background check, and schedules brief vocal-placement assessments around rehearsal dates.
- Pontifical Chorale — Cathedral adult choir, also serving Sacred Heart
- Opportunities for high-school singers with choral experience
- CMSE safe-environment training and background check required
Contact and Visiting
Parishioners and visitors can reach the parish office by phone at (361) 883-6082 or by email at [email protected]. The church is located at 1322 Comanche Street, Corpus Christi, TX 78401, near downtown. The Grupo de Oración and English Prayer Group rooms are accessed from an entrance near the bus stop, indicating the parish is on a Corpus Christi transit route.
- Phone: (361) 883-6082
- Email: [email protected]
- Address: 1322 Comanche St, Corpus Christi, TX 78401
- Website: sacredheartcorpus.org
- Bus-route access near the prayer-group entrance
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father Alvarez1932 (still pastor)
Built a wooden chapel on 17th Street as an outpost of Sacred Heart — the origin of today's St. Joseph Parish.
- Father Anthony Elsing1946 (still pastor)
Founded the MacArthur Street Mission-Center that became Holy Family Parish.
- Rev. Fr. Angel (Montana)2013–
Transferred to Sacred Heart, Comanche Street, as pastor in 2013.
- Very Rev. James G. Stembler
Current Parochial Administrator; also serves as Rector of Corpus Christi Cathedral while the Cathedral is under renovation.