Sacred Heart

History

Danville, Virginia is often referred to as the 'City of Churches' because it has more churches per square mile than any other city in Virginia. Father J.J. McGurk, a priest from Lynchburg, visited Danville and celebrated the first Mass in 1875 in a small tailor shop. During his short visit, Father McGurk selected a site and solicited the funds needed to establish the town’s first Catholic church. With a total of $800, a little white Victorian church was built at the convergence of Ross Street and South Holbrook Street. The parish was canonically established in 1878 under Father Augustine Habets, the first pastor of Sacred Heart Parish. In 1886, Father Francis McCarthy became the first resident priest. For several years, Sacred Heart was a mission of Lynchburg and Martinsville at different times. As a result, the strength of the Catholic community began to waver. According to the annals of the parish, 'A resident priest is needed here to hold the newcomers, for good Catholics do not desire to remain in a place where they are deprived so often of Sunday Mass.' On March 17, 1915, Father Augustus J. Halbleib, the seventh and longest tenured pastor in the church’s history, took on the task of restoring stability within the church. His determination increased the membership from 95 to 172 during his first eight years. On May 21, 1939, Coadjutor Bishop Peter Ireton consecrated the new Sacred Heart Church on West Main Street. Sacred Heart Catholic School opened its doors on September 13, 1953, at 344 West Main Street for 67 students in grades one through eight. The school was staffed by four Sisters of Mercy from Merion, Pennsylvania. In the 1960’s, under Father Charles Ferry, Sacred Heart became the first school in Danville to achieve integration. In 1966, Sacred Heart School relocated to its current site on Central Boulevard and in 1972 enlarged the school to include grades kindergarten through nine. By July 1980, the Franciscan Sisters of Baltimore became the new staff. In 1995, Father David McGuire spearheaded the plan to build a bigger church next to the school. Father McGuire wrote, 'If we are to respond to our mission – to heed the urgent call of Jesus in our times – it is our turn to build for tomorrow’s community.' Sacred Heart Church relocated to its third and current site on Central Boulevard and was dedicated on September 23, 2001. The church saw significant growth in the Hispanic community. From 2002 to 2007, Sacred Heart welcomed over 300 families, with the majority speaking Spanish as their first language. Currently, comprehensive ministry is provided in both English and Spanish. Sacred Heart prides itself on being the only Catholic church and school in Danville. It brings together over 800 families of different cultures across Southside Virginia and North Carolina.

Faith Formation

Sacred Heart offers a wide range of faith formation programs for all ages, including children’s liturgy, youth and family ministries, and adult education. The parish also provides OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation for Adults) for those seeking to become Catholic. The parish school, Sacred Heart Catholic School, offers a structured, focused education dedicated to individual growth and learning, serving students from kindergarten through ninth grade. The school has been staffed by Sisters of Mercy and Franciscan Sisters of Baltimore, and it became the first integrated school in Danville in the 1960s.

• Children’s Liturgy of the Word
• Vacation Bible School
• OCIA (Become Catholic)
• Adult Faith Formation
• Youth and Family Ministries

Sacraments

Sacred Heart offers all seven sacraments: Baptism, Reconciliation, First Holy Communion, Confirmation, Marriage, Holy Orders, and Anointing of the Sick. The parish provides sacramental preparation for children and adults, including First Communion and Confirmation. Baptisms are celebrated on Sundays at 9:00 am and 12:00 pm. The parish also offers marriage preparation and sacraments for the sick and elderly.

• Baptism
• Reconciliation
• First Holy Communion
• Confirmation
• Marriage
• Holy Orders
• Anointing of the Sick

Ministries

Sacred Heart offers a variety of ministries to serve the community, including a bilingual ministry in English and Spanish, a Child Protection/Safe Environment Program, Lumen Christi Legacy Society, and Online Giving. The parish also provides Tribute Gifts/Memorials and supports the Annual Diocesan Appeal. The parish is committed to providing a safe and nurturing environment for children, young people, and vulnerable individuals.

• Bilingual Ministry
• Child Protection/Safe Environment Program
• Lumen Christi Legacy Society
• Online Giving
• Tribute Gifts/Memorials
• Annual Diocesan Appeal