About Sacred Heart · Effingham, Illinois
Sacred Heart Catholic Parish is an English-speaking Catholic community in Effingham, Illinois, founded in 1892 by nine lay Catholics and serving today more than 900 parish families. Sacred Heart is paired with Sacred Heart School (home to about 210 students), and its distinctive mid-century 'church in the round' was dedicated in 1969 by Bishop William O'Connor. The parish offers Mass in both English and Spanish, runs a full faith-formation program, and recently completed a major restoration and Narthex addition in 2020.
- Established
- 1892
- Patron
- Sacred Heart of Jesus
- Rector
- Fr. Jarek Nowacki
- Diocese
- Diocese of Springfield in Illinois
Why belong here
Sacred Heart Parish is a vibrant, multigenerational Catholic community of more than 900 families in Effingham, IL, grounded in faith and focused on the future. It offers daily and weekend Mass in both English and Spanish, a rich schedule of devotions (Rosary, Chaplet of Divine Mercy, monthly Eucharistic Adoration, Flame of Love, and Healing Rosary), and a thriving Catholic school serving about 210 students. With more than a century of history since 1892, a beautifully restored 'church in the round,' and dozens of lay ministry opportunities from RCIA and PSR to choir, lectors, and outreach, Sacred Heart gives every parishioner a clear way to live out their faith and serve their neighbors.
Mass times at Sacred Heart
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- 30 minutes before every weekday Mass
- Saturday: 3:00 p.m. – 3:45 p.m.
- First Monday (with Eucharistic Adoration): 7:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Adoration times
- First Monday of the month: 9:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Our Heritage & History
Sacred Heart Parish traces its origin to 1892, when nine lay Catholics organized an English-speaking parish in Effingham and Bishop James Ryan formally opened the church with Father Patrick Ducey as its first pastor. The original church stood at Fayette Avenue and Banker Street. In 1969, under Father Gerald Wiegand, the parish dedicated its current 'church in the round' at Fayette Avenue and Keller Avenue, and in 2017 it marked its 125th anniversary. Today the same spirit that guided those founders continues among more than 900 parish families.
- Founded 1892 by nine lay Catholics
- Current 'church in the round' dedicated 1969 by Bishop William O'Connor under Fr. Gerald Wiegand
- 125th anniversary celebrated 2017
- 2020 church restoration and Narthex addition completed
The Parish Today
Guided by the motto 'Grounded in Faith, Focused on the Future,' Sacred Heart Parish serves over 900–930 families and partners with Sacred Heart School, which enrolls about 210 students. The community worships in both English and Spanish, supports a robust schedule of devotions, and offers extensive lay ministry opportunities for parishioners of all ages.
- Over 900 parish families
- Sacred Heart School with ~210 students
- Bilingual Mass schedule (English and Spanish)
Mass & Sacrament Schedule
Sacred Heart offers a full daily and weekend Mass schedule, including a Saturday Vigil and three Sunday Masses (one in Spanish). Reconciliation is available before every weekday Mass and on Saturday afternoons, with an additional evening reconciliation time during monthly First Monday Adoration.
- Saturday Vigil: 4:00 p.m.
- Sunday: 8:30 a.m., 10:30 a.m. (English); 5:00 p.m. La Misa en Español
- Monday–Thursday: 8:30 a.m.
- Reconciliation: 30 min. before weekday Mass; Saturday 3:00–3:45 p.m.; First Monday 7:00–8:00 p.m.
Devotions & Prayer Life
Beyond Mass, Sacred Heart maintains a rich daily prayer rhythm that includes Liturgy of the Hours, the Chaplet of Divine Mercy, the Healing Rosary, the Flame of Love Rosary, and monthly Eucharistic Adoration. Mass is live-streamed on the parish YouTube channel so that the homebound and traveling parishioners can still participate.
- Liturgy of the Hours: 7:45 a.m. Sunday–Friday
- Chaplet of Divine Mercy: 3:15 p.m. Mon–Fri; 3:00 p.m. Saturday
- Healing Rosary: Mondays at 9:00 a.m.
- Flame of Love: Wednesdays at 3:30 p.m.
- Eucharistic Adoration: First Monday, 9:00 a.m.–8:00 p.m.
Parish Staff & Clergy
Father Michal Rosa, originally from Poland, leads Sacred Heart as Pastor. He is assisted by a Hispanic Ministry priest, an Operations Director, Finance and Communications Coordinators, a Music Coordinator, a Maintenance Coordinator, a Religious Education coordinator, and parish reception and housekeeping staff. Office hours for the parish are Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
- Fr. Juan Carlos Ruiz, O.F.M. – Area Hispanic Ministry
- Billi Jansen – Director of Operations
- Mark Volk – Finance Coordinator
- Andrea Wright – Communications Coordinator
- Joan Frey – Music Coordinator
- Zenaida Gako – Religious Education/CRE
- Terry Jansen – Maintenance Coordinator
- Vickie Murphy – Receptionist
Sacred Heart School
Sacred Heart School, located at 407 S. Henrietta Street directly across from the church, serves roughly 210 students from preschool through grade school. The school shares the parish's Christ-centered mission and is supported by an active PTA, Booster Club, and School Board, with many parish families serving as volunteers.
- Address: 407 S. Henrietta St., Effingham, IL 62401
- Phone: (217) 342-4060
- Email: [email protected]
- Office hours: Monday–Friday, 7:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.
- Home to ~210 students
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Faith formation at Sacred Heart is offered through the Parish School of Religion (PSR), the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA), Vacation Bible School, baptism classes, marriage preparation mentors, youth ministry, and Protecting God's Children workshops.
- Parish School of Religion (PSR)
- Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA)
- Vacation Bible School (VBS)
- Baptism class facilitators
- Marriage prep mentors
- Youth ministry
- Protecting God's Children Workshop
Liturgical & Music Ministries
Liturgical ministers serve at the altar and welcome parishioners each week, while the music ministry supports sung worship through cantors, family singers, instrumentalists, choir, pianists, organists, and music librarians.
- Sacristans, Greeters, Ushers, Servers
- Lectors, Gift Bearers, Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion
- Audio Visual Ministers
- Choir, Cantors, Pianists, Organists, Instrumentalists, Music Librarians
Parish Life, Fellowship & Outreach
Sacred Heart nurtures community life through the Council of Catholic Women, a Hispanic Outreach Committee, Ministers of the Sick, rosary leaders, the Young Hearts potluck, and seasonal fundraisers such as the Parish Picnic and SCRIP. Outreach extends to local needs, with Bible study, prayer groups, transportation help, and hospitality committees available for all parishioners.
- Council of Catholic Women (CCW)
- Hispanic Outreach Committee
- Ministers of the Sick
- Rosary Leaders
- Young Hearts Potluck
- Parish Picnic, SCRIP, Booster Club, PTA, School Board
Visiting & Getting Involved
Visitors are warmly welcomed to attend any Mass or stop by the parish office at 405 S. Henrietta Street. New parishioners can register by downloading a registration form from the website or picking one up at the parish office or in the Narthex, then returning it to the office or placing it in the collection basket. For sacramental emergencies outside office hours, call 217-703-1042 to reach a priest.
- Parish office: 405 S. Henrietta St., Effingham, IL 62401
- Phone: (217) 347-7177
- Office hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
- After-hours priest emergency line: 217-703-1042
- Fr. Michal's office hours: Monday–Thursday, 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Patrick Ducey1892 –
First pastor; founded the parish with nine lay Catholics after Bishop James Ryan granted permission.
- Fr. Gerald Wiegand
Oversaw construction and 1969 dedication of the current 'church in the round' by Bishop William O'Connor.
- Fr. Michal RosaJune 29, 2017 – present
Ordained in Poland in 2005; moved to the U.S. in 2014 as Parochial Vicar for Sacred Heart, St. Anthony, and St. Mary's (Shumway); incardinated into the Diocese of Springfield and appointed Pastor of Sacred Heart on June 29, 2017.