About Sacred Heart · Fairfield, Ohio
Sacred Heart of Jesus Catholic Church is a Roman Catholic parish in Fairfield, Ohio, founded in 1957 and now part of the Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish Family of Butler County in the Archdiocese of Cincinnati. The parish shares its worship life with St. Ann Church in Hamilton, together serving nearly 2,100 Catholic households and over 7,000 members. Sacred Heart runs a K–8 day school, a Monday-evening Religious Education Program, and a wide range of ministries including OCIA, Knights of Columbus, choir, an African Catholic community, Vacation Bible School, and an annual summer festival. Its mission is summarized in the words "Faith, Unity, Hope."
- Established
- 1957
- Patron
- Sacred Heart of Jesus
- Rector
- Rev. David Sunberg
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Cincinnati
Why belong here
Sacred Heart is a large, active parish family with nearly 2,100 Catholic households, a K–8 day school, and a robust Religious Education Program for public-school children. Worshippers find daily and weekend Mass, Saturday confessions, Eucharistic Adoration, Rosary, OCIA for those becoming Catholic, Vacation Bible School, a Men's Group, Knights of Columbus, Women's Ministry, Youth Ministry, Music Ministry, and a distinctive African Catholic Mass celebrated on certain Sundays. The parish also runs an annual summer festival and welcomes newcomers into the broader Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish Family that includes St. Ann Church in Hamilton.
Mass times at Sacred Heart
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 8:30 AM – 9:30 AM (in the Reconciliation Room to the right of the Sacristy)
- Communal Penance Services held during Advent and Lent
Adoration times
- Eucharistic Adoration with Benediction — Mondays 12:00 PM (Church)
- Adoration — Saturdays 8:30 AM (Church)
Welcome to Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish
Sacred Heart of Jesus Catholic Church in Fairfield, Ohio, is one of two worship sites of the Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish Family in Butler County. The other is St. Ann Church in Hamilton. Together the two share clergy, staff, and mission under the banner 'Faith, Unity, Hope.' The parish belongs to the Archdiocese of Cincinnati and welcomes newcomers, returning Catholics, and those journeying toward full communion through OCIA.
- Sacred Heart of Jesus Church — 400 Nilles Road, Fairfield, OH 45014
- St. Ann Church — 3028 Pleasant Avenue, Hamilton, OH 45015
- Parish Office: (513) 858-4210
- St. Ann Office: (513) 863-4963
Parish History
Sacred Heart was founded in 1957 by Archbishop Karl J. Alter, when Father Hugo Mentink was named its first pastor. The first church and school were dedicated in January 1960, with six additional classrooms added in 1963, a small gym in 1980, and the present church completed in 1989. A $1.8 million school expansion opened in 2003–04, and Kindergarten was added in 2013–14. From its beginnings, the Sisters of St. Francis of Oldenburg, Indiana, staffed the day school and taught CCD for many years.
- Founded 1957 by Archbishop Karl J. Alter
- First pastor: Father Hugo Mentink (1957–1974)
- First church and school dedicated January 1960
- Present church completed 1989; liturgical environment updated 1993–94
- School expansion 2003–04; Kindergarten added 2013–14
Sacred Heart of Jesus School
Sacred Heart of Jesus School (shjs.org) is the parish's K–8 day school, founded under the direction of the Sisters of St. Francis of Oldenburg, Indiana. The school offers two classes per grade, daily religious instruction, and is accredited by the Ohio Catholic Schools Accrediting Association. As of October 31, 2025, enrollment stood at 467 students, and more than 2,600 students have graduated since its founding. A $1.8 million expansion opened for the 2003–2004 school year, and Kindergarten was added in 2013–14.
- Grades K–8, two classes per grade
- Principal: Heather Wagner
- School Secretary: Terina Faig
- School Office: (513) 858-4215
- Accredited by Ohio Catholic Schools Accrediting Association
- Complies with Archdiocese of Cincinnati safety and background-check policies
Religious Education Program (REP)
The Parish Religious Education Program provides Catholic formation to public-school students from Kindergarten through Confirmation preparation. Classes meet Monday evenings 6:30–7:45 PM in the Sacred Heart School building, September through May. The program rests on three pillars: Faith Formation, Sacrament Preparation, and Liturgical Living, with events such as the Advent Rosary, Stations of the Cross, May Crowning, and a Holy Hour on Holy Monday.
- Monday evenings 6:30–7:45 PM, Sacred Heart School building
- Three pillars: Faith Formation, Sacrament Preparation, Liturgical Living
- Coordinator: Joelle Martinez ([email protected]; 513-858-4213)
- Home Program option for homeschool families
- Registration fee $40/child, max $90/family
Becoming Catholic — OCIA
Adults seeking full communion with the Catholic Church participate in the Order of Christian Initiation for Adults (OCIA, formerly RCIA), which includes formation, the Rite of Election, and reception of the sacraments of initiation at the Easter Vigil.
- OCIA process for unbaptized, baptized Christians, and Catholic adults seeking Confirmation
- Practices scheduled with the Church during Lent
- Contact the parish office for enrollment
Parish Ministries & Organizations
Beyond liturgy and formation, Sacred Heart offers a broad slate of parish ministries. Music Ministry is led by Music Director Melody Wallace, and the Knights of Columbus and Women's Ministry organize parish service and fellowship. A Men's Group hosts programming such as 'That Man Is You,' and the African Families of Sacred Heart community gathers for the Traditional African Mass and cultural events. Youth Ministry, Vacation Bible School, the annual Sacred Heart Festival (August), and the St. Ann Rosary Society round out parish life.
- Music Ministry / Choir
- Knights of Columbus
- Women's Ministry
- Men's Group / That Man Is You (TMIY)
- Youth Ministry
- African Families of Sacred Heart
- Sacred Heart Festival (annual, August)
- Vacation Bible School
- St. Ann Rosary Society
- Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion
Parish Staff
Sacred Heart's staff combines ordained clergy, deacons, and lay professionals who oversee worship, formation, music, administration, communications, and property. The parish staff meets weekly to plan activities and assess parish needs; Parish Council meets six times a year as a consultative body of seven elected representatives.
- Rev. David Sunberg — Pastor
- Rev. Kraig Gruss — Parochial Vicar (beginning July 1, 2026)
- Deacon Mike Huffman
- Pamela Andorn — Administrative Assistant
- Kathy Middendorf — Director of Administration
- Melody Wallace — Music Director
- Bill Dirr — Director of Property Management
- Lauren Obszarski — Communications & Support Coordinator
- Joelle Martinez — Coordinator of Religious Education
- Heather Wagner — Principal, Sacred Heart of Jesus School
- Jennifer Klein — Principal, St. Ann Catholic School
Newcomers & Parish Registration
Newcomers can register online through the parish website. The registration form allows parishioners to indicate interest in ministries such as Religious Education, Youth Ministry, Vacation Bible School, Music Ministry, Women's Ministry, Extraordinary Ministers, Children's Ministry, and Sacramental preparation.
- Online registration via the parish website
- Choose ministries of interest during sign-up
- Two parish schools available: Sacred Heart (K–8) and St. Ann (Preschool–8)
Sacred Heart Today
Sacred Heart today is a 2,100-household Catholic community of more than 7,000 members organized around three core departments: Church, School, and Religious Education/Formation. The parish holds Parish Penance Services in Advent and Lent, First Communion Sundays in spring, the Parish Summer Festival in August, the Mission Cooperative Collection in summer, and Confirmation in late winter/early spring.
- ~2,100 Catholic households / 7,000+ members
- Three departments: Church, School, Religious Education/Formation
- Parish Council meets 6×/year
- School enrollment ~450–467 students (K–8)
Visit & Contact
Sacred Heart of Jesus Catholic Church sits at 400 Nilles Road on the corner of Nilles and River Roads in Fairfield, Ohio 45014. The Parish Office is open Monday–Friday 8:00 AM – 3:00 PM and can be reached at (513) 858-4210 (fax 513-858-4211) or [email protected]. The parish's companion site, St. Ann Church, is located at 3028 Pleasant Avenue in Hamilton, Ohio.
- Sacred Heart: 400 Nilles Road, Fairfield, OH 45014 — (513) 858-4210
- St. Ann: 3028 Pleasant Avenue, Hamilton, OH 45015 — (513) 863-4963
- School: shjs.org — (513) 858-4215
- Email: [email protected]
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father Hugo Mentink1957–1974
First pastor; appointed by Archbishop Karl J. Alter; had been assistant pastor at St. Ann's in Hamilton since 1951.
- Father John Roettele1974–1984
- Father John Wall1984–1990
- Father Harry Gerdes1987–1990
Co-pastor alongside Father Wall.
- Father Norman Langenbrunner1990–2006
- Father Larry Tharp2006–2025
- Father David Sunberg2025–present
Current pastor.