About Sacred Heart · Fort Wayne, Indiana
Sacred Heart Parish is a personal parish of the Diocese of Fort Wayne–South Bend located on the southeast side of Fort Wayne, Indiana, dedicated exclusively to the celebration of the Traditional Latin Mass (the Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite) and staffed by the Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter (FSSP). Established in 1947 as a territorial parish, it was re-designated in 2011 by Bishop Kevin C. Rhoades as a personal parish — meaning it has no territorial boundaries but exists to serve Catholics attached to the Church's older liturgical forms. Today the parish draws a tight-knit, far-flung community of faithful who travel from across the region for the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, the traditional sacraments, devotions such as First Friday and First Saturday, and the life of a small but devoted Catholic congregation.
- Established
- 1947
- Patron
- Sacred Heart of Jesus
- Rector
- Fr. Dominic Savoie, FSSP
- Diocese
- Diocese of Fort Wayne–South Bend
Why belong here
Sacred Heart is the home of the Traditional Latin Mass in the Diocese of Fort Wayne–South Bend, offering Catholics attached to the Church's older liturgical forms a stable, full parish life — not just a single Mass but a complete sacramental, devotional and community life. The parish offers daily and Sunday Mass in the Extraordinary Form, regular confessions throughout the week, First Friday and First Saturday devotions, a Rosary Sodality, an adult choir that sings all High Masses, and the care of three FSSP priests. Because it is a personal parish, families from anywhere in the diocese are welcome to register and belong, and most parishioners travel considerable distances to be part of this small but tightly-knit Catholic community.
Mass times at Sacred Heart
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Friday – 5:30 pm
- Saturday – 8:30 am
- Sunday – 7:30 am and 9:30 am
- Any time by appointment (call the parish office)
- In an emergency requiring Extreme Unction or Viaticum call (260) 267-6123
Welcome & Identity
The parish describes itself as established by Bishop Kevin C. Rhoades to minister to the faithful attached to the most traditional forms of Catholic worship, and 'more generally, for all those who desire to experience the richness and diversity of the Church's liturgical and spiritual traditions.' The Holy Sacrifice of the Mass and all the sacraments are celebrated according to the traditional Roman Rite, and the parish is staffed by the Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter (FSSP), a society of apostolic life of pontifical right.
History of the Parish
Sacred Heart was founded in 1947 in southeast Fort Wayne during the post-WWII building boom, on six acres donated by Ralph L. Shirmeyer at Gaywood Drive and Capitol Avenue. Archbishop John Francis Noll assigned Father Fred Westendorf, recently returned from service as an Army chaplain, to launch the parish.
The Original Barracks Church (1948)
The first church was a WWII military barracks that had served as a hospital ward at Baer Field (now Fort Wayne International Airport). The wooden single-frame building was moved onto the donated land, seated about 250, and was renovated by parishioners themselves. Father Thomas Durkin celebrated the first Mass at the new location at midnight on Christmas Day 1948.
The Present Church (1963)
Designed by parishioner and architect James McCarron Sr. with a seating capacity of 660, the current church replaced the barracks building, which was burned down in May 1963. Under Father Andrew C. Mathieu as pastor, the first Mass in the new church was celebrated on Christmas Day 1963.
Sacred Heart School
An eight-classroom school staffed by Holy Cross sisters opened for the 1949–50 school year with 102 students and expanded in 1954 to sixteen classrooms, a library, central office and storage. The school later merged with St. Henry's in 1994 to form Benoit Academy, as demographics on the southeast side shifted and major employers moved away.
The Latin Mass Era (1990–Present)
In 1990, Bishop John M. D'Arcy approved the celebration of the Extraordinary Form at Sacred Heart twice a month. Demand grew quickly and Bishop D'Arcy extended it to every Sunday and Holy Day. After diocesan priests trained in the old rite aged, he asked the FSSP to assist, and in 2008 Fort Wayne native Father George Gabet, FSSP, was assigned. In 2011 Bishop Rhoades formally redesignated Sacred Heart as a personal parish for the Extraordinary Form (effective Nov. 6, 2011), absorbing its territory into St. Henry Parish. Today, Latin Masses are the only Masses offered at Sacred Heart.
Clergy & Staff
The parish is currently served by three FSSP priests. Membership is by registration with the parish office.
- Fr. Dominic Savoie, FSSP — Pastor
- Fr. Edward Brodsky, FSSP — Parochial Vicar
- Fr. Carlos Casavantes, FSSP — In Residence
Devotions & Parish Life
The parish sustains a number of traditional Catholic devotions and groups that animate its life around the Extraordinary Form.
- First Friday devotions
- First Saturday devotions
- Rosary Sodality
- Adult Choir (sings at all High Masses)
Visit, Contact & Directions
The parish is located on Fort Wayne's southeast side and welcomes visitors. The bulletin is the parish's primary means of communicating schedule changes and is always worth consulting before coming to Mass.
- Address: 4643 Gaywood Dr., Fort Wayne, IN 46806
- Phone: 260-744-2519
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: sacredheartfw.org
- Emergency line for Extreme Unction / Viaticum: (260) 267-6123
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Fred Westendorf1947–
First pastor; assigned by Archbishop Noll after returning from service as a U.S. Army chaplain; later assigned as director of Central Catholic High School.
- Fr. Thomas Durkin
Celebrated the first Mass at the new Sacred Heart location at midnight on Christmas Day 1948.
- Fr. Andrew C. Mathieu
Pastor during the building campaign of the early 1960s; first Mass in the new (current) church was celebrated on Christmas Day 1963.
- Fr. George Gabet, FSSP2008–2016
Fort Wayne native and Bishop Dwenger High School graduate; first FSSP priest sent to Sacred Heart in 2008, named pastor when it became a personal parish in 2011; began sanctuary renovation and shrine-area project. Transferred in 2016 to Holy Family Parish, Dayton, Ohio.
- Fr. Mark Wojdelski, FSSP2016–
Succeeded Fr. Gabet as pastor; continued the sanctuary renovation and plans to build a shrine area in the back of the church.
- Fr. Dominic Savoie, FSSP
Current pastor, succeeding Fr. Wojdelski.