Sacred Heart

Welcome to Sacred Heart Parish, Hickman

Sacred Heart Parish is a small Roman Catholic parish serving the faithful of Hickman, Kentucky, and the surrounding Jackson Purchase region. The parish is listed in the Diocese of Owensboro's official directory under the Fancy Farm Deanery and shares its pastoral team with two neighboring parishes through the Tri-Parish Catholic Community. The mailing address is 411 E. Moulton Street, Hickman, KY 42050, and the parish office can be reached at (270) 236-2071 or [email protected].

History and Catholic Roots in the Jackson Purchase

Catholic life in the Hickman area goes back to the earliest decades of the 19th century, when missionary priests rode into Graves, Hickman, Ballard and Fulton counties to reach scattered Catholic settlers. The history of the Fancy Farm St. Jerome community records that as early as 1830–1831, a priest would ride from 'Sacred Heart Church in Union County' to serve these western Kentucky missions. Over time the Catholic community of Hickman grew into its own parish dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, and today sits in the Diocese of Owensboro's Fancy Farm Deanery.

• Missionary roots trace to Father Durbin's rides from Sacred Heart Church in Union County, c. 1830–1831
• Diocese of Owensboro — Fancy Farm Deanery
• Clustered with St. Jude (Clinton) and St. Edward (Fulton) in the Tri-Parish Catholic Community

Parish Staff and Clergy

Sacred Heart is pastored by Rev. Anthoni Ottagan, HGN, a priest of the Heralds of Good News missionary society who also serves St. Anthony of Padua (Grand Rivers) and St. Pius X (Calvert City). Two permanent deacons — Dcn. Brent Kimbler and Dcn. Hal Jones — assist with preaching, sacraments, RCIA and the daily life of the parish. Both deacons were formed through the Diocese of Owensboro's permanent diaconate program at Brescia University.

• Rev. Anthoni Ottagan, HGN — Pastor
• Dcn. Brent Kimbler — Deacon
• Dcn. Hal Jones — Deacon

Pastor and Tri-Parish Community

Sacred Heart belongs to the Tri-Parish Catholic Community along with St. Jude Parish in Clinton and St. Edward Parish in Fulton. The three parishes share one pastor and a common pastoral team, so parishioners can rely on a wider community of priests, deacons and lay ministers for faith formation, RCIA, weddings and funerals. Pastors who have served the Tri-Parish cluster in recent decades include Very Rev. J. Michael Clark (who later became interim administrator of the Diocese of Owensboro), Rev. Robert Drury, and Rev. Babu Kulathumkal (installed by Bishop William Medley on August 10, 2014).

• St. Jude Parish, Clinton — partner parish
• St. Edward Parish, Fulton — partner parish
• Shared pastor, pastoral council, and faith-formation team

Faith Formation and RCIA

Faith formation in the parish is carried out cooperatively with the Tri-Parish Catholic Community. Adults preparing for Baptism, Confirmation or full reception into the Catholic Church are walked through the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) by the tri-parish team. Deacon Brent Kimbler has described his own joy in teaching RCIA alongside other tri-parish team members for ten years.

• RCIA (tri-parish team)
• Adult faith formation
• Sacramental preparation for Baptism, First Communion and Confirmation

Music and Liturgy

Liturgical music at Sacred Heart is led by Teresa Hayden, listed as Music Minister in the Diocese of Owensboro Catholic Directory. In a parish of fewer than 50 families, the music ministry provides an essential role in lifting up the Sacred Heart devotions and the Sacred Liturgy.

• Music Minister: Teresa Hayden
• Sacristan ministry (Dcn. Brent Kimbler at St. Jude)

Parish Life, Stewardship and Community

Like every small Catholic community, Sacred Heart is sustained by the stewardship and prayer of its members. The diocesan directory lists Glenda Cochrum as the parish's Stewardship Contact and David Lattus as Parish Council Chair. Despite the small size, the parish has produced long marriages and lifelong Catholic faithfulness — the diocese has celebrated John B. and Mary Jo Lattus for 62 years of marriage at Sacred Heart.

• Parish Council Chair: David Lattus
• Stewardship Contact: Glenda Cochrum
• Pastoral Minister/Secretary/Bookkeeper: Butch Busby

Religious Sisters Serving the Parish

Sacred Heart has been blessed by the presence and ministry of the Ursuline Sisters of Mount Saint Joseph. In 2004, Sister Joan Walz and Sister Mary Agnes VonderHaar were honored with the diocesan Sophia Award for their years of generous service at Sacred Heart, Hickman.

• Ursuline Sisters of Mount Saint Joseph — long-standing service
• 2004 Sophia Award: Sister Joan Walz and Sister Mary Agnes VonderHaar

Visiting Sacred Heart

Sacred Heart sits at 411 E. Moulton Street, Hickman, KY 42050 — at the far western edge of Kentucky, just across the Mississippi River from Tennessee. Travelers coming for Mass or sacraments are encouraged to call the parish office at (270) 236-2071 to confirm the current schedule and any holy-day changes.

• Address: 411 E. Moulton Street, Hickman, KY 42050
• Phone: (270) 236-2071
• Email: [email protected]