About Sacred Heart · Jacksonville, Florida
Sacred Heart Catholic Church is a diverse, family-oriented Catholic parish on the west side of Jacksonville, Florida, in the Diocese of St. Augustine. Founded in 1959 and now led by Rev. James Kaniparampil, CMI, the parish serves its community through daily and Sunday Mass in both English and Spanish, a K-8 parish school staffed by the Mercedarian Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament, a robust religious education program, Life Teen and EDGE youth ministry, and outreach through the St. Vincent de Paul Society. The parish describes itself as 'one Heart, one family' with a 'family-like community with rich cultural diversity while remaining one in faith and liturgy.'
- Established
- 1959
- Patron
- Sacred Heart of Jesus
- Rector
- Rev. James Kaniparampil, CMI
- Diocese
- Diocese of St. Augustine
Why belong here
Sacred Heart is a family-like, culturally diverse Catholic community on Jacksonville's west side where parishioners of many backgrounds worship as one in faith and liturgy. Members grow through Religious Education for children, Life Teen and EDGE youth ministry, Adult Faith Formation and the OCIA process, while putting faith into action through the St. Vincent de Paul Society and other outreach ministries. With daily and Sunday Mass in both English and Spanish, Eucharistic Adoration, a vibrant music program, and a parish school staffed by the Mercedarian Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament, Sacred Heart offers something for every age and stage of Catholic life.
Mass times at Sacred Heart
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 8:45 AM – 10:00 AM
- By appointment (per Diocese of St. Augustine schedule)
Adoration times
- Friday 9:00 AM – 7:00 PM (Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament)
Parish History
Sacred Heart Parish was formally established by Archbishop Joseph Hurley on June 26, 1959, with Msgr. Leo Danaher as founding pastor. Over the following decades the campus grew to include a rectory (1953, remodeled 2002), the original church (1960, now the Family Life Center), a convent for the Sisters of Mercy from Clonakilty, Ireland (1962), the present church sanctuary (1998), gymnasium (1998), Pre-K building (2005), and Parish Center (2012). The convent was renovated in 2017 to welcome the Mercedarian Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament.
- 1959 — Parish established; Msgr. Leo Danaher, founding pastor
- 1960 — Original church dedicated in May; school opens in portable buildings
- 1962 — Convent built to house the Sisters of Mercy from Clonakilty, Ireland
- 1970 — Msgr. Patrick Madden becomes second pastor
- 1998 — Current church sanctuary dedicated; original church becomes the Family Life Center; gymnasium dedicated
- 2005 — Pre-K (4-year-old) building dedicated
- 2012 — Parish Center dedicated in November
- 2014 — Rev. James Kaniparampil, CMI appointed pastor (still serving)
- 2017 — Mercedarian Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament arrive in October
Clergy & Staff
Sacred Heart is currently led by pastor Rev. James Kaniparampil, CMI, with two parochial vicars — Rev. Alexander Carandang, OSJ, and Rev. Cesar Torres-Pinzon (Spanish Ministry) — and two deacons, Jeff Burgess and Scott Conway. The parish staff includes a business manager, office assistants, music director, youth director, and Religious Education coordinator.
- Rev. James Kaniparampil, CMI — Pastor
- Rev. Alexander Carandang, OSJ — Parochial Vicar
- Rev. Cesar Torres-Pinzon — Parochial Vicar, Spanish Ministry
- Deacon Jeff Burgess (also leads OCIA/RCIA inquiries)
- Deacon Scott Conway
- Linda Cavallo — Parish Business Manager
- Danielle Cldwell — Office Assistant
- Susan Altman — Office Assistant
- Cindy Stillson — Music Director (904-742-3320)
- Madison Lambert — Youth Director ([email protected])
- Santa Cochran — Religious Education Coordinator (904-772-6353, [email protected])
Mass & Sacraments Schedule
Sacred Heart offers a full weekly schedule of Masses in both English and Spanish, with Reconciliation on Saturday mornings and Eucharistic Adoration on Fridays. Live-streamed Mass, Adoration, and Divine Mercy Chaplet are broadcast on the parish Facebook page.
- Saturday Vigil: 5:00 PM (English); 7:00 PM (Spanish)
- Sunday: 7:30, 9:30, 11:30 AM, 5:00 PM
- Weekday Masses: Mon, Tue, Thu 8:15 AM; Wed 8:15 AM & 7:00 PM; Fri 8:15 AM & 7:00 PM
- Thursday 7:00 PM — Spanish Mass
- Saturday 8:15 AM
- Reconciliation: Saturday 8:45–10:00 AM and by appointment
- Adoration: Friday 9:00 AM – 7:00 PM
- Divine Mercy Chaplet: Friday 3:00 PM
- Holy Days: 7:00 PM (Vigil), 8:15 AM, 7:00 PM
Parish School — Sacred Heart Catholic School
Sacred Heart Catholic School shares the Blanding Blvd campus with the parish and serves students in PreK through 8th grade. The school is staffed by the Mercedarian Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament, who arrived in October 2017, together with lay teachers, and provides a Catholic education for children of the parish and the wider westside Jacksonville community.
- Grades: PreK–8
- Staffed by the Mercedarian Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament and dynamic lay teachers
- School office: (904) 771-5800; Fax (904) 771-5323
- After School program: (904) 772-1010
- Office hours: M–F 7:15 AM–3:15 PM (school year); 9:00 AM–1:00 PM (breaks)
- School website: shcsjax.com
Faith Formation & Religious Education
The parish runs a Religious Education program for children in Kindergarten through 8th grade who do not attend Sacred Heart Catholic School, with classes meeting Wednesday evenings from 6:30 to 7:30 PM, September through May. The Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (OCIA/RCIA) welcomes inquirers and adults seeking Confirmation, beginning each fall and culminating at the Easter Vigil; an adapted process is also offered for children.
- Religious Education (K–8): Wednesdays 6:30–7:30 PM, September–May
- Contact: Santa Cochran — [email protected], 904-772-6353
- OCIA / RCIA for adults — begins in September in the Family Life Center
- RCIA adapted for children
- Contact for OCIA: Deacon Jeff Burgess — [email protected], 904-994-6929
Youth Ministry — Life Teen & EDGE
Sacred Heart Youth Ministry is described as a family of young Catholics who seek to develop a personal relationship with Jesus Christ through Catholic discipleship, prayer, fellowship, and service. Life Teen serves high school students on Sundays from 6:00 to 8:00 PM in the Family Life Center, while EDGE welcomes middle schoolers every other Wednesday from 7:30 to 9:00 PM in the Parish Center.
- Life Teen (high school) — Sundays 6:00–8:00 PM, Family Life Center
- EDGE (middle school) — every other Wednesday 7:30–9:00 PM, Parish Center
- Activities include social, service, and spiritual components
- Contact: [email protected] or 904-771-2152
Music & Liturgical Ministry
The music program at Sacred Heart supports sung prayer across all Masses, with cantors, choirs, and instrumentalists of all ages. The Adult Choir leads singing at the 9:30 AM Sunday Mass, a Guitar Folk Choir leads the 5:00 PM Sunday Mass, a Spanish Folk Choir leads the 7:00 PM Saturday Spanish liturgy, and a Children's Choir leads the 11:30 AM Mass. Combined choirs serve special liturgies such as Christmas Eve, Midnight Mass, Holy Week, Easter, First Communion, and Confirmation.
- Adult Choir — 9:30 AM Sunday Mass
- Guitar Folk Choir — 5:00 PM Sunday Mass
- Spanish Folk Choir — 7:00 PM Saturday Spanish Mass
- Children's Choir — 11:30 AM Sunday Mass (rehearsals 11:00 AM and as needed)
- Cantors serve Saturday Vigil, 7:30 AM Sunday, and Holy Day Masses
- Primary instruments: organ and piano (Sunday mornings); guitars (folk choirs)
- Other instrumentalists (woodwinds, horns, percussion) are welcome
- Contact Music Director Cindy Stillson: 904-742-3320
Outreach & Parish Ministries
The parish invites members to share in stewardship, pastoral, and social ministries. Its principal outreach is the St. Vincent de Paul Society, a lay, person-to-person ministry that assists families, single parents, and individuals struggling to meet rent or electric bills — seeing the face of Christ in those who suffer.
- St. Vincent de Paul Society — Coordinator Rick Guethle, 904-771-2949
- Pastoral, stewardship, and social ministries open to parishioners
- Homebound ministry — Holy Communion brought to the aged and ill via the Rectory
Sacraments
Sacred Heart prepares parishioners for the sacraments of Baptism, Marriage, and Christian Initiation, and brings Holy Communion to the homebound. Parents seeking Baptism must have been registered at the parish for at least three months and complete preparation classes, while couples must contact a priest at least eight months before a desired wedding date.
- Baptism preparation classes: 1st and 3rd Thursday of each month at 7:30 PM in the Church
- Baptism registration required through the Rectory
- Marriage: minimum 8 months' notice; contact the Rectory for an appointment
- Holy Communion for the homebound: contact the Rectory
- OCIA (RCIA) for adults and adapted for children
Visit, Contact & Getting Involved
Parishioners and visitors are encouraged to attend Mass, register, and become part of the community by joining ministries, faith formation classes, or outreach. The Rectory Office is the central point of contact, and live-streamed Mass and devotions are available on the parish Facebook page for those unable to attend in person.
- Address: 5752 Blanding Blvd, Jacksonville, FL 32244
- Phone: (904) 771-2152; Fax: (904) 573-8816
- Email: [email protected]
- Parish code: FL766
- Live-stream Daily Mass, Adoration and Divine Mercy Chaplet on the parish Facebook page
- Faith Direct available for online giving
- Facility reservations/rentals: contact the Rectory Office
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Msgr. Leo Danaher1959–1970
Founding pastor; parish formally established by Archbishop Joseph Hurley on June 26, 1959.
- Msgr. Patrick Madden1970–2001
Second pastor; oversaw much of the building and development of the parish until his retirement in June 2001.
- Rev. Anthony Sebra2001–2007
Appointed pastor in June 2001.
- Rev. Victor Narivelil, CMI2007–2014
Appointed in February 2007; retired in August 2014.
- Rev. James Kaniparampil, CMI2014–present
Appointed pastor in August 2014; continues to lead the parish today.