About Sacred Heart · Klamath Falls, Oregon
Sacred Heart Catholic Church is a Roman Catholic parish in Klamath Falls, Oregon, belonging to the Diocese of Baker. Founded in 1905 and now located at 8th and High Street, it serves the Klamath Basin community with Mass celebrated in English and Spanish, weekly Reconciliation, First Friday Eucharistic Adoration, and a robust slate of worship, faith-formation, outreach, and parish-life ministries. Its mission statement reads: "We are a people of God, guided by Sacred Scripture, Tradition, and the teachings of the Roman Catholic Church to live and share the Gospel message of Christ." The parish is currently administered by Fr. Thomas Chirayil, CMI, supported by a pastoral associate, music director, faith-formation director, and parish staff.
- Established
- 1905
- Patron
- Sacred Heart of Jesus
- Rector
- Fr. Thomas Chirayil, CMI (Parish Administrator)
- Diocese
- Diocese of Baker
Why belong here
Sacred Heart welcomes English- and Spanish-speaking Catholics of the Klamath Basin with daily and weekend Mass, Saturday confessions, and First Friday Eucharistic Adoration. Families can enroll children in religious education (PreK–8) and youth ministry (Grades 7–12), while adults grow through OCIA, sacramental preparation, retreats, and study groups using FORMED. Parishioners put faith into action through worship ministries (choir, lectors, altar servers, Eucharistic ministers), outreach works of mercy (visiting the homebound, feeding the hungry, P.A.L.M. dinners, funeral lunches, prayer chain), and parish-life fellowship that intentionally weaves together different cultural heritages.
Mass times at Sacred Heart
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 2:30pm – 3:30pm
- Also available by appointment
Adoration times
- Eucharistic Adoration: First Friday of every Month
Our History
Sacred Heart parish was founded in 1905, and the first church dedicated to the Sacred Heart was enlarged in 1910. In 1916 the church was moved to its present property at 8th and High Street. Driven by growth from the railroad and the lumber industry, the parish built a new, larger church and rectory in 1929. A parish school opened in 1917 under the Sisters of Charity of Nazareth from Kentucky, then the Sisters of St. Francis from 1924 onward. The school served the Basin for 76 years before closing in June 1993 due to financial necessity and declining enrollment. Two earthquakes on September 20, 1993 (magnitudes 5.9 and 6.0) caused nearly $250,000 in damage to the church; repairs reinforced the bell tower with steel beams and added geothermal heat.
- 1905 — First church built and dedicated to the Sacred Heart
- 1910 — Church enlarged; priest's room added; horse kept in a barn on the property
- 1916 — Church moved to 8th and High Street (current location)
- 1917 — School opened, staffed by Sisters of Charity of Nazareth, Kentucky
- 1924 — Sisters of St. Francis take over the school
- 1928–1929 — New church and rectory built (cost: $87,168.97)
- 1980 — Sisters of St. Francis deed school and land to the Diocese
- 1988 — High School closes; convent sold
- 1992 — 7th and 8th grades close
- June 1993 — Sacred Heart School closes after 76 years
- September 20, 1993 — Two earthquakes (5.9 and 6.0) damage the church
Parish Staff & Leadership
The parish is led by Fr. Thomas Chirayil, CMI, a member of the Carmelites of Mary Immaculate who serves as Parish Administrator. He is supported by a pastoral associate, an administrative assistant and event coordinator, a music director, a facility manager, and a director of faith formation. The parish office is closed on Mondays.
- Fr. Thomas Chirayil, CMI — Parish Administrator ([email protected])
- Mrs. Sharla Bishop — Pastoral Associate ([email protected])
- Mrs. Kandace Earhart — Administrative Assistant & Event Coordinator ([email protected])
- Ms. Erin Klemz — Music Director ([email protected])
- Mr. Erick Bishop — Facility Manager ([email protected])
- Paul Chutikorn — Director of Faith Formation
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Sacred Heart's faith-formation programs walk with children, youth, and adults at every stage. The parish provides ongoing religious education for children (PreK–8), a youth group for Grades 7–12, sacramental-preparation classes for First Communion and Confirmation, and Adult Faith Formation using study groups, books, videos, and the FORMED platform. Retreats and workshops give parishioners opportunities for deeper conversion to Christ.
- Children's Religious Education (Grades K–6) — enroll or teach
- Children's Liturgy of the Word — readings discussed with children during Mass
- Youth Group (Grades 7–12)
- Children's Ministry (PreK–8), directed by Paul Chutikorn
- Adult Faith Formation — study groups, books, videos, FORMED
- Retreats and workshops
- Sacramental Preparation for Baptism, Confirmation, and Marriage
- Resources for 'how to receive Communion'
Becoming Catholic — OCIA
The Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (OCIA) is the parish's process for adults seeking to become Catholic or to learn more about the faith. OCIA walks candidates through the Rite of Acceptance, the Rite of Election, and the reception of the Sacraments of Initiation (Baptism, Confirmation, and Eucharist) at the Easter Vigil. Already-baptized Christians from other traditions are welcomed through a rite of full communion. Classes meet Mondays at 6:00pm in the Parish Office, beginning September 8 each year.
- Step 1 — Rite of Acceptance (catechumens publicly welcomed)
- Step 2 — Rite of Election (catechumens accepted for initiation)
- Step 3 — Sacraments of Initiation at the Easter Vigil
- Rite of full communion for already-baptized candidates
- Meets Mondays at 6:00pm in the Parish Office; begins September 8
Sacraments
The parish prepares parishioners for the seven sacraments with catechesis and clear steps. Baptism for infants and young children uses a Belonging (English) / Pertenecer (Spanish) certification course; older children join A Family of Faith; adults go through OCIA. Confirmation is a one-year youth program of classroom sessions, service projects, and a retreat, given every other year, while adults are confirmed at the Easter Vigil. Couples must contact the parish office at least six months before a wedding for Marriage Preparation Classes.
- Baptism — Belonging/Pertenecer course for children age 6 and under; Family of Faith for ages 7–15; OCIA for ages 16+
- Confirmation — 1-year youth program, given every other year; adults at the Easter Vigil
- Marriage — 6 months advance notice required; minimum age 18; Marriage Preparation Classes required
- Reconciliation — Saturday 2:30–3:30pm and by appointment
- Eucharist — daily and weekend Mass; Communion resources online
Worship Ministries
Liturgical and devotional life at Sacred Heart is supported by a wide range of lay ministries that plan and serve at Masses and traditional devotions.
- Liturgical Committee — plans Masses and services quarterly/seasonally
- Acolytes — assist the celebrant during Mass and in the procession
- Altar Servers
- Altar Society — maintains and supplies the altar and sanctuary
- Lectors (Readers) — proclaim the Scripture readings
- Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion
- Choir/Music — leads the congregation in song
- Ushers/Greeters — welcome parishioners and visitors and take up the collection
- Devotions — First Friday, Benediction, Divine Mercy, Rosaries
Outreach & Works of Mercy
Parishioners carry out the Corporal and Spiritual Works of Mercy in the wider Klamath community through hands-on service and prayer.
- Visitation — visits the lonely, hospitalized, or homebound
- Feed the Hungry — monthly food collections, Thanksgiving baskets, food pantry
- Prayer Chain — prays at home for pressing or acute needs
- P.A.L.M. Dinners — cooks and serves a free dinner monthly at First Methodist
- Funeral Lunch — prepares a comforting meal for those who mourn
Parish Life & Fellowship
Parish Life groups keep Sacred Heart warm, welcoming, and functional—from greeting visitors and staffing the office to maintaining the buildings and celebrating the cultural diversity of the community.
- Fellowship — welcomes visitors and newcomers, helps with Parish Picnic and special receptions
- Office Volunteers — answers the door and phones, assists with mailings, bulletin, and projects
- Facilities & Grounds — cleaning, painting, snow removal, and necessary repairs
- Cultural Heritage — incorporates different cultures into parish worship and fellowship
Get Involved — Volunteering
The parish invites parishioners to share their time and talent across four ministry areas—Worship, Education & Evangelization, Outreach, and Parish Life—through online sign-up forms on the parish website.
- Education & Evangelization: teach religious education, lead youth group, help with retreats, sacramental prep
- Worship: liturgical committee, choir, lectors, servers, ushers, EMHCs, devotions
- Outreach: visitation, food pantry, prayer chain, P.A.L.M. dinners, funeral lunches
- Parish Life: fellowship, office volunteers, facilities & grounds, cultural heritage
Resources & Staying Connected
Sacred Heart keeps parishioners informed and equipped through weekly bulletins, liturgical-training videos, a Ministry Schedule Portal, the Religious Education Calendar, and archived video recordings—accessible from the parish website.
- Weekly Bulletins / Events & Activities
- Liturgical Training Videos
- Ministry Schedule Portal
- Religious Education Calendar
- Archived Video Recordings
- Online registration and inquiry forms for OCIA, faith formation, and Confirmation
- Parish Facebook page and Instagram (@sacredheartkf)