About Sacred Heart · Memphis, Tennessee
Sacred Heart Church is a Roman Catholic parish in the Diocese of Memphis, Tennessee, located at 1324 Jefferson Avenue in midtown Memphis at the corner of Jefferson and Cleveland. Established in 1899, the parish serves roughly 1,400 parishioners from about 400 households and is one of the most intentionally trilingual Catholic communities in West Tennessee, celebrating Mass in English, Spanish, and Vietnamese each weekend. The parish is currently pastored by Father Brandon Hiep Nguyen, S.V.D., a member of the Society of the Divine Word, and belongs to the Western (Shelby West) Deanery of the diocese.
- Established
- 1899
- Patron
- Sacred Heart of Jesus
- Rector
- Rev. Brandon Hiep Nguyen, S.V.D.
- Diocese
- Catholic Diocese of Memphis
Why belong here
Sacred Heart is a place where you can worship in your heart language — English, Spanish, or Vietnamese — every single weekend, making it a rare and welcoming fit for Memphis's diverse Catholic families. The parish runs an unusually rich set of community organizations, including the Eucharistic Youth movement (Thiếu Nhi Thánh Thể), two parish choirs (Cecilia and Thánh Gia), the Catholic Mothers' Association, the Sacred Heart League (Liên Minh Thánh Tâm), a faith-formation (Giáo Lý) program, and a Summer Vietnamese Language program. With weekday noon Mass Tuesday through Friday, regular Eucharistic Adoration in multiple languages, and active outreach such as supporting parish facilities through initiatives like the 'cool our church' air-conditioning campaign, Sacred Heart offers a lively, missionary community grounded in the parish mission: 'A community of diverse peoples committed to growing together into the fullness of the body of Christ.'
Mass times at Sacred Heart
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday: After 5:00 PM Vigil Mass (or by appointment)
- Saturday: 3:30 PM – 4:30 PM (per diocesan directory)
Adoration times
- Thursday: Following 6:30 PM Vietnamese Mass (Seasonal) — Eucharistic Adoration
- Friday: Following 7:00 PM Spanish Mass — Eucharistic Adoration
- First Friday: 9:00 PM Vietnamese Youth Group Eucharistic Adoration
Parish Identity and Mission
Sacred Heart Church describes itself in its mission statement as 'A community of diverse peoples committed to growing together into the fullness of the body of Christ, through active participation in the liturgy & faithful discipleship. We seek to share Christ's love with those around us, as we share Christ's mission of working for the reign of God on earth.' The parish is located in the Western (Shelby West) Deanery of the Catholic Diocese of Memphis and is currently pastored by Father Brandon Hiep Nguyen, S.V.D., of the Society of the Divine Word.
- Diocese: Catholic Diocese of Memphis
- Deanery: Western / Shelby West
- Pastoral congregation: Society of the Divine Word (S.V.D.)
- Parishioners: ~1,400 from ~400 households (2024 diocesan directory)
- Founded: 1899
History of Sacred Heart Parish
The parish was established in 1899 and has been a fixture of midtown Memphis Catholic life for more than 125 years. According to local historian Vance Lauderdale, the Diocese of Nashville opened both the church and a parish school at Jefferson Avenue in 1900. A new school building followed in 1930, and the parish observed its centennial in recent years. The school operated until 1970, when it was closed by the (then-newly-created) Diocese of Memphis due to declining enrollment; the original building is now used by the diocese and Catholic Charities of West Tennessee.
- 1899: Sacred Heart parish established
- 1900: Diocese of Nashville opens the church and Sacred Heart School at Jefferson Avenue
- 1929–1967: Monsignor Louis J. Kemphues serves as pastor — the longest-tenured pastor in parish history
- 1930: New school building constructed at a cost of ~$150,000, designed by Regan & Waller
- 1946: Sacred Heart School becomes an all-girls school; boys transfer to Catholic High and Christian Brothers
- 1970: School closed; building becomes diocesan offices and Catholic Charities of West Tennessee
- Recent: Parish celebrates its 100th anniversary
Parish Ministries and Organizations
The parish supports a robust set of lay organizations, especially within its Vietnamese community (most have both English and Vietnamese names). These groups include the Eucharistic Youth movement (Thiếu Nhi Thánh Thể), two Vietnamese choirs (Ca Đoàn Thánh Gia and Ca Đoàn Cecilia), the Catholic Mothers' Association (Hội Các Bà Mẹ Công Giáo), the Sacred Heart League (Đoàn Liên Minh Thánh Tâm), a religious-education / catechism program (Ban Giáo Lý), a marriage and family enrichment program, and a Summer Vietnamese Language program (Việt Ngữ Mùa Hè). Parish Pastoral Councils coordinate the various language communities.
- Thiếu Nhi Thánh Thể (TNTT) — Eucharistic Youth Movement
- Ban Giáo Lý — Religious Education / Catechism
- Ca Đoàn Thánh Gia — Holy Family Choir
- Ca Đoàn Cecilia — Cecilia Choir
- Hội Các Bà Mẹ Công Giáo — Catholic Mothers' Association
- Đoàn Liên Minh Thánh Tâm — Sacred Heart League
- Chương Trình Thăng Tiến Hôn Nhân Gia Đình — Marriage & Family Enrichment
- Việt Ngữ Mùa Hè — Summer Vietnamese Language
- Parish Pastoral Councils (Hội Đồng Mục Vụ Giáo Xứ)
Parish Staff and Clergy
The parish is currently pastored by Rev. Brandon Hiep Nguyen, S.V.D., with Rev. Thinh Ngo, S.V.D., serving as Parochial Vicar. The staff includes an English-speaking Administrative Assistant (Elaine Hansom), a bilingual English/Spanish Administrative Assistant (Javier Rodriguez), a Bookkeeper (Barbara Morelli), and Fr. Thinh Ngo as Director of Religious Education.
- Rev. Brandon Hiep Nguyen, S.V.D. — Pastor
- Rev. Thinh Ngo, S.V.D. — Parochial Vicar; Director of Religious Education
- Elaine Hansom — Administrative Assistant (English)
- Javier Rodriguez — Administrative Assistant (English/Spanish)
- Barbara Morelli — Bookkeeper
The Sacred Heart School (Historical)
Sacred Heart School opened in 1900 under the Diocese of Nashville and was housed in a new building designed by the architectural firm of Regan and Waller in 1930. The school became an all-girls institution in 1946, and enrollment steadily declined until the Diocese of Memphis closed it in 1970. The school building still stands on the campus and now serves as offices for the Catholic Diocese of Memphis and Catholic Charities of West Tennessee.
- Opened 1900 by the Diocese of Nashville
- New school building dedicated Dec. 7, 1930, by Bishop Alphonse J. Smith (cost ~$150,000)
- Architects: Regan & Waller (also designed Immaculate Conception Cathedral)
- 1946: becomes all-girls school
- 1970: school closed; building now houses diocesan offices and Catholic Charities of West Tennessee
Vietnamese Community at Sacred Heart
Sacred Heart is widely recognized as the Vietnamese Catholic heart of Memphis. The parish's Vietnamese-language community maintains its own page (giaoxuthanhtam.org) where Mass intentions are published in Vietnamese, and where the Vietnamese choirs, TNTT youth movement, mothers' association, and pastoral councils organize separately from — but in coordination with — the wider parish. Bishop David P. Talley celebrated a Lunar New Year Mass with the community in February 2021, and each summer the pastor welcomes visiting Vietnamese religious sisters who are studying in the United States.
- Sunday 10:00 AM Vietnamese Mass
- Seasonal Thursday 6:30 PM Vietnamese Mass
- First Friday 9:00 PM Vietnamese Youth Group Mass and Adoration
- Two Vietnamese choirs: Ca Đoàn Thánh Gia and Ca Đoàn Cecilia
- Thiếu Nhi Thánh Thể (TNTT) youth movement
- Annual Lunar New Year Mass celebrated with Bishop of Memphis
Hispanic / Spanish-Speaking Community
Sacred Heart's Hispanic community is one of the largest in the Memphis area and celebrates a Spanish-language Mass every Sunday at 12:00 PM, with an additional Spanish Mass on Friday evenings at 7:00 PM followed by Eucharistic Adoration. Parish events such as 'Día de Reyes' (Three Kings Day) are highlights of the community's shared liturgical and cultural life, and Spanish-speaking staff are available in the parish office.
- Sunday 12:00 PM — Spanish Mass
- Friday 7:00 PM — Spanish Mass with Adoration
- Annual Día de Reyes (Three Kings) celebration
- Bilingual (English/Spanish) administrative support: Javier Rodriguez
Visiting Sacred Heart — Location and Contact
The parish sits at the northwest corner of Jefferson Avenue and Cleveland Street in midtown Memphis. Parish office hours are Tuesday through Friday from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM (the office is closed Mondays). The mailing address is 1324 Jefferson Avenue, Memphis, TN 38104-2012.
- Address: 1324 Jefferson Avenue, Memphis, TN 38104
- Phone: (901) 726-1891
- Email: [email protected]
- Office Hours: Tuesday – Friday, 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM (closed Monday)
- Driving directions: I-240 → I-69/Dr. M.L.K. Jr. Expy north → Exit 30/Union Ave → east on Union → left on Claybrook → right on Jefferson; church is on the left at Cleveland Street.
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Simon T. Hoang, S.V.D.through 2020 (per diocesan directory)
Vietnamese-born Divine Word pastor; led Sacred Heart before current pastor. Brought Vietnamese religious sisters to visit the diocese each summer.
- Rt. Rev. Msgr. Louis J. Kemphues1929–1967
Longest-tenured pastor of Sacred Heart; simultaneously counselor to the parish school for nearly four decades until his death in 1967.