About Sacred Heart · Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Sacred Heart Parish is a Roman Catholic parish in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, with deep Croatian roots. Founded in 1917 as a Croatian national parish, it has served worshippers on the city's north side for more than a century and today offers Mass in both English and Croatian each Sunday. The parish is pastored by Fr. Dražan Boras and remains a tight-knit community known for its lively Praise & Worship nights, annual Summer Festival, Croatian cultural traditions like Palačinka Brunch, and a Marian grotto beneath its 1979 bell tower.
- Established
- 1917
- Patron
- Sacred Heart of Jesus
- Rector
- Fr. Dražan Boras
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Milwaukee
Why belong here
Sacred Heart welcomes anyone seeking a parish rooted in the Sacred Heart of Jesus, the Eucharist, and the Blessed Mother. Members enjoy bilingual (English and Croatian) Sunday Masses, the chance to encounter Christ in Eucharistic Adoration and Praise & Worship nights on the 2nd and 4th Fridays, and a vibrant parish life — from the annual Summer Festival, Palačinka Brunch, Fall Bazaar, and Christmas Market to a full schedule of faith formation, OCIA, music ministry, lectors, altar servers, bereavement ministry, and a Respect Life group. With a deep Croatian heritage, an iconic bell tower and Marian grotto, and a small enough community to know your neighbors, Sacred Heart offers both rootedness and warm hospitality.
Mass times at Sacred Heart
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- 2nd & 4th Friday at 6:00 PM (during Praise & Worship)
- By appointment — contact the parish office
Adoration times
- 2nd & 4th Friday at 6:00 PM (Praise & Worship nights, followed by Candlelight Rosary)
Welcome to Sacred Heart
For more than 100 years the parish has been dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, 'which is full of love and mercy for every person.' The parish invites newcomers to register, attend Mass, or stop by Praise & Worship or any parish event.
- Address: 917 N 49th St, Milwaukee, WI 53208
- Parish office phone: 414-774-9418
- Office hours: Monday–Friday, 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM
History of the Parish
Incorporated on April 4, 1917, with the permission of Archbishop Sebastian Messmer, Sacred Heart began life as a Croatian Catholic parish serving Milwaukee's Croatian immigrant community. It purchased its first church from German Lutherans at 7th and Galena and grew under Croatian Franciscan friars, relocating to 49th and Wells in 1949. The parish expanded with a school (1957) and bell tower (1979) before weathering the 1993 closure of its elementary school. Today it remains a bilingual parish carrying both its Croatian heritage and its wider community ministry forward.
- 1917 — Parish incorporated; first pastor Fr. Placid Belavic, O.F.M.
- 1922–1930 — Fr. Dragutin Jesih founds the Croatian Catholic Union, Young Ladies Sodality, Croatian Eagles Soccer Club, Altar Society, and Holy Name Society.
- 1949 — Parish relocates to 49th and Wells; first Mass celebrated in November.
- 1956 — Parish hall and kitchen completed.
- 1957 — Sacred Heart Elementary School opens (Daughters of Divine Charity, Akron, Ohio).
- 1962–65 — Vatican II reforms bring Mass in Croatian and English with greater lay participation.
- 1979 — Bell tower built with the original 1917 bells; Marian grotto constructed beneath.
- 1991 — Parish supports Croatia's statehood spiritually and materially.
- 1993 — Final Sacred Heart Elementary School graduating class.
Sacraments
The parish prepares members for the sacraments of initiation and continues to walk with families through marriage, anointing, and bereavement. Those interested in becoming Catholic are invited into the parish's OCIA process.
- Baptism
- Confirmation
- First Communion / Religious Education
- Marriage (contact parish office)
- OCIA — Becoming Catholic
- Bereavement Ministry
Praise & Worship Nights
Starting in September and running through the year, Sacred Heart hosts Praise & Worship nights on the 2nd and 4th Fridays of each month at 6:00 PM. The evenings are described by the parish as 'a direct pathway to encounter the true presence of Jesus in the Eucharist' and include Adoration, Confessions, and a Candlelight Rosary to follow.
- Schedule: 2nd and 4th Fridays at 6:00 PM (beginning September)
- Adoration and Confessions at 6:00 PM
- Candlelight Rosary to follow
Faith Formation & Religious Education
The Parish Faith Formation & Evangelization Committee collaborates with the pastor to support faith formation at all levels, develop programs, and organize events such as the All Saints Day party, Advent Candlelight Masses, Bethlehem Night, Candlelight Rosary, and the St. Nick celebration.
- Children's Ministry
- Religious Education
- Confirmation preparation
- OCIA (Becoming Catholic)
- All Saints Day party
- Advent Candlelight Masses
- Bethlehem Night
- St. Nick celebration
Ministries & Committees
Sacred Heart's small community is sustained by a strong network of lay ministries and committees. Newcomers are encouraged to contact the parish office about getting involved.
- Parish Faith Formation & Evangelization Committee
- Parish Life Committee
- Decorating (Liturgy) Committee
- Music Ministry / Adult Choir / Children's Choir
- Lectors
- Altar Servers
- Bereavement Ministry
- Building & Grounds
- Parish Council
- Event Volunteering
- Respect Life group
Parish Life & Cultural Events
Faith at Sacred Heart is interwoven with Croatian heritage and a busy community calendar. The Parish Life Committee plans fundraising and social events throughout the year, including the annual Summer Festival, Palačinka (Crepe) Brunch, Fall Bazaar, and Christmas Market.
- Annual Summer Festival (June 6–7)
- Palačinka (Crepe) Brunch
- Fall Bazaar
- Christmas Market
- Medjugorje Night
- Young Adult Line Dancing Night
- Parish Festival
The Bell Tower, Grotto & Campus
In 1979 the parish built the bell tower in front of the church, installing the original bells donated by parishioners in 1917 for the 7th and Galena church. Their first ringing after 30 years of silence moved many to tears. Beneath the tower sits a grotto dedicated to the Blessed Mother that remains a beloved gathering spot for parishioners on a warm spring day.
- Bell tower built 1979
- Original 1917 bells
- Marian grotto at the base of the tower
- Parish hall and kitchen (1956)
- Former Sacred Heart Elementary School (1957–1993)
- Rectory and convent
Parish Staff
Sacred Heart is served by a small pastoral and administrative staff. To contact any staff member, call the parish office at 414-774-9418.
- Fr. Dražan Boras — Pastor
- Lisa Vallone — Bookkeeper
- Ivona Macan — Secretary / Pastoral Associate
- Joe Dejanovich — Maintenance
Visit & Get Involved
The parish invites visitors to join for Mass, Praise & Worship, or any of its events, and to register online. The parish office is open Monday through Friday, 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM, at 917 N 49th St, Milwaukee, WI 53208.
- Register as a parishioner via the parish website
- Join a committee or ministry listed on the registration form
- Office hours: Monday–Friday, 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM
- Phone: 414-774-9418
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Placid Belavic, O.F.M.1917–
Croatian Franciscan friar-priest from the Franciscan Province of Zagreb; first pastor of the parish.
- Fr. Dragutin (Charles) Jesih1922–1930
Vitalized the parish and founded the Croatian Catholic Union, Young Ladies Sodality, Croatian Eagles Soccer Club, Altar Society, and Holy Name Society.
- Croatian Franciscan Friars1930–
Priests of the Croatian Franciscan Friars (headquartered in Chicago) continued to serve the parish for over 90 years.