About Sacred Heart · Moline, Illinois
Sacred Heart Catholic Church is a historic parish in Moline, Illinois, founded in September 1906 by Bishop John L. Spalding of the Diocese of Peoria, who assigned Fr. John Baptist Culemans to organize a congregation for the city's large Belgian immigrant community. More than a century later, the parish continues as a welcoming, diverse Catholic community serving Moline and the surrounding Quad Cities area with daily and weekend Masses, a full Religious Education program (PK–8), the parish-sponsored Seton Catholic School, and a wide range of ministries for adults, teens, and children. The parish mission is rooted in worship, evangelization, service, parochial education, and lifelong faith formation, seeking to build the Kingdom of Jesus in this time and place.
- Established
- 1906
- Patron
- Sacred Heart of Jesus
- Rector
- Fr. Mark DeSutter
- Diocese
- Diocese of Peoria
Why belong here
Sacred Heart is a large, welcoming, multicultural Catholic parish with a rich heritage and an active ministry life rooted in the Belgian immigrant tradition of hard work and faithful discipleship. Families can grow together through daily and weekend Masses, Eucharistic Adoration on Wednesdays and First Fridays, a complete Religious Education program for PK through 8th grade including First Communion and Confirmation preparation, and the parish-sponsored Seton Catholic School on the same campus. Adults can join ministries such as OCIA, the Finance Committee, Grounds and Garden, Welcoming Committee, Music Ministry, VBS, and weekday Rosary, while the parish's recent capital campaigns — Today, Tomorrow, Together and the St. Damien Center — show a community investing confidently in the next century of faith.
Mass times at Sacred Heart
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 3:00 – 4:00 p.m. (or by appointment)
Adoration times
- Wednesday 7:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. (St. Francis Chapel)
- First Friday 7:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. (St. Francis Chapel)
Parish History
Sacred Heart Parish was founded in September 1906 when Peoria Bishop John L. Spalding assigned Fr. John Baptist Culemans to organize a new Catholic congregation in Moline for the city's Belgian Catholic population, who had previously worshipped at St. Mary's. Building operations began that November; the first combined church-and-school building and rectory were completed in March 1907, and a parochial school opened in September 1907 with 260 pupils. By 1919 the parish was ready to build its present Gothic-style church — its cornerstone was laid on October 23, 1919, with Bishop Spalding presiding, and the building was dedicated in 1923. A century later, on October 20, 2019, the cornerstone-laying was reenacted with descendants of charter families taking part in the offertory and a delegation from Belgium attending; Cardinal Jozef De Kesel of Mechelen-Brussels sent a congratulatory letter and Governor J.B. Pritzker proclaimed '100th Anniversary of the Laying of the Cornerstone of Sacred Heart Church Day' in Illinois. The Belgian ethnic parish gradually became a territorial parish and grew into the largest in the Quad Cities before today's more diverse community.
- Founded September 1906 by Fr. John Baptist Culemans under Bishop Spalding of Peoria
- 100 families of Belgian nationals began the parish
- First school opened September 1907 with 260 pupils
- Current Gothic-style church cornerstone laid October 23, 1919; dedicated 1923
- Cornerstone-laying reenacted in October 2019 with Belgian delegation and charter-family descendants
Mission and Parish Identity
Sacred Heart's mission statement reads: 'We at Sacred Heart Parish are a welcoming and diverse community rooted in our Catholic Faith and rich heritage. Through worship, evangelization, ministries, service, parochial education, and lifelong faith formation, we are called to build the Kingdom of Jesus in this time and place.' The parish traces that heritage to its Belgian founders and continues to invite parishioners of all backgrounds into full participation in parish life. After more than a century, the parish is now in a new strategic-planning phase, asking 'what needs do we need to meet today and what do we need to do to stay a healthy faith community?' — a question the leadership is answering through a published multi-year pastoral plan.
- Welcoming and diverse community rooted in Catholic Faith and Belgian heritage
- Pillars: worship, evangelization, ministries, service, parochial education, lifelong faith formation
- Active three- to five-year strategic pastoral plan
Clergy and Staff
Sacred Heart is currently led by Fr. Mark DeSutter, a priest of the Diocese of Peoria, as pastor, with Fr. Matthew Cole, SMA, serving as Parochial Vicar. The parish is also served by two deacons — Deacon Mike Maynard and Deacon Matt Martel — and an experienced lay staff based at the Lee Parish Center.
- Pastor: Fr. Mark DeSutter ([email protected])
- Parochial Vicar: Fr. Matthew Cole, SMA ([email protected])
- Deacon Matt Martel ([email protected])
- Deacon Mike Maynard ([email protected])
- OCIA Coordinator: Sandy Carlsten ([email protected])
- Director of Religious Education and Parish Assistant: Debbie Patronagio ([email protected])
- Administrative Assistant: Mardian Angelo
- Finance Officer: DeAnn Gandia ([email protected])
- Parish Receptionist: Malinda Perez / Morgan Hoffman
- Director of Music & Parish Organist: Cheryl Bolt ([email protected])
- Bilingual Aide (Spanish): Angelina Vallejo, (309) 230-8457
- Parish Trustees: Jim Watson, (309) 721-0555; Connie Morris, (309) 799-5865
Fr. Mark DeSutter, Pastor
Fr. Mark DeSutter is a priest of the Diocese of Peoria who serves as pastor of Sacred Heart. On the parish website he is also acknowledged for his pastoral gifts as a retreat master and for numerous apostolates; he has done post-graduate work and is deeply tied to the parish's Belgian heritage — at the 2019 cornerstone reenactment he paid homage to his maternal grandfather, who arrived in the United States alone from Belgium at age 17, served in World War I, and later farmed in the Kewanee area.
Sacraments
Sacred Heart celebrates the seven Catholic sacraments — including Baptism, Confirmation, Eucharist, Reconciliation, Matrimony, Anointing of the Sick, and Holy Orders — and prepares parishioners of all ages to receive them. Baptisms are celebrated on Sundays after the 11:00 a.m. Mass, with parents required to be registered and active parishioners for at least four months and to attend baptismal instruction held the fourth Tuesday of March, June, September, and January. First Communion and Confirmation are prepared through the Religious Education Program; a Confirmation Retreat is held annually. Weddings are coordinated through the parish Wedding Coordinator; inquiries may be sent to [email protected]. Adults seeking the sacraments of initiation or coming from other Christian traditions are welcomed through the OCIA process.
- Baptism: Sundays after 11:00 a.m. Mass; instruction fourth Tuesday of March/June/September/January
- Eucharist / First Communion: Religious Education Program
- Confirmation: Religious Education Program + annual Confirmation Retreat
- Reconciliation: Saturdays 3:00–4:00 p.m. or by appointment
- Matrimony: contact Wedding Coordinator ([email protected])
Religious Education and OCIA
Sacred Heart offers a complete Religious Education Program for children from Pre-K through 8th grade, including First Communion and Confirmation classes, and a Vacation Bible School each summer. For adults, the parish runs OCIA — the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults — inquirers of any background (Catholic seeking Eucharist/Confirmation, members of other Christian traditions, or those with no religious background) may join the Tuesday-evening sessions held 6:30–8:30 in the Audio-Visual Room in Culemans Hall, beginning each September; there is no fee.
- Religious Education PK–8 (First Communion and Confirmation classes)
- OCIA: Tuesday evenings 6:30–8:30 in Culemans Hall
- OCIA contact: Sandy Carlsten, [email protected], (309) 762-2362
- Vacation Bible School (VBS) — held annually
- Confirmation Retreat
Seton Catholic School
Sponsored by Sacred Heart Parish, Seton Catholic School is the largest Catholic school in the Quad City area, serving preschool through 8th grade on the parish campus in Moline. Described by the school itself as 'Where faith meets excellence,' Seton has served the Illinois Quad Cities for 40 years, with alumni commanding careers in medicine, technology, business, science, and education. The school offers updated facilities including media center, library, computer labs, and science labs, and emphasizes development of the whole child — spiritual, physical, intellectual, and emotional — alongside a strong core academic program. The Elementary and Middle School offices are open 7:45 a.m.–3:45 p.m. on school days; Seton can be reached at (309) 757-5500.
- Sponsored by Sacred Heart Parish, located on the parish campus
- Preschool through 8th grade
- Largest Catholic school in the Quad Cities
- Elementary and Middle School offices: (309) 757-5500
- Office hours on school days: 7:45 a.m.–3:45 p.m.
Parish Ministries and Organizations
Sacred Heart's ministries span finance, hospitality, formation, music, and grounds care. The Finance Committee advises the pastor on parish financial matters; the Grounds and Garden Committee beautifies church and school grounds; the Welcoming Committee welcomes new parishioners; Money Counters assist the Finance Officer; and the Music Ministry — under Director of Music and Parish Organist Cheryl Bolt — supports the parish's liturgies. The parish encourages parishioners to serve on multiple ministries and to get involved through the parish website.
- Finance Committee — Fr. Mark DeSutter, Linda Wolbers
- Grounds and Garden Committee
- Money Counters
- Welcoming Committee
- Music Ministry (Cheryl Bolt)
- Liturgical Ministry Scheduler — [email protected]
Annual Parish Reunion and Events
Every year Sacred Heart hosts its Parish Reunion on the Sunday after the 11:00 a.m. Mass — a faith-and-fellowship afternoon that begins with a procession from the church to the green space, followed by Benediction for the Feast of Corpus Christi. The gathering features Mexican and American food, St. Damien's Belgian Brew for sale, a clown, a magician, games on the lawn, themed-basket raffles, and the recognition of milestone graduating classes. The 2025 reunion (June 22) also featured the 'Burning of the Note' for the St. Damien Center after only three years, a testament to parishioner generosity.
- Annual Parish Reunion following the 11:00 a.m. Sunday Mass
- Benediction for the Feast of Corpus Christi
- Food, games, magician, clown, themed basket raffles
- Recognition of milestone graduating classes
- 'St. Damien's Belgian Brew' parish tradition
Today, Tomorrow, Together Capital Campaign
To mark 112 years of parish life, Sacred Heart launched the 'Today, Tomorrow, Together' capital campaign focused on preserving the parish's treasured past, better serving current members, providing easier access to the church, and supporting Catholic education well into the future. The campaign's fast facts note that the current church building has been the centerpiece of parish faith life since the cornerstone was laid in 1919, that 100 families of Belgian nationals came together to start the parish in 1906, that Catholic grade-school education has been a focus since the beginning, and that the immigrant children received through that education went on to become productive members of American society.
- 'Today, Tomorrow, Together' capital campaign
- Goals: preserve the past, serve current members, improve access, support Catholic education
- St. Damien Center mortgage burned June 2025 after three years
Heartbeat Newsletter and Communications
The parish's monthly newsletter, 'Heartbeat,' keeps parishioners informed about upcoming events, parish news, and the latest Mass schedule and bulletins. Subscribers can sign up online to receive a digital copy by email each month. Back issues going back to 2022 are available on the parish website, alongside breaking 'Sacred Heart Stories' covering events such as VBS, the Parish Reunion, the Feast of the Sacred Heart, Second Hand Sale, and First Day Fund.
- Monthly 'Heartbeat' newsletter (email subscription available)
- Past issues from 2022 through 2026 archived on the parish website
- Latest events featured: VBS, Parish Reunion, Feast of the Sacred Heart, Second Hand Sale, First Day Fund
Contact, Location, and Directions
The parish office (Lee Parish Center) is located behind the church at 1608 13th Street, Moline, IL 61265. The church address is 1307 17th Avenue, Moline, IL 61265. The parish phone is (309) 762-2362 and the general email is [email protected]. Office hours (per the January 2025 bulletin) are Monday–Thursday 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and Friday 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., closed for lunch 12:00–1:00 p.m. and on weekends. From Interstate 74, visitors exit at Avenue of the Cities (23rd Avenue), travel west three blocks to 16th Street, then follow signs to 17th Avenue; the church is on the right and the Parish Center is directly behind it. The Vicariate office may be reached through Fr. Antonio Dittmer at (309) 764-1562, and the Catholic Diocese of Peoria is located at 419 NE Madison Ave., Peoria, IL 61603, (309) 671-1550.
- Mailing address (Lee Parish Center): 1608 13th Street, Moline, IL 61265
- Church address: 1307 17th Avenue, Moline, IL 61265
- Phone: (309) 762-2362
- Email: [email protected]
- Vicariate office: Fr. Antonio Dittmer, (309) 764-1562
- Diocese of Peoria: 419 NE Madison Ave., Peoria, IL 61603, (309) 671-1550
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. John Baptist Culemans1906–
Founding pastor; Belgian-born priest assigned by Bishop Spalding of Peoria to organize the parish from the city's Belgian immigrant community.
- Msgr. Dale Wellman
Former pastor of Sacred Heart; concelebrated at the 2019 reenactment of the cornerstone laying.
- Fr. Johnjoseph DePorres Logan
Former pastor, deceased; a Knights of Columbus image of the Holy Family was dedicated in his honor.