About Sacred Heart · New Philadelphia, Ohio
Sacred Heart Catholic Church is a Roman-Latin rite parish of the Catholic Diocese of Columbus serving more than 700 families in New Philadelphia, Tuscarawas County, Ohio. The parish was founded on June 9, 1895, dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, and worships today in a Romanesque-style church built in 1927–1928. The parish is led by Fr. Jeff Coning, with Deacon Ronald E. Onslow, a Director of Music, and a Business Manager, and is supported by a wide range of lay ministries including the Altar Society, Christian Mothers, Knights of Columbus, and Busy Hands/Warm Hearts.
- Established
- 1895
- Patron
- Sacred Heart of Jesus
- Rector
- Fr. Jeffrey J. Coning
- Diocese
- Diocese of Columbus
Why belong here
Sacred Heart is a long-standing faith community of more than 700 families in the heart of New Philadelphia, with daily and weekend Masses, weekly Eucharistic Adoration, and a regular Wednesday evening confession schedule. Members can join a wide array of lay organizations — Altar Society, Christian Mothers, Knights of Columbus, LCBA, Busy Hands/Warm Hearts, Music, and Altar Servers — that knit parishioners together across generations. The parish also supports families with religious education for children and adults, sacramental preparation, and a partnership with the Tuscarawas Central Catholic school system.
Mass times at Sacred Heart
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Wednesday 5:00pm - 6:00pm
- By appointment (contact the Parish Office)
Adoration times
- Tuesday 7:00am - 9:00pm (Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament)
About Sacred Heart Parish
Sacred Heart Catholic Church is a Roman-Latin rite parish in the Diocese of Columbus, located at 139 3rd St. NE in New Philadelphia, Ohio. The parish was founded in 1895 and today serves more than 700 families under the leadership of Fr. Jeff Coning, assisted by Deacon Ronald E. Onslow. It is a worship-centered community that also maintains an active parish school of religion and a wide network of lay ministries.
- Founded June 9, 1895 as the Church of the Sacred Heart of Jesus
- More than 700 families
- Roman-Latin Rite, Diocese of Columbus
- Pastor: Fr. Jeffrey J. Coning
History of the Parish
Sacred Heart Parish traces its origin to the 27 Catholic families of New Philadelphia who, before 1895, walked roughly three miles to St. Joseph Church in Canal Dover for Mass. In 1894 they purchased the local German Reformed building and dedicated it as the Church of the Sacred Heart on June 9, 1895. A parochial school opened in 1908, and the present Romanesque church was built in 1927–1928. The parish has continued to grow and adapt, with stained-glass windows and a new rectory added in the 1940s, a parish hall in the 1960s, a copper roof in 1991, and a new Kegg pipe organ dedicated in 2012.
- 1894: Catholic families buy the German Reformed church for $3,000
- June 9, 1895: parish dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus
- September 1908: parochial school opens
- 1927–1928: present Romanesque church built for $96,108
- 1941–1945: stained-glass windows installed, rectory and school addition built
- 1966: Sacred Heart mosaic installed in sanctuary
- 1991: red tile roof replaced with copper
- 1993: Msgr. Schlegel arrives and launches organ fund
- 2009: Sacred Heart School (the 'Crusaders') closes
- 2012: Kegg pipe organ dedicated in the choir loft
Architecture & Sacred Art
The present church, designed in the Romanesque style, features rounded arches, smooth stone piers, and a stately square bell tower with steeple at the rear left. Interior highlights include fourteen stained-glass windows installed between 1941 and 1945, a large mosaic of the Sacred Heart of Jesus on the rear wall of the sanctuary, and a Rose Window above the main entrance that reproduces the rose window of Santa Maria Maggiore in Tuscanella, Italy. The choir loft houses a two-manual, 12-stop, 15-rank Kegg pipe organ built by Charles Kegg of Hartville, Ohio.
- Romanesque style with rounded arches
- Square campanile bell tower with steeple
- Rose Window replica from Santa Maria Maggiore, Tuscanella, Italy
- Sacred Heart mosaic (1966)
- Kegg pipe organ, 12 stops, 15 ranks (2012)
- Seats approximately 400
Parish Staff
The parish is led by a small team of clergy and lay staff who handle liturgy, music, faith formation, and parish business operations.
- Pastor: Fr. Jeff Coning
- Deacon: Dcn. Ronald E. Onslow
- Parish Staff: Wendy Puntenney
- Director of Music: Marita Tornabene
- Business Manager: Matt Fantin
Ministries and Organizations
The parish describes itself as 'a vibrant community of faith' with a wide range of parish activities and organizations that enable parishioners to connect and become involved in parish life. The ministries listed on the parish website include liturgical, devotional, fellowship, and service groups.
- Ministry Schedule (liturgical volunteer scheduling)
- Music Ministry
- Altar Servers
- Altar Society
- Christian Mothers
- LCBA
- Knights of Columbus
- Busy Hands, Warm Hearts
- Vacation Bible School (VBS) — campers and teen volunteers
Religious Education & Catholic Schools
Since the closing of Sacred Heart School in 2009, the former school building has been repurposed as the parish religious education center for children and adults. The parish also participates in the Tuscarawas Central Catholic (TCC) school system, which serves students from Dover, New Philadelphia, and the surrounding area.
- Parish Religious Education (children and adults) — held in the former Sacred Heart School building
- TCC Elementary School (Dover): Jessica DeBois, Principal — 330-343-9134 — tccesdover.org
- Immaculate Conception Elementary School: John Love, Principal — 740-922-3539
- TCC Junior and Senior High School: Jennifer Calvo, Principal — 330-343-3302 — tccsaints.com
Cemetery
The parish maintains a 'Cemetery Information' section on its website for Calvary Cemetery in New Philadelphia, where many Sacred Heart parishioners are interred, including those whose Christian burial Masses have been celebrated at the parish over the years.
- Calvary Cemetery, New Philadelphia, Ohio
- Cemetery Information page available on the parish website
Contact & Visit
Parishioners and visitors can reach the parish office by phone, email, or in person during office hours. The church is handicapped accessible from the Parish Center Lobby off Fair Avenue, where restrooms and refreshments are available. The parish also offers pastoral care for students at Kent State University at Tuscarawas.
- Address: 139 3rd St. NE, New Philadelphia, OH 44663
- Office Phone: 330-343-6976
- Fax: 330-343-1406
- Email: [email protected]
- Office Hours: Monday – Thursday, 9:00am – 4:00pm
- Handicapped accessible from Parish Center Lobby via Fair Avenue
- Pastoral care for Kent State University at Tuscarawas
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Msgr. George Schlegel1993 – present (per 2013 Catholic Times article)
Arrived in 1993 and started a parish organ fund that grew over nearly twenty years, eventually enabling the 2012 installation of the Kegg pipe organ.
- Fr. Jeffrey J. Coningcurrent pastor
Current pastor; parish describes itself as more than 700 families under his guidance; also provides pastoral care for Kent State University at Tuscarawas.