About Sacred Heart · Oakland, California
Sacred Heart Catholic Church is a historic parish in Oakland, California, established in 1876 and now located at 4025 Martin Luther King Jr. Way in the Longfellow neighborhood. It is the third-oldest Catholic parish in Oakland, originally carved out of the territory of St. Mary's to serve Catholics from West Oakland to the Bay of San Francisco. The parish has been served by the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate (OMI) since 1991, and is part of the Diocese of Oakland. The current church building — a modern octagonal structure — was completed in 1999 after the previous 88-year-old church was damaged beyond repair in the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake.
- Established
- 1876
- Patron
- Sacred Heart of Jesus
- Rector
- Jack Lau, OMI (Parochial Administrator)
- Diocese
- Diocese of Oakland
Why belong here
Sacred Heart is a small, historically-rooted Oakland parish where the community is welcomed with the warmth of a neighborhood church and the heritage of nearly 150 years of Catholic life. The parish is home to a strikingly intimate octagonal church — purpose-built to draw people around the altar — and to a multicultural community in which, according to the parish bulletin, more than 20% of the United Nations is represented. Daily and Sunday Mass are offered in English, with the 10:00 AM Sunday Mass also livestreamed via Zoom, and Confession is available every Saturday before the Vigil Mass.
Mass times at Sacred Heart
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 4:30 PM–4:55 PM (prior to Vigil Mass)
- Communal Celebration (Rite II) during Advent and Lent
- By appointment through the parish office
Adoration times
- Evening of Adoration/Contemplation held on June 12 (annual; see parish bulletin for upcoming dates)
Our Parish Story
Sacred Heart is one of the oldest Catholic parishes in Oakland, founded in 1876 when Archbishop Joseph Alemany divided the territory of St. Mary's Church to serve the growing Catholic population west of Lake Merritt. The parish's story stretches from the Montgomery parlor where the first Mass was celebrated, to a simple 1876 frame church on Fortieth Street, to a Romanesque successor damaged in the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake, to today's modern octagonal church. Through every chapter the parish has been sustained by lay families, successive priests, and — since 1991 — the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate.
- Founded January 13, 1876 by Archbishop Joseph Alemany
- First Mass January 16, 1876, in the home of Zach and Ellen Montgomery
- First church dedicated December 17, 1876 (architect Bryan J. Clinch, builder A.J. McKee)
- Rectory completed December 29, 1878 (builder Patrick J. Brophy)
- Parish school opened on Grove Street between 41st and 42nd Streets (built by the Montgomery Family)
- Entrusted to the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate in 1991
- New octagonal church dedicated April 25, 1999 by Bishop John Cummins
The 1989 Earthquake and the New Church
On October 17, 1989, the 6.9-magnitude Loma Prieta earthquake devastated the 88-year-old Romanesque church and forced the parish to relocate Masses, first to a parish hall and later to the cafeteria of nearby School of the Madeleine. The damaged structure was closed to the public and ultimately demolished in 1993, with Bishop John Cummins blessing the salvaged stones and distributing them as souvenirs. Ground was broken on a new church in spring 1998 and construction took about eight months, with the first Mass celebrated in February 1999.
- Earthquake struck October 17, 1989 at 5:04 PM
- Mass relocated to parish hall, then to School of the Madeleine cafeteria
- Old church demolished in 1993
- Construction began spring 1998; first Mass February 1999
- Dedicated April 25, 1999 by Bishop John Cummins
The Octagonal Church
The present church has a radical octagonal design intentionally chosen to emphasize 'gathering around the table' of the Eucharist. The eight-sided shape has long been used in Catholic baptismal fonts as a symbol of renewal, rebirth, resurrection, and transition. The points of the octagon echo the cross that once crowned the steeple of the predecessor church and now tops the new building. Salvaged furnishings and vessels from the old church are reused inside, and the original bell has been erected in a monument alongside the cornerstone of the previous church.
- Octagonal plan symbolizing renewal and rebirth
- Cross motif taken from the original steeple
- Salvaged furniture and liturgical vessels from the prior church
- Bell and cornerstone of the old church preserved in an outdoor monument
The Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate (OMI)
Since 1991 Sacred Heart has been ministered by the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate, a religious congregation of priests and brothers founded on January 25, 1816 by St. Eugene de Mazenod, a French priest from Aix-en-Provence. The congregation received papal recognition from Pope Leo XII on February 17, 1826, and its members traditionally live in community and serve in areas where people's needs are greatest, often among the poor. Father Jose Arong was the first Oblate pastor of Sacred Heart, accompanied by Father Don Bernard. The parish continues to be served by Oblate priests, including current Parochial Administrator Fr. Jack Lau, OMI.
- OMI congregation founded January 25, 1816 by St. Eugene de Mazenod
- Recognized by Pope Leo XII on February 17, 1826
- Sacred Heart placed in OMI hands in 1991
- Father Jose Arong, OMI — first Oblate pastor
- Father Don Bernard — assisted Father Arong
- Fr. Jack Lau, OMI — current Parochial Administrator
Faith Formation and Religious Education
Sacred Heart runs an ongoing Religious Education program that prepares children for the Sacraments of Baptism and First Communion, supported by Director of Religious Education Rosario, who walked the 2026 class through the year. The parish bulletin regularly highlights sacraments celebrated at Mass, including baptisms and first Communions of children from local families, and encourages new parishioners to register as members of the faith community.
- Director of Religious Education: Rosario
- Baptism and First Communion preparation
- Parishioner registration available on the website
Parish Life and Community
Sacred Heart describes itself as a beloved community with a notably international character; the parish notes that over 20% of the United Nations is represented among its members. A Multi-Lingual Prayer of the Faithful is offered at the 10:00 AM Sunday Mass, coordinated with Peggy Presley. The parish publishes a weekly bulletin sharing prayer intentions, anniversaries, birthdays, baptisms, anniversaries of priestly ordination, and notices for the sick and deceased.
- Multi-Lingual Prayer of the Faithful at 10:00 AM Sunday Mass (contact Peggy Presley)
- Weekly parish bulletin with Mass intentions and community news
- Online giving via the Vanco e-giving platform
Contact, Office, and Visit
The parish office is open Monday through Friday from 9:30 AM to 5:00 PM, and can be reached by phone at (510) 655-9209 or by email at [email protected]. Newcomers may register online, request facility rental, submit prayer requests, or arrange publication requests. The parish now maintains an Instagram presence at @SacredHeart_Oakland.
- Office: Mon–Fri 9:30 AM–5:00 PM
- Phone: (510) 655-9209
- Email: [email protected]
- New Parishioner Registration on website
- Facility Rental, Prayer Request, Publication Request forms online
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/SacredHeart_Oakland
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Lawrence Serda1876–
First rector; appointed from St. Mary's, Oakland. Built the first frame church, the rectory, and oversaw the founding school.
- Rev. Michael King1876
Rector of St. Mary's who celebrated the parish's first Mass on January 16, 1876 in the Montgomery home.
- Father Jose Arong, OMI1991–
First Oblate pastor after the parish was entrusted to the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate in 1991; accompanied by Father Don Bernard.
- Fr. Tom Hayes, OMI
Listed in prayer requests in June 2026 bulletin.
- Fr. Patrick Chiso, OMI
Listed in prayer requests in June 2026 bulletin.