About Sacred Heart of Jesus · Birmingham, Alabama
Sacred Heart of Jesus was a Roman Catholic mission church in the Collegeville neighborhood of North Birmingham, Alabama, located at 3401 27th Court North. Founded in the mid-1950s through the North Alabama Mission Band and dedicated on June 8, 1958, it served as a Black Catholic congregation sharing pastoral leadership with Our Lady Queen of the Universe Catholic Church. For most of its history it was a small, predominantly African-American mission with Sunday and weekday Mass celebrated in its modest Collegeville sanctuary; in March 2025 the parish closed and its members were folded into Our Lady Queen of the Universe, with the building sold to 1st Hope Worship Center.
- Established
- 1955
- Patron
- Sacred Heart of Jesus
- Rector
- Very Rev. Richard E. Donohoe, S.T.L. (Pastor of Our Lady Queen of the Universe and Sacred Heart of Jesus mission; parish closed March 2025)
- Diocese
- Diocese of Birmingham (in Alabama)
Why belong here
Sacred Heart of Jesus was a small, mission-style Catholic community in the Collegeville neighborhood of North Birmingham, part of the historic Black Catholic apostolate that Archbishop Toolen and the North Alabama Mission Band built in the 1950s. Members cherished its intimacy — a Sunday morning Mass in a familiar, walkable sanctuary — and its deep ties to Our Lady Queen of the Universe, where most sacraments, faith formation and parish life were coordinated under shared pastors like Fathers Vernon Huguley and Richard Donohoe. Following the March 2025 closure of the mission, former Sacred Heart parishioners are welcomed into Our Lady Queen of the Universe at 961 Center Street North, where the Catholic community, Cursillo movement, and Black Catholic heritage of these mission churches continues.
Mass times at Sacred Heart of Jesus
Weekly Mass schedule
Founding and the North Alabama Mission Band
Sacred Heart of Jesus was the fruit of the North Alabama Mission Band, founded in 1938 by Father Frank Giri and Sister Mary Alice Vose of the (then) Diocese of Mobile, and joined in 1940 by Father Joseph Durick. The Band carried Catholic doctrine into the Graymont, Collegeville and Smithfield neighborhoods of North Birmingham, anticipating the growth that would lead Archbishop Thomas J. Toolen to purchase land in Smithfield in 1941 for what became Our Lady Queen of the Universe. Father Edward L. Foster, an Irish-born street preacher from New York, was appointed to organize the Smithfield apostolate with Sister Mary Alice Vose, Brother Larry Johnson, Fathers Michael Quealy and Robert Campbell and others residing at St. Margaret's Parish.
- North Alabama Mission Band founded 1938 by Fr. Frank Giri and Sr. Mary Alice Vose
- Fr. Joseph Durick joined 1940
- Archbishop Toolen purchased Smithfield property 1941
- Father Foster appointed to organize the Smithfield/Collegeville apostolate
Establishment of Sacred Heart in Collegeville
When Mission Band preachers and Trinitarian Sisters canvassed Collegeville, they found only two resident Catholic families, but street services drew roughly 200 people. Six people took instruction and by December 1955 Mass was being celebrated in a converted store owned by Mrs. Beatrice Hardaman; in rainy weather the small congregation reassembled at the home of Ruth Zimmerman. The first group of converts — Mrs. Zimmerman and her children James and Inez, Rickey Hinley Martin, and Barber Springer Sims — were baptized before Christmas 1956. In May 1957 Archbishop Toolen named Father Foster director of the Mission Band, and his mother Mrs. Alice Foster pledged $1,000 toward the Sacred Heart property if parishioners would match it. The money was raised and the land was purchased.
- Two Catholic families in Collegeville at the start
- Mass in Mrs. Beatrice Hardaman's store by December 1955
- First Christmas 1956 baptisms: Zimmerman family, Rickey Hinley Martin, Barber Springer Sims
- Mrs. Alice Foster's $1,000 matching challenge for land purchase
Building and Dedication (1957–1958)
Sacred Heart of Jesus Catholic Church was erected in 1957 at the corner of 34th Street and 27th Court North in Collegeville, and was formally dedicated by Archbishop Toolen on June 8, 1958. Within three years it had 18 Catholic families comprising roughly 65 Catholics. Sister Mary Alice Vose and Sister Joan Thomas continued catechesis, while the first parish choir was already in place.
- Building erected 1957
- Dedicated June 8, 1958 by Archbishop Toolen
- 18 Catholic families / ~65 Catholics within three years
- First parish choir led by Sister Mary Alice Vose
Civil Rights Era and Father Foster's Pastorate
Father Edward L. Foster continued as pastor of both Our Lady Queen of the Universe and the Sacred Heart mission, working for twelve years in parish and community life. He was well known for Sunday afternoon visits to those who missed Mass and for instilling pride in Black heritage; he also integrated Birmingham's Catholic schools and helped parishioners find jobs and adopt children. In the 1960s he and his people marched in the Civil Rights demonstrations that defined the city. Our Lady Queen of the Universe — near the homes of Attorney Arthur Shores and activist Angela Davis, both of which had been bombed — was one of seven Birmingham locations targeted by KKK dynamite in a single weekend; the device was discovered before it detonated.
- Father Foster served c. 12 years
- Integrated Catholic schools and supported adoption/job placement
- Marched in Birmingham Civil Rights demonstrations
- KKK bombing attempt on Our Lady Queen of the Universe (early 1960s), device discovered in time
Parish Succession and the Huguley Years (1993–2008)
Father Vernon Huguley was ordained a priest of the Diocese of Birmingham in 1993 and assumed the joint pastorate of Our Lady Queen of the Universe and Sacred Heart of Jesus — the predominantly Black congregation he has been described as 'pastor, priest, friend and faithful leader' to ever since. He had previously served summer internships at Holy Spirit, Holy Family, St. Francis Xavier, Our Lady Queen of the Universe and Sacred Heart. He served as Spiritual Moderator of the Birmingham Cursillo Movement, on the Diocese of Birmingham Priest Council, and as a member of the National Black Catholic Clergy Caucus. His favorite verse is Psalm 139: 'I give You thanks, O God, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.'
- Ordained 1993, Diocese of Birmingham
- Prior summer internships at Holy Spirit, Holy Family, St. Francis Xavier, Our Lady Queen of the Universe and Sacred Heart
- Spiritual Moderator, Cursillo Movement in Birmingham
- Diocese of Birmingham Priest Council; National Black Catholic Clergy Caucus
Liturgy, Schedule and Sacraments
As a mission church, Sacred Heart kept a compact schedule focused on Sunday Mass, with weekday and Holy Day Masses celebrated as listed by the Diocese of Birmingham and third-party Mass-time aggregators. The full sacramental register, parish office, and faith formation were administered through Our Lady Queen of the Universe. Visitors today (post-closure) are directed to Our Lady Queen of the Universe at 961 Center Street North for ongoing sacramental life.
- Sunday Mass: 9:00 AM
- Wednesday Mass: 9:00 AM
- Tuesday Mass: 9:00 AM (some listings)
- Holy Day Mass: 12:00 PM (some listings)
- Parish office: Our Lady Queen of the Universe, 961 Center St. N., Birmingham, AL 35204
Ministries and Community Life
Mission life at Sacred Heart revolved around catechesis, music and youth ministry. Sister Mary Alice Vose and Sister Joan Thomas made house-to-house visits and taught Catechism to the children; Sister Mary Alice also founded the first choir. Salesian Father Guida D'Amore organized the community's youth into a Catholic Youth Organization with sports programming. At the sister parish Our Lady Queen of the Universe, the Ladies Sodality and Holy Name Society provided lay leadership, and the Cursillo Movement was an important spiritual formation stream — Fr. Vernon Huguley later served as its Spiritual Moderator in Birmingham.
- Catechism (Sisters Mary Alice Vose and Joan Thomas)
- First parish choir (Sister Mary Alice Vose)
- Catholic Youth Organization / sports (Fr. Guida D'Amore, Salesian)
- Cursillo Movement (Fr. Vernon Huguley, Spiritual Moderator)
- Ladies Sodality and Holy Name Society at Our Lady Queen of the Universe
Diocese, Neighborhood and Closure
Sacred Heart of Jesus fell under the Diocese of Birmingham (created December 1969 from the northern portion of the former Diocese of Mobile, under Bishop Joseph Vath). It was located in Collegeville, a historically Black neighborhood in North Birmingham that has worked since the 1970s to overcome disinvestment, drugs and crime. In March 2025 the Diocese of Birmingham closed Sacred Heart as a Catholic parish, inviting its members into Our Lady Queen of the Universe. The former Sacred Heart building at 3401 27th Court North was sold in 2025 to 1st Hope Worship Center.
- Diocese of Birmingham (est. December 1969)
- Located in Collegeville, North Birmingham
- Closed March 2025; parishioners welcomed into Our Lady Queen of the Universe
- Building sold 2025 to 1st Hope Worship Center
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father Edward L. Fostermid-1950s–c.1970
Director of the North Alabama Mission Band under Archbishop Toolen; oversaw the founding, building (1957) and dedication (June 8, 1958) of Sacred Heart of Jesus; pastor of Our Lady Queen of the Universe; prominent Civil Rights marcher in 1960s Birmingham.
- Father Vernon Huguley1993–2008
Ordained a priest of the Diocese of Birmingham in 1993; pastor of Our Lady Queen of the Universe and Sacred Heart of Jesus; Spiritual Moderator for the Cursillo Movement in Birmingham; member of the National Black Catholic Clergy Caucus; served on the Diocese of Birmingham Priest Council.
- Very Rev. Richard E. Donohoe, S.T.L.May 2008–March 2025
Pastor of Our Lady Queen of the Universe and Sacred Heart of Jesus; led Sacred Heart until its closure as a Catholic mission in March 2025.