About Sacred Heart Of Jesus · Breckenridge, Texas
Sacred Heart of Jesus Catholic Church is a bilingual (English/Spanish) parish in Breckenridge, Texas, belonging to the Diocese of Fort Worth. Founded in 1920 to serve the Catholic workers of the North Texas oil boom, the parish has worshipped on the same South Miller Street property for more than a century. Today it is pastored by a Pallottine priest of the Society of Catholic Apostolate (SAC), Rev. Christopher Colombus, and operates as a small but active parish of roughly weekend Masses in English and Spanish, a CCD/religious education program, multiple lay ministries, and a sister mission, Jesus of Nazareth, in nearby Albany.
- Established
- 1920
- Patron
- Sacred Heart of Jesus
- Rector
- Rev. Christopher Colombus, SAC
- Diocese
- Diocese of Fort Worth
Why belong here
Sacred Heart of Jesus welcomes English- and Spanish-speaking Catholics across Stephens County to grow as disciples "in a community of love in the Heart of Jesus like Mary." Members serve one another through a wide range of lay ministries — Knights of Columbus, Guadalupana, Guardian Ministry, English and Spanish choirs, Maranatha, youth group, altar servers, lectors, Eucharistic ministers, and St. Vincent de Paul-style outreach — and the parish also operates the regional CCD program for children and youth in Breckenridge and the sister mission at Albany. Whether you're a lifelong Catholic returning to the sacraments, an oil-field family looking for bilingual Mass, or a newcomer, the parish offers weekend Masses in both languages, regular First Friday Eucharistic Adoration, and a parish life centered on Mary and the Sacred Heart.
Mass times at Sacred Heart Of Jesus
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday — 4:30 PM (half hour before the 5:00 PM Vigil Mass) at Breckenridge, or by appointment
- Sunday — 8:00 AM (before 8:30 AM Mass) at the Albany mission, or by appointment
Adoration times
- First Friday of the month — 5:30 PM (Eucharistic Adoration and First Friday Devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus; 'Primera Devoción del viernes al Sagrado Corazón de Jesús')
History of Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish
Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish was founded in 1920 to serve Catholic oil-field workers in booming Breckenridge, Texas. Bishop Joseph P. Lynch of Dallas sent Fr. Rudolph A. Gerken to celebrate the first Masses; Fr. Gerken purchased the church lot in 1920 ($4,500), oversaw construction of the first church (completed for $10,000 plus $2,500 in furnishings), and saw Bishop Lynch dedicate it on June 3, 1923. A rectory was added in 1925, completed and furnished by the parish Altar Society. Fr. Gerken later became the first Bishop of Amarillo (1927) and Archbishop of Santa Fe (1933).
- First Masses celebrated in a warehouse and the Breckenridge courthouse before the church was built
- Lot for the church purchased in 1920 for $4,500
- Original church dedicated by Bishop Lynch on June 3, 1923
- Rectory completed in 1925 by the Altar Society
Buildings & Campus
The current brick church building was completed in October 1961. After the new church was occupied, the 1923 church was converted into a parish hall and served the community for 20 years until a new parish hall was constructed in 1989. The parish offices, weekday and weekend Masses, and faith-formation gatherings are centered at 208 South Miller Street, Breckenridge.
- 1961 — present brick church completed
- 1923 church repurposed as the parish hall
- 1989 — new parish hall constructed
First Friday Devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus
On the First Friday of each month the parish gathers at 5:30 PM for Eucharistic Adoration and the First Friday Devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus ('Primera Devoción del viernes al Sagrado Corazón de Jesús'). The devotion is offered bilingually and reflects the parish's patron and identity.
- First Friday — 5:30 PM Eucharistic Adoration & Devotion to the Sacred Heart
Sacraments
The parish celebrates all seven Catholic sacraments. Baptism is celebrated only at weekend Masses and requires parents to attend quarterly preparation classes (April, August, December); appointments are scheduled three months in advance. Weddings require 6–9 months of preparation, Quinceañeras require six months and preparation classes, and Anointing of the Sick is available by appointment or in emergencies (254-559-2860 or 940-328-4215). The parish also arranges House Blessings and Mass Intentions on request.
- Baptism (English & Spanish classes quarterly)
- Penance — Saturday 4:30 PM or by appointment
- First Communion (CCD preparation)
- Confirmation (Junior High / High School CCD)
- Marriage — 6 to 9 months preparation
- Holy Orders — vocational discernment
- Anointing of the Sick — by appointment or emergency
Faith Formation & Religious Education (CCD)
The parish runs a CCD program from September to May for children and youth, with classes on Sundays (11:30 AM – 12:30 PM) for 1st through 6th graders and on Wednesdays (6:00 – 7:00 PM) for Junior High and High School students. Adults seeking the sacraments are served through RCIA (Rites of Christian Initiation for Adults) and RCIC (for children). A Spanish-language Bible study ('Estudio Bíblica en Español') is coordinated by Antonia Arellano.
- CCD — Sundays 11:30 AM–12:30 PM (Grades 1–6)
- CCD — Wednesdays 6:00–7:00 PM (Junior High & High School)
- RCIA — call parish office (254-559-2860) for class schedules
- RCIC — Children's Christian Initiation
- Bible Study in Spanish (Estudio Bíblica en Español) — Antonia Arellano, 254-212-9382
Parish Ministries & Lay Service
The parish offers a wide array of lay ministries reflecting its Pallottine charism of shared mission. Liturgical roles include Altar Servers, Lectors, Ministers of the Cup, Sacristans, Ushers, and Acolytes. Community and devotional groups include the Knights of Columbus, Guadalupana, Guardian Ministry, Youth Group, the Maranatha group, and English and Spanish choirs. Pastoral-care ministries include Communion for the Sick and Religious Education Teachers.
- Liturgical: Altar Servers, Lectors, Ministers of the Cup, Sacristan, Ushers, Acolytes
- Community: Knights of Columbus, Guadalupana, Guardian Ministry, Youth Group, Maranatha
- Music: English Choir, Spanish Choir
- Pastoral Care: Communion for the Sick, Religious Education Teachers
Committees, Boards & Parish Council
Parishioners serve on a Parish Council (with President, Vice President, and Secretary officers), the Finance Committee, and the many sacrament-preparation committees for Marriage, Baptism (English and Spanish), RCIA, RCIC, Reconciliation, First Communion, and Confirmation. A Director of Religious Education (Janie Saucedo) coordinates faith formation across the parish.
- Parish Council — President Arturo Trejo; Vice President; Secretary
- Finance Committee — Chair Victor Martinez; Secretary Sandra Medina
- Sacrament preparation committees — Marriage, Baptism (Eng/Spa), RCIA, RCIC, Reconciliation, First Communion, Confirmation
- Director of Religious Education — Janie Saucedo
Staff, Clergy & Location
The parish is pastored by Rev. Christopher Colombus, SAC, of the Society of Catholic Apostolate (Pallottines). The parish staff includes an Administrative Assistant (Ana Diaz), Director of Hispanic Ministry (Antonia Arellano), Director of Religious Education (Janie Saucedo), Assistant DRE (Robert Alvarez), Facilities Maintenance (Ana Palacios), Custodian (Pat Machen), and Bookkeeper (Christy Dang, per the Diocese of Fort Worth). The parish office is at 208 South Miller Street, Breckenridge, TX 76424; phone 254-559-2860; fax 254-559-5289.
- Pastor — Rev. Christopher Colombus, SAC
- Administrative Assistant — Ana Diaz
- Director of Hispanic Ministry — Antonia Arellano
- Director of Religious Education (DRE) — Janie Saucedo
- Assistant DRE — Robert Alvarez
- Facilities Maintenance — Ana Palacios
- Custodian — Pat Machen
- Bookkeeper — Christy Dang
- Office: 208 South Miller Street, Breckenridge, TX 76424 — 254-559-2860
Mission Statement & Identity
The parish's mission statement reads: 'Our mission is to grow up in a community of love in the Heart of Jesus like Mary, sharing our time, talents and treasures, to live as true disciples of God our Father.' The 100-year-anniversary logo, 'Community of Love: One Heart, One Body, In Christ,' reflects the parish's Marian and Eucharistic identity. As a Pallottine (Society of Catholic Apostolate) parish, it embraces a participatory Church model in which laity and clergy share responsibility for the parish's mission.
- Mission: 'Community of love in the Heart of Jesus like Mary…'
- Centennial motto: 'Community of Love: One Heart, One Body, In Christ'
- Pastors belong to the Society of Catholic Apostolate (Pallottines, founded by St. Vincent Pallotti)
Jesus of Nazareth — Albany Mission
In addition to the main parish in Breckenridge, Sacred Heart of Jesus also shepherds the mission church of Jesus of Nazareth in nearby Albany. The Albany mission celebrates a bilingual Sunday Mass at 8:30 AM, with confessions at 8:00 AM before Mass, and a weekday Mass on the 3rd Thursday of the month at 6:00 PM.
- Sunday — 8:30 AM Bilingual Mass
- Sunday — 8:00 AM Confessions before Mass (or by appointment)
- 3rd Thursday of the month — 6:00 PM Mass
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Rudolph A. Gerkenc. 1920–1923 (founding pastor)
Sent by Bishop Joseph P. Lynch of Dallas; celebrated the first Masses and oversaw construction of the original church dedicated June 3, 1923. Later Bishop of Amarillo (1927) and Archbishop of Santa Fe (1933).
- Rev. Prakash Dias, SACaround 2020 (centennial)
Pallottine (SAC) pastor serving Sacred Heart of Jesus and Jesus of Nazareth in Albany at the parish's 100-year milestone.
- Rev. Christopher Colombus, SACpresent
Current pastor; member of the Society of Catholic Apostolate (Pallottines).