About Sacred Heart of Jesus · Hopedale, Massachusetts
Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish is a Roman Catholic parish of the Diocese of Worcester serving the small town of Hopedale, Massachusetts. The parish community worships at 187 Hopedale Street and is led by Father William C. (Fr. Bill) Konicki, who has served as pastor since 2001. With approximately 860 active families, Sacred Heart offers daily and weekend Mass in English, Saturday confessions, Monday evening adoration, sacramental preparation, faith formation, and outreach programs supporting local food pantries and shelters. The parish bills itself as 'a place to believe, belong, and become.'
- Established
- 1935
- Patron
- Sacred Heart of Jesus
- Rector
- Rev. William C. (Bill) Konicki
- Diocese
- Diocese of Worcester (originally under the Diocese of Springfield at founding)
Why belong here
Sacred Heart of Jesus is a warm, family-friendly parish of about 860 active households in the Diocese of Worcester, offering daily and weekend Mass, weekly Monday evening Eucharistic Adoration, Saturday confessions, and a robust sacramental-preparation and faith-formation program for children. With more than thirty active ministries — from Ministers of Care and hospital visits to Daily Bread Food Pantry support and Vacation Bible School — parishioners have many ways to put faith into action. The parish describes itself as 'a place to believe, belong, and become,' welcoming honest questions and encouraging new members to grow together in Christ.
Mass times at Sacred Heart of Jesus
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 3:00 PM – 3:45 PM
Adoration times
- Monday 7:00 PM – 8:00 PM
About the Parish
Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish is the Catholic parish serving the town of Hopedale, Massachusetts, within the Diocese of Worcester. The community describes itself as a fellowship of believers, made in God's image and called as disciples of Christ to share the Good News through learning, listening, praying and working together. With about 860 active families, Sacred Heart positions itself as 'a place to believe, belong, and become.'
- Motto: 'Welcoming All to Follow Jesus Christ'
- Tagline: 'A place to believe, belong, and become'
- Parish community of roughly 860 active families
- More than thirty active ministries and activities
History of Sacred Heart
Catholic life in Hopedale began in the early 1900s with Irish, French and Italian immigrants working at the Draper Corporation. For decades, Catholics traveled to St. Mary of the Assumption in Milford for Mass. Hopedale's first church and rectory were remodeled from former school buildings in 1935, and the parish was dedicated by Bishop Thomas O'Leary on November 15, 1935. The present larger church was built and dedicated in 1964, and the parish center followed in 1985. A major community-led renovation of both buildings was rededicated by Bishop Robert J. McManus in May 2019.
- 1935 — First Mass celebrated October 26 by founding pastor Fr. John H. Donahue
- November 15, 1935 — Parish dedicated by Bishop Thomas O'Leary of Springfield
- 1963-64 — Present church built; dedicated August 28, 1964 by Bishop Bernard J. Flanagan
- 1984 — Ground broken for new parish center
- April 27, 1985 — Bernard R. Reilley Parish Center dedicated by Bishop Timothy J. Harrington
- May 2019 — Renovated church and parish center rededicated by Bishop Robert J. McManus
Faith Formation & Sacramental Preparation
Sacred Heart runs a formal Faith Formation program for children that includes Teaching Masses, Kids Chapel, and Family Events. Sacramental preparation for First Reconciliation and First Eucharist is a separate, two-year parish journey in which children (typically second-graders and older) prepare together with their parents. First Reconciliation is received in the fall, followed by First Eucharist family-preparation sessions in January-March, with First Eucharist celebrated during the Easter season at Sunday Mass.
- Children must be at least in 2nd grade and have 1 year of formal faith formation
- Children must be baptized (in the Roman Catholic Church or another Christian denomination)
- First Reconciliation preparation in the fall
- First Eucharist celebrated during Easter season at Sunday Masses
Parish Ministries & Outreach
The parish runs more than thirty ministries, with a strong focus on bringing the Eucharist and presence of the community to those who cannot attend Mass. Outreach efforts center on local food insecurity and support for vulnerable neighbors in Hopedale, Milford, and surrounding towns.
- Ministers of Care (homebound visits)
- Hospital ministers
- Ministers to Draper Place (eldercare community)
- Videography ministry
- Daily Bread Food Pantry — baskets at back of church each Sunday; delivery on Mondays 6:00-8:00 PM
- Vacation Bible School
- Parish Leadership Summit
Parish Campus & Facilities
The parish campus at 187 Hopedale Street centers on the church built in 1963-64 and the adjacent Bernard R. Reilley Parish Center, which houses religious-education classrooms and social gathering space. Following the 2019 renovation, the parish also planned solar carports in the parking lot through a lease with NextGrid, along with a complete replacement of the church's nearly 60-year-old radiant heating system.
- Present church dedicated 1964
- Bernard R. Reilley Parish Center dedicated 1985
- Renovation completed and rededicated May 2019 by Bishop McManus
- Solar carports and parking-lot improvements planned with NextGrid
- Replacement heating distribution system in progress (~$150,000 project)
Contact & Visit
Parishioners and visitors can reach the parish office at 187 Hopedale Street, Hopedale, MA 01747. The phone line is (508) 473-1900, and emails to the pastor can be sent to [email protected]. Listed office hours include Friday 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM. The parish maintains a Facebook presence at facebook.com/sacredhearthopedale.org.
- Address: 187 Hopedale Street, Hopedale, MA 01747
- Phone: (508) 473-1900
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: sacredhearthopedale.org
- Facebook: facebook.com/sacredhearthopedale.org
- Office hours: Friday 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. John H. Donahue1935-1946
Founding pastor; celebrated first Mass on October 26, 1935
- Rev. Howard McCullough1946-1951
- Rev. Arthur Faron1951-1957
- Rev. Thomas J. Connellan1957-1968
Led 1960 fundraising drive that raised $150,000 for the new larger church dedicated in 1964
- Rev. Francis Pitroff1968-1977
- Rev. George Rueger1977-1981
- Rev. Bernard R. Reilley1981-1990
Planned and oversaw construction of the parish center later named in his honor; ground broken 1984, dedicated 1985
- Rev. Raymond Goodwin Jr.1990-2001
- Rev. William C. Konicki2001-Present
Current pastor; oversaw 2014-2019 renovation of church and parish center, rededicated by Bishop McManus May 2019