About Sacred Heart of Jesus · Indianapolis, Indiana
Sacred Heart of Jesus is a Roman Catholic parish in Indianapolis's historic Old South Side (Center Township, Marion County), founded in 1875 by Bishop Jacques-Maurice de Saint Palais and entrusted from the start to Franciscan (OFM) friars who had fled Germany's Kulturkampf. The parish grew from 65 German-speaking families to more than 650 by 1900, and the soaring Late Gothic Revival church with its twin 165-foot steeples still dominates the near-southside skyline. Today it remains an active Franciscan parish of roughly 373 families, celebrated its 150th anniversary in September 2025, and continues to draw longtime members and newcomers with its sacred music, Eucharistic adoration, RCIA process, and neighborhood outreach.
- Established
- 1875
- Patron
- Sacred Heart of Jesus
- Rector
- Rev. Ducanh "Duc" Pham, OFM
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Indianapolis (Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Indianapolis)
Why belong here
Sacred Heart is a faithful Franciscan parish with deep roots and a forward-looking mission. Sunday Mass is offered with live streaming, accompanied by Eucharistic adoration and recitation of the rosary, and weekday devotions round out the liturgical life. The parish runs an active OCIA (formerly RCIA) process for adults seeking baptism, Eucharist, Confirmation, or marriage preparation, welcomes children to ongoing faith formation, and gives parishioners real leadership roles through commissions (Franciscan Values & Social Concern, Stewardship, Spiritual Life, Formation) and councils (Finance, Pastoral). With an unusually large and ornate 1891 Gothic church in a regentrifying Old South Side neighborhood, Sacred Heart is both a beautiful place to pray and a visible witness of Catholic social concern in Indianapolis.
Mass times at Sacred Heart of Jesus
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday: 4:00 PM – 4:30 PM
- Sunday: 8:00 AM – 8:30 AM
- Or by appointment (contact Fr. Tim DeCrane)
Adoration times
- Saturday: 4:00 PM – 4:30 PM (with Rosary and Benediction)
- Sunday: 8:00 AM – 8:30 AM (Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament)
Brief History of Sacred Heart Parish
Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish was founded in 1875 by Bishop Jacques-Maurice de Saint Palais to serve the German-Catholic immigrant community on Indianapolis's near southside, and from the start it was entrusted to Franciscan friars of what would become the Province of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus. The parish's history page, written and updated by the parish (most recently in 2020), traces the community from 65 founding families through the construction of the monastery, church, and school designed by Brother Adrian Wewer, OFM, to the present-day regentrification of the old neighborhood.
- Founded 1875 by Bishop Jacques-Maurice de Saint Palais; friars arrived July 1875 from the Holy Cross Province (Saxony, Germany).
- 65 families at founding; 350 German families by 1892; 650 families by 1900.
- Motherhouse in Teutopolis, IL; in 1879 the commissariat became the Province of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, moving provincial offices to St. Louis in 1888.
- Brother Adrian Wewer, OFM designed and supervised the entire complex.
- Solemn consecration October 4, 1891 (feast of St. Francis); mortgage burned 1895 under Fr. Bernardine Weis, OFM.
- Side altars and main altar added 1898–1902; organ and steam heat installed 1899.
- 2001 electrical fire destroyed the main altar; 18-month insurance-funded restoration completed.
Architecture and the 1891 Gothic Revival Church
The Sacred Heart complex occupies the entire northwest block of Union and Palmer Streets and was built in three sequential sections designed and supervised by Brother Adrian Wewer, OFM. The Late Gothic Revival church, with twin steeples reportedly reaching 165 feet, remains the dominant landmark of the Indianapolis near southside. Craftsmen from the German old-world tradition filled the interior with stained-glass windows, hand-painted ceilings, and wood-carved altars.
- Monastery phase: cornerstone August 1875, finished by Christmas 1875.
- Transept: cornerstone 1883, completed 1884.
- Nave: completed 1885.
- Twin front towers and bells: 1890–91; bells blessed on October 4, 1891.
- Side altars and larger main altar: 1898–1902.
- After 2001 fire: main altar rebuilt, ceiling repainted, pews refinished, AC and bathroom added.
Parish Leadership and Staff
Sacred Heart is led by Franciscan friars of the Province of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus. The current pastor, Rev. Ducanh "Duc" Pham, OFM, has served the parish since August 2019; the parish has also announced Rev. Timothy DeCrane as incoming pastor in July 2026. Several OFM friars reside in the friary next to the church and assist with ministries in English, Spanish, and Vietnamese.
- Rev. Ducanh (Duc) Pham, OFM — Pastor, since 2019; musician and speaker of Vietnamese, English, and Spanish.
- Rev. Jesus Aguirre-Garza, OFM — Priest in Residence.
- Rev. Rogelio Martinez-Ruteaga, OFM — Priest in Residence.
- Bro. Kevin Lenihan, OFM — Brother in Residence.
- Deacon Paul Vonderwell.
- Joe Miller — Liturgical Music Director/Coordinator.
- Bibiana Romero-Blythe — Assistant Business Manager.
- Tanya Hoover — Receptionist (registrations, weddings, bulletin, sacramental records, funerals).
- Clarence Golden — Finance Council Chair (since May 2022).
- Agresta, Storms, & O'Leary — parish accountants.
Sacramental and Formational Programs
Through its Formation ministry the parish welcomes adults seeking baptism, Eucharist, Confirmation, or full communion with the Catholic Church via OCIA (the post-Vatican II name for RCIA), as well as children preparing for the sacraments of initiation. Marriage preparation is offered as a parish ministry, and the pastor is available for Anointing of the Sick and individual confession by appointment.
- OCIA — Order of Christian Initiation for Adults (formerly RCIA).
- Children's Faith Formation — Scripture sharing at the Sunday liturgy.
- Sacramental preparation for Baptism, First Eucharist, Reconciliation, and Confirmation.
- Marriage preparation and wedding coordination.
- Anointing of the Sick and individual confession — by appointment.
Councils, Commissions, and Committees
Sacred Heart runs its lay leadership structure around four commissions, two councils, and several working committees, giving parishioners a place to share their gifts while shaping the parish's mission. The Finance Council, chaired by Clarence Golden since May 2022, assists the pastor in caring for the parish's finances.
- Commissions: Franciscan Values and Social Concern, Stewardship, Spiritual Life, Formation.
- Councils: Finance Council, Pastoral Council.
- Committees: Liturgy, Capital Campaign, Restoration.
- Volunteer opportunities in ministries, formation, and neighborhood outreach.
Music and Liturgical Arts
Sacred Heart places strong emphasis on the beauty of its liturgy, drawing on a long tradition of Franciscan musical worship and the building's grand 1899 organ. The Music Director/Coordinator works with the pastor to support the choirs and cantors who serve the Sunday and Saturday vigil Masses.
- Liturgical Music Director/Coordinator: Joe Miller ([email protected]).
- Active liturgical music program at Sunday Mass and special liturgies.
- Live-streamed liturgies feature the parish's musical worship via the parish Facebook page.
Neighborhood, Outreach, and the 150th Anniversary
Sacred Heart has long been described as 'a stable and beautiful influence on the Old South Side of Indianapolis for over 140 years.' After decades of decline, the surrounding neighborhood has been regentrifying, and the parish sees itself as both a sacred space and a center for evangelization and social activism. In September 2025 the parish celebrated its 150th anniversary with special Masses, and the Indiana General Assembly adopted House Resolution 65 commemorating the milestone.
- Old South Side / Center Township (Marion County) neighborhood presence for more than 140 years.
- Commissions of Franciscan Values and Social Concern drive local outreach.
- Hosts weddings, funerals, hall rentals, workshops, and community events.
- Sep 2025 150th-anniversary celebrations; new families continue joining the parish.
- Indiana House Resolution 65 (2025) honored the parish's 150 years of faith and service.
Visit, Register, and Contact the Parish
Parishioners and visitors are welcomed to join Sacred Heart for any liturgy. The parish office, run by Receptionist Tanya Hoover, handles registrations, weddings, hall rentals, sacramental records, church tours, facility scheduling, and bulletin submissions. Office hours are Monday through Thursday, 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM.
- Parish Office phone: (317) 638-5551.
- General email: [email protected].
- Pastor email: [email protected] (Fr. Tim DeCrane, incoming July 2026).
- Receptionist: Tanya Hoover — [email protected].
- Business Manager: [email protected] (Bibiana Romero-Blythe).
- Liturgical Music: [email protected] (Joe Miller).
- Office hours: Monday–Thursday, 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM.
- Address: 1530 Union Street, Indianapolis, IN 46225-1697.
- Livestreams on Facebook at facebook.com/SacredHeartIndyParish.
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father Bernardine Weis, OFM
Pastor who led the mortgage-burning and solemn Consecration of the Church in 1895.
- Rev. Ducanh (Duc) Pham, OFM2019–2025
Assigned August 2019; completed five years of ministry at Sacred Heart in August 2024.
- Rev. Timothy (Tim) DeCrane2026–
Announced as incoming pastor and welcomed to the parish in July 2026.