About Sacred Heart Of Jesus · Rusk, Texas
Sacred Heart of Jesus is a Catholic parish in Rusk, Texas, in the Diocese of Tyler. Originally founded as a mission in 1906 and closed in 1945, it was re-established in 1995 and served as a mission of Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic Church in Jacksonville for 27 years before being elevated to parish status on June 24, 2022 — the feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus — with Father Jorge Dinguis installed as its first pastor. Today the parish serves a bilingual (English- and Spanish-speaking) community in Cherokee County, including inmates of the local prison and patients of Rusk State Hospital, with Mass celebrated at its 760 South Main Street church.
- Established
- 1906 (original mission); re-established October 22, 1995; elevated to parish June 24, 2022
- Patron
- Sacred Heart of Jesus
- Rector
- Rev. Jorge Dinguis (first pastor; installed June 24, 2022)
- Diocese
- Diocese of Tyler
Why belong here
Sacred Heart of Jesus is a small, close-knit bilingual parish where the Catholic community of Cherokee County gathers not only for Mass but for the parish potlucks, food sales, and fundraisers that hold it together. Worship is offered in both English and Spanish, with regular confession and adoration, and pastoral care extends to the inmates of the local prison and residents of Rusk State Hospital as well as to local families. Everything from faith formation to building maintenance is carried by parishioner volunteers — a humility and camaraderie that makes belonging here feel like joining a family, not just registering at a church.
Mass times at Sacred Heart Of Jesus
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 9:00–10:00 AM
- Saturday 3:00–3:45 PM
- Thursday 6:00–6:45 PM (before 7 PM Spanish Mass)
- Friday 8:00–9:00 AM (First Friday, after Mass)
- Sunday 10:45–11:15 AM (per Discover Mass)
Adoration times
- Thursday 6:00–7:00 PM (with confessions available)
- Friday 8:00 AM – 9:00 AM (First Friday, after Mass)
- Friday 12:45 AM – 6:00 PM (per america.mass-schedules.com)
History of Sacred Heart of Jesus
The Catholic story in Rusk, Texas goes back to 1906, when the original Sacred Heart of Jesus mission was founded. That first mission served East Texas Catholics for nearly four decades before it was closed in 1945, and for the next fifty years the Catholics of Rusk had to drive to Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic Church in Jacksonville for Mass. Everything changed in September 1995, when Bishop Edmond Carmody, the second bishop of the Diocese of Tyler, convened a meeting of local Catholics to discuss re-establishing the mission. On October 22, 1995, the first Mass of the re-established community was celebrated, and Father Sebastian Kallarackal, O.Carm., was named the first priest-in-charge. In 1997 the community moved into its own purpose-built church at 760 South Main Street. It served as a mission for 27 years before being formally elevated to parish status on June 24, 2022, the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, with Father Jorge Dinguis installed as first pastor.
- 1906 — original Sacred Heart mission founded in Rusk
- 1945 — original mission closed
- September 1995 — meeting with Bishop Edmond Carmody to discuss re-establishing the mission
- October 22, 1995 — first Mass of the re-established community (at First Christian Church of Rusk)
- 1997 — community moves into its own church at 760 South Main Street
- June 24, 2022 — mission elevated to parish on the feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus
- Began as a mission of Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic Church, Jacksonville
Parish Clergy and Leadership
Sacred Heart of Jesus has been served by a small succession of diocesan and religious priests. Father Sebastian Kallarackal, a Carmelite, was the first priest-in-charge of the re-established mission in 1995 and led the community through its first two years in shared space. Father Jorge Dinguis became the community's shepherd around 2017 and, on June 24, 2022, was installed by Bishop Joe Vásquez as the parish's first pastor when the mission was elevated to parish status.
- Father Sebastian Kallarackal, O.Carm. — first priest-in-charge, 1995–c.1997
- Father Jorge Dinguis — first pastor, installed June 24, 2022
- Deacon Ignacio Panuco — parish deacon; his wife Martha Panuco is a noted parish volunteer (tamales, fundraising)
- Rev. Juan Carlos Rivera — listed as Priest in Charge by JoinMyChurch (likely post-Dinguis assignment per aggregator date)
Bilingual Community and Parish Life
If you were to describe Sacred Heart of Jesus in one word, parishoners and the diocese say 'community.' The parish is fully bilingual, with both English- and Spanish-speaking families worshipping side by side. After Sunday Mass the community gathers for a potluck — Father Dinguis has called the shared meal 'an extension of the Eucharist.' The parish does not hire anyone; every ministry, from faith formation to building maintenance, cleaning, and painting, is carried by volunteer parishioners. The community is also known for its food sales and fundraisers, which are crucial to sustaining a small rural parish without full-time staff. Tamales made by Martha Panuco, wife of Deacon Ignacio Panuco, are a parish institution.
- Bilingual Mass schedule (English + Spanish every Sunday)
- Parish potlucks after Mass
- Food sales and fundraisers (tamales, baked goods, etc.)
- Volunteer-run maintenance and faith formation
- Hospitality and welcome ministry
Sacraments
Sacred Heart of Jesus prepares and celebrates the seven Catholic sacraments for parishioners and their families. Baptisms, First Communion, Confirmation, weddings, and anointing of the sick are arranged through the parish office by calling (903) 683-1862. Sacramental preparation is carried out in a family-and-parish setting consistent with the parish's small, volunteer-led character.
- Baptism
- First Eucharist / First Communion
- Confirmation
- Matrimony / Marriage preparation
- Anointing of the Sick
- Reconciliation (see confession schedule)
Ministries and Outreach
Because Sacred Heart is fully volunteer-run, every parish ministry is a community undertaking. The congregation takes on faith-formation teaching, sacramental preparation, building and grounds upkeep, pastoral care, and outreach. Two outreach priorities set the parish apart: ministry to inmates at the local Rusk state prison and pastoral care of residents at Rusk State Hospital.
- Faith formation and catechesis
- Sacramental preparation team
- Building / grounds maintenance volunteers
- Fundraising / food-sales committee (tamales, bake sales, etc.)
- Prison ministry (local Rusk correctional facility)
- Rusk State Hospital ministry
- Bilingual liturgy team
- Hospitality / meal ministry
Visiting Sacred Heart of Jesus
The church sits at 760 South Main Street in south Rusk, Texas, in Cherokee County. From US-69 south of Rusk, turn onto the 343 Loop West; the parish is at the corner of 343 and Main Street (FM 752). Parking is available on the parish grounds next to the church. Mass-goers and visitors are warmly welcomed at every liturgy, and the parish office can be reached at (903) 683-1862.
- Address: 760 South Main Street, Rusk, TX 75785
- Phone: (903) 683-1862
- Website: http://www.shrusk.org
- Diocese: Diocese of Tyler
- From US-69 S: take 343 Loop West; church at corner of 343 and Main (FM 752)
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father Sebastian Kallarackal, O.Carm.1995–c.1997
Carmelite priest; first priest-in-charge of the re-established Sacred Heart Mission. Led the community during the two years it shared the First Christian Church building in Rusk before moving into its own church in 1997.
- Rev. Jorge Dinguisc.2017–present
First pastor of Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish. Arrived about five years before elevation and was installed on June 24, 2022 (Feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus) when the mission was formally elevated to a parish. Has emphasized bilingual (English/Spanish) community, volunteer-led ministry, and outreach to inmates of the local prison and patients of Rusk State Hospital.