About Sacred Heart of Jesus · South Bend, Indiana
Sacred Heart of Jesus is a Roman Catholic parish in the rural Lakeville area on the southern edge of South Bend, Indiana, within the Diocese of Fort Wayne–South Bend. Founded in 1932 by a Holy Cross priest from the University of Notre Dame, it grew from a Depression-era mission into a tight-knit worshipping community served today by a pastor shared with neighboring St. Jude Parish. The parish is widely known for its welcoming, down-to-earth character, its famous fish fry dinners, and its on-site Mount Calvary Cemetery.
- Established
- 1932
- Patron
- Sacred Heart of Jesus
- Rector
- Fr. Mark Hellinger
- Diocese
- Diocese of Fort Wayne–South Bend
Why belong here
Sacred Heart of Jesus offers a small, welcoming rural community in which parishioners genuinely know one another and serve together. It combines daily and weekend Masses, Eucharistic Adoration, a respected Religious Education program for youth, ongoing adult-enrichment opportunities (Bible studies, book discussions, seasonal programs shared with St. Jude Parish), and active liturgical ministries — Choir, Lectors, Eucharistic Ministers, Sacristans, Altar Servers, and Ushers — all rooted in a parish that has worshipped on this Lakeville site since 1932 and maintains the consecrated Mount Calvary Cemetery on its grounds.
Mass times at Sacred Heart of Jesus
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Wednesdays 5:30 p.m.–6:30 p.m.
- Saturdays 4:00 p.m.–4:20 p.m.
- 1st Saturday after 8:00 a.m. Mass until at least 9:00 a.m. (or until the last confession is heard)
Adoration times
- Wednesday evenings after Mass, 5:30 p.m.–6:30 p.m.
- Friday mornings, 7:00 a.m.–8:00 a.m.
Parish History
Sacred Heart of Jesus was founded in 1932 in the Lakeville area by Father Peter Miner, C.S.C., a Holy Cross priest of the University of Notre Dame. The first Masses were celebrated on December 18, 1932, at the Pleasant View School on Dixie Highway. In 2017 Father John Delaney described the community to Today's Catholic as rural, down-to-earth, and tight-knit — a parish where members pray, work, and socialize together, and are known for funeral dinners and fish fry suppers. Mount Calvary Cemetery, consecrated on the parish grounds in 1959, is one of the few Catholic cemeteries in the area and now includes a columbarium.
- Founded December 18, 1932
- Founder: Father Peter Miner, C.S.C. (University of Notre Dame)
- First Mass location: Pleasant View School, Dixie Highway
- Featured in Today's Catholic, May 2, 2017
- Mount Calvary Cemetery consecrated 1959
Parish Staff
The parish is led by Pastor Fr. Mark Hellinger (who also serves St. Jude Parish), with Fr. Albert Owusu-Afriyie serving as Parochial Vicar. Lay staff include Mary Ann Padberg (Administrative Assistant), Lisa Delorenzo (Music Director), Emily Nufer (Business Manager), Heather Buison (Faith Formation), and Steve Miller (Maintenance). Many staff roles and email contacts are coordinated with St. Jude Parish.
- Pastor: Fr. Mark Hellinger — [email protected] — 574-291-0570
- Parochial Vicar: Fr. Albert Owusu-Afriyie — [email protected] — 574-291-3775
- Administrative Assistant: Mary Ann Padberg — [email protected] — 574-291-3775
- Music Director: Lisa Delorenzo — [email protected] — 574-291-3775
- Business Manager: Emily Nufer — [email protected] — 574-291-0570
- Faith Formation: Heather Buison — [email protected] — 574-291-0570
- Maintenance: Steve Miller
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Religious Education at Sacred Heart is run cooperatively with St. Jude Parish. Classes are offered for preschool through eighth grade, along with preparation classes for the Sacrament of Confirmation, all led by trained volunteer catechists. The program is designed to help students — and the wider family — grow in their faith. Registration forms are available in the Church Narthex.
- Preschool–8th grade Religious Education classes
- Confirmation preparation
- Coordinated with St. Jude Parish
- Volunteer catechists
Adult Enrichment
Sacred Heart offers multiple adult faith-enrichment opportunities intended to help parishioners form a Christian conscience and live as faithful disciples in daily life. Offerings include Bible studies, book discussions, prayer and spiritual reflection experiences, library resources, guest speakers, and presentations on contemporary Catholic topics. Additional opportunities are offered during the liturgical seasons in conjunction with St. Jude Parish.
- Bible studies
- Book discussions
- Prayer and spiritual reflection
- Library resources
- Guest speakers and topical presentations
- Seasonal programs with St. Jude Parish
Sacrament Preparation
Preparation for the Sacraments — including Baptism, First Communion, Confirmation, and Matrimony — may be undertaken individually or as a group, in coordination with the parish priests. The parish asks families to contact the office to begin sacramental preparation.
- Individual or group preparation
- Coordinated with the Parish Priests
Liturgical Ministries & Stewardship
Sacred Heart offers a full range of liturgical ministries so that parishioners can serve one another at Mass. The Music Ministry includes a Youth Choir, an Adult Choir, cantors and musicians. Other liturgical roles include Altar Servers (youth and adults), Eucharistic Ministers (assisting with distribution of the Precious Body and Blood of Christ and washing the sacred vessels), Sacristans (who prepare the sacred vessels, books, and altar), Lectors (who proclaim the Word of God), and Ushers (who greet, seat, ring the bell, take up the collection, hand out bulletins, and tidy the pews). Parish councils include a Finance Council and a Pastoral Council.
- Music Ministry — Youth and Adult Choirs, cantors, musicians
- Altar Servers
- Eucharistic Ministers
- Sacristans
- Lectors
- Ushers / Greeters
- Finance Council
- Pastoral Council
Parish Groups
The Sacred Heart of Jesus Altar and Rosary Society is a women's parish group open to all women of the parish, meeting on the first Monday of the month to support the spiritual and material needs of the parish community.
- Sacred Heart of Jesus Altar and Rosary Society (women's group)
- Meets first Monday of the month
Mount Calvary Cemetery & Columbarium
Mount Calvary Cemetery is one of the few truly Catholic cemeteries in the South Bend area. It was consecrated in 1959 on the grounds of Sacred Heart of Jesus Church near Lakeville, with easy access from old US 31, generous parking, and a peaceful country setting. The cemetery offers plots for casket and cremains burial, and a columbarium has been added with niche packages that include the opening and closing of the niche plus engraving of names and dates. Each niche accommodates two standard urns or plastic cremains receptacles (urns are not sold by Sacred Heart but are available at most funeral homes). For more information, the Business Manager at St. Jude can be reached at 574-291-0570.
- Consecrated 1959
- On parish grounds near Lakeville, IN
- Casket burial and cremains burial options
- Columbarium with niches for two urns each
- Easy access from old US 31; ample parking
- Inquiries: Business Manager at St. Jude — 574-291-0570
Visit & Contact
Sacred Heart of Jesus welcomes both long-time parishioners and visitors. The parish office can be reached at (574) 291-3775. The mailing address — used by both the parish and Mount Calvary Cemetery — is 63568 US 31 S, South Bend, IN 46614. Parish bulletins are posted online.
- Phone: (574) 291-3775
- Address: 63568 US 31 S, South Bend, IN 46614
- Website: http://sacredheartlakeville.org/
- Parish bulletins published online
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Peter Miner, C.S.C.1932
Holy Cross priest from the University of Notre Dame who founded the parish and celebrated the first Masses at Pleasant View School on December 18, 1932.
- Fr. John Delaney2017 (referenced)
Pastor of both St. Jude and Sacred Heart in 2017; quoted in Today's Catholic describing the parish's rural, tight-knit character.