About Sacred Heart of Jesus · Terre Haute, Indiana
Sacred Heart of Jesus Catholic Church is a small but active Roman Catholic parish serving the 12 Points neighborhood of northern Terre Haute, Indiana. Founded in 1924 by Father Aloysius B. Duffy and now sharing ministry with St. Mary's Village Church, the parish is part of the Terre Haute Deanery of the Archdiocese of Indianapolis and counts roughly 174 families. The parish marked its 100th anniversary in 2024 with a Mass celebrated by Archbishop Charles C. Thompson, a year-long 'Thousand Acts of Kindness' service project, and a 60-page parish history booklet researched by longtime parishioner Karen Goehl.
- Established
- 1924
- Patron
- Sacred Heart of Jesus
- Rector
- Very Rev. Joby Abraham Puthussery, VF (Priest Moderator); sacramental care provided by Rev. Darvin Winters, Jr. (Sacramental Minister)
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Indianapolis (Terre Haute Deanery; Parish #154)
Why belong here
Sacred Heart of Jesus is a close-knit Catholic family in Terre Haute's 12 Points neighborhood where everyone knows each other by name. The parish is small enough to welcome every member of every family — children are explicitly welcomed at every Mass — yet rooted in a century of tradition, with thriving faith formation for kids and adults (OCIA, Religious Education, 'The Chosen' small group), a parish council with real lay involvement, and a shared ministry partnership with St. Mary's Village Church that doubles the sense of community. It is the kind of parish where a 100-year-old commitment to prayer, Scripture, sacraments and service still shapes daily life.
Mass times at Sacred Heart of Jesus
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 4:00–4:20 pm (at Sacred Heart of Jesus)
Parish History & Centennial
Sacred Heart of Jesus was born in the 12 Points neighborhood of northern Terre Haute when Father Aloysius B. Duffy purchased the church property on December 7, 1921 and began celebrating Masses there. A combined church and school building was dedicated in July 1924 — the date the Archdiocese of Indianapolis uses as the parish's founding year. The current church replaced that original structure and was dedicated in June 1956, and it continues to serve the parish today. In 2008 the parish produced two of the archdiocese's first permanent deacons, and the parish also helped pioneer the 'pastoral life coordinator' model of parish leadership.
- Property purchased: December 7, 1921
- Founding pastor: Fr. Aloysius B. Duffy
- Original combined church/school dedicated: July 1924
- Current church dedicated: June 1956
- 100th anniversary Mass: June 8, 2024, with Archbishop Charles C. Thompson
- Centennial projects: 'Thousand Acts of Kindness' initiative and a 60-page parish history booklet by Karen Goehl
Clergy & Staff
Sacred Heart of Jesus is shepherded by a Priest Moderator, with sacramental care provided by a Sacramental Minister, and is administered day-to-day by a Parish Life Coordinator — a lay leadership model in which the parish has been an early pioneer. A permanent deacon assists with ministry, and a small staff and team of volunteers keeps parish life running.
- Priest Moderator: Very Rev. Joby Abraham Puthussery, VF
- Sacramental Minister: Rev. Darvin Winters, Jr.
- Parish Life Coordinator: Elizabeth Davis
- Permanent Deacon: Steven Gretencord
- Secretary: Connie Fitch
- Musical Accompanist: Susie Ling
- Coordinator of Religious Education (CRE): Jena Robertson
- Parish Council Chair: Terrell Butler
Faith Formation & Religious Education
The parish supports faith formation for every age and stage. Religious Education for children is coordinated by Jena Robertson, while adults can walk through the Catholic faith through the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (OCIA), the Catechism of the Catholic Church, daily readings from the USCCB, and a library of prayers and devotions. Parishioners are also invited into a weekly 'The Chosen' viewing and discussion group.
- OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults) — formerly RCIA
- Catechism of the Catholic Church study resources
- Daily Readings via USCCB
- Prayers & Devotions library
- 'The Chosen' small group — Tuesdays 4:00–5:30 pm, Season 4 through March 3, 2026
- Religious Education for children (CRE: Jena Robertson)
- FaithKids / Youth ministry
Spiritual Growth & Devotions
Beyond Sunday Mass, Sacred Heart of Jesus offers several ongoing opportunities for spiritual growth. A weekly Evening Devotional Series gathers parishioners in the Sacred Heart Community Room / Holy Family Center for practical tools for daily devotion, and the parish 'The Chosen' group combines fellowship, faith-sharing, and a popular multi-season series. The parish also provides homebound visits coordinated by Parish Life Coordinator Elizabeth Davis, bringing the Eucharist to those who cannot attend Mass.
- Evening Devotional Series — weekly sessions in the Sacred Heart Community Room / Holy Family Center
- 'The Chosen' — Tuesdays 4:00–5:30 pm
- Homebound visits and Communion to the sick (contact Elizabeth Davis)
Parish Life & Ministries
The parish's mission statement reads: 'Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish is a Catholic faith community reaching out to all people. As good stewards, we are inspired by God's word to educate, evangelize and grow spiritually, strengthening ourselves as a Christian community.' Parishioners put that mission into practice through long-standing ministries and lay leadership — including one of the parish's oldest organizations, the Altar Society, which Fr. Duffy formed in 1922 after a group of women volunteered to help build up the church.
- Altar Society (founded 1922)
- Parish Council (Chair: Terrell Butler)
- Faith formation team
- Youth ministry / FaithKids
- Music ministry (Susie Ling)
- Stewardship and outreach through the 'Thousand Acts of Kindness' centennial project
Sacraments
The parish celebrates the seven Catholic sacraments, with Reconciliation offered weekly on Saturdays before the Vigil Mass. Preparation for First Eucharist, Confirmation, and Marriage is coordinated through the parish office, and the parish welcomes adults seeking Baptism or full reception into the Catholic Church through OCIA.
- Reconciliation — Saturdays 4:00–4:20 pm
- Baptism (infant and adult via OCIA)
- First Eucharist and Confirmation preparation through Religious Education
- Marriage — contact the parish office
- Anointing of the Sick — through Fr. Darvin Winters
- Holy Orders / Vocations support
Shared Ministry with St. Mary's Village
Sacred Heart of Jesus shares its pastoral team and many ministries with St. Mary's Village Church (3827 N Arms Place, Saint Mary-of-the-Woods, IN 47876), creating a two-site Catholic community in the Terre Haute area. St. Mary's Village celebrates Sunday Mass at 9:00 am, complementing Sacred Heart's Saturday 4:30 pm and Sunday 10:30 am schedule, and many parish-wide events serve both worship sites.
- St. Mary's Village Sunday Mass: 9:00 am
- Address: 3827 N Arms Place, Saint Mary-of-the-Woods, IN 47876
- Shared staff: Fr. Darvin Winters (Sacramental Minister), Elizabeth Davis (PLC), Connie Fitch (Secretary), Susie Ling (Organist)
- Combined faith formation, OCIA, and faith groups across both sites
Connect & Stay in Touch
Newcomers and visitors are warmly invited to 'stop by and say hello.' The parish maintains private Facebook groups for both Sacred Heart of Jesus and St. Mary's Village — interested visitors are asked to register with the parish office first and then request to join. The weekly parish bulletin, online giving through OSV Hub, and faith-formation resources are all available through the parish website.
- Website: sacredheart-stmarysvillage.org
- Online giving via OSV Hub: osvhub.com/shjth
- Weekly bulletin posted on the parish website
- Private Facebook groups for both worship sites
- Office hours posted by Connie Fitch (Secretary)
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Aloysius B. Duffy1921–
Founding pastor who purchased the property on December 7, 1921 and oversaw the dedication of the combined church/school building in July 1924. Formed the parish Altar Society in 1922.