About Sacred Heart of Jesus · Troy, Vermont
Sacred Heart of Jesus is a Roman Catholic church located at 130 South Pleasant Street in Troy, Vermont. Established in 1940, it is one of three churches that together make up St. André Bessette Parish, which also includes St. Vincent de Paul Church in North Troy and St. Ignatius of Loyola Church in Lowell. Since July 1, 2021, Sacred Heart of Jesus in Troy has been the principal church of the parish for the celebration of the Sunday Mass obligation (Saturday vigil at 4:00 PM and Sunday at 9:00 AM). The parish belongs to the Roman Catholic Diocese of Burlington.
- Established
- 1940
- Patron
- Sacred Heart of Jesus
- Rector
- Fr. Rijo Kochupurackal, S.D.V. (Administrator)
- Diocese
- Roman Catholic Diocese of Burlington
Why belong here
Sacred Heart of Jesus in Troy is the heart of a family-oriented Catholic community in Vermont's Northeast Kingdom that still gathers around traditional devotions to the Sacred Heart, including a monthly day of Eucharistic Adoration on the third Friday and a special Mass with Benediction on the feast. It is the home church for family faith formation and religious education for the whole parish, and its annual Family Retreat Day has grown well beyond the local area, drawing Catholics from other states. As the central worship site of St. André Bessette Parish, it offers daily Mass most days of the week and a Saturday vigil, making it easy to build the rhythm of weekly Mass and sacramental life around the parish.
Mass times at Sacred Heart of Jesus
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 3:30 PM – 4:00 PM (at Sacred Heart of Jesus Church, prior to vigil Mass)
- First Friday after the morning Mass
- By appointment — call the office to make arrangements
Adoration times
- Day of Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament on the third Friday of each month (devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus)
About St. André Bessette Parish
St. André Bessette Parish unites three historic Catholic communities in Vermont's northern Orleans County: Sacred Heart of Jesus in Troy (founded 1940), St. Vincent de Paul in North Troy, and St. Ignatius of Loyola in Lowell. Following a 2021 diocesan realignment driven in part by changes to U.S. immigration policy affecting international priests, the three were consolidated under one administration, with Sacred Heart of Jesus designated the church for the Sunday Mass obligation.
- Parish includes Sacred Heart of Jesus (Troy), St. Vincent de Paul (North Troy), and St. Ignatius of Loyola (Lowell)
- Combined and placed under one administrator effective July 1, 2021
- Parish housed under St. André Bessette, named for St. Brother André Bessette of Montreal
History of Sacred Heart of Jesus
Sacred Heart of Jesus Church was established in 1940 in Troy, Vermont, and has long been supported by traditional Catholic families in the area. The church is one of three worship sites of St. André Bessette Parish and is the home of the parish's Family Retreat Day, which has grown into a regional event drawing Catholics from other states. In the diocesan realignment of 2021, Sacred Heart was designated the central church for Sunday Mass and for the family faith formation and religious education programs serving the entire parish.
- Church established 1940
- Houses a relic of St. André Bessette
- Host church for Family Retreat Day
- Designated Sunday Mass obligation site, July 1, 2021
Sacrament Times
Confessions are heard in Sacred Heart Church on Saturday afternoons before the vigil Mass, and are also available at any time by calling the parish office. First Friday confessions are heard after the morning Mass, in keeping with traditional Sacred Heart devotions. Eucharistic Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament is held as a parish-wide day of devotion on the third Friday of each month.
- Confession: Saturday 3:30–4:00 PM
- Confession: First Friday after morning Mass
- Confession: by appointment through the parish office
- Eucharistic Adoration: third Friday of the month
Our Churches
St. André Bessette Parish is a three-church community. Sacred Heart of Jesus in Troy is the principal church for Mass and faith formation. As of the parish's 2021 notice, the other two churches — St. Vincent de Paul in North Troy and St. Ignatius of Loyola in Lowell — did not have Masses regularly scheduled.
- Sacred Heart of Jesus, Troy (active worship site)
- St. Vincent de Paul, North Troy
- St. Ignatius of Loyola, Lowell
Clergy & Staff
The parish is administered by members of the Society of the Divine Word (S.D.V.). The current administrator listed by the Diocese of Burlington is Fr. Rijo Kochupurackal, S.D.V. The parish website also references Rev. Andrew Gawrych, C.S.C. (Congregation of Holy Cross), in connection with parish life. Earlier administrators of the parish have included Fr. Sahaya Paul Siluvai Sebastian (circa 2020) and Fr. Rijo Johnson, S.D.V., who was named administrator in the 2021 realignment.
- Fr. Rijo Kochupurackal, S.D.V. — Administrator (current)
- Rev. Andrew Gawrych, C.S.C.
- Fr. Rijo Johnson, S.D.V. — Administrator from July 1, 2021
- Fr. Sahaya Paul Siluvai Sebastian — Administrator circa 2020
Faith Formation & Family Retreat
Family faith formation and religious education for the whole of St. André Bessette Parish are conducted at Sacred Heart of Jesus Church in Troy. The parish is particularly known for its annual Family Retreat Day, which has become a regional draw — parishioners and visitors from other states travel to Troy to take part, and retreat sessions and keynote presentations have been shared online via the parish's YouTube channel.
- Family faith formation held at Sacred Heart
- Religious education for the whole parish
- Annual Family Retreat Day with outside participants
- Keynote and men's session videos posted to YouTube
Parish Life & Organizations
Beyond the liturgy, the parish supports an active Knights of Columbus council that meets in the K of C Room inside the Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish Hall on the first Thursday of most months at 4:30 PM. The parish also maintains an online giving portal for stewardship and donations, and a parish calendar lists ongoing events.
- Knights of Columbus — first Thursday of most months, 4:30 PM, Parish Hall
- Online giving via the parish website
- Parish calendar of events and bulletins
Devotions to the Sacred Heart
As a parish dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, the community follows several traditional devotions. There is a day of Eucharistic Adoration on the third Friday of each month, confessions are heard on First Friday after the morning Mass, and the feast of the Sacred Heart is honored with a special Mass and Benediction. These devotions trace back to the revelations of St. Margaret Mary Alacoque and remain a focal point of parish life.
- Monthly Adoration: third Friday
- First Friday Confessions after morning Mass
- Feast Day Mass with Benediction
- Roots in the visions of St. Margaret Mary Alacoque
Visit, Contact & Location
Sacred Heart of Jesus is located on South Pleasant Street (Routes 100/101), just west of the intersection of Routes 100 and 101 in Troy, Vermont. The parish office can be reached by phone, and the parish maintains an active Facebook page in addition to its website.
- Address: 130 South Pleasant Street, Troy, VT 05868
- Mailing: PO Box 109, Troy, VT 05868
- Phone: (802) 744-4066
- Website: https://shsvsi.com/
- Facebook: linked from the parish website
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Sahaya Paul Siluvai Sebastiancirca 2020
Parish administrator quoted in the Summer 2020 issue of Vermont Catholic magazine.
- Fr. Rijo Johnson, S.D.V.2021–
Named administrator of St. André Bessette Parish effective July 1, 2021, in a major clergy realignment announced by Bishop Christopher Coyne.
- Fr. Rijo Kochupurackal, S.D.V.
Listed as current administrator on the Diocese of Burlington parish page for Sacred Heart of Jesus.