About Sacred Heart · Pass Christian, Mississippi
Sacred Heart Catholic Church is a small Roman Rite parish nestled in the rural Dedeaux community, north of Pass Christian on the Mississippi Gulf Coast. Part of the Diocese of Biloxi, the parish counts its mission as 'the Salvation of Souls' and traces many of its families to French and Spanish Catholic roots brought generations ago to the Gulf Coast. The parish grounds are regarded by members as sacred ground, and worship is centered on a regular schedule of daily Mass, Sunday Mass, Eucharistic Adoration, and a vibrant network of lay-led ministries.
- Established
- 1967
- Patron
- Sacred Heart of Jesus
- Rector
- Rev. Khoa Phi Vo
- Diocese
- Diocese of Biloxi
Why belong here
Sacred Heart is a tight-knit country parish where the priest and deacon know most parishioners by name, and where dozens of ministries — from the Altar Society and Knights of Columbus to CYO, CCD, Bible study, the Bereavement Group, and the annual Bazaar — give every family a way to belong. Weekly Eucharistic Adoration on Fridays and Saturdays, daily Mass Monday through Friday, and a long tradition of lay involvement make it an unusually engaged community for a parish of its size, all set under live oaks in the quiet Dedeaux community on the Gulf Coast.
Mass times at Sacred Heart
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- 30 minutes before each weekend Mass (i.e., before Saturday 4:00 PM Vigil and Sunday 9:00 AM and 11:30 AM Masses)
- By appointment — call the Parish Office at (228) 255-7560
Adoration times
- Fridays 7:00 AM – 10:00 AM
- Fridays 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM
- Saturdays 3:00 PM – 6:00 PM
Parish Identity & History
Sacred Heart Catholic Church was established in 1967 in the rural Dedeaux community, north of Pass Christian on the Mississippi Gulf Coast, to serve Catholic families spread across the outlying farmland of Harrison County. Many of those founding families were descendants of French and Spanish settlers whose Catholic faith had been part of the Gulf Coast for generations, and the parish has carried on a strong lay-driven culture ever since. The parish is part of the Diocese of Biloxi and its stated mission is 'the Salvation of Souls.' Over the years Sacred Heart has been served by priests including Fr. Michael O'Connor (2007–2014) and is currently led by Fr. Khoa Phi Vo with Deacon Earl Saucier.
- Founded in 1967
- Located in the Dedeaux community, north of Pass Christian, MS
- Diocese of Biloxi parish (Roman Rite)
- Mission: the Salvation of Souls
- Heritage rooted in French and Spanish Catholic settlers of the Gulf Coast
Parish Staff & Clergy
Sacred Heart is shepherded by a small team: a resident pastor, a deacon, and a parish secretary who also handles Baptism, marriage, and parish-office inquiries. Each is reachable through the Parish Office at (228) 255-7560.
- Pastor: Rev. Khoa Phi Vo — (228) 233-9272 — [email protected]
- Deacon: Earl Saucier — (228) 323-3099 — [email protected]
- Secretary: Sandra Ladner — [email protected]
Lay Ministries & Organizations
Dozens of lay-led ministries form the backbone of parish life at Sacred Heart, with most coordinated by individual parishioners and their phone numbers listed on the parish website. The list reflects a strong culture of family involvement — many coordinator surnames (Ladner, Hoda, Saucier) are longstanding Gulf Coast Catholic families.
- Altar Society, Church Cleaning, and Maintenance
- Eucharistic Ministers of Holy Communion, Lectors, and Collection Counters
- Knights of Columbus (Grand Knight Tony Perkins) and KC Ladies Auxiliary (President Charlotte Saucier)
- Catholic Youth Organization (CYO) & Confirmation prep
- CCD Religious Education for children, Sundays at 10:00 AM
- First Communion Preparation
- Adult Religious Education and Adult Bible Study
- Bereavement Group
- RECAP ministry
- Youth (Boys & Girls) Retreat
- Annual Parish Bazaar
- CD/Book Ministry
Religious Education & Youth Formation
Children's faith formation centers on CCD held Sundays at 10:00 AM between the two morning Masses, alongside First Communion preparation and the CYO/Confirmation program for older youth. A boys' and girls' youth retreat is run in cooperation with Fr. Michael Marascalco, and adults have their own Bible study and Religious Education program led by Wayne Alford.
- CCD: Sundays 10:00 AM
- First Communion Preparation
- CYO & Confirmation
- Youth Retreats (boys and girls)
- Adult Bible Study
- Adult Religious Education
Knights of Columbus & KC Ladies Auxiliary
The parish supports a Council of the Knights of Columbus together with a Ladies Auxiliary, two of the most active lay organizations at Sacred Heart. They are visible at parish events, fundraisers, and the annual Bazaar.
- Knights of Columbus — Grand Knight Tony Perkins — 228-860-9977
- KC Ladies Auxiliary — President Charlotte Saucier — 228-234-3098
Sacraments
Sacred Heart celebrates the seven sacraments of the Roman Catholic Church. Detailed preparation pages on the parish website walk couples and parents through the process for Baptism, Marriage, and Reconciliation.
- Baptism (infant) — arrangement through the Parish Office; godparent requirements detailed online
- Reconciliation — 30 minutes before weekend Masses or by appointment
- First Communion & Confirmation — through the parish's preparation programs
- Marriage — couples should contact the Parish Office to begin preparation; weddings celebrated in church reflect the couple's Catholic faith
Baptism Preparation
Baptism Preparation is scheduled by contacting the Parish Office. The parish follows the Roman Catholic practice of infant Baptism, in which parents and godparents — together with the wider Christian community — take responsibility for nurturing the child's faith. The website lays out clear godparent requirements, including being a practicing Catholic at least 16 years old, having received the Sacraments of Initiation, and living an exemplary Catholic life. A non-Catholic baptized Christian may serve as a Christian Witness, but at least one godparent must be Catholic.
- Contact the Parish Office to schedule Baptism Preparation
- One practicing Roman Catholic godparent required
- Godparent must be at least 16 and received Baptism, Eucharist, and Confirmation
- A non-Catholic Christian may serve as a Christian Witness
- Maximum of two godparents, who may not be of the same gender
Marriage Preparation
The parish takes marriage seriously as a lifelong sacrament. Engaged couples are invited to contact the Parish Office well in advance of their planned wedding to begin preparation, which the website frames as more like the multi-year preparation for a career than a one-day event. A church wedding, the parish teaches, reflects the couple's shared Catholic faith and calls on the Lord to witness their commitment.
- Contact the Parish Office to begin preparation
- A wedding in church reflects the couple's Catholic faith
- Email: [email protected] or [email protected]
- Phone: (228) 255-7560
Visit, Contact & Mailing Information
The Parish Office is the gateway for Baptism, marriage, confession appointments, and general inquiries. The church sits along Vidalia Road in Dedeaux, between Pass Christian and the surrounding Gulf Coast communities it serves.
- Address: 14595 Vidalia Road, Pass Christian, MS 39571
- Office Phone: (228) 255-7560
- Emails: [email protected] or [email protected]
- Website: http://www.sacredheartdedeaux.org/
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Michael O'Connor2007–2014
Assigned as pastor in 2007; a former U.S. Air Force officer and Mississippi Air National Guard major; ordained 2005; moved to Our Lady of the Gulf, Bay St. Louis, in 2014.
- Fr. Bartosz Kunat
Listed as pastor in later parish directories.