About Sacred Heart · Patterson, California
Sacred Heart Catholic Church is a bilingual, Vincentian-led Catholic parish serving Patterson, California and the surrounding agricultural communities of Stanislaus County, including Crows Landing and Westley. Identified on its own site as "a diverse, collaborative Catholic community animated by the Heart of Jesus," the parish traces its roots to a Mass first celebrated in a Patterson drug store in 1916, was established as an autonomous parish in 1925, and has been served by the Congregation of the Mission (Vincentian Fathers) since 1955. Today it ministers to more than 2,500 registered families through weekend Masses in English and Spanish, a K-8 parish school, Eucharistic Adoration, outreach to migrant farmworker families, and the St. Vincent de Paul Thrift Store.
- Established
- 1917 (first church); 1925 (autonomous parish)
- Patron
- Sacred Heart of Jesus
- Rector
- Rev. Nhan H. Tran, C.M. ("Fr. Tino")
- Diocese
- Diocese of Stockton
Why belong here
Sacred Heart is a genuinely bilingual and multicultural Catholic home for the Patterson area, where the same Heart of Jesus gathers Portuguese-, English-, Spanish-, and Vietnamese-speaking families around the altar. Its three weekend English Masses, three Spanish Masses, and a daily bilingual Mass — plus Eucharistic Adoration twice a month and the Miraculous Medal Novena — make daily sacramental life accessible. The parish runs a K-8 school, a religious-education program, the St. Vincent de Paul Thrift Store, the Guadalupe Center outreach to migrant farmworker families in Westley, and the new St. Vincent de Paul Community Life Center, so belonging here connects a family to a long Vincentian tradition of service in the San Joaquin Valley.
Mass times at Sacred Heart
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 4:00 PM – 5:00 PM (in the church)
- By appointment — call the parish office at (209) 892-9321
Adoration times
- Monday 9:00 AM – 6:30 PM — Eucharistic Adoration with Benediction every 2nd Monday of the month
- Friday 1:00 PM – 8:00 PM — Nocturnal Adoration every 2nd Friday of the month
Our Story: A Vincentian Community Since 1955
Sacred Heart Parish traces its origin to a Mass first celebrated in 1916 in a Patterson drug store, the establishment of the Crows Landing mission that same year, and the construction of the first Sacred Heart Church in 1917 on the present site at I and Salado Streets. In 1925 Sacred Heart was established as an autonomous parish with the Immaculate Heart of Mary Mission in Crows Landing attached, and Portuguese-born Fr. Julio Marins became the first resident pastor — famously sleeping in the church until a rectory was built. The current church was dedicated on December 4, 1949 under Fr. Joseph Lima, and in June 1955 the Vincentian Fathers of the Congregation of the Mission assumed direction of the parish with Fr. James Connors, CM as pastor — a Vincentian presence that continues unbroken today and has shaped the parish's identity as a diverse, collaborative community animated by the Heart of Jesus.
- 1902 — Catholic Mission in Newman established from St. Stanislaus, Modesto
- 1916 — First Mass in Patterson celebrated in a drug store (now Oak Valley Bank site); land at I and Salado acquired by the San Francisco Archdiocese from the Patterson Ranch Company
- 1917 — First Sacred Heart Church built (now Fr. Connors Hall)
- 1925 — Sacred Heart established as an autonomous parish; Fr. Julio Marins named first resident pastor
- 1944 — Fr. Manuel Rose begins fundraising for a new church
- 1948–49 — Original church moved to Salado Avenue; new church dedicated December 4, 1949
- 1955 — Vincentian Fathers arrive; Fr. James Connors, CM becomes pastor
- 1962 — Sacred Heart Parish School opens under Fr. Harold Beutler, CM with the Mission San Jose Dominican Sisters
- 1967–68 — Fr. Edward Whooley, CM establishes the Guadalupe Center in Westley for migrant farmworker families
- 1972 — Parish school closes; reopens 1983 under Fr. Thomas Cargo
- 2005 — 50th anniversary of the Vincentian community's arrival
- 2017 — Centennial Anniversary celebrated with Bishop Stephen Blaire
- 2018 — Lopes Orchards De Paul Center dedicated by Bishop Myron Cotta
Our Staff & Clergy
Sacred Heart is led by two Vincentian priests of the Congregation of the Mission: Pastor Rev. Nhan H. Tran, C.M. — known as "Fr. Tino," a Vietnamese-born Vincentian who was named pastor in March 2024 after seven years as Parochial Vicar and Parochial Administrator — and Parochial Vicar Rev. Luis Ariel Ramirez, C.M. Pastoral, educational, and administrative work is carried out by a lay staff including a Pastoral Associate, Business Manager, Coordinator of Religious Education, school principal, school office manager, Confirmation Coordinator, Preschool Director, and Communications Coordinator.
- Rev. Nhan H. Tran, C.M. ("Fr. Tino") — Pastor; also Vocations Director (ext. 1002)
- Rev. Luis Ariel Ramirez, C.M. — Parochial Vicar, Congregation of the Mission
- Mrs. Norma Plaugher — Pastoral Associate (ext. 1003); also contact for Baptism preparation
- Mrs. Tammy Ulibarri — Business Manager
- Coordinator of Religious Education
- Principal, Sacred Heart School
- School Office Manager (Ms. Norma Estrella)
- Mrs. Angelina Navarro — Confirmation Coordinator
- Preschool Director
- Communications Coordinator (ext. 1005)
- St. Vincent de Paul Thrift Store Manager
- Receptionist (ext. 1004)
Sacred Heart Catholic School (K–8) & Preschool
Founded in 1962 under Fr. Harold Beutler, CM and administered by the Mission San Jose Dominican Sisters with Sr. Bonaventure Fritz, OP as its first principal, Sacred Heart Parish School serves students from pre-kindergarten through eighth grade. The school closed in 1972 due to the departure of the Dominican sisters and rising costs, but reopened in 1983 thanks to a community campaign led by Fr. Thomas Cargo. By the 2017 centennial the school had grown to more than 165 students, and a new St. Vincent de Paul Community Life Center is being built on the school property to accommodate continued growth. Bonaventure Hall, built in 1969 in memory of Sr. Bonaventure (d. 1967), is named for the school's founding principal.
- K–8 academic program rooted in the Catholic faith
- Preschool program with its own director on staff
- School office managed on the parish campus
- St. Vincent de Paul Community Life Center under construction on school property
Religious Education, Confirmation & Vocations
Faith formation for children not enrolled in the parish school and preparation for the Sacrament of Confirmation are coordinated by dedicated parish staff. The parish also maintains an active vocations ministry under the direction of its pastor, Fr. Tino, who serves as Vocations Director — a natural fit for a Vincentian parish that has produced generations of religious vocations since 1955.
- Religious Education (CCD) — annual registrations promoted on the parish news page
- Confirmation preparation with a dedicated Confirmation Coordinator (Mrs. Angelina Navarro)
- Vocations awareness under the Vocations Director (Fr. Tino, C.M.)
Outreach: Migrant Ministry, St. Vincent de Paul & the Thrift Store
Service to the poor is at the heart of Sacred Heart's Vincentian identity. Since Fr. Edward Whooley, CM launched the Guadalupe Center in Westley in 1967–68 to serve migrant farmworker families in the Patterson-area fields, the parish has continued that ministry alongside the St. Vincent de Paul Society, the St. Vincent de Paul Thrift Store (staffed by a dedicated manager), and the newer Lopes Orchards De Paul Center at 505 M Street, Patterson — which now hosts several of the parish's Spanish-language Sunday Masses. A new St. Vincent de Paul Community Life Center has been added to the parish-school property for the growing community.
- Guadalupe Center, Westley — ministry to migrant farmworker families (founded 1967–68)
- Lopes Orchards De Paul Center, 505 M Street, Patterson — dedicated 2018 by Bishop Myron Cotta
- St. Vincent de Paul Society and St. Vincent de Paul Thrift Store
- St. Vincent de Paul Community Life Center (new multipurpose building)
Sacraments
The parish celebrates the full sacramental life of the Church, with Reconciliation offered every Saturday afternoon and a clear path for couples preparing for marriage and families preparing for Baptism. Spanish-speaking parishioners are explicitly invited to contact the parish office for appointments and for sacramental preparation. The 1st Saturday Devotion Mass and monthly Adoration round out the devotional rhythm of the parish.
- Penance and Reconciliation — Saturday 4:00–5:00 PM, or by appointment
- Marriage — contact the parish office at least 6 months in advance
- Baptism preparation class — 4th Saturday of the month (contact Norma Plaugher at the parish office)
- Confirmation — see the Confirmation Coordinator
- Anointing of the Sick — call (209) 892-9321 to speak with a priest
- First Saturday Devotion Mass
Visit, Contact & Stay Connected
Parishioners and visitors can reach the parish office at (209) 892-9321 or by email at [email protected], and can follow the parish through its Facebook page, YouTube channel (which live-streams the Sunday Mass), and Flocknote email/text communication system. Online Giving is available through the parish website.
- Address: 529 I Street, Patterson, CA 95363
- Phone: (209) 892-9321
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: https://sacredheartpatterson.org/
- Sunday Mass live-streamed on YouTube
- Online Giving via the parish website
- Parish communications via Flocknote
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Emeterio de Diego, CMF (Claretian)1917–c.1925
Administered the Patterson mission from Newman; oversaw construction of the first Sacred Heart Church (now Fr. Connors Hall).
- Fr. Julio Marins1925–
Portuguese-born; first resident pastor of Sacred Heart after it became an autonomous parish; famously slept in the church until a rectory was built.
- Fr. Manuel Rosec.1944–
Began fundraising for a new, larger church; died before construction began.
- Fr. Joseph Limac.1948–1949
Oversaw the dedication of the new church in 1949 and the construction of the rectory.
- Fr. John Dermodypre-1955
First Irish pastor; known in the 1950s for dancing the jig when entertainment was needed.
- Fr. James Connors, CM1955–
First Vincentian pastor; served the parish three separate times; the former church building is named Fr. Connors Hall in his honor.
- Fr. Harold Beutler, CMc.1962
Established Sacred Heart Parish School in 1962 with the Mission San Jose Dominican Sisters.
- Fr. Manuel Pascual1967–
First Spanish-speaking assistant pastor.
- Fr. Edward Whooley, CMc.1967
Launched the Guadalupe Center in Westley to serve migrant farmworker families (opened 1968).
- Fr. Charles Cannon, CMc.1969
Built new clergy living quarters and Bonaventure Hall (in memory of Sr. Bonaventure, d. 1967).
- Fr. Thomas Cargoc.1983
Led the community campaign to reopen Sacred Heart Catholic School.
- Fr. James Connors, CM (2nd pastorate)c.1976
During his second pastorate, the Daughters of the Holy Spirit arrived and joined parish ministries.
- Fr. Rex Hays, CM2017 (centennial)
Pastor who co-celebrated the 2017 Centennial Anniversary Mass with Bishop Stephen Blaire.
- Rev. Nhan H. Tran, C.M. ("Fr. Tino")2024–present
Named pastor in early March 2024 after seven years as Parochial Vicar and Parochial Administrator; came to the U.S. from Vietnam in 2001, joined the Vincentians in Los Angeles, was ordained in 2010.