Sacred Heart

History of Sacred Heart Parish

Catholic life in Rockport goes back nearly to the founding of the town: Roman Catholic priests visited the area as early as 1838, and the first Mass was celebrated in the home of County Judge John Hynes in 1860. The parish's own records place the first Eucharist of Sacred Heart Parish in the Hynes home around 1868, with formal parish status coming around 1912. The first church building went up in 1889 but was destroyed by a storm that same year; a second structure served until 1954, when the present church was built. A Texas Historical Commission marker was dedicated at the church in 1991.

• 1838 — Priests first visit the Rockport area.
• 1860 — First Mass in Rockport celebrated in the home of County Judge John Hynes.
• 1868 (approx.) — First Eucharist of Sacred Heart Parish.
• 1871 — Property deeded to the Church.
• 1889 — First church building erected; destroyed in a storm the same year.
• c. 1912 — Sacred Heart elevated to Parish status.
• 1954 — Present church building completed.
• 1991 — Texas Historical Commission marker dedicated.
• 1994 — Parish Mission Statement approved by the Parish Pastoral Council.

Mission Statement

The parish's Mission Statement, approved and accepted on May 19, 1994 by the Parish Pastoral Council, frames the parish as a multicultural faith community of Anglo, Hispanic and Asian peoples, together with a large retirement / Winter Texan community, united in faith and hope in Jesus Christ. It calls the community to share in the saving mission of Jesus through Worship, Proclamation, Teaching, Witness and Example, and to live that mission through nine commitments: hospitality, evangelization, catechesis, adult faith development, youth ministry, lay ministry, ministry to the poor and hurting, ecumenism, and liturgy development.

• Hospitality — welcoming visitors and new parishioners.
• Evangelization — reaching out to non-practicing and seeking Catholics.
• Catechesis — teaching the Word of God, moral teaching and Tradition.
• Adult Faith Development — opportunities for spiritual growth and deepening prayer life.
• Youth Ministry Development — empowering youth to grow and serve.
• Lay Ministry Development — enabling all to respond to God's call through service.
• Ministry to the Poor and Hurting — reaching out in material, physical, emotional and spiritual need.
• Ecumenism — closer relationship and cooperation among peoples of all faiths.
• Liturgy Development — encouraging active participation in the liturgical life of the Church.

Pastor's Welcome

Fr. Ray (Very Reverend Raynaldo Yrlas, Jr.) welcomes visitors to the parish website and describes Sacred Heart as 'a vibrant community that offers much to lift one's spiritual life,' with many ministries where parishioners can share their gifts and talents. He especially thanks the 'Winter Texans' who join the parish during the winter months, calling Sacred Heart their 'home away from home,' and assuring them of the parish's prayers while they are away.

Clergy & Staff

Sacred Heart is served by a pastor and two permanent deacons in the Diocese of Corpus Christi. The parish website names the pastor, the two deacons, and lay ministry contacts across the various liturgical and outreach ministries.

• Pastor — Very Rev. Raynaldo Yrlas, Jr. (361-729-9203).
• Deacon — Daniel (Danny) Boehm.
• Deacon — Ron Jonota.
• Diocesan Bishop — Most Rev. William Michael Mulvey, D.D.

Liturgical Ministries

Parishioners serve the parish in a wide range of liturgical roles, from the sanctuary to the sanctuary-cleaning linen closet. The Music Ministry supports weekend Masses, Holy Days, weddings, funerals and Reconciliation Services. Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion serve at Mass and bring Communion to the homebound and to those in nursing and assisted-living facilities.

• Altar Servers (youth who have made First Holy Communion) — contact Deacon Danny Boehm, 361-238-0326.
• Lectors — contact Ed Morikawa, 361-790-5171.
• Music Ministry — contact Tomasita Peña, 361-729-6547.
• Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion (weekend Masses) — Ed Morikawa, 361-790-5171.
• Homebound Ministry — Judy Gibbs, 361-442-0179.
• Ushers / Greeters — Gilbert Tamez, 361-727-1321.
• Art & Environment — Church Office, 361-729-9203.
• Linen & Vestment Society — Church Office, 361-729-9203.

Faith Formation & Religious Education

Catechesis at Sacred Heart is presented as a responsibility of the entire Christian community. The parish offers a Children's Faith Formation / PREP program for parish children and welcomes inquiries about becoming Catholic.

• Children's Faith Formation (PREP) — contact Mrs. Gloria Scott, 361-729-8283, [email protected].
• Annual PREP registration forms published on the parish website.
• Goal: a program of lifelong faith formation centered in and flowing from the events of Church life, embracing all ages and generations.

Becoming Catholic (RCIA)

The Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults (RCIA) is the parish's process for adults who wish to enter the Catholic Church, and is also open to baptized Catholics who need the Sacraments of Confirmation and/or Holy Communion. Sessions are held on Wednesday evenings from 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm, beginning in the Fall. Inquirers are explicitly told they are not committed to finish by simply starting.

• RCIA classes: Wednesday evenings, 7:00 pm – 8:30 pm, beginning in the Fall.
• Open to unbaptized adults, catechumens, and baptized Catholics needing Confirmation/Eucharist.
• Contact the Church Office at 361-729-9203 for more information.

ACTS Retreat Ministry

ACTS (Adoration, Community, Theology, Service) is the parish's retreat ministry, rooted in Christ's call to serve one another in love, caring and compassion. The parish offers weekend ACTS retreats and frames the broader parish as a continuing 'ACTS commitment to service,' inviting parishioners to use their gifts in ministries across the parish.

• Weekend ACTS retreats scheduled periodically.
• Called forth by John 13:15, 35 — 'This is how all will know you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.'
• Invites retreatants into ongoing service after the retreat.

Outreach & Charity

Sacred Heart operates several outreach ministries that serve both the parish and the wider Rockport community, especially those who are poor, pregnant, incarcerated, or in material need. The St. Vincent de Paul Society and Jail Ministry are formally linked.

• Society of St. Vincent de Paul — works through ACTS to serve those in material, physical, emotional or spiritual need.
• Jail Ministry — visits the Aransas County Detention Center after the Friday morning Mass; brings the Word, Holy Communion, Bibles, spiritual literature, rosaries, and reading glasses; contact Tom Berkenkotter, 361-729-9203.
• Gabriel Project — assists pregnant mothers with material, emotional and spiritual help; contact the parish office, 361-729-9203.
• Castaways Resale Shop — thrift-store volunteer and donation ministry that supports Sacred Heart School.

Parish Organizations

Lay fraternal and women's organizations rooted in Sacred Heart parish give parishioners structured ways to live out the principles of charity, unity, fraternity and service. Contact information for each is published on the parish website.

• Knights of Columbus, Council 8028 — Grand Knight Blair McDavid, 361-756-1165. Part of the worldwide fraternal benefit society founded in 1882 by Fr. Michael J. McGivney.
• Columbian Ladies — affiliated with the Knights of Columbus; contact the church office, 361-729-9203.

Sacred Heart Catholic School

Sacred Heart Catholic School is the parish's PK3 through Grade 5 elementary school, located on the parish campus at 111 N. Church St., Rockport. The school is a long-standing ministry of the parish — historically referred to on the 1991 historical marker as the church's 'parochial school' — and is supported in part by the parish's Castaways Resale Shop. For current enrollment, calendars, and contact information, the school maintains a separate website.

• Grades served: PK3 through 5.
• Campus: 111 N. Church St., Rockport, TX 78382 (parish campus).
• School Principal: Mrs. Barnes.
• School website: https://www.shsrockport.org/

Sacraments

The parish website has a dedicated Liturgy & Sacraments section covering the seven sacraments, including a specific page on Holy Orders. Preparation for Baptism, First Communion, Confirmation, Marriage and Anointing of the Sick is coordinated through the parish office.

• Baptism — contact the parish office.
• Confirmation & First Eucharist — through the PREP program.
• Marriage — contact the parish office for preparation.
• Anointing of the Sick — arranged by request through the parish.
• Holy Orders — the parish website explains the three degrees (Episcopate, Presbyterate, Diaconate) and identifies the Bishop of Corpus Christi and the parish's own pastor and deacons.

Visit, Contact & Directions

Sacred Heart is located at 209 N. Church St. in Rockport's Heritage District, at the corner of Church and Cornwall Streets. The parish office and mailing address is 114 N. Church St., Rockport, TX 78382. Office hours and contact details are posted on the parish website.

• Church address: 209 N. Church St., Rockport, TX 78382.
• Parish office / mailing address: 114 N. Church St., Rockport, TX 78382.
• Office phone: 361-729-9203. Fax: 361-729-1989.
• Email: [email protected].
• Website: https://shcrockport.org/.
• Sunday 10:30 am Mass livestreamed on the parish's Facebook page.