About Sacred Heart · Savannah, Georgia
Sacred Heart Catholic Church is a historic Catholic parish in Savannah, Georgia, located in the Victorian District just south of Forsyth Park at 1707 Bull Street. Founded in 1880 by Benedictine missionaries and originally established to serve Savannah's Black Catholic community, the parish has grown into a welcoming, bilingual (English and Spanish) congregation within the Roman Catholic Diocese of Savannah. The current sanctuary, designed by Savannah architect Hyman Witcover, was begun in 1902 and dedicated in 1905, and remains a striking example of restrained Victorian Gothic architecture in pressed red brick with Georgia marble trim. Today the parish offers daily and Sunday Masses, a sacramental life that includes a Traditional Latin Mass, robust faith formation for children and adults, an active St. Vincent de Paul Society, and outreach to the homebound and poor.
- Established
- 1880
- Patron
- Sacred Heart of Jesus
- Rector
- Rev. Kevin O'Keefe
- Diocese
- Roman Catholic Diocese of Savannah
Why belong here
Sacred Heart is a bilingual, historic Savannah parish that warmly welcomes newcomers and visitors into a richly sacramental life — daily Mass Monday through Thursday, a Sunday Traditional Latin Mass, and a weekly Spanish Mass, alongside Eucharistic Adoration on most Friday evenings. Parishioners grow in faith through CCD classes for 95 children, the Christian Initiation of Adults program, youth and college ministry, and an active calendar of women's and men's retreats. Outreach runs deep here through the St. Vincent de Paul Society, food pantry volunteering, and visits to the homebound — all rooted in the parish's mission 'to proclaim the Gospel of Christ to our local community in word, deed, and truth.'
Mass times at Sacred Heart
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday: 3:45 PM – 4:15 PM
- Sunday: 7:45 AM – 8:15 AM
Adoration times
- Most Fridays: 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM (please check the parish calendar)
History of Sacred Heart Parish
Sacred Heart Parish traces its origins to 1880, when Benedictine missionaries from Saint Vincent Abbey in Latrobe, Pennsylvania, and their founding pastor, Rev. Oswald Moosmeuller, established the parish and a school for African-American children south of Forsyth Park in Savannah's Victorian District. Aided by funding from Mother Mathilda Beasley, Georgia's first Black nun, and staffed by the Sisters of Mercy, the parish grew rapidly. The cornerstone of the present Bull Street church, designed by Hyman Witcover, was laid in 1902 and the building was dedicated in 1905. Benedictine fathers continued to serve the parish until 1969, when diocesan administration began, and the parish school eventually merged to become Notre Dame Academy in 1990.
- First cornerstone laid October 1880 at 31st Street and Habersham
- Current church cornerstone laid 1902, dedicated 1905
- Architect: Hyman Witcover
- Benedictine administration ended 1969; Diocese of Savannah assumed pastoral care
- 1995: rectory became the Parish Center with the Chapel of Our Lady of Guadalupe
- 1997: Historical Marker honoring Mother Mathilda Beasley placed on site
Mission and Parish Life
Sacred Heart describes itself as a welcoming Catholic community called by God to live out the message of Christ in love and service to all people. Its stated mission is 'to proclaim the Gospel of Christ to our local community in word, deed, and truth.' The parish emphasizes that, while the Eucharist is the heart of parish life, the parish family itself — through faith formation, liturgical ministries, social justice outreach, and parish social events — is what makes it a vibrant community. The parish website invites parishioners to stay informed through the weekly bulletin and the online parish calendar.
- Tagline: 'Loving Christ, Loving Others'
- Mission: to proclaim the Gospel of Christ in word, deed, and truth
- Weekly bulletin and online calendar keep parishioners informed
Faith Formation and Religious Education
Religious Education (CCD) classes are held on Sundays from 9:45 AM, September through May, for children in grades 1–8 not attending Catholic schools. Registration takes place in August with Religious Education Coordinator Veronica Campbell in the back of the church after all Masses. All families must be registered members of Sacred Heart to participate. The parish also offers the Christian Initiation of Adults (CIA) program for those seeking entry into the Catholic Church, baptized Christians seeking Full Communion, or baptized Catholics preparing to complete their Sacraments of Initiation.
- CCD classes — Sunday 9:45 AM, September–May
- Children in grades 1–8, not in Catholic schools
- Coordinator: Veronica Campbell ([email protected])
- CIA classes — Sunday 4:15–5:45 PM, September–May
- CIA contact: Deacon Paul Gutting (912-663-9800, [email protected])
Youth, College, and Adult Ministries
Sacred Heart supports parishioners of every age and stage of life. The Youth Minister (Ronnie-Sue Starnes) coordinates programs for parish youth, while the Campus Minister (Sydney Forsythe) supports the parish's growing College Ministry — which the parish notes is on track to outgrow the current parish center. Men's and women's groups host retreats twice a year, and the parish holds an annual Mardi Gras Pancake Supper as a parish-wide fundraiser and gathering.
- Youth Minister: Ronnie-Sue Starnes
- Campus Minister: Sydney Forsythe
- Fall and Spring Women's Retreats
- Annual Mardi Gras Pancake Supper
- Men's and women's parish groups
Liturgical Ministries
Parishioners are invited to serve the community by sharing their gifts in the liturgy. Sacred Heart relies on volunteers for its weekly worship and offers a variety of roles for both adults and youth.
- Choir / Music (Organist: Richard Morgan)
- Lectors
- Altar Servers
- Extraordinary Ministers of the Eucharist
Outreach and Social Justice
In keeping with its mission to live the Gospel in word and deed, Sacred Heart carries out a robust outreach apostolate. Parishioners visit the sick and homebound, serve the poor, and volunteer at local food pantries. The parish's St. Vincent de Paul Society is a central part of this ministry, and the parish hosts an annual parish bazaar.
- Visits to the sick and homebound
- Food pantry volunteering
- St. Vincent de Paul Society
- Annual parish bazaar
Sacraments
Sacred Heart celebrates the full sacramental life of the Church. First Communion and Confirmation are prepared for through the parish's Religious Education program, with parish-wide receptions to mark these milestones. Weddings, baptisms, funerals, and anointing of the sick are scheduled through the parish office at 912-232-0792.
- Baptism
- First Communion and Confirmation (with parish-wide receptions)
- Marriage preparation and weddings
- Anointing of the Sick
- Reconciliation (see confession times above)
Clergy and Staff
Sacred Heart is served by a pastor, two deacons, and a dedicated lay staff who together coordinate the parish's liturgical, educational, and administrative life. Parishioners are welcomed to contact any staff member by phone or email through the parish office.
- Pastor: Rev. Kevin O'Keefe
- Deacon Paul Gutting
- Deacon Mario Rabusin
- Religious Education Coordinator: Veronica Campbell
- Youth Minister: Ronnie-Sue Starnes
- Campus Minister: Sydney Forsythe
- Office Manager: Kim Nott
- Bookkeeper: Michelle Strickland
- Organist: Richard Morgan
Looking to the Future
Sacred Heart Parish is growing, and its leadership is actively planning for the future. The church and parish center are too small to host current activities — weekly CCD classes for 95 children, First Communion and Confirmation receptions, women's retreats, and the annual Mardi Gras Pancake Supper — and the College Ministry is on track to outgrow the parish center. Plans call for restoring the historic school and gym to expand ministries, generate revenue through event rental, and upgrade the parking lot and fencing for added security and a more welcoming environment.
- Restoration of historic school and gym
- Expanded space for retreats, workshops, and wedding/baptism/funeral receptions
- Parking lot and fencing upgrades
Contact and Visiting
Sacred Heart invites both Savannah residents and visitors to make the parish their spiritual home. The parish office is reached by phone at 912-232-0792, and an online contact form is available on the parish website. Sunday Mass is livestreamed on the parish YouTube channel for those unable to attend in person.
- Address: 1707 Bull Street, Savannah, GA 31401
- Phone: 912-232-0792
- Facebook: facebook.com/SacredHeartSavannah
- YouTube livestream: youtube.com/@sacredheartchurch5427/live
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Oswald Moosmeullercirca 1880
Founding Benedictine pastor who began the parish and a school for African-American children with aid from Mother Mathilda Beasley and the Benedictine Abbey of Latrobe, PA.
- Fr. Aloysius O'Hanlon1901
Benedictine pastor who oversaw the early years of the new church built on the present Bull Street block.
- Fr. Bernard Haasafter O'Hanlon
Steered the growing parish through acquisition of a parish school in 1916 and remodeling of existing buildings.
- Fr. Timothy James Flahertyserved mid-20th century
Honored with a memorial renovation of the rectory chapel in 1977.
- Fr. Costiganlate 1970s
Younger Irish clergyman credited in a 1980 Southern Cross tribute with leading the 'rebirth' of Sacred Heart after a period of declining membership.