Sacred Heart

Parish Identity & Mission

Sacred Heart Parish describes itself as a community 'formed by the mystery of God's love,' striving 'to be bound together as a community of Christ's own heart and to witness that love to the world.' The parish is part of the Diocese of Sioux City (est. 1902) and shares its Military Road campus with Sacred Heart School, giving it a deeply family-centered identity rooted in Faith, Family, Knowledge, and Service.

Mass & Liturgy

Sacred Heart celebrates Mass in English seven days a week. The Sunday schedule offers two Masses, and there is a Tuesday 'School Mass' at 2:40 PM that brings together the school and parish communities. Mid-week Mass on Wednesday and Thursday evenings is followed by the parish's regular meetings, including the Knights of Columbus.

• Saturday Vigil: 5:00 PM
• Sunday: 8:00 AM and 10:00 AM
• Tuesday: 2:40 PM (School Mass)
• Wednesday: 5:15 PM
• Thursday: 5:15 PM
• Friday: 7:30 AM

Sacraments

All seven sacraments are coordinated through the parish office. Sacramental preparation for children is grade-based (First Reconciliation and First Communion in 2nd Grade; Confirmation in 8th Grade), with retreats, parent meetings, and service-hour requirements. OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults) welcomes uncatechized adults, Christians from other traditions, and baptized Catholics preparing for Confirmation and First Communion. Marriage preparation requires contacting Fr. Tim at least six months before the wedding date.

• Baptism — contact the Parish Office at 712-233-1652
• First Reconciliation — 2nd Grade; retreat in March; celebration in late March
• First Communion — 2nd Grade; Wed evening faith formation 6:30–7:30 PM; First Communion Mass typically at the 10:00 AM Mass in May
• Confirmation — 8th Grade; parent meetings, 20 service hours, Confirmation Saint, sponsor, and April retreat
• Marriage — six months' notice to Fr. Tim; Marriage Encounter enrichment offered
• Anointing of the Sick — after weekend Masses or by request
• OCIA — inquiry year-round; contact the parish office

Faith Formation & OCIA

Faith Formation classes meet Wednesday evenings from 6:30 to 7:30 PM, integrating parish-school families (Sacred Heart School students join for retreats and parent meetings). OCIA is for anyone — children age 7 and up through adults — seeking to become Catholic or to complete the sacraments of initiation. Each spring at Pentecost, the parish celebrates the reception of new Catholics into full communion; recent years have included catechumens and candidates receiving Baptism, Confirmation, and First Eucharist together.

• Faith Formation: Wednesdays, 6:30–7:30 PM
• OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults) — open year-round
• Mary Lehr — Faith Formation contact (parish office, 712-233-1652)

Sacred Heart School (PK–8)

Sacred Heart School is a PK-8 Catholic elementary school sharing the 5010 Military Road campus with the parish and administered as part of the Bishop Heelan Catholic Schools system. The principal is Erin Chute, and the school reports a student-teacher ratio around 9:1 with roughly 330–365 students across preschool through 8th grade. Its mission is grounded in the values of Faith, Family, Knowledge, and Service, with service projects woven into the curriculum.

• Principal: Erin Chute
• Grades: Preschool (PK) through 8
• Phone: (712) 233-1624
• Address: 5010 Military Road, Sioux City, IA 51103
• Accreditation: National Catholic Educational Association (NCEA)
• Sacramental preparation begins in school, with students joining the parish for retreats and parent meetings

Parish Ministries & Groups

Lay-led apostolates give parishioners of every age a way to belong. The Knights of Columbus council meets monthly after the Wednesday 5:15 PM Mass. The Thursday Men's Group gathers in the parish Board Room at 6:30 AM for a new video-based formation series. The Seven Sisters Apostolate — an international movement in which seven (or more) women each take one day of the week to pray a Holy Hour for a specific priest — has a newly established group at Sacred Heart praying for Fr. Tim Friedrichsen. OCIA teams walk with inquirers through the catechumenate.

• Knights of Columbus — Monthly meeting (Wed 5:15 PM Mass, 6:00 PM meeting)
• Seven Sisters Apostolate — Contact Bonnie Berkemier, 712-490-1295
• Thursday Men's Group — 6:30 AM in the parish Board Room (new series periodically)
• OCIA team — inquiry and ongoing support
• Worldwide Marriage Encounter — referral program for married couples (wwme.org)

Staff & Contact

Pastoral and operational leadership at Sacred Heart is small and close-knit. The pastor is supported by a parish business manager, a faith formation coordinator, and the school principal, with referral to the diocesan Vocations Director for those discerning priesthood.

• Rev. Timothy (Tim) Friedrichsen — Pastor — 712-233-1652
• Jessica Taylor — Business Manager — [email protected]
• Mary Lehr — Faith Formation & Sacramental Prep
• Bonnie Berkemier — Seven Sisters Apostolate coordinator — 712-490-1295
• Erin Chute — Principal, Sacred Heart School — 712-233-1624
• Fr. Travis Crotty — Diocesan Vocations, Diocese of Sioux City — 712-233-7523 — [email protected]

Vocations & Prayer for Priests

The parish takes seriously its share in supporting priests and fostering vocations. The Seven Sisters Apostolate ensures a daily Holy Hour is offered for Fr. Tim, while the Knights of Columbus council and Thursday Men's Group provide fraternal support. Those discerning a call to the priesthood are referred to Fr. Travis Crotty, Vocations Director for the Diocese of Sioux City.

Visiting & Contact

Parishioners and visitors are invited to come for weekend Mass, daily Mass, Friday morning Adoration, or one of the parish's many formation and fellowship gatherings. The parish office is reachable by phone weekdays, and the school office handles PK-8 enrollment questions.

• Parish phone: (712) 233-1652
• School phone: (712) 233-1624
• Parish email: [email protected]
• Website: http://www.sacredheartsiouxcity.com/