About Sacred Heart · Susanville, California
Sacred Heart Catholic Church is a parish of the Diocese of Sacramento serving the Catholic faithful of Susanville and Lassen County in Northeastern California. Established in 1912 at its current site on North Union Street, the parish is the spiritual home to roughly a hundred or more families and also ministers to the mission station in Herlong. Worship is offered in both English and Spanish, with a weekly Saturday Vigil Mass, three Sunday Masses (including one in Spanish), daily morning Mass Monday through Saturday, weekday adoration, and First Friday all-day Adoration. The parish runs an active youth ministry, a Spanish-language Grupo de Oración, RCIA, parish and finance councils, and a Crossroads community dinner, all under the pastoral care of the current Parochial Administrator.
- Established
- 1912
- Patron
- Sacred Heart of Jesus
- Rector
- Rev. Manuel Rodriguez
- Diocese
- Diocese of Sacramento (Ridge Deanery, Lassen County)
Why belong here
Sacred Heart Susanville is the historic Catholic heart of Lassen County — a small, family-sized parish where English- and Spanish-speaking worshippers pray together at three Sunday Masses, a Saturday Vigil, and a mission Mass in Herlong. Parishioners grow in faith through weekday Mass and morning adoration, sacramental preparation for Baptism, Confirmation, Marriage and the Eucharist, RCIA inquiry with Alice Allison, an active youth group for ages 8–18, the Spanish-language Grupo de Oración, parish and finance councils, and community outreach like the Crossroads Dinner. For Catholics in Susanville and the wider rural region, it offers the rare combination of daily Eucharist, bilingual fellowship, and the rooted, century-old identity of a parish that has served this mountain community since 1912.
Mass times at Sacred Heart
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Posted on parish website under 'Confession' tab (specific times not extracted from scrape)
Adoration times
- Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday — 8:30 AM to 9:00 AM (morning Adoration following daily Mass)
- Saturday — 8:30 AM to 9:30 AM (Adoration)
- First Friday — 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM (extended Adoration)
Parish History
Catholic presence in Lassen County stretches back to 1869, when Father Charles Lynch said the first Mass at the Mulroney home. Volunteer families Bantley, Neuhaus, and Mulroney built the first Sacred Heart on Richmond Road in 1892; Bishop Thomas Grace dedicated it in 1898. In 1909 the parish physically relocated the wooden church to its present North Union Street site, and 1912 is recognized as the parish's canonical founding year.
- 1869 — first Lassen County Mass (Father Charles Lynch, Mulroney home)
- 1892 — original church built on Richmond Road
- 1898 — Bishop Thomas Grace dedicates Church of the Sacred Heart
- 1909 — church physically moved to Union & Nevada Streets (Father Horgan celebrates first Mass at new site Oct. 24)
- 1912 — parish canonically established at 120 N. Union Street
Clergy & Staff
The Diocese of Sacramento lists Sacred Heart as served by a Parochial Administrator (Rev. Manuel Rodriguez on the scd.org listing; Rev. Erik Pereira on the diocese-sacramento.org listing, reflecting recent clergy transitions). Father Arnold concluded his ministry on June 30, 2024, and Father Manuel Rodriguez arrived July 1, 2024. The parish also relies on lay leaders for its councils and youth ministry.
- Rev. Manuel Rodriguez — Parochial Administrator (arrived July 1, 2024)
- Rev. Erik Pereira — Parochial Administrator (separate diocesan record)
- Father Arnold — previous priest (departed June 30, 2024)
- Shane and Venessa Bowman — Youth Ministry leaders (Diocese directory, 530-257-3230, [email protected])
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Sacred Heart runs a Religious Education program for parish children and families, plus the Order of Christian Initiation for Adults (RCIA) for those exploring the Catholic faith or completing their sacraments. The RCIA contact is Alice Allison (530-249-7342, [email protected]), who invites inquirers to 'ask all the questions you have wanted to ASK and some you didn't think to ask.'
- Religious Education for children and youth
- RCIA — coordinated by Alice Allison
- Confirmation preparation
- Youth Group (ages 8–18), Wednesdays 6:00–7:30 PM
Ministries & Parish Life
Parish life at Sacred Heart is anchored by an active Youth Group for ages 8–18, the Spanish-language Grupo de Oración, parish leadership councils, and outreach like the Crossroads Dinner. The parish also publicly champions a 'Respect for Life from Conception to Natural Death' devotion.
- Youth Group — ages 8–18, Wednesdays 6:00 PM – 7:30 PM
- Grupo de Oración — Mondays at 5:00 PM at MMH (Spanish prayer, Bible study, fellowship)
- Pastoral Parish Council — Tuesdays at 5:00 PM
- Parish Finance Council — select Tuesdays at 4:30 PM
- Crossroads Dinner — Saturdays at 6:00 PM
- Respect for Life ministry
Sacraments
The parish website dedicates a Sacraments page to the seven Catholic sacraments, with pages for Baptism, Reconciliation, Confirmation, Marriage, Eucharist, and Anointing of the Sick. Families are encouraged to contact the parish office at 530-257-3230 for preparation and scheduling.
- Baptism
- Reconciliation (Confession)
- Confirmation
- Eucharist (First Communion)
- Marriage
- Anointing of the Sick
Mission Stations & Wider Reach
Sacred Heart also ministers to Catholics beyond Susanville as the mother parish for Lassen County. The Diocese lists Herlong Station as an attached mission, served by a Saturday Vigil Mass at 3:00 PM. GCatholic places Sacred Heart within reach of parishes in Greenville, Lake Almanor, Chester, Quincy, Portola, Bieber, Loyalton, Fall River Mills and Sierra City.
- Herlong Station — Saturday Vigil Mass at 3:00 PM
- Parish in Ridge Deanery (Diocese of Sacramento)
- Designated Jubilee Church 2016 and 2025
Visit, Contact & Getting Involved
Parishioners and visitors can reach Sacred Heart at 120 N. Union Street, by phone at 530-257-3230, by fax at 530-257-9213, or by email at [email protected]. The parish website (sacredheartsusanville.org) hosts the calendar, ministry pages, and a 'Search' function for announcements. Mass and confession schedules are linked from the homepage under 'Mass Times & Directions.'
- Address: 120 N. Union Street, Susanville, CA 96130
- Mailing: P.O. Box 430, Susanville, CA 96130
- Phone: 530-257-3230 | Fax: 530-257-9213
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: sacredheartsusanville.org
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father Charles Lynch1869
Celebrated the first Mass in Lassen County at the Mulroney home near Susanville as a circuit priest.
- Father Thomas Horgan1909
Celebrated Mass at the relocated church on North Union Street on October 24, 1909; later recalled the founding families.
- Father Arnold
Predecessor pastor; his last Sunday at Sacred Heart was June 30, 2024.
- Father Manuel Rodriguez2024–
Arrived as Parochial Administrator on July 1, 2024, succeeding Father Arnold.