About Sacred Heart · Topeka, Kansas
Sacred Heart–St. Joseph Catholic Parish is a Christ-centered community of faith in Topeka, Kansas, formed in 2006 by the merger of two historic Volga-German parishes in the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas. Today the parish worships at two churches — Sacred Heart Church at 312 NE Freeman Avenue in the Oakland neighborhood of North Topeka, and St. Joseph Church at 227 SW Van Buren Street — under the pastoral care of Father Tim Haberkorn. The parish sponsors Holy Family Catholic School (K–8) together with Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish, hosts CCD religious formation, livestreams Mass online, and keeps alive its German-Catholic roots through the annual Germanfest celebration.
- Established
- 1919
- Patron
- Sacred Heart of Jesus
- Rector
- Father Tim Haberkorn
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas
Why belong here
Sacred Heart–St. Joseph is a warm, two-church Catholic family rooted in the Oakland neighborhood of North Topeka where generations of German-Catholic and Hispanic families worship side by side. The parish gathers around the Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist and offers daily and weekend Mass at both Sacred Heart and St. Joseph, livestreamed Masses for those who cannot attend in person, the sacraments of Reconciliation weekly, CCD faith formation for children, and a K–8 school (Holy Family) shared with Our Lady of Guadalupe. It also keeps its Volga-German heritage alive through the beloved annual Germanfest — an outdoor Mass, polka, and German food that supports the school — making it a uniquely rooted community to belong to or visit.
Mass times at Sacred Heart
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday at Sacred Heart: 3:15–3:50 pm
- Sunday at St. Joseph: 7:15–7:50 am
About the Parish
Sacred Heart–St. Joseph Catholic Parish is a two-church Catholic community in Topeka, Kansas, formed in 2006 by merging Sacred Heart Parish (founded 1919 in the Oakland neighborhood of North Topeka) with St. Joseph Parish (founded 1887). The parish is led by Father Tim Haberkorn and is part of the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas. Parishioners worship at Sacred Heart Church (312 NE Freeman Ave) and St. Joseph Church (227 SW Van Buren St), gathering around the Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist and the sacramental life of the Church.
History of Sacred Heart Parish
Sacred Heart grew out of St. Joseph Parish (established 1887 for Topeka's Volga-German Catholics). As St. Joseph's members moved east into the Oakland neighborhood, Father Henry organized a building committee in 1917. Bishop Ward appointed Father George Eckert in May 1919, the first Mass was celebrated 1 April 1920 at Our Lady of Guadalupe, and a combined church-school was dedicated in May 1921. The 1951 flood damaged the basement; a separate church was begun in February 1966, interrupted by a tornado in June 1966, and completed and dedicated on 25 June 1967. In 2006 Sacred Heart merged with St. Joseph to form today's combined parish.
- 1917 — Father Henry organizes a building committee
- May 1919 — Father George Eckert appointed founding pastor by Bishop Ward
- 1 April 1920 — First Mass held at Our Lady of Guadalupe Church
- May 1921 — Combined church-school dedicated
- 1951 — Flood damages the building's basement
- 1966 — Tornado interrupts construction of a new separate church
- 25 June 1967 — Current Sacred Heart church dedicated
- 2006 — Sacred Heart and St. Joseph parishes merged
- 13 October 2019 — Centenary Mass with Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann
St. Joseph Parish — The Older Sister Parish
St. Joseph Parish is the older of the two parishes in the combined parish, founded in 1887 for German-speaking immigrants in Topeka. Bishop Louis M. Fink instructed Father Francis Henry to organize the parish in December 1886; the first Mass was celebrated 13 February 1887. A two-story brick building at 213 West Third Street housed the new parish, and a new church at 227 SW Van Buren was dedicated in 1900 — the building still in use today. A parish school operated at the site until 1970. St. Joseph joined Sacred Heart in the 2006 merger.
- 1886 — Bishop Louis M. Fink directs Father Francis Henry to organize a German-speaking parish
- 13 February 1887 — First Mass of St. Joseph Parish
- December 1887 — Two-story brick building acquired at 213 W. Third Street
- 1898–1900 — New church at 227 SW Van Buren built and dedicated
- 1913 — New parish school built on original church site (operated until 1970)
- 2006 — Merged with Sacred Heart Parish
Clergy & Staff
The parish is led by Father Tim Haberkorn. The two-church community also recognizes Father Al Rockers as a former pastor and Father Dan Morris (Archdiocesan Vocation Director) as a 'native son' of the parish. The Father George Eckert was the founding pastor in 1919. Lay staff include Lisa Deghand (Bookkeeper & Webmaster), Therese Klein (Sacred Heart Secretary), Teresa Thomas (St. Joseph Secretary), and Marilyn Riddle (Sacred Heart Hall Rental).
- Father Tim Haberkorn — Pastor
- Father Al Rockers — Former Pastor
- Father Dan Morris — Archdiocesan Vocation Director (native son)
- Father George Eckert — Founding Pastor (1919)
- Lisa Deghand — Bookkeeper & Webmaster
- Therese Klein — Sacred Heart Secretary
- Teresa Thomas — St. Joseph Secretary
- Marilyn Riddle — Hall Rental (Sacred Heart)
Livestream & Online Mass
Virtual Mass is streamed live from Sacred Heart on Saturday at 4:00 pm (sometimes Sunday at 10:00 am) and recordings are posted afterward on the parish's Facebook page and YouTube. When the parish cannot livestream, daily Mass from EWTN is available at YouTube.com/EWTN.
- Live stream: Saturday 4:00 pm (and sometimes Sunday 10:00 am) from Sacred Heart
- Recordings posted to Facebook and YouTube
- EWTN daily Mass available online as a fallback
Faith Formation & CCD
The parish offers CCD religious education for children in Kindergarten through 8th grade on Wednesday evenings from September through May. Registration, fees, and an online payment option are available on the parish website. Catechists and volunteers are needed each year.
- CCD for K–8, Wednesday evenings Sept–May
- CCD Enrollment Form and online fee payment available on the parish website
- Catechists, assistants, and substitutes needed
Holy Family Catholic School
Holy Family Catholic School is the joint parish school for Sacred Heart–St. Joseph Parish and Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish. It was formed in July 2006 by combining Sacred Heart and Our Lady of Guadalupe Schools, opening at the Sacred Heart campus in August 2006. The school serves approximately 200 students in K–8, with a 1:13 teacher-student ratio, and maintains both the German and Mexican heritage of its supporting parishes. It also runs a preschool program.
- Formed July 2006; opened at Sacred Heart campus August 2006
- Two campuses: East Campus (1725 NE Seward Ave, 785-234-8980) and West Campus (210 NE Branner, 785-233-9171)
- Approximately 200 K–8 students; 1:13 teacher-student ratio
- Holy Family Preschool (contact Stacey McBride, 785-234-8980)
- Pastors involved: Fr. Tim Haberkorn (Sacred Heart/St. Joseph) and Fr. Jerry Arano-Ponce (Our Lady of Guadalupe)
- Principal: Stacey McBride
Germanfest & Parish Heritage
The parish's annual Germanfest is one of its signature events, drawing the wider Topeka community to the Sacred Heart grounds in Oakland for an outdoor Mass, German food, a beer garden, and polka music. The festival raises money for Holy Family School and serves as a living tribute to the parish's Volga-German Catholic roots. Father Haberkorn has described the event as a way to 'keep alive' the faith, traditions, and heritage brought by the ancestors of today's parishioners.
- Outdoor Mass at Sacred Heart Church grounds
- German food, beer garden, and polka music
- Fundraiser for Holy Family School
- Celebrates the Volga-German Catholic heritage of the parish
Locations, Offices & Giving
Parishioners and visitors can reach the parish at either church site or by mail/phone. Office hours are limited and split between the two sites. The parish encourages electronic giving via ParishSOFT (online, phone, or text), and bulletins are published weekly with a Wednesday 8 am submission deadline.
- Sacred Heart Office Hours: Tue–Wed–Thu–Fri, 8 am–Noon
- St. Joseph Office Hours: Mon–Wed–Fri, 8 am–Noon
- Bulletin deadline: 8 am Wednesday
- Hall Rental — Sacred Heart: Marilyn Riddle, 620-757-0194
- Hall Rental — St. Joseph: St. Joseph Rectory, 785-232-2863
- Electronic Offertory via ParishSOFT (web/phone/text)
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father George Eckert1919–
Founding pastor of Sacred Heart, appointed by Bishop Ward in May 1919; oversaw the first Mass (April 1920) and the dedication of the church-school building (May 1921).
- Father Al RockersPrior to current pastor
Former pastor of the combined Sacred Heart–St. Joseph Parish and a native son of the parish; concelebrated the 2019 centennial Mass.
- Father Tim HaberkornCurrent pastor
Current pastor; oversees restoration of the Sacred Heart statue, livestreamed Mass, and the parish's Germanfest tradition.