About Shrine of Sacred Heart · Washington, District of Columbia
The Shrine of the Sacred Heart is a Roman Catholic parish in the Mount Pleasant / Columbia Heights neighborhood of Washington, D.C., founded in 1899 and administered since 1984 by the Capuchin Franciscan Order (Province of St. Augustine). Its monumental domed church, designed by Murphy & Olmsted and dedicated in December 1922, is modeled on the Cathedral of Ravenna, Italy, and is known for its John Joseph Earley concrete mosaics and historic Casavant Frères organ. The Shrine is widely regarded as one of the most culturally diverse congregations in the Archdiocese of Washington, with regular Masses celebrated in English, Spanish, Portuguese, Haitian Creole, and Vietnamese, and a long tradition of social-justice outreach to immigrant and homeless communities.
- Established
- 1899
- Patron
- Sacred Heart of Jesus
- Rector
- Fr. Emilio Biosca Agüero, OFM Cap.
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Washington (Metropolitan Archdiocese of Washington)
Why belong here
The Shrine of the Sacred Heart is the rare parish in Washington, D.C. where a single Sunday brings together worshippers in five languages — English, Spanish, Portuguese, Haitian Creole, and Vietnamese — in the same historic building. It is also a place of deeply rooted social-justice ministry: the parish runs a free weeknight Dinner Program for homeless and low-income neighbors, hosts the Hermano Pedro homeless outreach, and serves as a gathering point for the District's annual St. Joseph the Worker labor Mass, the archdiocesan Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, and devotions to Saint Óscar Romero. The bilingual Sacred Heart School (PK-8, part of the Center City Consortium) and the Capuchin Franciscan pastoral team make the Shrine a practical, working parish for immigrant and multi-generational Catholic families who want a faith community that is both theologically traditional and pastorally engaged with the city around it.
Mass times at Shrine of Sacred Heart
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Monday 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM
- Wednesday 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM
- Friday 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM
- First Friday 7:30 PM – 10:00 PM (during Adoration)
- Saturday 3:00 PM – 4:00 PM
- Saturday 5:00 PM – 6:00 PM
- First Saturday 6:30 AM – 8:00 AM
- By appointment — call Parish Office 202-234-8000
Adoration times
- Monday 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM (Church)
- Wednesday 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM (Church)
- Friday 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM (Church)
- Thursday 7:30 AM – 7:00 PM (Church)
- First Friday 7:30 PM – 10:00 PM (Church)
- Sunday 8:30 AM – 5:30 PM (Our Lady's Chapel, below the Rectory)
Welcome to the Shrine of the Sacred Heart
The Shrine of the Sacred Heart is a Roman Catholic parish in the Mount Pleasant / Columbia Heights neighborhood of Washington, D.C., served by the Capuchin Franciscan Order (Province of St. Augustine) since 1984. The parish regularly celebrates Mass in English, Spanish, Portuguese, Haitian Creole, and Vietnamese, and is described by the Archdiocese of Washington as 'one of the most culturally diverse congregations' in the archdiocese. Visitors and parishioners are invited to attend Mass, receive the sacraments, take part in Eucharistic Adoration, or join one of the parish's many outreach ministries.
- Founded 1899; current church dedicated December 1922
- Capuchin Franciscan (OFM Cap.) pastoral team
- Five-language liturgical life
- Bilingual Sacred Heart School (PK–8)
Parish History
The parish was founded in 1899 by Father Joseph F. McGee, who envisioned a national shrine to the Sacred Heart modeled on the Sacré-Cœur Basilica in Paris. The community worshipped first in rented Union Hall on Newton Street, then in a temporary Gothic Revival hall on 14th Street (1902, the future Tivoli Theater) before dedicating the present Byzantine-Romanesque church in December 1922, designed by Murphy & Olmsted and decorated by John Joseph Earley. The parish became part of the new Archdiocese of Washington in 1939, opened Sacred Heart Academy in 1905 (its first secondary school in D.C. open to non-Catholics), and was served by the Capuchins beginning in 1984. During the 1968 and 1991 Washington riots the Shrine served as a community refuge.
- 1894: Plans first announced for a new Catholic parish in Mount Pleasant
- 1896: Cardinal Gibbons appoints Father Joseph F. McGee to found the Church of the Sacred Heart of Jesus
- 1899: Parish organized; first Mass celebrated in Union Hall on Newton Street
- 1902: First Gothic Revival church completed at 14th & Park Road NW
- 1903: Renamed 'Shrine of the Sacred Heart'
- 1905: Sacred Heart Academy founded (Sinsinawa Dominican Sisters)
- 1914: Father McGee dies; succeeded by Msgr. Patrick C. Gavan
- 1921: Cornerstone of present church laid
- 1922: New Byzantine-Romanesque church dedicated by Bishop Michael Curley
- 1930: Sacred Heart elementary school founded
- 1939: Parish becomes part of the new Archdiocese of Washington
- 1976: Father Joaquin A. Bazan becomes first Latino pastor; institutes the Good Friday Passion procession
- 1984: Capuchin Franciscans (Province of St. Augustine) assume pastoral care
- 1997: Cardinal Hickey establishes the Center City Consortium, of which the school later becomes a member
- 2010: Fr. Moises Villalta, OFM Cap., installed as first Salvadoran-American pastor of the archdiocese
- 2019: Fr. Emilio Biosca Agüero, OFM Cap., becomes 14th pastor
Architecture of the Church
The 1922 building was designed by the Washington firm of Murphy & Olmsted (with Maginnis & Walsh of Boston as associate architects) in a Northern Italian Romanesque Revival and Byzantine-Romanesque style modeled on the Cathedral of Ravenna, Italy. The white limestone-clad exterior has a granite-columned arcaded portico and rose window on the 16th Street facade, and a central dome reflecting Byzantine influence. The historically designated interior is dominated by the concrete mosaics and murals of Mount Pleasant sculptor John Joseph Earley, who pioneered the Mo-Sai technique of embedding fragments of quartz and travertine in concrete and scraping the surface during drying. The church also houses a large Casavant Frères organ once said to be the largest in the District before the Kennedy Center organ.
- Style: Northern Italian Romanesque Revival / Byzantine-Romanesque
- Architect: Murphy & Olmsted (Frederick V. Murphy); Maginnis & Walsh, associate architects
- Architectural sculptor: John Joseph Earley (Mo-Sai technique)
- Pipe organ: Casavant Frères
- Plan: Latin Cross, central dome, rose window, granite-columned portico
Liturgical Communities and Languages
Reflecting the changing demographics of the surrounding Mount Pleasant and Columbia Heights neighborhoods, the Shrine is home to five language communities worshipping in a single building. The Haitian Apostolate, served by Rev. Luc Philogene as chaplain, gathers for the Sunday 4:30 PM Creole Mass. The Vietnamese, Portuguese, and Spanish-speaking communities have grown over the decades — the parish employed its first Latino priest in 1956 and has been central to the District's Salvadoran-American Catholic life. For vigil Masses on Holy Thursday, Easter, and Christmas, the parish encourages all language communities to celebrate together, with the vigil Mass said in four languages.
- English
- Spanish (largest single language community; overflow Masses in the school auditorium)
- Portuguese
- Haitian Creole (Haitian Apostolate / Jericho)
- Vietnamese
Pastoral Staff and Succession
The parish has been served by 14 pastors since 1899. The current team of Capuchin Franciscans is led by Fr. Emilio Biosca Agüero, OFM Cap. (14th pastor, since March 2019), and includes parochial vicars Rev. Orlando Reyes, Rev. Armand Blanc, and Rev. Martinelly Soares Martins, with Rev. Carlos Reyes and Rev. James Froehlich in residence. Rev. Luc Philogene serves in residence as chaplain of the Haitian Apostolate. Lay staff include the Administrative Assistant Ms. Christy Ann Helm and Bookkeeper Ms. Martha Castaneda.
- Pastor: Fr. Emilio Biosca Agüero, OFM Cap.
- Parochial Vicars: Rev. Orlando Reyes, OFM Cap.; Rev. Armand Blanc, OFM Cap.; Rev. Martinelly Soares Martins, OFM Cap.
- In Residence: Rev. Luc Philogene (Haitian Apostolate); Rev. Carlos Reyes, OFM Cap.; Rev. James Froehlich, OFM Cap.
- Lay Staff: Ms. Christy Ann Helm (Admin Assistant); Ms. Martha Castaneda (Bookkeeper)
Sacred Heart School
The Sacred Heart School is a PK-8 bilingual Catholic school. It was originally opened as Sacred Heart Academy in 1905 by the Sinsinawa Dominican Sisters and was the first secondary school in Washington, D.C. to admit both Catholic and non-Catholic students. Among its most famous alumni is actress Helen Hayes, the 'First Lady of American Theater.' In 2017, the school joined the Center City Consortium established by Cardinal James Hickey in 1997, which pools the resources of several inner-city Catholic schools under direct archdiocesan fiscal oversight, although Sacred Heart's priests still minister to the school spiritually. It is one of the very few Catholic parish schools in the United States with a bilingual curriculum.
- Founded 1905 as Sacred Heart Academy (first Catholic secondary school open to non-Catholics in D.C.)
- Bilingual curriculum (English/Spanish)
- Center City Consortium member (since 2017)
- Notable alum: Helen Hayes, 'First Lady of American Theater'
Religious Education / Faith Formation
The Shrine's Catechetical Program offers Religious Education in both English and Spanish. Registration is open annually for the following academic year (registration for 2026–2027 is currently being accepted). Families seeking sacraments of initiation for children and youth are invited to contact the parish office. The bilingual structure reflects the parish's broader linguistic and cultural life.
- Religious Education in English (registration open for 2026–2027)
- Educación Religiosa en Español (registro abierto para 2026–2027)
- First Reconciliation / First Communion preparation — contact parish office
Outreach and Social Justice Ministries
The Shrine of the Sacred Heart has a long, documented history of social-justice work. The parish runs a free weeknight Dinner Program (Monday–Friday, doors at 4:30 PM, dinner served 5:00–6:00 PM) that has grown into one of the most important homeless and low-income meal services in the District. The Hermano Pedro homeless outreach program is also based at the parish, and the Shrine has been a frequent host of the District's annual St. Joseph the Worker labor Mass. The parish is affiliated with local service organizations including the Spanish Catholic Center and Neighbors Consejo, and is closely associated with labor, immigrant, and Latino Catholic causes.
- Shrine of the Sacred Heart Dinner Program (Mon–Fri, 4:30–6:00 PM, free haircuts Mon & Fri, free legal referrals 2nd & 4th Friday, job assistance, hypothermia overflow shelter, winter coats)
- Hermano Pedro homeless outreach program
- St. Joseph the Worker labor Mass (parish frequently hosts)
- Spanish Catholic Center (affiliated)
- Neighbors Consejo (affiliated)
- Haitian Apostolate / Jericho community outreach
Devotions and Special Feasts
Beyond the regular liturgical calendar, the Shrine hosts several beloved devotions: the annual Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe on December 12 (celebrated for the entire Archdiocese of Washington), the Spanish-language Good Friday Drama of the Passion and Easter procession through the neighborhood (instituted under Fr. Bazan in 1976), a strong devotion to Saint Óscar Romero (canonized October 2018), and observances of Haitian Independence Day with the Creole-speaking community. The parish is also the home of weekly Eucharistic Adoration in the church and Sundays in Our Lady's Chapel below the rectory.
- Our Lady of Guadalupe — December 12 (archdiocesan celebration)
- Saint Óscar Romero devotion
- Good Friday Drama of the Passion and Easter procession (Spanish)
- Guatemalan sawdust rugs on Good Friday with the Maya community
- Haitian Independence Day observance
- First Friday and First Saturday Adoration
Sacraments and Pastoral Care
The parish celebrates all the usual sacraments: Reconciliation (multiple weekly times plus by appointment), the Eucharist (in five languages, seven days a week), Anointing of the Sick (by appointment), and Marriage and the sacraments of Christian initiation (Baptism, Confirmation, First Communion) coordinated through the parish office. The parish publishes a bilingual Mass aid that worshippers can download from the website.
- Reconciliation — Mon/Wed/Fri 6–7 PM, Sat 3–4 and 5–6 PM, First Fri 7:30–10 PM, First Sat 6:30–8 AM, by appointment
- Eucharist — daily and weekend schedule above
- Anointing of the Sick — by appointment (202-234-8000)
- Baptism, First Communion, Confirmation, Matrimony — parish office
- Quinceañera — Mass readings posted on parish website
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father Joseph F. McGee1899–1914
Parish founder; led the League of the Sacred Heart at St. Patrick's; envisioned a national shrine modeled on Sacré-Cœur, Paris; died before the new church was built.
- Monsignor Patrick C. Gavan1914–1937
Oversaw the 1922 dedication of the current church; founded Sacred Heart elementary school in 1930.
- Monsignor James A. Smyth1938–1948
Led the parish through the WWII years and the 1939 split of the Archdiocese of Washington from Baltimore.
- Monsignor E. Jerome Winter1948–1958
Pastored during Cardinal O'Boyle's desegregation of the new archdiocese.
- Monsignor John S. Spence1958–1970
Consecrated Bishop in 1964 while serving as pastor.
- Monsignor Martin W. Christopher1970–1973
- Father Joseph A. Ranieri1973–1976
Later named Monsignor.
- Father Joaquin A. Bazan1976–1984
First Latino pastor; instituted the annual Spanish-language Easter / Good Friday Passion procession through the neighborhood.
- Father Roman Rozacheson, OFM Cap.1984–1990
First Capuchin Franciscan pastor; friars of the Province of St. Augustine assumed pastoral care in 1984.
- Father Robert E. McCreary, OFM Cap.1990–1995
- Father Francis Xavier Russo, OFM Cap.1995–2001
- Father Stephen Carter, OFM Cap.2001–2010
Announced in July 2010 that he would be succeeded by Father Moises.
- Father Moises Villalta, OFM Cap.2010–2018
First Salvadoran-American pastor in the history of the Archdiocese of Washington.
- Father Emilio Biosca Agüero, OFM Cap.March 2019–present
Current (14th) pastor.
