In the year 1855, Winthrop and all of East Boston, known as the “Island Diocese,” were under the care of the Rev. James Fitton, pastor of the first Catholic Church in East Boston, the Most Holy Redeemer. Later, three additional churches were built: Our Lady of the Assumption (the 2nd section), Sacred Heart Church (the 3rd section), and the last church, St. Mary Star of the Sea (the 4th section).
On February 6, 1873, ground was broken to commence the building of Sacred Heart Church. Although a church of stone was intended, the sandy, unstable soil made this idea unfeasible and a wooden Gothic structure was erected. The work was carried on until Christmas of 1873 when a temporary altar was erected and Mass was celebrated for the first time. The Sacred Heart Church was finished around Easter in 1874 and dedicated on June 12, 1874, the Feast of the Sacred Heart.
Rev. Lawrence P. McCarthy was the first pastor of Sacred Heart, appointed from 1877 to 1881, followed by the Rev. Fr. Michael Clark who was pastor from 1881 to 1906. It was during this time, a large brick schoolhouse for elementary grades and a parochial residence for priests were erected. The children of the school were taught by the Sisters of Notre Dame who resided at the Most Holy Redeemer convent. They taught until 1911, the same year the cornerstone for a Sacred Heart convent was put in place on Paris Street. It would be the order of Dominican Nuns who would continue Catholic education for the parish.
Pastoral duties were then taken up by Rev. James H. O’Neil from 1906 until his death in 1928. He would often visit the school and pick-slip children whose shoes were badly worn. The pink slip could be traded in for a pair of shoes at Kushner’s shoe store. From 1928 to 1939, Rev. Thomas C. Garrahan continued the pastoral leadership of Sacred Heart Parish.
In 1946 major renovations to the 72-year-old church were undertaken by then pastor, Rev. Charles Donahue. In that same year, Fr. Donahue was transferred and the Rev. Laurence B. Killian arrived at Sacred Heart. Fr. Killian established a High School that lasted a brief but memorable 10 years. During this same period, Archbishop Richard J. Cushing determined that St. John the Baptist church, a national Portuguese church established in 1922 on Saratoga Street, East Boston, would be administered to by the Archdiocese of Boston.
It was a cold Saturday afternoon on January 30, 1965, when a fire, believed to have started in the boiler room, completely consumed the 93-year-old Sacred Heart Church. For the next year, Mass was celebrated at St. John the Baptist Church and in the school cafeteria. The church was rebuilt in 1966 and Christmas Mass was celebrated in the new Sacred Heart Church.
The Rev. Vincent J. Piscitelli became pastor in 1971 and served the parish for 14 years before his retirement. In 1973, the elementary school merged with Our Lady of Mount Carmel School thus creating the Community Center of Christian Education. The Dominican nuns were then reassigned to a new location.
In 1983, a project of major proportions was undertaken to demolish both the schoolhouse, located in the parking area, and the rectory on Brooks Street, where the handicap ramp is today. The old boarded up convent would be restored as a new rectory.
The Rev. Henry Chambers who assumed his duties as pastor on September 15, 1985, would be the first pastor to occupy the new rectory, which was ready for occupancy on June 22, 1987. Fr. Chambers left for his new assignment on March 1988.
On May 10, 1988, the Rev. Albert J. Sallese was appointed pastor of Sacred Heart Parish. During Fr. Al’s tenure, the formation of a Parish Council was established for the first time. Also, the CCD Center in the basement of St. John the Baptist Church was totally renovated and renamed the Holy Family Center.
In the year 2000, the Rev. Brian McHugh came to Sacred Heart as pastor. He would be transferred to another assignment in 2003 and be replaced by Rev. Wayne Belschner who would be with Sacred Heart for the next 13 years. Fr. Wayne instituted an 11:00 Italian Mass on Sundays which drew many from Our Lady of Mount Carmel parish and Our Lady Star of the Sea following closure of their churches.
Rev. Eric M. Bennett arrived as the new Administrator of Sacred Heart in 2016, followed by Rev. Guy Sciacca in 2018. On August 1, 2020, we were happy to welcome our current Administrator, Rev. Paolo Cumin, of the Fraternity of St. Charles Borromeo. We look forward to many new and exciting things for Sacred Heart parish.
It was a cold Saturday afternoon on January 30, 1965, when a fire, believed to have started in the boiler room, completely consumed the 93-year-old Sacred Heart Church. For the next year, Mass was celebrated at St. John the Baptist Church and in the school cafeteria. The church was rebuilt in 1966 and Christmas Mass was celebrated in the new Sacred Heart Church.
The Rev. Vincent J. Piscitelli became pastor in 1971 and served the parish for 14 years before his retirement. In 1973, the elementary school merged with Our Lady of Mount Carmel School thus creating the Community Center of Christian Education. The Dominican nuns were then reassigned to a new location.
In 1983, a project of major proportions was undertaken to demolish both the schoolhouse, located in the parking area, and the rectory on Brooks Street, where the handicap ramp is today. The old boarded up convent would be restored as a new rectory.
The Rev. Henry Chambers who assumed his duties as pastor on September 15, 1985, would be the first pastor to occupy the new rectory, which was ready for occupancy on June 22, 1987. Fr. Chambers left for his new assignment on March 1988.
On May 10, 1988, the Rev. Albert J. Sallese was appointed pastor of Sacred Heart Parish. During Fr. Al’s tenure, the formation of a Parish Council was established for the first time. Also, the CCD Center in the basement of St. John the Baptist Church was totally renovated and renamed the Holy Family Center.
In the year 2000, the Rev. Brian McHugh came to Sacred Heart as pastor. He would be transferred to another assignment in 2003 and be replaced by Rev. Wayne Belschner who would be with Sacred Heart for the next 13 years. Fr. Wayne instituted an 11:00 Italian Mass on Sundays which drew many from Our Lady of Mount Carmel parish and Our Lady Star of the Sea following closure of their churches.
Rev. Eric M. Bennett arrived as the new Administrator of Sacred Heart in 2016, followed by Rev. Guy Sciacca in 2018. On August 1, 2020, we were happy to welcome our current Administrator, Rev. Paolo Cumin, of the Fraternity of St. Charles Borromeo. We look forward to many new and exciting things for Sacred Heart parish.
Sacred Heart Parish will be celebrating it’s 150th Anniversary on June 18 with a special Mass celebrated by Cardinal Sean O’Malley at 10:00 a.m. and followed by a celebratory luncheon at Spinnelli’s in Lynnfield. Tickets are $60 and can be purchased online at www.sacredhearteb.org or by calling the Parish Office at 617-567-5776.