Sacred Heart Church
303 Church Street
Loretto, Tennessee 38469
Telephone: 931-853-4370
Fax: 931-853-4373
Reverend Dr. J. Cletus
Plackal, C.M.I.
Administrator
Mass Schedule/Reconciliation Church History Mission Meet Our Staff Parish Ministries
Organizations Sacred Heart Elementary School Upcoming Parish Events
St. Joseph Catholic Church (St. Joseph, Tennessee)
SACRED HEART CATHOLIC CHURCH
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Mass Schedule: |
5:30 PM 10:00 AM 7:00 PM 8:30 AM |
Saturday Sunday Monday Tuesday through Friday |
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Reconciliation: |
4:45 PM to 5:15 PM Anytime by appointment |
Saturday |
In
1869, an association was formed in Cincinnati, Ohio, by Catholics of German
descent for the
purpose of locating a colony in Lawrence County Tennessee. The Reverend J. H. Hueser, D. D., pastor of St. Mary’s Church
in Millhousen, Indiana, became interested in the movement and placed himself at the disposal of
Bishop Feehan of Nashville. Reverend
Hueser was sent to Lawrenceburg as the first priest in Lawrence County. Father Hueser left Lawrenceburg in 1871
to start a new
settlement fourteen miles south known as Glynnrock, which was later renamed Loretto. He built a parish residence, shared by a lay teacher and his family, where Mass
was celebrated from October 1871 to February 1872. During this time, a solid-frame church was built in honor of the Sacred Heart
of Jesus,
which also served as a
school. On February 2, 1872, the Feast of the
Purification of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mass was celebrated for the first time in the new church.
Reverend Louis J. Kemphues
was appointed the first pastor in 1907.
During his tenure, a new parochial school was built and dedicated on
October 22, 1907. Upon completion of
the school a movement for the erection of a brick church was begun. The foundation stone for the new church was
laid on September 29, 1910. On May 12,
1912, Sacred Heart Church was dedicated by The Most Reverend Thomas L. Byrne,
D. D., Bishop of Nashville.
The church saw adaptation to
new liturgical norms emerging from Vatican II, with the renovation of the
interior of the structure in 1971.
March 1992 brought the beginning of the restoration and redecoration of
the church under Reverend Kevin Dowling.
The rededication was held on November 29, 1992, under the leadership of
Reverend Ignatius Eckelkamp, O.F.M.
Sacred Heart Church is
listed on the National Register of Historical Places.
SACRED
HEART CATHOLIC MISSION STATEMENT
We, the parishioners of
Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Loretto Tennessee, united in faith, hope, and
love, consecrate ourselves to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. We gather at the altar of the Lord with a
deep sense of gratitude to commemorate and celebrate the Eucharist. Renewed by the Eucharist and the unfailing
love of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, we pledge ourselves to lead lives of
effective Christian witnessing by our words and deeds.
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Reverend
Dr. J. Cletus Plackal, C. M. I., Administrator |
I
arrived at Sacred Heart Parish, Loretto, Tennessee, on June 26, 1999. I found the parishioners to be very
friendly and welcoming. Although I
come from a distant country, India, with a different culture, I found the unity
of our Catholic faith to be much more powerful than the diversity that
divides us. For me Catholic means
truly universal. During my short
stay in Loretto I have been able to witness the deep Catholic faith and
strong family ties of the people here.
Our Sacred Heart School children are blessed with a foundational
formation in Christian values. The
reassuring words of the Good Shepherd are my message to the people of Sacred
Heart: My little
group of disciples, don’t be afraid!
Your Father wants to give you the kingdom. ( Lk 12:32) Onward we march, the pilgrim people, to the next
millennium, with hope and a deep sense of While you are in Loretto, please visit us and join in our
Eucharistic Celebration. |
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Reverend Samuel C. Beckman, Deacon |
Hello, I am Sam Beckman.
I am an ordained permanent deacon.
I have served
both Sacred Heart and Saint
Joseph Parishes since my ordination, December 7, 1980. My ministry consists of a variety of
pastoral works. In trying to live up
to the title deacon, servant, I interact with the pastor, clergy and laity
servicing God’s people in word and sacrament. |
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Mrs. Margaret A. Hollman, Office Manager
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As the office manager of Sacred Heart and Saint Joseph Catholic Churches for the
last twenty years, I welcome
you. During my tenure I have worked
with Diocesan and Religious Order priests.
My work has been both challenging and rewarding. If I may be of any assistance to you,
please contact me at the Parish Office. |
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Altar Servers: Donna and Jerry Kerstiens |
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Bible Study: Joan Augustin and JoAn Campbell |
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C. C. D.: Deacon Sam Beckman |
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Elementary Religious Education: Kathleen Sullivan |
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Eucharistic Ministers: Lena Augustin |
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Lectors: Mildred Brown |
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Music Ministry: Donna Simbeck and Diane McMasters |
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R. C. I. A.: Deacon Sam Beckman |
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Ushers: Don Simbeck |
Return to Home Page
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Altar Society: Shirley Roberts |
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C. Y. O.: Joe and Margaret
Reeves |
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Knights of Columbus: Lawrence
Roberts |
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Legion of Mary: Loretta
and Albert Kerstiens; Mary Evers |
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Marriage Preparation Team: Barry and
Emily Gillespie |
SACRED HEART ELEMENTARY
SCHOOL
(Phone: 931/853-4388)
Catherine Bradley, Principal
Sacred Heart Elementary School welcomes you. Our history began in 1872 in a small frame church building. Our vision throughout the years has been to foster a deeply rooted Catholic education to the youth of our parish. Sacred Heart School is the center of our parish life and activities. The parish has taken up the challenge of preparing our younger members to grow up to become genuine Christians true to their vocation. This foundational Christian formation is the best education any parish can offer its younger members. The Liturgical, academic and athletic formation is outstanding.
We have new projects and programs to accompany us
into the new millennium. Sacred Heart
School is reaching out to other school children in India and Europe using the
internet. This is an excellent
opportunity for them to participate in the universality of our global
community. Our alumnae and alumni are also able to
continue a meaningful relationship with their Alma Mater through the use of the
internet.
Sacred Heart School has a great and
ongoing tradition, which is fueled by the commitment and dedication of the staff, the cooperation
of the parents, and the generosity of the parishioners of Sacred Heart Catholic
Church. He who is Light, Life
and Truth is with us.
CHURCH DIRECTORY PICTURES:
(For an appointment, contact Amy Brown at 853-4688 or Shellee Rohling at 853-6060)
November 11 Session 1 3:00-7:00 PM
November 11 Session 2 3:00-7:00 PM
November 13 Session 3 9:00-3:00 PM
R.C.I.A.:
November 21 Rite of Welcoming Mass 10:00 AM
ECUMENICAL THANKSGIVING PRAYER SERVICE:
November 22 Faith Baptist Church, Loretto TN 7:00 PM
THANKSGIVING:
November 25 Mass (collection for Samaritan House) 8:30 PM
FEAST OF THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION (Holy Day):
December 7 Mass, Sacred Heart, Loretto TN 7:00 PM
December 8 Mass, Saint Joseph’s, St. Joseph TN 8:00 AM
Mass, Sacred Heart, Loretto TN 7:00 PM
ADVENT:
December 14 Penance Service 7:00 PM
CHRISTMAS SCHEDULE:
December 15 Sacred Heart School Christmas Play 7:00 PM
December 17 Dismissal of school for the holidays
December 24 Children’s Christmas Mass 5:00 PM
Christmas Carols 11:30 PM
Midnight Mass 12:00 PM
December 25 Mass, Saint Joseph’s, St. Joseph TN 8:00 AM
(Christmas Day)
NEW YEAR’S DAY (Holy Day):
December 31 Year-end Mass at Sacred Heart 7:00 PM
(New Year’s Eve)
January 1, 2000 Mass, Saint Joseph’s, St. Joseph TN 8:00 AM
(New Year’s Day) Mass, Sacred Heart, Loretto TN 10:00 AM
(No Evening Mass at Sacred Heart)
SAINT JOSEPH CATHOLIC CHURCH
(Phone: 931/853-4370)
The parish of St. Joseph was
started in 1871 by a cooperative known as the Catholic Homestead Association of
Cincinnati. The Association purchased
large tracts of land in Lawrence County for the purpose of resettling families
from the more populated towns in the North.
The majority of these families were of German extraction as well as
Polish and other European nationalities.
In 1872, the first frame church was built on the land the Association
had given to the parish.
St. Joseph’s Church has the distinction of being the only
consecrated Catholic Church in the State of Tennessee. Only churches which have assured
permanency, both of construction and use, may be consecrated. They must be built of stone or other
permanent materials and the land and the building must be entirely free from
debt. Bishop Rademacher of the
Nashville Diocese performed the consecration.
The
Consecration and Dedication Ceremony dates back to the time of the
apostles. Three times the Bishop and
his assistant priests marched around the exterior, sprinkling the walls with
holy water. Then the Bishop struck the
front door with his staff saying, “Lift up your gates and the King of Glory
shall enter.” The deacon inside
the front door responded, “Who is the King of Glory?” The Litany of the Saints was chanted in
response. On the floor of the
church, ashes had been spread to form Christ’s monogram, resembling the letter
“X”. The Bishop
traced on one arm of the cross the 26 letters of the Greek alphabet and the
Latin alphabet on the other arm of the cross.
A threefold procession around the interior of the church followed,
accompanied by the sprinkling of the walls with holy water. The anointing of the walls, designated by
twelve crosses, was then performed.
The altar was consecrated with Gregorian Water, water mixed with salt,
ashes and wine, blessed by the Bishop.
The great ceremony concluded with the Sacrifice of the Mass.
St.
Joseph Church, the grounds and cemetery, are on the National Register of
Historical Places.