Sacred Heart Catholic Church

Top Row (l to r) Grant FRANCIS, Nate THOMAS, Timothy NICHOLAS, Nathan JOSEPH, Luke JOSEPH, Wade JOSEPH, Middle Row (l to r) Levi CLEMENT, Gavin JOSEPH, Logan MICHAEL, Clayton HUBERT, Michael SEBASTIAN, Connor PETER, Dawson THOMAS bottom row (l to r) Jena BRIDGID, Kayla BERNADETTE, Rev. Mr. Gary Endres, Rev. Joseph Keating, Martie MONICA, Haley CATHERINE

Dear Parishioners of Sacred Heart,

Over the past year, we have endured the struggles of the pandemic.  Many of us came down with the COVID disease, and while the great majority have recovered, it has nevertheless taken the lives of a few parishioners, as well as family and friends elsewhere in our state and country.  May God grant eternal rest and have mercy on the souls of these Faithful departed, and, by the virtue of faith, may God grant comfort and hope to us who mourn.

All of us have experienced inconveniences and setbacks, and we have been asked to do things we did not want to do.  In these times, many of us have learned to put others’ needs ahead of our own, which is a hallmark of Christian charity.  I am grateful to the many who set aside their personal preferences in order to come together safely for worship, an essential right of every Christian.

Many parishioners have voiced their opposition to the safety measures that were implemented.  Some doubted that our measures were effective in staving off the Virus, and so decided that the safety rules did not apply to them.  Time will tell whether the masks, social distancing, and sanitizing actually had any real effect.  Still, the disregard for what amounted to a minor inconvenience was a regrettable decision, for it seems to me that some cared little for the possibility that an elderly parishioner, believing in the efficacy of masks and wanting to return to their church, may have wanted to do so with peace of mind, knowing that their neighbors would be wearing masks.

I tried to set a good example at Mass by wearing my mask constantly over these past several months, even though I also do not enjoy wearing it.  This gesture of obedience to our Bishop was apparently lost on many of you. 

Now I am pleased to say that our Bishop has relaxed more of the safety restrictions.  I am glad for the greater freedom we will enjoy going forward, and I pray that the fear that some still experience will subside.  Surely the closer our county gets to collective immunity, the greater confidence we can have in joining the rest of our Catholic brothers and sisters at Mass and other gatherings.
 
Effective April 26, 2021, here are the revised safety protocols:

• Masks are now optional at Mass.
• Pews are 100% open.
• Reception of Holy Communion is permitted on the hand or on the tongue.
• Those distributing Holy Communion must wear a mask while doing so.
• Social distancing of at least 3 feet between households still applies.
• Hand-washing or sanitizing still applies.
• The sign of peace (already optional) and the reception of Holy Communion from the chalice (also optional) will not be reinstated at this time.
• Those who do not feel comfortable attending Mass in person may continue to stay home.  Canon Law dispenses you from the obligation of attending Mass if you feel that it would jeopardize your health.  Anyone with symptoms of any illness should stay home from Mass.  The Sunday 8:00am Mass will continue to be available on the KofC Facebook page and on Nortex’s local access channel(s).

With gratitude for your patience and charity,


Rev. Joe Keating
Pastor

Sacred Heart is searching for high quality Catholic candidates to fill recent job openings.  Click on the button below for more information.

Update: 
Statement dated December 14, 2020

Bishop Olson's Complete Statement

Statement from the USCCB

The Annual Diocesan Appeal is a dynamic opportunity for all of the faithful in the Diocese of Fort Worth to impact lives beyond the scope of any individual parish. Its mission is to witness to God’s grace in our lives by together sharing the Gospel message of faith, hope and charity with those most in need of attention through knowing and doing all that we are called to as Disciples of Christ.

Thank you for prayerfully considering your gift to the appeal.

DONATE NOW

Annual Diocesan Appeal Letter from Bishop Michael Olson

Our local council of the Knights of Columbus continue the livestream with the broadcast of Mass each Sunday morning at 8:00 am.  This will be provided through YouTube beginning on April 1st.  Click the provided link below or search for the page in the app or website.

Sacred Heart YouTube

Thank you to the Knights for providing this much needed ministry to our parish family.

Sunday 7:30 AM (church)
Sunday 10:00 AM (church)
Monday 6:30 PM (church)-Novena-Perpetual Help
Tuesday 7:00 PM (church)-Cenacle Of Men
Wednesday 5:30 PM (church)
Monday-Thursday-Friday
7:30 AM (church)

WEDNESDAY 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM
FRIDAY  9:00 AM to 6:00 PM

The Fourth Bishop of the Diocese of Fort Worth is Most Reverend Michael F. Olson, the first priest of the Diocese to become a bishop who was ordained and installed on January 29, 2014 at the Tarrant County Convention Center. Bishop Olson, a native of Illinois, was ordained a priest of the Diocese of Fort Worth on June 3, 1994 by the late Bishop Joseph P. Delaney at St. Patrick Cathedral. His first assignment was as the parochial vicar—an associate pastor—of St. Michael Parish in Bedford where he served from July 1994 through June 1997.