In downtown Tampa, Sacred Heart Catholic Church is known for its Romanesque sanctuary, extensive stained glass, historic organ, and long record of service. The parish traces its beginnings to 1859, when a small frame church called St. Louis began serving Tampa's Catholic community; the present Sacred Heart building was dedicated in 1905. Franciscan Friars have served here since 2005. Today, Sacred Heart welcomes people to daily and Sunday Mass, offers family and adult faith formation, celebrates the sacraments, provides online worship, and organizes service to people who are hungry, homeless, sick, homebound, or isolated in downtown Tampa and the wider Tampa Bay area.
From St. Louis Parish to Sacred Heart
Catholicism on Florida's west coast reaches back to Spanish explorers of the 1500s and the missionaries who came with them. A Jesuit outpost stood in what would become Tampa in the late 1500s, but it was abandoned after about three years. In the early 1850s, Hillsborough County commissioners deeded property at Ashley Drive and Twiggs Street for a Catholic church, then exchanged it for land at Florida Avenue and Twiggs. A little frame church rose on that site in 1859, was blessed on Trinity Sunday, and was named St. Louis Parish in honor of King Louis IX of France and Fr. Luis Cancer, a Dominican missionary martyred on the shores of Tampa Bay in 1549.
St. Louis Parish was formally constituted in February 1860 when Fr. Charles S. Mailley arrived as resident pastor. As Tampa grew, wings added in 1883 nearly doubled the little church's seating. The yellow fever epidemic of 1887 and 1888 took a heavy toll, and the parish lost three pastors within a year. Bishop John Moore of the Diocese of St. Augustine had lost nearly a quarter of his priests to the illness and had no one else to send. Founding pastors and many successors were buried in St. Louis Cemetery in downtown Tampa.
Fr. Philippe de Carriere, S.J., then offered to take the struggling parish. Under Jesuit pastoral leadership from 1888 until 2005, the missionaries who cared for Catholics across much of South Florida also served St. Louis Parish's territory, which stretched to Key West. Their work is credited with establishing at least 30 parishes and countless missions and stations over the following half century.
The Jesuits' scholarly interests also shaped Catholic education in Tampa. What became Jesuit High School began in St. Louis Parish's sacristy in 1899 and moved to its own campus in 1956. The parish founded Sacred Heart Academy in 1931; it began as an elementary school, added high school classes until 1971, and educated Tampa students for 81 years before closing in 2012.
Ground was broken for the present church on February 16, 1898. The Jesuits built it for $300,000, and it was dedicated as Sacred Heart on January 15, 1905. Its Romanesque form remains strikingly close to the original: the exterior combines granite and white marble, while much of the interior design has survived intact across generations. The dedication came just 46 years after the first frame church, giving the parish a visible record of growth from St. Louis to Sacred Heart.
Franciscan Hospitality on Florida Avenue
On July 15, 2005, the Feast of St. Bonaventure, Sacred Heart was entrusted to the Franciscan Friars. Fr. Andrew Reitz, OFM, became the first Franciscan pastor in January 2006. The present pastoral team includes Pastor Fr. Michael P. Jones, OFM, and parochial vicars Fr. Zachary Elliott, OFM, and Fr. Steve Kluge, OFM. Faith formation is led by Director Barbara Ferreris with Associate Director Maria Giral; Philip Jakob directs music, and Vicky McCarthy manages event, hospitality, and outreach ministry.
Sacred Heart's Franciscan priorities are concrete: empower lay leadership within and beyond the Catholic Church, advocate for vulnerable people by promoting justice and peace, and reach those who are alienated from the Church or society. These priorities connect parish worship and formation with ministries serving hunger, homelessness, illness, and isolation. The parish is a Catholic faith community seeking to live the Gospel through Franciscan spirituality in the context of 21st-century life.
Franciscan friars take vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience and follow the manner of life established by St. Francis of Assisi. Their mission is to live out the Gospel of Jesus Christ within the Church, and their hospitality is marked by openness to people within and beyond the faith community. Sacred Heart's motto, Dedicated to the Greater Glory of God, expresses the religious purpose behind that outward-facing service.
A Weekday and Sunday Rhythm
Mass is the center of the parish's common life. The weekly pattern offers several choices for attending the church's principal worship:
- Monday through Friday: Mass at 7:00 a.m. and 12:10 p.m.
- Saturday: Vigil Mass at 5:30 p.m.
- Sunday: Mass at 7:30 a.m., 9:00 a.m., 10:30 a.m., noon, and 5:30 p.m.
The Sacrament of Reconciliation is offered Monday through Friday from 11:30 a.m. until noon and on Saturday from 4:15 p.m. until 5:00 p.m. The 10:30 a.m. Sunday Mass is livestreamed through the parish's online Mass, and previous Masses are available in its Vimeo showcase. For families participating at home, Sacred Heart recommends preparing a prayer table, following the readings and hymns, sharing the customary responses and gestures, and making a spiritual Communion.
For an in-person visit, the church is open to the public on weekdays until 3:00 p.m. It is generally closed on Saturdays until 4:00 p.m. for weddings and closes after the final Mass on weekends. Restrooms are open in the back of the church, and childcare is not offered. For people attending while ill, the parish provides sanitizing stations at the entrances and exits, masks in the back of the church, holy water dispensers, and a recommendation that Communion be received in the hand.
Romanesque Stones, Munich Glass, and a Landmark Organ
Architecture and stained glass
Sacred Heart's Romanesque architecture remains one of the clearest visual links to its Jesuit history. The original building plan and much of the decorative work remain in place, including the transept, apse, choir loft, and sanctuary. Its exterior pairing of granite and white marble gives the church a monumental appearance, while the interior preserves the visual world intended when the church was dedicated in 1905.
The church contains 70 stained glass windows. The 17 vertical windows lining the nave, anchoring each side of the transept, and surrounding the apse are the most dramatic. They were made in the late 1800s by Franz Mayer Co. of Munich, Germany. Many do more than illustrate a biblical scene: they narrate a complete story in stained glass, turning Scripture into a visual part of the worship space.
The Resurrection Window on the left side of the transept is a triptych with three panels. Its center presents the risen Christ triumphant over death, floating above the tomb with a heavenly banner and one hand raised in blessing. An angel descends beneath him toward the stunned soldiers. One side panel shows the Virgin Mary in blue approaching with Mary Magdalene and Martha, while the other depicts two soldiers fleeing as the tomb opens. The window joins the events before the Resurrection with the glory of Christ above.
The organ and the music of worship
The instruments housed by Sacred Heart reveal another layer of parish history. An Estey Company organ with 22 stops, two manuals, and pedals was installed in the wooden St. Louis church in 1889. A Henry Pilcher Opus 721 followed in 1911, and its casework can still be seen. The scale of the later instrument was extraordinary. The M.P. Moller organ installed in 1927 had four manuals, pedals, 88 speaking stops, about 5,000 pipes, chimes, two harps, and tremulants. It cost $29,350 and was the largest organ in Florida when installed, a striking choice for a church whose worship often relied on unaccompanied or lightly accompanied Gregorian chant.
By 1985, the Moller organ was seldom used and several divisions no longer functioned. In 1991, the Wicks Organ Company rebuilt the instrument in a new three-manual, 48-stop design within the Pilcher case, retaining some Moller pipework. The console was moved to the south transept in 2009, and additional work in 2012 restored original Moller pipes and windchests. The instrument's continuing story reflects the willingness of the parish to preserve an essential part of its worship while adapting it to modern use.
Sacred Heart uses the New Wine setting for the Mass, including the Glory to God, Lamb of God, Holy, Memorial Acclamation, and Great Amen. Director of Music Philip Jakob also leads a music ministry that includes choir members, cantors, and musicians. Other roles in the liturgy include altar servers, readers, Eucharistic ministers, greeters, and ushers, allowing the prayer and music of Mass to be shaped by parish participation.
Learning Across Generations
Sacred Heart's Family Faith Formation takes a nontraditional approach to catechesis. Families gather twice monthly from September through May, either on Sunday mornings from 10:30 a.m. to noon or Wednesday evenings from 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at the North Campus. A large group begins with opening prayer and an introduction to the theme, then breaks into smaller groups led by volunteer catechists. The sessions explore Sunday Scripture through activities such as Jeopardy, crafts, Bingo, and faith sharing, allowing adults and children to learn together.
Children ages five through fifth grade are also invited to the Children's Liturgy of the Word during the 9:00 a.m. Sunday Mass. Immediately before the Liturgy of the Word, children and catechists leave the church for the St. Clare Room. They then return to Mass and reunite with their families during the Preparation of the Gifts, so that the whole family participates in the remainder of the liturgy.
Preparation for the Sacraments of Initiation for children includes Baptism, Confirmation, Eucharist, and Reconciliation. Parents and children participate together, and the Diocese of St. Petersburg requires at least two consecutive years of Catholic parochial school or parish faith formation before a child receives the sacraments. Sacramental preparation sessions take place at the North Campus.
Adults who were baptized and received First Eucharist but have not been confirmed can enter the adult confirmation process offered in spring and fall. Its six weeks of sessions review all the sacraments, with special attention to Confirmation, the Church, and a sacramental and moral life. The Order of Christian Initiation of Adults, or O.C.I.A., has a different purpose: it is a roughly nine-month journey for not-yet-baptized adults and baptized adults seeking full communion. Weekly learning is joined by rites, retreats, Scripture reflection at a designated Mass, and study of the Creed, the Mass, the sacraments, Mary, the saints, the Holy Spirit, grace, and Catholic Social Teaching.
The adult Bible Study group meets twice monthly. Its sessions focus largely on the coming week's Gospel while moving through connections between the Old and New Testaments and the promises of God through the death and resurrection of Jesus. Participation in discussion is welcome but not required, and the group offers a supportive setting for learning more about the readings or Catholic faith.
Belonging, Service, and Stewardship
Parish registration at Sacred Heart means more than placing a name in a database. An active parishioner attends Mass regularly, defined as at least 75 percent of Sundays, shares time and talent through parish ministries or volunteer organizations, and contributes financially to the life of the parish. Families choosing Catholic faith formation for their children are expected to worship faithfully and participate in parish life. The goal is a rooted sense of belonging in the Catholic community of downtown Tampa.
Marriage has its own registration requirements. A couple registered at a parish near home may schedule a wedding at Sacred Heart without transferring parish registration. A newly registered couple, however, is eligible to request a marriage celebration after one year of active participation. Sacred Heart also provides registration for non-Catholics interested in learning more about becoming Catholic or entering the O.C.I.A. process.
Meals, Housing, and Care Beyond the Church Doors
Hands of Hope is one of Sacred Heart's most direct ministries of service. Each Saturday, parishioners prepare a meal for homeless neighbors and then distribute it downtown with friendship and fellowship. The ministry welcomes families and teens and treats food distribution as an opportunity for relationships, not merely a meal delivery. St. Vincent de Paul Society, Bikes from the Heart, and Loving Hearts are other parish outreach ministries supported by the generosity of parishioners.
Sacred Heart is an original partner of Tampa Hope, which opened in 2021 and houses more than 100 local people experiencing homelessness in semi-permanent shelters. Its broader services include food, clothing, transportation, education, employment and benefits assistance, substance abuse and mental health counseling, basic medical care, and case management. Sacred Heart helps build a volunteer network for breakfast and lunch deliveries to the Tampa Hope facility in East Ybor. A delivery commitment can take 30 minutes to an hour.
Care also extends to people who cannot easily reach the church. Eucharistic ministers visit the homebound and serve at Tampa General Hospital, where the friars provide on-call chaplaincy. Secular Franciscans, the Justice Ministry, and the Parish Outreach Committee connect the Franciscan call to live the Gospel with practical concerns affecting the Tampa Bay area. Other service and fellowship groups include Loving Hearts' connections to Love INC of Metro Tampa and Adopt-A-School volunteers, the Knights of Columbus, the Historical Society, the Book Club, the garden ministry, men's and women's prayer groups, and Sacred Heart Young Adults for ages 18 to 36.
The Outreach Committee brings together ministry leaders, staff, and clergy to address philanthropic, humanitarian, and community needs within and beyond parish boundaries. Meeting monthly, it coordinates collections, fundraisers, and events with the assistance of parish ministries. Its work supports organizations including Catholic Charities of the Diocese of St. Petersburg, St. Vincent de Paul, the Knights of Columbus, pregnancy and adoption centers, and Tampa and Pinellas Hope homeless shelters.
Faith Made Present in the Seven Sacraments
Sacred Heart teaches that the seven sacraments are signs of grace instituted by Christ and entrusted to the Church. Baptism gives birth to Christian life, Confirmation strengthens it, and the Eucharist nourishes it. Reconciliation and the Anointing of the Sick renew and restore. Marriage and Holy Orders are oriented toward service to others and the building up of the Church. These beliefs shape the parish's sacramental preparation, worship, and care for people at different stages of life.
Baptism is celebrated as a community of families on the second Saturday of each month at 10:00 a.m., and during Mass on the first and third Sundays of the month. Baptisms are not celebrated during Lent. Preparation classes for parents are required. The parish also welcomes adults seeking Baptism through O.C.I.A., and the First Reconciliation and First Eucharist programs support children preparing to receive those sacraments.
The Eucharist is the central part of the Mass. Sacred Heart teaches that the bread and wine become the Body and Blood of Christ and that Jesus is truly present. Adults preparing for Confirmation may take part in the spring and fall adult confirmation process, while adults who were baptized and received First Eucharist but were not confirmed can deepen their understanding of the Church and sacramental life through that course.
The sacraments of healing are also accompanied by practical care. Reconciliation emphasizes pardon from God, healing, and a recommitment to a Christian life. The Anointing of the Sick brings comfort, peace, and courage to those who are ill, infirm, anticipating surgery, or recovering, and can be arranged during Mass or through a priest's visit. Funerals unite Scripture, Eucharist, family, and community in the church's celebration of life. Through Holy Orders, some men are ordained as deacons or priests to continue the mission entrusted by Christ to the apostles.
Weddings in the Roman Rite
Sacred Heart celebrates wedding ceremonies using the Roman Rite in the couple's native vernacular, with examples including English and Spanish, and with the priest facing the people. The Arras and Lazo or Veil customs may be included. Latin Mass is not permitted, and practical limits on time, resources, and personnel mean that Eastern Catholic Rites are not accommodated.
Couples begin the application process at least six months before the anticipated wedding date. Preparation includes the FOCCUS readiness survey and Journey to Matrimony, a 12-hour program usually offered on the third Saturday of most months for couples marrying for the first time. Music selections are coordinated with Director of Music Philip Jakob at least five months before the ceremony. Sacred Heart is not a destination wedding venue, and the needs of the parish remain central to each celebration.
Parish wedding managers direct the rehearsal and ceremony, give directions for the procession and placement of the wedding party, and ensure that candles, lights, and altar furnishings are properly arranged. A professional wedding planner does not replace that role. The parish's policy allows couples some choices in Scripture and blessings while requiring the celebration to follow Catholic liturgical norms, customs, and teachings.
North Campus and Parish Spaces
The nine-and-a-half-acre North Campus at 3515 N. Florida Avenue serves as Sacred Heart's center of ministry and family life. It hosts faith formation, O.C.I.A., ministry meetings, the annual picnic, family movie nights, and parish gatherings. The True North vision keeps the historic downtown church as the center of worship while developing the North Campus as a shared place for collaboration, youth, families, and expanded outreach. Its purpose is to help the parish serve a growing downtown population while sustaining one center of worship.
Parish facilities support worship, formation, and hospitality. St. Francis Hall, at East Twiggs Street and North Marion Street, is one of the larger gathering spaces and can be arranged in a classroom setting with meals. The St. Clare Room, on the second floor of the Parish Office at 518 N. Marion Street, accommodates smaller adult and children's faith formation meetings, the Book Club, and council gatherings. The Parish Office is open Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Next to the church at 507 N. Florida Avenue, the Sacred Heart Gift and Book Store offers religious objects and specialty gifts from around the world. Its selection includes art, sculpture, jewelry, handmade products from Italy and elsewhere in the United States, work by Michal Golan, and one-of-a-kind Raku Potteryworks pieces. The store is closed Monday, open Tuesday through Friday from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., and open around Saturday and Sunday Mass times.
A Parish With Open Doors
Taken together, the Romanesque church, its music and glass, the sacramental life of the parish, and service beyond its walls make Sacred Heart a distinctly Franciscan Catholic community in downtown Tampa. Its motto, Dedicated to the Greater Glory of God, names the center of a life that pairs reverence with hospitality and devotion with service.