Parish History

The story of Sacred Heart Catholic Parish is synonymous with the story of Muenster itself. On December 8, 1889, the Feast of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the first Catholic Mass was celebrated in Muenster. This is also considered the date of the town’s founding. The Mass was celebrated by Rev. H. Brickley, pastor of Gainesville, at an altar in the land office. Soon after, the school, rectory, and church were built, and the origins of Sacred Heart Parish took root.

The early years saw numerous setbacks, with the first two church buildings being destroyed by multiple tornadoes in the 1890s. Each time, however, the community banded together to rebuild and restore their beloved Parish. That fledgling community out on the prairie has endured and grown to become the faith-centered German Catholic town we know and love today.

Over the years, many groups and individuals have played a part in writing our story. The pioneers made do in the early years until the arrival of Benedictine priests from Subiaco Abbey in 1893. They served our Parish until the 1990s, with the Benedictine Sisters continuing to support the school until this day. As a primary mission of the parish, Sacred Heart Catholic School was started in 1890, with the definitive red brick building first holding classes in the 1925-1926 school year. Today, Sacred Heart Catholic School is the only school in the Diocese of Fort Worth that offers Catholic education for PreK through 12th Grade.

In 1949, our Parish set out to rebuild the church once again, as the third church serving the Parish from 1898-1948, began to crack from a lack of a strong foundation. Thus, the present church building finished in 1954, has a foundation that goes more than 20 feet deep into rock… a literal and figurative strong foundation for our quaint Parish community. Our Parish rejoices in knowing that we have a strong foundation in both our buildings and in our families who have tirelessly worked and prayed to make us what we are today…with All Glory to God.

Click here for a printable version of the full history of Sacred Heart Catholic Community.

1889 Muenster’s fist place of worship – Frank Hesse’s Hardware Store

1892 Saint Mary’s Catholic Church destroyed by a tornado in 1893 (Muenster’s second Church)

1892-1925 Sacred Heart School, Chapel & Convent

1898 Sacred Heart Catholic Church Nave, Choir, Pipe Organ and Ambo (Muenster’s third Church)

1898-1949 Sacred Heart Catholic Church Sanctuary, High Altar, Baptismal Font, Ambo, Nave & Altar Rail (Muenster’s third Church)

1923 Sacred Heart Catholic School, Chicken House and Covenant in Muenster (School used from 1890 – 1925)

1953 Construction of the new Sacred Heart Catholic Church (Muenster’s fourth Church) First service was held April 17, 1954

On December 8, 1889 Muenster held its first Mass, celebrating The Feast of the Immaculate Conception

1892 Interior of Saint Mary’s Catholic Church (Muenster’s second Church)

1898- Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Muenster’s third Catholic Church

1912 Sacred Heart Parish Covenant

1924 Sacred Heart Catholic School in Muenster (Current Elementary School)

1954 Sacred Heart Catholic Church and Campus (Muenster’s fourth Church)

 1954 Sacred Heart Catholic High School in Muenster

1890 Muenster’s first schoolhouse and place of worship – Saint Mary’s Catholic Church, used from April 1890 until April 1892

1892 Exterior of Saint Mary’s Catholic Church (Muenster’s second Church)

1898 Baptismal Font used from 1898-1954 and now in the current Chapel of Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Muenster

1898 Sacred Heart Catholic Church Rectory and School used from 1898 to 1949

 1916 Sacred Heart Catholic Church Rectory

1935 Muenster Knights of Columbus Hall (Muenster Council #1492)

 1963 Christmas at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Muenster

1889 Muenster’s fist place of worship – Frank Hesse’s Hardware Store

1890 Muenster’s first schoolhouse and place of worship – Saint Mary’s Catholic Church, used from April 1890 until April 1892

1892 Interior of Saint Mary’s Catholic Church (Muenster’s second Church)

1892 Exterior of Saint Mary’s Catholic Church (Muenster’s second Church)

1898-1949 Sacred Heart Catholic Church Sanctuary, High Altar, Baptismal Font, Ambo, Nave & Altar Rail (Muenster’s third Church)

1898 Sacred Heart Catholic Church Nave, Choir, Pipe Organ and Ambo (Muenster’s third Church)

1912 Sacred Heart Parish Covenant

 1916 Sacred Heart Catholic Church Rectory

1923 Sacred Heart Catholic School, Chicken House and Covenant in Muenster (School used from 1890 – 1925)

1953 Construction of the new Sacred Heart Catholic Church (Muenster’s fourth Church) First service was held April 17, 1954

 1954 Sacred Heart Catholic High School in Muenster

On December 8, 1889 Muenster held its first Mass, celebrating The Feast of the Immaculate Conception

1892 Saint Mary’s Catholic Church destroyed by a tornado in 1893 (Muenster’s second Church)

1892-1925 Sacred Heart School, Chapel &  Convent

1898 Baptismal Font used from 1898-1954 and now in the current Chapel of Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Muenster

1898 Sacred Heart Catholic Church Rectory and School used from 1898 to 1949

1898- Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Muenster’s third Catholic

1923 Sacred Heart Catholic School, Chicken House and Covenant in Muenster (School used from 1890 – 1925)

1935 Muenster Knights of Columbus Hall (Muenster Council #1492)

1954 Sacred Heart Catholic Church and Campus (Muenster’s fourth Church)

 1963 Christmas at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Muenster