Join Sacred Heart’s Garden Ministry for a day of cleaning and beautifying the grounds of the North Campus on Saturday, Feb. 19, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

As the parish continues to make regular use of the North Campus for outreach and events, the Garden Ministry is working to make the grounds more inviting for all. The group is requesting the help of all parishioners with a handful of projects that require additional manpower.

Projects to be worked on during the clean-up event include:

• Plant and tree removal
• Planting new bougainvillea (digging and soil prep included) along rear border and walkway
• Ground leveling and gravel installation around mausoleums
• Cleaning debris along Lake Avenue and Jefferson Street

Lunch will be provided to volunteers. Those planning to assist should be prepared for physical work and bring their garden gloves, sun protection, and bug spray. Common garden tools, such as shovels, trowels, pruners, trimmers, and wheel barrows also would be useful for volunteers to bring along, if possible.

Volunteers can sign up to assist with individual projects here.

For more information, reach out to Michael Fabianski via email.

Lace up those sneakers, kids!

The Sacred Heart Knights of Columbus (Council #12110) are back with their fourth annual free-throw contest, set for Saturday, Feb. 5, at the North Campus Courts from 9-11 a.m.

The competition is open to all boys and girls between the ages of 9 and 14, and winners for each category are eligible to compete at the district, regional, and state-level competitions.

You can preregister for this contest with one of our brother Knights after all masses the weekend of Jan. 30 or on the day of the event, beginning at 8:45 am.

For more information, contact Tony Miranda at 480-236-2955 or tjmiranda@yahoo.com.

On Saturday, Jan.15, Sacred Heart Church celebrates the 117th anniversary of its dedication. On the same date in 1905, Papal Legate (representative/missionary of the Pope) Archbishop Diomede Falconio, along with a consortium of traveling bishops and priests attended the 10 a.m. dedication. This would be among the first services held in the newly completed church, a ticketed event led by the Bishop of St. Augustine, Rev. William J. Kenny.

As written for the Tampa Morning Tribune’s Sunday edition on Jan 15., 1905, “the completion of this magnificent structure marks an important epoch in the history of Tampa, and its dedication today will be an event to always be remembered by the Catholics throughout America.” If the event that day was not remembered by all Catholics throughout the country, surely then by our many longstanding parishioners with ancestors that settled in our relatively young city.

Sacred Heart still serves as one of the oldest churches in Florida, and also as one of the oldest structures in our rapidly changing and expanding downtown core. We see five-star hotels and world-class office buildings raised in a matter of months as our city continues to grow, but like all good things, Sacred Heart’s construction took a longer period of time. Seven years in fact, from the date the foundation was poured in 1898 to the eventual completion in 1905. The reported cost was between $200,000 and $300,000. Adjusted for inflation, that is between $6.3 and $9.4 million today.

Discover more about the history of Sacred Heart by clicking here.

As announced at all Masses on Dec. 12, 2021, our Pastor, Fr. Stephen Mimnaugh, OFM, has been assigned by the Franciscan Friars of Holy Name Province to a new post at St. Bonaventure University in Allegany, New York.

In lieu of any large gatherings ahead of his departure, Fr. Stephen will meet with parishioners outside the church following all Masses on Sunday, Jan. 16. Fr. Stephen will also preside over three Masses on Sunday, at 9 a.m., 10:30 a.m., and 5:30 p.m. We hope you take a moment to wish Fr. Stephen well as you leave Mass.

The friars, Deacon Ray, and parish staff of Sacred Heart wish Fr. Stephen well on this new assignment.

Fr. Stephen’s final letter to Sacred Heart parishioners:

(Printed for 1/16/21 Parish Bulletin)

Dear Sacred Heart parishioners,

Nothing makes a change in liturgical season more present for me than putting on vestments of a color that I have not worn recently. Violet announces Advent and Lent. White arrives at the end of each preparatory season with the excitement and activity of Christmas or Easter. When the calendar calls for a return to green, I feel a sense of comfort pulling a green chasuble over my head after those vestments hung untouched. Ordinary Time announces that things will return to normal. I chose “normal” intentionally recognizing how our shared understanding of its meaning has evolved over the past two years. Was “new normal” ever a turn of phrase so commonly used as it is now?

I write this — my final bulletin note — while the church is still decorated for Christmas, anticipating that when I put on green vestments for the Second Sunday of Ordinary Time it will be to bid you farewell. As I mentioned earlier, this change is occurring sooner than we had anticipated, and so I am feeling mixed emotions. I am saddened to know there are things I will not get to see firsthand. However, I am eager and excited to see my brothers, led by Fr. Mike as Pastor, continuing in their ministry here. I am also grateful for the many wonderful things I have witnessed in the 16 months that I have been privileged to serve at Sacred Heart. Your accomplishments as a community of faith have been truly uplifting.

When the new friars arrived in September 2020, things were very different than they are now. Half the pews were roped off; Mass attendance was a fraction of what it is now; live streaming required a camera and monitor in front of the sanctuary making Mass look like a TV set. All of us felt less connected than we do now. Even the anxiety of life before vaccines seems like a distant memory despite less than a year having elapsed. The world is seeing another wave of illness but one that is less anxiety producing than earlier waves. We have learned how to be members of the Living Body of Christ serving others while protecting the wellbeing of all.

Together we have created new ways of service through Giving from the Heart and discovered that in giving we truly do receive. Sacred Heart has been honored for its commitment to serving the community. After many years of effort, Catholic Charities opened Tampa Hope to serve the homeless and Sacred Heart will be a part of its future success. There are great things happening in Tampa and at Sacred Heart. Although I may observe these great things from 1,200 miles away, I am confident that great things will happen.

You have likely noticed that each friar has his own style of presiding and preaching. Some of you may have noticed that I have a fondness for one of the lesser-used options for dismissal at Mass. The Roman Missal give four options:

• Go forth, the Mass is ended.
• Go in peace, glorifying the Lord by your life.
• Go in peace.
• Go and announce the Gospel of the Lord.

I typically use the fourth option. The Rule of the Franciscans begins with these words, “The rule and life of the lesser brothers is this: To observe the holy gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ…” The Gospel is not uniquely the Franciscan rule. It is the rule for all Christians. In John 13:34, Jesus gave us a simple commandment, love one another. Sacred Heart — so aptly and providentially named — truly follows this commandment. Thank you for teaching me how to do so better.

Peace and all good,
Fr. Stephen

Our own Fr. Mike Jones, OFM will assume the role of pastor on January 17, 2022, as described in a letter from Fr. Kevin Mullen, OFM, the Provincial Minister for Holy Name Province, regarding Fr. Stephen’s upcoming transfer. You can read both Fr. Kevin’s letter, and the announcement from Fr. Stephen by clicking the tabs below:

A heartfelt and humble thank you goes out to all of our dedicated partners, vendors, volunteers, donors, and staff who made Sacred Heart’s 2022 Homeless Outreach Event at the North Campus such a huge success.

Held Jan. 11, this was just the second event of its kind hosted by Sacred Heart, and the first since 2019. Originally scheduled for Sept. 2021, the event was postponed due to COVID concerns, similarly to why the event was unable to be held in 2020. Despite those challenges, organizers remained in contact and mobilized in droves last week to help address the needs of the most vulnerable members of our community.

Eighteen attendees were placed into housing directly from the event, with three others qualifying for conviction expungements, and dozens more linked to mental health, substance abuse, health and veteran services.

From shower trucks and haircuts, to health screenings and legal assistance, more than 100 attendees were assisted by the more than 25 service providers on hand, which included:

• ACTS
• Seace Law
• Heights Dental
• Tampa Police Department
• Hillsborough Area Regional Transit (HART)
• Hillsborough Co. Sheriff’s Office
• SVDP CARES
• Hillsborough Co. Government
• Early Learning Coalition
• 2 The Next Chapter
• Florida Blue
• Cove Behavioral Health
• AA
• Tampa Crossroads
• Hillsborough Co. Veteran Services
• Brandon Elks Lodge 2383
• Bikes 4 Christ
• Hunter Law Group
• Created Women
• Tampa Hope
• Catholic Charities
• Nzema Community Development
• Metropolitan Ministries
• Community Pet Project
• Family Health Care Foundation
• Unbroken Dreams
• Guided Path Foundation

Special thanks to organizers Felix Vega, Michael Fabianski, Don Murray, and all of our parishioners who volunteered!

View a gallery of photos from the 2022 Homeless Outreach Event Below: