Since the arrival of the Franciscan Friars at Sacred Heart in 2005, the church has taken on several projects – most notably our plaza renovation in 2013 – which truly brought to life the sense of welcome and engagement for which the parish has become known.

The project extended the “front porch” to the very edge of Florida Avenue and Twiggs Street. In its own way, the “Wolf of Gubbio” project is a continuation of the basic renovation, with artwork that is inviting and tells a story about our community. Among the most beloved and popular stories about St. Francis is that of the Wolf of Gubbio. At the heart of the story is the willingness and capacity of the Saint to enter, with humility, into the heart of conflict in order to create a place that is holy, hospitable, and healing, and where hope can grow and take root in the lives of all people. We hope you take a moment to read the story, as well as learn a little bit about the artist commissioned to undertake the work. Continue reading Plaza Art Project: The Wolf of Gubbio →

Please be advised there will be two events affecting downtown Tampa this weekend, the Gasparilla Parade of Pirates on Saturday and the NHL All-Star Game on Sunday.  Because of the pirate invasion on Saturday, January 27th, the church will be closed all day and there will be no 5:30 pm Mass. The Sunday Mass schedule remains unchanged.

Due to the increased traffic in and around downtown Tampa for both events, parking may be more difficult to find.  Parking options in and around Sacred Heart can be found here.

Please note: The 717 Parking lot at the corner of N. Florida Ave. and W. Kennedy Blvd. will not be available for parishioners during any Masses on Sunday, January 28th.

The flowers displayed in our sanctuary for the Christmas Season have been given in remembrance or honor of loved ones whose names are listed on the following pages.

Click here for a complete list of names and tributes.

Our Liturgy & Music ministries provide an excellent opportunity for you to utilize your talents and gifts in service to one another and the larger parish community. And one such ministry that falls within this category is our Altar Servers.

The primary role of an Altar Server is to assist the priest in the celebration of the Mass, but they also fulfill many roles during the liturgy, including carrying the processional cross and candles, holding the missal for the celebrant as needed, assisting the priest as he receives the offertory gifts, washing the hands of the priest before the prayer over the gifts, carrying the incense and thurible, and removing items from the altar during communion.

Continue reading A Servant’s Heart →

Last Sunday, October 29th, we celebrated our parish Candle Lighting Ceremony in memory of all of our deceased loved ones. The solemnity of the ceremony helped us to remember our loved ones who meant so much to us in this life and who have now passed onto God’s bright glory. Thank you to our parishioners who requested memorial candles and to those who participated in this special service. A very special thank you to Friends of Sacred Heart for organizing this event. You may find a complete list of donors and their loved ones here.

The weekend of November 4th and 5th our parish will celebrate “Commitment Sunday.” It is a time to show that you belong to Sacred Heart. Belonging to a parish community, to be a people of faith, means that we are also called to share our time and our talents. How do you discern how God is calling you to bring forward your gifts? Discernment is a word Christians often use instead of “making a decision” or “picking a choice,” although it means more than that. Discerning something means taking the ideas, the options, and the choices to prayer in order to ask God where and how He is leading you.

Continue reading Discerning Commitment Sunday →

Our Hospitality ministries go beyond just welcoming new and current parishioners – they also welcome our students studying close by at various universities, especially the University of Tampa. Each month, they host a home-cooked meal for our students who attend the 5:30 pm Sunday evening Mass.

In addition to participating in this meal, the dinners provide an opportunity for students to meet fellow Catholic students and active parishioners at Sacred Heart and enjoy a nice break from studying, homework, and other pressures of student life. Volunteers to this ministry help host, cook, set up, and clean up each event as well as get to know and form mentorships and friendships with the younger members of our parish community.

Continue reading A Home-Cooked Meal →

Next Wednesday, October 4th, marks the patronal feast day of Franciscans across the globe – the Feast of St. Francis of Assisi. It is a time when Franciscan communities come together to remember the passing of Francis from this world to the next, to celebrate his life and legacy in Masses and gatherings, and to hold events that are notably Franciscan. We hope you can join us at one of the upcoming events below.

Sunday, October 1st
On Sunday, October 1st, the Franciscan friars will hold the annual Blessing of the Animals. Bring your beloved pets and furry friends to the North Campus for a blessing and to share in God’s blessing of all of creation.

Sacred Heart North Campus (3515 N. Florida Ave.)
2:00 pm – 3:00 pm

Continue reading Our Upcoming Franciscan Celebrations →

Have you ever thought about joining our Bible Study program? Held weekly on Tuesdays throughout the year, they cover all sorts of topics – from weekly readings to special series on different themes. One of those special series will be starting soon!

Starting Tuesday, September 19th, Fr. George will lead everyone in a discussion about St. Paul’s Letter to the Romans. Why focus on St. Paul? The majority of the “books” that make up the New Testament are attributed to St. Paul of Tarsus, the apostle chosen by Christ, while on the road to Damascus, to be the one sent (apostolos) to the Gentiles. As Luke Timothy Johnson [259] notes: “The Christian Movement found its first and most vivid voice in the letters of the apostle Paul. The evangelists remained anonymous behind their shaping of Jesus’ story. Paul’s letters, by contrast, reveal a human personality so forcibly, yet with such great complexity that, for some, coming to grips with Christianity means first of all coming to grips with Paul. Paul’s personality appears at first to be full of contradictory elements. He can be gentle (2 Cor. 10:1) and also harsh (1 Cor. 4:21). He is full of restless energy (2 Cor. 2:12–13), yet also of firm resolution (2 Cor. 1:17). He claims to be weak rather than strong (2 Cor. 12:5), even as he boasts of power (2 Cor. 12:11). He is sublime in the expression of ideals (Rom. 12:14) but very human in his lack of them (Gal. 5:12).”

September 19th – December 12th
Tuesdays at 7:00 pm
San Damiano Center

And if you ever decide to try and tackle the Bible on your own, Fr. George has some tips and tricks for doing just that. Check out his blog articles below:
– How to Read the Bible
– How Not to Read the Bible