September 10, 2010
Sacred Heart, the English church, celebrates 125 years
Father Bill Wargel talks with Jeff Happe during the anniversary celebration at Sacred Heart Church in Evansville. Click for a larger version.
By PAUL R. LEINGANG (Message editor)
Father Bill Wargel returned Aug. 28 to Sacred Heart Church in Evansville, celebrating the anniversary of its establishment 125 years ago.
Father Wargel, now retired, is one of three diocesan priests from the parish; Msgr. Charles Koch and Father Alex Zenthoefer are also sons of the parish. Msgr. Koch, now retired, was head of the diocesan tribunal until 2002. Father Zenthoefer, ordained in 2005, is associate pastor at Holy Rosary Church and chaplain at Memorial High School, both in Evansville, and director of the diocesan vocations office.
Father Wargel recalled that some families used to drive past Sacred Heart — the English church — to go to St. Boniface, a church for German families.
According to Father David Nunning, pastor of Sacred Heart and St. Agnes churches, Sacred Heart was founded for about 50 families in 1885, only a block away from St. Boniface. That part of the city was then known as Independence.
In 1913, the parish purchased a lot at Franklin and Upper Mount Vernon Road, and in 1914 a combination church and school building was built — with the worship space on the second floor, classrooms and living quarters for the teaching sisters on the first floor.
In 1928 the present church was built; it was dedicated in 1929. It is modeled after the Chapel of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception at Mundelein Seminary near Chicago.
Philanthropist Francis Joseph Reitz and his two sisters, Josephine and Christina, gave $30,000 toward the building cost of $102,000.
Jeff Happe chaired the anniversary celebration committee; Shirley Haller chaired the banquet committee.
Following the anniversary Mass, the celebration continued with a banquet at Ryves Hall at St. Agnes Church.