A New Parish

Until 1876, St. Mary's Church at Jefferson and Seventh Street, Oakland, was the only Catholic church for all the Catholics from West Oakland to the Bay of San Francisco. In those early days St. Mary's comprised a vast territory running along the waterfront as far as Lake Peralta, now Lake Merritt; then north-easterly to the foothills, and north along the foothills as far as the county boundary lines of Contra Costa and Alameda; then west again as far as the Bay of San Francisco.

On January 13, 1876, the Most Reverend Archbishop Joseph Alemany divided this extensive territory and established Sacred Heart Parish. The new parish started at the foot of Twenty-eighth Street, at the Bay of San Francisco in the west; ran east along Twenty-eighth Street to the western line of St. Anthony's Parish; and then northeast to the foothills and to the boundary line of the counties north of Berkeley; then westerly to the Bay of San Francisco and south to Twenty-eighth Street, the point of beginning.

Reverend Lawrence Serda, who was then assistant pastor at St. Mary's Church, Oakland was appointed rector of Sacred Heart.

After receiving his appointment, Father Serda continued to reside at St. Mary's Rectory for a few months, but each day found him zealously working in his new parish.

The First Mass

On January 16, 1876, Reverend Michael King, rector of St. Mary's Church celebrated the first Mass in the new Sacred Heart Parish. These first services were held in the home of the Honorable Zach and Mrs. Ellen Montgomery, at the northwestern corner of Telegraph Avenue and Forty-first Street. Richard and John Montgomery acted as servers at the first mass. From January 16, 1876 to December 10, 1876, the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass was celebrated every Sunday and Holy Day in the Montgomery home.

During that time the Honorable Zach Montgomery was extremely kind to the priest and his new flock, sacrificing his own comfort and that of his estimable family in order to accommodate the worshippers. Mrs. Margaret P. McCourtney presented the first chalice to Sacred Heart Parish.

The First School

A month after Father Serda arrived a small school was built on the west side of Grove Street, between Forty-first and Forty-second Streets. This shcool was built and completely equipped by the Montgomery Family and was under the direct supervision of Father Serda. The teacher of the new school was Mrs. E.W. Johnson. She taught for two years and was succeeded by Miss Tobin. Father Serda visited the school every day and taught catechism classes there every Sunday to all the children of the parish.

The First Sacred Heart Church

Meanwhile, Father Serda, accompanied by Patrick Swords, went from house to house soliciting funds for the new church which would be built on the north side of Fortieth Street on a one hundred and eight feet west of Grove Street, on a one hundred and twenty-four by two hundred and twenty foot lot donated in July 1876, by Mrs. Margaret P. McCourtney and the Montgomery Family. Architect Bryan J. Clinch of San Francisco prepared the plans and, with the consent of Archbishop Alemany, Father Serda awarded the building contract to A.J. McKee of Oakland, on September 13, 1876. In three months, the simple frame building was completed and on December 17, 1876, Sacred Heart Church was dedicated by Archbishop Alemany.


Since the subscriptions received from the few and scattered parishioners were not sufficient to meet expenses the women were determined to organize a fair to help raise funds to meet church expenses. The fair, held in October, 1876, in Armory Hall, Oakland, proved to be a success; the net proceeds amounted to $3, 622.

On February 14, 1877, the Stations of the Cross were erected and Benediction of the Most Blessed Sacrament was given for the first time on February 28, 1877. Several months later, on September 2, 1877, Archbishop Alemany conferred the Sacrament of Confirmation on fifty-one persons in the new church.

Father Serda lived in a rented cottage for which he paid sixteen dollars for the first two years. Then in Spetember, 1877, another fair was held and the funds realized were applied to the building of a parish rectory next to the church. This rectory was built by contractor Patrick J. Brophy of Oakland, and Father Serda moved into it on December 29, 1878.

The Establishment of a Parohial School

At this time the original school was closed and Father Serda immediately began to prepare for the erection of a school for the young girls of the parish. On Sunday October 11, 1879, he called a meeting of the parishioners and announced that he has secured teachers from the Sisters of the Holy Names at the Convent of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart, which later became known as the College of the Holy Names (the Kaiser Center now occupies this site). The Sisters, in their zeal for the spread of Christ's Kingdom agreed to teach the school free of charge.

Architect William Kirk, of Oakland prepared the plans and made the provisions for a two-story frame structure with the classrooms on the first floor and an entertainment hall on the second. The contract was awarded to P.J. Brophy and work was begun in March, 1880. The building was completed in three months and on June 27, 1880, it was solemly blessed by Archbishop Alemany. Father Serda and Father McNally assisted the Most Revered Archbishop in the services, and the dedicatory sermon was delivered by Reverend Hugh Lagan, assistant to St. Mary's Cathedral in San Francisco. This school, named for St. Lawrence, was located on the north side of Fortieth Street near ther rectory.

First Boys School

As enrollment at the girls' school grew from year to year under the devoted tutorship of the Sisters of the Holy Names, Father Serda began to prepare for the building of a school for the young boys of the parish. Having secured teachers from the Brothers of the Christian Schools, Father Serda generously donated a piece of property, which he personally owned, as the site for the boys' school. Architect William Kirk prepared the plans and the contract was awarded to Mr. Ambury of Berkeley, and work began in March 1886. The school was completed in about three months and dedicated by Archbishop P.W. Riordan on June 20, 1886.

The church was enlarged in 1889, at which time new altars were erected, sacristies were built and many other improvements were made. Sacred Heart Parish now had a complete plant after the few brief years of its existence. The accomplishment was primarily due to the untiring efforts and zeal of Father Serda and the whole hearted generosity of his parishioners, who gave liberally of their small incomes.

Fire!

All went well with the parish until 1897, when tragedy struck. On the night of November 24th, a fire started in the boys' sacristy, and in three hours destroyed the church, parochial residence, and the school for the girls. The work of years was reduced to ashes. Such a calamity would possibly have discouraged even the most ardent communicant, but it only served to bring forth the noble qualities of the parishioners of Sacred Heart. On the morning of November 25th, as Father Serda looked despondently at the smoking ruins, one of his parishioners, Patrick Hayes of St. Mary's College, cheered witht he remark: "We will build them again, Father. Put me down for a pledge of one hundred dollars and I will pay it in a few days." At the suggestion of several members of the parish, a meeting was held on that very evening in St. Francis de Sales Hall, through the courtesy of Father McSweeney who presided at the meeting. The enthusiasm of the people of Sacred Heart was so great that they subscribed over two thousand dollars. At another meeting held in the same hall on the following Sunday this amount was doubled. Father Serda was present at both meetings and was considerably bolstered by the loyalty and courage of his faithful parishioners.

A Temporary Church

Immediately, plans we made to build an interim church to accommodate the parishioners. The temporary structure was begun on Tuesday and on the following Sunday, November 30th, Mass was celebrated in it. This provisional church was built by P.B. Hughes at the total cost of $774.25. The altars were loaned by Fr. McSweeney, and the pews were donated by the pastor of St. Joseph's Church in Alameda. Archbishop Riordan granted permission for the erection of the Stations of the Cross in the temporary church on February 28, 1898.

Building Anew

Menwhile, Father Serda prepared to build a parochial residence and a new school for the girls. P.G. McIntyre was awarded the contract for the construction of the new rectory. The work was begun in May, 1898, and three months later the building on the north side of Fortieth Street, was completed. In later years the building was renovated and enlarged to provide more adequate accommoadations.

Architect Etienne prepared the plans for the girls' school which was desgined to serve as a combination building housing classroom on the first floor and a large auditorium on the second level. The contract was awared to Cameron and McDonald of Oakland. Work on the new school, built on the south side of Forty-first Street, about one hundred feet west of Grove Street, was started early in 1899 and completed in four months.

Building of the Third Church

The need of a permanent church in the parish was becoming more evident, but Father Serda, knowing that the demands made on his prishioners had been so great, was hesitant to undertake the building of an expensive new edifice. At last, in October 1901, Father Serda called a meeting of a number of businessmen of the parish, among them P.G MacIntyre, O. Luning, T.D. Sullivan, B. Smith, F. Kelly, T.J. Gallagher, and E. Garin, the architect. Father Serda told these men that the time had come when the parish church should be built, but that he would like to consult them on the advisability of building it of wood or stone. Then, at their request, an estimate was provided of the costs of both wooden and stone structures. It was decided that a stone church should be built.

Plans were prepared by Mr. Garin and shortly after were approved by Archbishop Riordan. The contract was awared to P.G. McIntyre, who did all the work on the building with the exception of the stone work, which was done by O.E. Brady and Son of San Francisco.

Archbishop Riordan blessed and laid the cornerstone of Sacred Heart Church on December 15, 1901. The ceremony was attended by many societies including the Ancient Order of Hibernians, the Catholic Ladies' Aid Society, the Children of Mary, the Catholic Knights of America and the Society of Christophoro Columbo. The dedicatory sermon was delivered by Reverend Hugh Lagan.

One year later, on December 4, 1902, the church was completed. It was solemnly dedicated to Almighty God under the title of "Sacred Heart of Jesus", by Archbishiop Riordan. Revered John A. Lally, who had formerly been an assistant in the parish, delivered the sermon at the dedication. Besides the Most Reverend Archbishop and the priests of the parish, Reverend Lawrence Serda and Reverend J.B. Praught, the Right Reverand Bishop Grace of Sacrament, and twenty-five priests of the archdiocese were present at the dedication.

Brothers Leave the Parish

In June of 1901, the Brothers found it impossible to supply teachers for the boys' school and left the parish. Their leaving was obviously a loss to the parishioners. For fifteen years the Brothers had renedered noble service in educating the young boys, and to this day their memory is held in sincere reverance. After their departure, the boys' and girls' schools were no longer maintained as separate units. A mixed school was formed with the Sisters of the Holy Names in charge.

Sisters Move to the Parish

In 1906, Father Serda remodeled the builiding formerly occupied the Brothers and on October 13th of that same year eight Sisters of the Holy Names came to live in it, thus forming another branch of their widespread congregation. This was the first time that the Sisters resided in Sacred Heart Parish. Previously, they were travelling every morning to the school from their convent near the lake.

Earhquake!

Nobody was prepared fo the devastation and tragedy many would come to know in the Bay Area as the Loma Prieta. On October 17th, 1989 at 5:04pm the Bay Area was rocked by a magnitude 6.9 earthquake. This earthquake would eventually lead to the destruction of the 88 year old Sacred Heart Church. Just 5 minutes down the street the same fate Sacred Heart was subjected to, St. Francis de Sales Cathedral would also realize, suffering much damage structurally. The parish church was closed, permitting anyone from entering. Masses were relocated to the Cafeteria. As parishioners gathered to worship the cafeteria would come to be known as the "Churcheteria". Many longtime parishioners could not bear the thought of not having a permanent worship space and thus moved to nearby parishes. This time would also mark the last of Diocesan priests serving the parish.

Arrival of the Oblates

In 1991 the parish is placed in the hands of the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate. Father Jose Arong was the parishes first pastor as an Oblate priest in which much of the focus shifted to rebuilding Church, both in the spiritual and physical aspect. Accompanied by Father Jose was Father Don Bernard who often assisted at masses. 

One Final Farewell

With the decision that the church would be too costly to repair, the church was demolished in 1993. Many parishioners gathered to pay their last respects to the once loved church that many called home for so many years. The stone rocks were blessed by Bishop John Cummins and given away as sovenirs. However, many vowed that a new church building would come. 

Rebirth of a New Church

Ground broke in the spring of 1998 and construction took roughly 8 months, allowing for the first mass to be celebrated in February of 1999. The new church took on a radical design, in which liturgically there was much emphasis of "gathering around the table" which is represented in the octagon like shape you see today. The octagon shape also has considerable meaning rooted in the Catholic Church, the octagon being used in baptimal fonts for many years and symbolizes renewal, rebirth, resurrection and transition. 

Today Sacred Heart thrives on by standing on the shoulders who went before us and serving those who are present with us today. 



The inspiration of such a design is derived from the octagonal points impressed upon the cross, which once sat atop the steeple of the last church, now sits atop the present day church building. Much of the furniture and vessels used in the old church, some of which could be salvaged, are very much present throughout the church today. The bell was erected in a special monument where the cornerstone of the old church is housed. On April 25th, 1999, the church was dedicated by then Bishop of the Diocese of Oakland, Most Reverend John Cummins.