The Catholic presence in the town of Hopedale began when Irish, French, and Italian workers came to Hopedale to work in the Draper Corporation factory, a manufacturer of textile looms. They brought their Catholic faith into a community, which was made up predominantly of Protestants. In these early years, St. Mary of the Assumption Church in Milford provided for the spiritual needs of Hopedale’s Catholics. When a new high school was built in Hopedale, in 1928, the old school buildings and property were sold to Draper Corporation, which deeded the lot and buildings to the Roman Catholic Bishop of Springfield, in whose diocese Hopedale belonged at the time. Remodeling for Hopedale’s first Catholic Church and Rectory began in August 1935. Mass was celebrated for the first time on October 26, 1935, by the newly appointed pastor, Fr. John H. Donahue. On November 15, 1935, the new parish was dedicated by the Most Reverend Thomas O’Leary, Bishop of the Diocese of Springfield.

The parish grew steadily over the years, and in 1960, the fourth pastor, Fr. Thomas J. Connellan, spearheaded a drive to raise funds for the new, larger church, collecting $150,000 for the project. Excavation began on August 20, 1963, and on August 28, 1964, the completed church building was dedicated by the Most Reverend Bernard J. Flanagan, second Bishop of what was now the Diocese of Worcester.

The old church was used as the parish center and religious education building until the growth of the community required a larger facility.

In 1982, parishioners and their pastor, Fr. Bernard R. Reilley, began planning a new parish center (now named the Bernard R. Reilley Parish Center), to provide for the church’s many social and spiritual activities, and to provide classrooms for the ever expanding religious education program for the children and young people of the parish. Ground breaking for the new center took place on July 7, 1984. On April 27, 1985, the new center was dedicated by the Most Reverend Timothy J. Harrington, third Bishop of Worcester. The old church building/parish center was demolished and the parking lot expanded.

Sacred Heart celebrated its 60^th Anniversary in October 1995. Through the years, Sacred Heart has been characterized by a solid history of the involvement of its members in the church community. In 1936, there were four parish organizations. Today, there are more than thirty active ministries, which serve the spiritual and social needs of our parish family.

The sixth pastor assigned to Sacred Heart was Fr. George E. Rueger, who was later ordained as a Bishop and currently serves as Auxiliary Bishop in the Diocese of Worcester. He has often said of Sacred Heard that, "After Hopedale, there is only heaven". It is the continuing love and dedication of the people who make up this parish that has made it the kind of warm, welcoming, active church community Bishop Rueger remembers so fondly.

It is out hope that our new parishioners will join us as we strive to continue to grow in faith and love for our parish family and the Hopedale community.

Photos of Pastors and Years of Service