Community and Discipleship

Sacred Heart Catholic Church celebrates 150 years
By Lindsey McMillan

On Christmas Eve in 1874, the first Catholic Mass was celebrated in Texarkana by missionary priest Father Theodore Buffard, who traveled to Northeast Texas on horseback from Galveston. He arrived with a mission which continues today, a century and a half later. Parishioners of Sacred Heart Catholic Church have been excitedly preparing for their 150th anniversary, with plans spread out over the weekend of July 4th.

Originally at the corner of Third and Spruce Streets downtown, Sacred Heart was the first brick structure in Texarkana. It served as a cornerstone of community and faith for Catholics congregating in the newly formed city.

A formal ribbon cutting was held for the newly renovated parish hall at Sacred Heart Catholic Church on May 29th. photo by lindsey mcmillan.

“The early history of the church in Texarkana is thanks to the ethnic immigrants who came to this part of the state to work in the railroad, gas, and manufacturing industries that were vital to putting Texarkana and Bowie County on the map,” said Father Justin Braun, the church’s current pastor. Reflecting this, the church’s historic cemetery acts as the resting place for people of 16 different nationalities. The early church also established what may have been the area’s first formally organized school.

A fire in 1957 severely damaged the original church, and land was acquired on Elizabeth Street. In 1961, the new church was erected along with a parish hall and rectory. Both the cornerstone and bell from the first church were rescued and relocated to the new site. The congregation continued to grow, with several generations of parishioners continuing in the mission of the original parish.

Father Braun with Gisel, Natalia, Augustin, and Abigail Rodriguez at a Christmas service. submitted photo.

Over the past two years, the church has conducted three phases of remodeling, most recently renovating the parish hall. “The renovation came from the hearts of people to update a building which served our parish so well and to better equip us to serve the Texarkana community,” Father Braun said. The renovations have been completed just in time for the sesquicentennial celebrations.

The festivities will begin on Friday, July 4th, with a patriotic concert called “A Tribute to America,” directed by church music director Marc-André Bougie and performed by singers from the Sacred Heart choir and the Texarkana Regional Chorale. On Saturday, July 5th, the church is hosting an open house from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., with guided tours and refreshments. Father Braun hopes that many will join in the celebration of this historic moment for the church community.

submitted photo.

The church community is diverse in many ways, bringing families together who are united in faith. The word “catholic” means “universal,” and this is the crux of the church, linking people together for the love of Christ. The heartbeat of the church is in its varied members hailing from many different backgrounds, not unlike the original settlers whom Father Buffard led in the 1870s.

“The goal is to create an environment where Jesus is the focus and a place where people who are thirsting for an encounter with Christ can experience it,” Father Braun said. “A place where those seeking to be formed in what it means to be a living disciple of Jesus can find both the guidance and community to support them.”