History of Sacred Heart of Jesus Catholic Community

Sacred Heart of Jesus Catholic Community

is the outgrowth of a chapel located on the Scanlan Plantation (now Sienna) which included about 10,000 acres between old 288 and the Brazos River. The chapel was a small wooden structure located near the heart of the working area of the plantation and under one of the largest and oldest oak trees in southern Texas.

During the 1940's as Czechs settled Iowa Colony, they began attending the once a month Mass at the plantation chapel. Since Scanlan Estate paid all expenses, this was a blessing for the struggling farmers. Soon, some people from Rosharon, Arcola, Fresno, and even Manvel began attending Mass at the chapel. Seeing a need for a parish church in the future, John and Rosie Hubenak decided in 1953 to start a savings account for that purpose. They organized the first bazaar that year which netted $300.

Eventually, Mass was celebrated every week, as University of St. Thomas and St. Thomas High School sent a priest to the chapel every Sunday. In 1960, we were designated a mission under the guidance of St. Theresa's parish in Sugar Land, and in 1967, we were assigned our first full-time priest, Fr. John Pinsonneault, C.S.B. He organized the first parish council in 1968, and we dedicated our own church at the present site on Thanksgiving Day, November 27, 1969. It should be noted that when Bishop Morkovsky dedicated the church, he stated, "You built it too small." And he was correct!

With the reassignment of Fr. Pinsonneault in 1970, Fr. Roy Oggero, C.S.B. took care of the spiritual needs of the community until 1973 when Fr. Vincent Dulock, C.S.B. was assigned administer of our mission. In the years that followed we built a parish hall in 1975, and on October 30, 1976 we were elevated to the status of a parish and Fr. Vince Dulock was named the first official pastor. We subsequently built a rectory in 1978 and a pavilion in 1980. Yet, these did not solve our worship needs. After much prayer and planning we were about to embark on a fundraising commitment drive to kick-off the building of our new church, when the infamous flood of 1979 invaded most of the parish with rain that set new United States records. With many people's homes being flooded, their needs came first, and the building of the church was postponed.

Then came three years of much planning and prayer. Classroom space was needed, which would have been available from the old church - if the new church were built. Interest rates became prohibitively high and the Diocese did not have the funds to loan to us. We decided to purchase some low-cost portable buildings, the interior of which we finished ourselves and divided into eight nice classrooms.

In early 1982, the Diocese informed us that funds for the new church (minus the office area, chapel, and restrooms) were available. So we began construction plans immediately. Br. Vince Dulock, C.S.B. was the existing priest, then came Br. Bob Matzinger, C.S.B. He became our new pastor in June, 1984 followed by Br. Tom McReavy, C.S.B. who became our new pastor in August, 1991. Br. James J. Gaunt, C.S.B. became our new pastor in November, 1993.

In 2000, wings were added to the existing church allowing seating capacity of 1,050 parishioners. During Fr. Gaunt's time, the parish has grew from 400 to over 2,000 families. A new Parish Life Center was constructed to meet the needs of the parish and Fr. David J. Zapalac, C.S.B. was appointed pastor on January 1, 2008.

In late July of 2013, Sacred Heart of Jesus Catholic Community became an Archdiocesan parish when we welcomed Br. Tom Ponzini as pastor. The Very Rev. Trung Nguyen, J.C.L., E.V. was named Pastor on February 1, 2021.

Our small country parish is now a large country parish with over 3,500 families. We are growing while we work to maintain our small country feel as we warmly welcome all new people!

History of the Sacred Heart of Jesus

Catholic Community The Sacred Heart of Jesus Catholic Community is the extension of the chapel located in the Scana Plantation (now Sienna Plantation) that includes about 10,000 acres between 288 and the Brazos River. The Chapel was a small wooden structure located near the center of the plantation's work area and under one of the largest and oldest oak trees in South Texas.

During the 1940s while the Czechs were settling in Iowa Colony, they began attending Mass once a month in the plantation chapel. As the Scanlan Estate paid all expenses, it was a blessing to the hard-working farmers. Soon, some people from Rosharon, Arcola, Fresno, and even Manvel began attending Mass in the chapel. Seeing the need for a parish for the future, John and Rosie Hubenak decided in 1953 to start a savings account for that cause. They organized the first bazaar that year which acquired $300.

Eventually, Mass was celebrated weekly, while St. Thomas University and St. Thomas High School sent a priest to the chapel every Sunday. In 1960, we were assigned a mission under the guidance of St. Theresa's Parish in Sugar Land, and in 1967, we were assigned our first full-time pastor, Father John Pinsonneault C.S.B.. He organized the first Pastoral Council in 1968, and we consecrated our own parish on the present site on Thanksgiving Day in 1969. You should know that when Archbishop Morkovsky consecrated the Church, he said, "they made it very small." He was right!

With Father Pinsonneault's reassignment in 1970, Father Roy Oggero, C.S.B. took responsibility for the spiritual needs of the community until 1973 when Father Vincent Dulock, C.S.B. was assigned administrator of our mission. In the following years we built the parish hall in 1975, and in 1976 on October 6 we were elevated to parish status and Father Vince Dulock was appointed the first official pastor. We subsequently built the rectory in 1978 and the pavilion in 1980. However, that did not solve our worship needs. After much prayer and planning we began embarking on a fundraising commitment to begin construction of our new church, when the infamous flood of 1979 invaded most of the parish with rain that set new records in the United States. As many of the parishioners' homes were flooded, their needs were a priority, and the church building was postponed.

Then three years of much planning and prayer passed. Salt was neededClass ones, which might have been available in the old church – if the church had been built. Interest rates went up prohibitively and the Diocese did not have the funds to lend us. We decided to buy some low-cost portable buildings, of which we finished the interior and divided it into eight good classrooms.

In early 1982, the Diocese informed us that funds were available for the new church (minus the office area, chapel, and bathrooms). We started planning the construction immediately. Father Vince Dulock, C.S.B. was the priest at the time, then came Father Bob Matzinger, C.S.B. He became our pastor in June 1984, followed by Father Tom McReavy, C.S.B., who became our new pastor in August 1991. Father James J. Gaunt, C.S.B. was our new parish priest in November 1993.

In 2000, classrooms were added to the existing church leaving a capacity to accommodate 1,050 parishioners. During Father Gaunt's time, the parish grew from 400 to over 2,000 families. A new Parish Life Center was built to meet the needs of the parish and Father David J. Zapalac, C.S.B. was appointed pastor on January 1, 2008.

At the end of July 2018, the Sacred Heart of Jesus Catholic Community became an Archdiocesan parish. That's when we welcomed Father Tom Ponzini as our new pastor.

Our small country parish is now a large rural parish with over 3,500 families. We continue to grow as we strive to maintain our sense of rural parish to welcome new members!