How about a story about a church built by wealthy patrons but now home to lower-income immigrants? I mean the Shrine of the Sacred Heart. This Roman Catholic parish was established in 1899 in the Mount Pleasant area. The Shrine of the Sacred Heart’s current church is not the first. The original red brick building was dedicated in 1901. The present structure was erected in 1922. Both were influenced by the City Beautiful architectural movement.
Let’s step back to the early 20th century. Imagine Washington D.C. transformed by the City Beautiful movement. The Shrine of the Sacred Heart’s architecture reflects this vision. Its large domed Byzantine design is reminiscent of the Cathedral in Ravenna, Italy. The architects Murphy and Olmsted designed the building. John Joseph Earley was the architectural sculptor. Earley used an innovative technique. He infused concrete with fragmented quartz stones. Scraping the surface exposed the stones. This is known today as the Mo-Sai Technique. You can also see this at Meridian Hill Park.
Legend says the church was built off 16th Street. Supposedly, Protestant church leaders on 16th Street objected. They didn’t want a Catholic church among them. Another local story involves the mansion next door. A previous owner feared it would fall into Catholic hands. So, they donated it to the city.
Interestingly, the Shrine of the Sacred Heart has evolved. Wealthy patrons initially funded its construction in just three weeks. Today, it serves a diverse community. Many lower-income immigrant families call it home. A large number are Salvadoran-Americans. The Shrine of the Sacred Heart celebrates Mass in multiple languages. These include Spanish, Portuguese, English, Haitian Creole and Vietnamese. Special occasions feature multilingual services.
The Shrine of the Sacred Heart is administered by Franciscan Capuchin Order priests. Father Emilio Biosca Agüero is the current pastor. In 2010, Father Moises Villalta became the first Salvadoran-American pastor. The parish has a history of social justice ministry. It hosts the District’s labor Mass. It is also home to homeless outreach and dinner programs. The Shrine of the Sacred Heart is affiliated with social service organizations.
Devotions to Our Lady of Guadalupe and Saint Óscar Romero are significant. Romero was the martyred Archbishop of San Salvador. His canonization cause was once stalled. But it moved forward and he was canonized in 2018. Inside the Shrine of the Sacred Heart dozens of flags hang. They represent the birth nations of the diverse congregation.
The church also has a parish school. It was once staffed by Sinsinawa Dominican Sisters. Actress Helen Hayes was an alumna. In 1997, the Center City Consortium was established. It subsidizes schools like Sacred Heart School. The priests minister to the school spiritually. It continues to receive praise and honors. The Sacred Heart School operates with a bilingual curriculum.
The Shrine of the Sacred Heart stands as a testament. It shows how a church can adapt. It can serve different communities over time. From wealthy beginnings to a diverse congregation, its story is still unfolding.