Sacred Heart Church

“Sacred Heart Parish is in the Roman Catholic Diocese of St. Petersburg, serving the community of St. Joseph and surrounding areas since 1888. Through our worship, witness and works, we strive to courageously live the Gospel message of Jesus Christ.” (Facebook)

From a 1914 article in The Catholic Church in the United States of America: “Andrew Barthle, the founder of St. Joseph, Pasco Co., Fla., arrived in March, 1883, and, after three months, returned to Minnesota to tell his friends the wonderful things of “The Land of Flowers.” His brother, Bernard A. Barthle, settled in St. Joseph with his family in June, 1883, and Andrew and his family in January, 1885. Others soon followed, and the place became known as “Barthle Settlement” and later as “St. Joseph.” At that period San Antonio, Fla., was the nearest post office and place of worship. In 1888 the settlers were numerous enough to have a church, and on July 1, they requested the Rev. Gerard M. Pilz, O. S. B., who came to San Antonio on May 12, 1886, to sanction their project. He did so, and the parishioners then acquired five acres of land on which to erect a German Catholic school or a church.The school was completed on September 30, 1888, and dedicated on Oct 1 by Father Pilz. It is a frame structure, one story high, with a bell tower n the rear, and served as a church until 1892. In it the first Mass in this settlement was celebrated by Father Pilz.

On Sunday, November 13, 1892, the church was dedicated by Bishop Moore of St. Augustine, assisted by the Benedictine Fathers Charles, Roman, Benedict, and James of St. Leo College, Saint Leo, Fla. The school and church were built and paid for by the parishioners, and never carried a debt; neither did the small rectory which the faithful erected themselves. All the buildings are of wood…

Since its foundation the parish has been in charge of the Benedictines from St. Leo Abbey…

The church has all the advantages of a city parish. Not only are there services on Sundays and holydays, but the devotions proper to the different months and feast days are celebrated with becoming ceremonies. Catechism classes are conducted by the pastor after the Sunday Mass. This is the only German congregation in the Diocese of St. Augustine; but twice a month there is an English sermon preached for the benefit of the several English-speaking members. All the members of the parish receive Communion frequently, and to this fact is attributed the piety and wholesomeness of their lives and the special blessings vouchsafed them…

Although some parishioners died as early as 1883, the deceased members of the parish are buried in the cemetery which was donated in 1891 by August Gerner…”

http://www.fivay.org/saint_joseph.html