Churches of Rochester

Sacred Heart church in Auburn traces its origins to Sept. 26, 1956, when Bp. Kearney notified Fr. Raymond Wahl, then serving as an assistant at nearby St. Alphonsus church, of his transfer to establish a new parish on Melrose Road. The site, formerly a cow farm, was purchased for $8,000. On Oct. 5, 1956, the name "Sacred Heart" was chosen to commemorate the centennial of the universal celebration of the Feast of the Sacred Heart. The parish was formally decreed on Mar. 13, 1957, with groundbreaking following a few weeks later on Palm Sunday.

The school and rectory were the initial buildings erected on the property. During this early phase, weekly Masses took place in a temporary chapel assembled and disassembled in the school auditorium. The school welcomed 215 students on Sept. 16, 1957, staffed by three Sisters of St. Joseph and two lay teachers. That same year, the Chapel of St. Ann in nearby Owasco was transferred from St. Patrick in Moravia to Sacred Heart's care.

Parish organizations soon took shape, including the Women's Rosary Society and Men's Holy Name Society. Following years of fundraising, construction of the current church commenced in October 1973. The completed building was dedicated on Oct. 20, 1974. Construction costs totaled $119,000, and the church accommodates approximately 400 worshippers.

Sacred Heart experienced strong growth over the years, with 1,100 registered families by 2001. Like many parishes, however, attendance declined through the 2000s. Current weekend Mass attendance averages in the upper 400s. The priest shortage necessitated placing Sacred Heart under a religious pastoral administrator from 2002 through 2016, and the parish has collaborated with other Auburn parishes to maintain sacramental ministry despite reduced Masses in the area. In 2002, Sacred Heart established the Matthew House, which continues operating as a residence for the terminally ill.

Following Sr. Treichel's retirement as administrator, Bp. Matano appointed Fr. Michael Brown as Pastor of Sacred Heart / St. Ann in 2016.