Massachusetts

The Sacred Hearts have been in the Diocese of Fall River since 1905. We came at the invitation of the first Fall River Bishop, William Stang. Bishop Stang knew our Congregation from his studies in Europe at the Catholic University of Louvain.

Bishop Stang was named first Bishop of Fall River in 1904. In response to his request, the Provincial of Belgium sent three priests after they had completed English and Portuguese language studies. Fathers Stanislaus Bernard, Bernard Pierson, and Hilarion Eikerling arrived in May 1905 and immediately established Saint Joseph in Fairhaven and Our Lady of the Assumption in New Bedford. Later that same year, Father Eikerling established Saint Boniface for German speaking Catholics in New Bedford.

The early work of the Congregation also included opening a college in Fairhaven which has since closed. However, parishes were established throughout the area and on Cape Cod. The Congregation is responsible for founding Saint Joseph, Saint Mary and Sacred Hearts in Fairhaven, OLOA, Regina Pacis and Saint Boniface in New Bedford, Saint Francix Xavier in Acushnet, Saint Anthony in Mattapoisett, Our Lady of Lourdes in Wellfleet, Holy Trinity in West Harwich, and Holy Redeemer in Chatham.

Please follow the sidebar links on the right to visit our various apostolates in the Fall River Diocese. >>>