WHITING – Each parish within the Diocese of Gary has a unique history connected to an earlier generation driven by a desire to form a faith based community and a church to call home, and Sacred Heart in Lake County is no different.
As Irish and German immigrants came to work on the railroads, Whiting’s Crossing began to grow in the Calumet Region. With the decision to build the Standard Oil Refinery in Whiting in 1889, the jump in population continued. About 20 families and more than 100 single men who were of the Roman Catholic faith wrote a letter to the bishop of the Fort Wayne diocese asking him to send a priest to minister to them.
The bishop sent Father H.F. Joseph Kroll from St. Patrick in Chesterton to establish a mission in Whiting. Father Kroll, when he was able to make the trek, said Mass in private homes. He began to raise funds for a permanent church and was able to purchase four lots on Center Street. A fifth lot was donated by Colonel Forsyth and work began in early 1891 on what was to become Sacred Heart Church.
Whiting continued to expand and the parish complex on Center Street was no longer the center of population, so the decision to move westward was made. Then-pastor Father Charles Thiele purchased 10 lots on LaPorte Avenue and planned to build a new parish on that site. When he was reassigned to a parish in Fort Wayne, it became the duty of the new pastor, Father John Berg, to begin the project, and in 1909, ground was broken for the new Sacred Heart church and school.
At that same location along LaPorte Avenue, Sacred Heart Catholic Church celebrated its 135th Jubilee on July 14 with a Mass presided over by Bishop Robert J. McClory and a luncheon that followed at the nearby Knights of Columbus Hall.
During his homily, Bishop McClory reminded those gathered that God chooses all types of people to spread the Gospel. He explained it’s not just men and women religious who are tasked with preaching Jesus’ message but everyone, even those who may feel unworthy or inadequate to the task.
“The truth is that those who are unexpectedly asked to share the Good News, who perhaps have a similar background and understanding, a story to recall from their life as to how God moved them, can have an extraordinary impact,” said Bishop McClory.
The bishop explained one of the beautiful things about the history of Sacred Heart parish is that there is “always an openness to give and to share and not see yourself as limited.”
“The most important thing we have is the faith that Christ has given us,” he said. “That gift, shared for 135 years in this parish community, is extraordinary – to not define ourselves by what we don’t have, but define ourselves by what we do have.”
“It's really exciting,” said Rosie Hernandez, Spanish music director at the church, reflecting on the jubilee celebration.
Hernandez mentioned that her family used to attend Ss. Peter and Paul in Merrillville and when that church closed, they began attending Sacred Heart, adding she “loves this church and I love its people.”
“'I’m very honored to be part of (the celebration) and thinking about the time (the church) has been around,” said Hernandez. “It really gives me a sense of happiness, to think of people that kept it open coming to praise the Lord.”
Ivette Miramontes said she also thinks about the people over the years that have been a part of the parish which spans many generations. It’s the community of people she believes that makes the parish special, while also giving credit to current administrator Father Jayababu Nuthalapati.
“Ever since Father Jay (Nuthalapati) got here, he brought everyone closer together,” Miramontes said. “I like that it feels like a family. I look forward to Sundays because I like that sense of home feeling.”
Addressing the congregation at the end of Mass, Father Nuthalapati thanked “our gracious and merciful God who (has) bestowed his heavenly blessings upon Sacred Heart Church since 1889.”
The priest shared his gratitude to those who organized the details of the anniversary celebration, including members of the jubilee committee, choir, altar society and Knights of Columbus, as well as those who have shown support for the parish, including Bishop McClory and Whiting Mayor Steven Spebar. He also recognized his fellow priests in attendance, Father Selvaraj Selladurai, Father Alphonse Skerl and Father Patrick Gaza.
“In my retirement I’ve been able to help out here,” said Father Gaza. “Everyone is very happy and involved. The people don’t come to church to sit. They come to church to pray, to sing, to go out and serve. This is an active parish.”
The church will host its Fifth Annual Ice Cream Social on Sunday, Sep. 15, 11:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. For more information about the parish and its Mass times and activities, visit sacredheartwhiting.com.