History of Sacred Heart
Church and Missions


Fr. Michael Wallrath established the Sacred Heart Church in Maxwell as a mission in 1881. In 1911 Sacred Heart became a parish with missions in Williams (Church of the Annunciation, founded in 1892), Stonyford (St. Mary of the Mountain, founded in 1896) and Arbuckle (Holy Cross, founded in 1899).

In 1917, a new church was built on its present day location at the corner of Elm and Olive Streets in Maxwell.




Succession of Pastors:
  1911- Fr. James McGrath
1912-1925 Fr. Michael Hynes
1926-1941 Fr. John J. McGary
1941-1949 Fr. Stephan Stack
1949-1968 Fr. Thomas Morgan
1968-1979 Fr. Nicholas Phelan
1979-1985 Fr. Michael O'Connor
1985-1986 Fr. Brendon O'Dowd
1987-1996 Fr. Michael Canny
1996-2004 Fr. John J. Myles
2004- Fr. Francisco Hernandez-Gomez
Fr. Francisco Hernandez-Gomez was installed as Pastor in September of 2004 following the retirement of Fr. John Myles. Fr. Hernandez has a staff consisting of an Office Manager, Housekeeper and Janitor.

Sacred Heart Parish has approximately 1,100 families consisting of two major ethnic groups, Caucasian and Hispanic.

There is a Sodality, Altar Societies and the newly formed Knights of Columbus as well as Faith Formation Programs. The Sodality and Altar Societies are a group of women that meet each month. They help the Pastor by cleaning the linens, supplying flowers for the Altar, and much more. They have one fundraiser each year to help with a specific project for the Church. The parish has three Feast of Guadalupe celebrations which include a Solemn Mass, parade, and a reception. A couple of large bazaars and several smaller events are put on during the year to help support the Church.

There is no school associated with the parish nor are there any nuns at this time. In 2004 property was donated in Williams for the site of the Padre Pio Center which will include a multipurpose room (parish hall), offices and rectory. This location will also be the future site of a new Church, the first Catholic School in this parish, and if needed, a cemetery.



Church of the Annunciation, Williams, CA

Est. 1892
(original pictures not available)
617 8th Street, Williams






Holy Cross Church, Arbuckle, CA
Est. 1899
412 Laurel Street, Arbuckle





St. Mary of the Mountain, Stonyford, CA
Est. 1896


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