Sacred Heart Parish was established in the East Hill section of Pensacola in 1905 to meet the growing demand for a Catholic Church in the area. The first church was near completion when it was destroyed by the Hurricane of 1906. A new church opened in 1907. This church still stands at the corner of Ninth Avenue and Jackson Streets.

By 1951 the growing parish, which began with only twenty-five families, needed more space for expansion and growth.

To this day, people remember the cold winter’s day march from the old 9th Avenue Church to the new church and school at 12th Avenue and Moreno St.

In 1975, Sacred Heart Parish was elevated to the status of Cathedral for the newly formed Diocese of Pensacola-Tallahassee. As the Cathedral, it is the primary church of the bishop and features his chair referred to as the “cathedra.”

The Cathedral hosts a variety of diocesan, community, and parish activities, including Ordinations; Annual Wedding Anniversary Mass; Mass of Remembrance; Rite of Election; and special Lenten, Holy Week, Easter, Advent, and Christmas celebrations.

The Cathedral is also a vibrant parish community which offers a variety of activities, including senior citizen events, a large scouting program, youth groups, pilgrimage trips, St. Vincent DePaul Society, Knights of Columbus, Bible studies, and a variety of liturgical music for its weekly celebrations of the Eucharist.

Written by Laura Hart, Student, Pensacola Catholic High School, 2011.

Copyright Diocese of Pensacola-Tallahassee, 2011.