Sacred Heart (Diocese of Arlington)

Sacred Heart Catholic Church
Dedication:	Sacred Heart of Jesus
Venerated Saints:	Our Lady, Saint Joseph
Diocese:	Diocese of Arlington
Deanery:	Deanery 5
Address:	12975 Purcell Road, Manassas, VA 20112
Coordinates:	38.8694, -77.2286
City:	Manassas, VA
Subdivision:	Virginia
Country:	United States
County:	Prince William County
Website:	https://sacredheartcatholicchurch.org/
Founded:	1972
School:	Yes
Email:	office@sacredheartcatholicchurch.org

Sacred Heart Catholic Church is a territorial parish in the Diocese of Arlington, located in Manassas, Virginia. Dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus—the devotion to the physical Heart of Christ as the representation of His divine love for humanity, promoted especially after the seventeenth-century apparitions to Saint Margaret Mary Alacoque—the parish operates a parochial school and emphasizes Eucharistic adoration, family ministries, and charitable outreach.

Established in 1972 to serve the growing Catholic population in western Prince William County, the parish initially held Masses in local facilities before dedicating its church in 1978. Sacred Heart Academy opened in 1993. As of December 17, 2025, Sacred Heart continues to offer perpetual Eucharistic adoration and supports extensive programs in faith formation and service.

The parish community fosters devotion to the Sacred Heart through First Friday observances and consecration practices.

History

Sacred Heart Parish was established in 1972 by Bishop Thomas J. Welsh of the Diocese of Arlington to accommodate population growth in the Manassas area.

Initial Masses were celebrated in local schools and halls. The church building was dedicated in 1978. Sacred Heart Academy (pre-K through grade 8) opened in 1993.

The parish has expanded facilities and ministries over the decades, including establishment of perpetual adoration.

School

Sacred Heart Academy (pre-K through grade 8) was founded in 1993, providing classical Catholic education integrated with faith formation.

The school emphasizes academic excellence and character development in a traditional Catholic environment.

Special features

• Perpetual Eucharistic adoration chapel
• First Friday devotions to the Sacred Heart of Jesus
• Active pro-life and charitable ministries

Architecture

The church building, dedicated in 1978, reflects late twentieth-century design suited to communal worship.

Associated facilities include the school and adoration chapel.

Art and devotional features

The church interior features a prominent crucifix above the altar and abstract stained glass windows with colorful geometric patterns in blues, reds, yellows, and greens flanking the sanctuary.

A circular stained glass window depicts the Sacred Heart of Jesus, portraying Christ in a blessing pose while revealing His thorn-crowned and flaming Heart, encircled by vibrant floral and geometric motifs in purples, blues, and reds.

The parish grounds include a large outdoor cross bearing a red Sacred Heart symbol and a landscaped prayer garden.

Additional details on other interior or exterior artwork, statues, or sculptures remain limited in publicly available sources.

Relics

According to established Catholic tradition, the main altar contains deposited relics, as is customary in dedicated churches. Specific details regarding the saints associated with these relics are not publicly documented in available sources. This follows common practice where first-class relics, often of martyrs, are sealed within the altar.