Sacred Heart Catholic Church of Rowlett

Second Catholic church organized in Dallas County, Sacred Heart owes its origins to the devotion of an Irishman, Patrick McEntee (1846 - 1921), who came to Texas in 1874. Farmer and merchant, McEntee helped build the railroad in this area. Tradition holds that services were conducted at his home before this church was built. The parish's first baptism in 1898 was that of his grandchild. McEntee provided the land for Sacred Heart Church and cemetery. Built in 1899, this structure was dedicated in 1900 by Bishop E. J. Dunne. The thirteen stained glass windows were reputedly imported from Germany as memorial tributes. One near the altar was donated by Bishop Dunne. In 1922 parishioners resolved that their building should face the new Bankhead Highway. They turned it around and reset it on the original foundation. The cedars backing the church once stood in front. Ladies of the Altar Society raised the funds for substantial remodeling of the Gothic Revival style edifice in 1955-56. Population loss threatened to close the church, but the membership grew as newcomers settled in the community. Weekly mass is celebrated now for a fellowship which includes descendants of the earliest families.

Sacred Heart Catholic Church of Rowlett is a historical marker in Rowlett, Dallas County, dedicated in 1976. It is one of 352 historical markers documented in Dallas County in the Texas Historical Commission Atlas, among 574 historic sites cataloged across the county.

The site sits at 32.9353, -96.5652 near Rowlett. The nearest cataloged historic site is Pleasant Valley Cemetery (historical marker), about 1.6 miles away. Others within a short drive include Big A, Rowlett, City of, and Sacred Heart.

This record corresponds to Texas Historical Commission Atlas #5113006856. Use the map below for its exact position and turn-by-turn directions.