Catholic Mission In Canada

Sacred Heart Church, Open Hall, in the Diocese of Grand Falls, Newfoundland and Labrador, will celebrate its centenary this year.

A committee has been established and plans are underway to have various financial, social and liturgical events during the 100th anniversary year. This organizing committee is comprised of church members from Open Hall, Red Cliffe and Tickle Cove, the communities served by Sacred Heart Church.

The historic structure opened in 1908. It now serves about 100 parishioners. On various occasions, others attend Sts. Peter and Paul Church from nearby King's Cove, the seat of the parish, and Plate Cove parish.

Master builder Thomas Martin, a resident of King's Cove, oversaw the current construction, assisted by a number of carpenters from the area. The cornerstone was laid by Bishop John March in June 1908 and the first Mass was celebrated later that same year.

As was the case with many church structures along the rugged coast of Newfoundland and Labrador, the church served as a landmark for local fishers at sea. Open Hall Church, in Roman style architecture, towers above the surrounding landscape to this day.

Some minor and major repairs have been done to the interior and exterior of the building over the decades, but the essentials of the church structure remain the same. At present, there is need of a new floor covering. Floor tiles have cracked and separated under the burden of years.

Needless to say, community members take great pride in their church and do their best in these challenging times to maintain this impressive structure as “a house for the Church.”

Finally, one custom in Open Hall area and other fishing communities saw fishers give the proceeds of their catch each “Lady Day,” on August 15th, for the financial support of the church. Also, dues were paid to the priest in the fall, after fishers had settled accounts with local merchants.Since the depletion of the cod stocks off our Newfoundland coast, fewer men and women make a living from the sea these days. However, fishing in Open Hall and surrounding communities is still very important to the local economy.

(Father William Hearn is pastor of Sacred Heart Church in Open Hall, in the Diocese of Grand Falls, Newfoundland and Labrador.)