Church of the Sacred Heart, Effingham, Effingham County, Illinois. Established in 1892. Present Pastor: Reverend Daniel J. Doyle  

The Sacred Heart Church, Effingham, Illinois, is located at the corner of Fayette Avenue and Banker Street on the intersection of two great trunk highways, the Old National Trail from the east to the west, and the Egyptian Trail from Chicago to the south, almost at the center of the business part of the thriving little city of Effingham.

The congregation was organized January 1, 1892, with Reverend Patrick R. Ducey, now deceased, as the first pastor and on June 23, of the same year, after a great deal of hard labor and perseverance on the part of the pastor and people, the cornerstone of a neat and substantial church was laid by Right Reverend James Ryan, D.D., Bishop of Alton, assisted by the Very Reverend Timothy Hickey of Springfield, Illinois, and a large number of priests of the diocese in the presence of the largest concourse of people ever assembled in the city. The sermon on the occasion was preached by the late Very Reverend Dean Mackin of Decatur, one of the most popular and eloquent priests in Illinois. Four months later, on October 25, the church of handsome brick, trimmed in Bedford stone, with a seating capacity of five hundred, heated by steam and ornamented by beautiful cathedral glass windows, was dedicated and formally opened for worship by Right Reverend Bishop Ryan, D.D.

In September, 1892, the Sacred Heart school was opened and placed in charge of lay teachers until June, 1895, when the Dominican Sisters of Springfield, Kentucky, were given charge. Previous to the advent of the Sisters, a neat, cozy convent was built on a prominent lot facing on Banker Street. In December 1892, a two-story building was built for the parochial residence. Later, in 1894, the steeple which was not yet completed was added to the church, and a a chime of three bells donated by Mr. And Mrs. Fagan, Mrs. Bannin, Thomas, Leddy and George Hogan. The accomplishment of so much in such a short time speaks volumes for the pluck, energy and perseverance of Father Ducey and his faithful flock. During the pastorate of Father Ducey the congregation was stunned one day by the announcement that the Railroad Shops of Effingham were closed and the division of the Pennsylvania Railroad located at Effingham would be moved to Terre Haute. This happening removed some of the most liberal contributors and diminished the resources of many others who (sic) remained.

At the end of eight years of earnest and tireless labor, father Ducey, the first pastor, was transferred to Marshall, Illinois. In September 1900, Reverend William J. Healy who had been secretary to Right reverend Bishop Ryan for over five years, took charge of the Sacred Heart Parish. The congregation steadily prospered under the wise guidance of Father Healy, who endeared himself to all. He was especially revered in Knights of Columbus circles, acting as their State Chaplain for four terms. After eight years given to the welfare of the Sacred Heart people, in the year 1908 Father Healy was transferred to Marshall, Illinois, to succeed Father Ducey whose health was failing, and who was compelled to take a much needed rest.

Father Healy's successor, Reverend Joseph A. Wilson, was then appointed by Bishop Ryan to take charge in the year 1909. He, too, had hard work to do, during his pastorate the congregation prospered spiritually and financially, and in the fall of the year 1915, following the rest of his predecessors, was transferred to the church at Marshall, Illinois.

Late in the Fall of 1915, Reverend John j. Cronin was appointed to carry on where the others had stopped. A heavy debt had been dragging along all those years, and Father Cronin conceived the idea that now was the opportune time to reduce the debt and directed his labors accordingly. During his short stay of three years of earnest endeavor, he succeeded in placing the parish in a satisfactory condition financially.

In the year 1918, Bishop Ryan transferred Father Cronin to St. Thomas Church, Newton, and appointed as his successor the present pastor, Reverend Daniel J. Doyle. The congregation has now acquired additional valuable property as the spiritual needs demanded, and during the last three years the old Cambell home on the principal street of the city has been purchased and the building remodeled for school purposes with the Sisters of Notre Dame in charge. The school is in a flourishing condition and has an enrollment of eighty pupils.

The lot adjacent to the school property has been purchased, and the plans are now in the hands of contractors for an expensive parish hall to serve as a parish and community building or the members of the congregation.

The congregation has three well-organized societies: The Holy Name Society, with H. J. Alt, as President; Vice-President, Charles Althoff; Secretary, Gerald Began, and Louis Began, Marshall; Altar Society, with Mrs. Jacobs as President; Mrs. Koelker, Vice-President; Mrs. Althoff as Secretary, and Mrs. Piper as Treasurer; The Young Ladies' Sodality, with Mary Ordner, as President; Rose Sharpe, as Secretary, and Olivia Ordner as Treasurer.

During the late world unpleasantness, Sacred Heart Parish gave its utmost in men and money to the cause of the Stars and Stripes.

Joseph J. Thompson, editor, Diocese of Springfield in Illinois Diamond Jubilee 1853-1928 (Hartman Printing Company, Springfield, Illinois 1928), pp. 469-471