Parish History:

It seems the spiritual needs of Catholics in the Blackheath area were ministered to as early as 1842 by priests from St Bernard's, Hartley. This arrangement existed until 1890 when the Blue Mountains parish, centred in Katoomba, was established. It serviced the needs of the congregations of Blackheath, Mt Victoria and Megalong until 1943.

The Sacred Heart Church was opened and blessed by Cardinal Moran on Australia Day, 1902. In May 1943, a new Parish District with its centre at Blackheath was created. The newly appointed resident priest assumed responsibility for a rather large area including Blackheath, Mt Victoria, Megalong Valley and a church hall at Medlow Bath.

The Sisters of Mercy from Wilcannia ­Forbes diocese opened a small school in Blackheath in 1912. A larger school and convent followed in the early 1940s, allowing the intake of boarders. This was closed in 1970 and the schoolhouse has recently been refurbished as a church hall.

In the early 1990s the steady decline in the numbers of clergy dictated the need for changes in the Blue Mountains. In 1993, two Sisters of Charity took up residence in the parish house and as a result of diocesan consultation, the parish continued without a resident pastor. These Sisters left at the end of 2002 and a Dominican Sister, Sr. Lyn Eastmure, was appointed in 2003 to help the parishioners run the parish. A roster of priests led the community and many visitors in the Sunday Celebration of Eucharist.

Pastoral Director Sister Lyn Eastmure resigned from Sacred heart parish in December 2008 after giving the most wonderful six years of pastoral service and parish leadership to our community.

Sr Lyn, reflects that her work in the absence of a resident priest brought a renewed purpose and mission to the place.

"As a Dominican I tried to be what I preached," Sr. Lyn says. "How you receive people depends on how open you are to them. Parishes are always owned by the community, and a good parish always has an effective pastoral council."

Lyn said she feels blessed by her ministry at Blackheath 2003-2009. "I meditate in the morning to focus for the rest of the day. I really was very lucky because in the mountains where I lived I saw recognition of God's creation everywhere."

In January 2009 Fr Bob Sheridan was appointed administrator in our parish for the interim period till a Pastoral Director is appointed. He will bring his priestly gifts to enrich our parish and we now will be celebrating weekday Mass at Sacred Heart, Tuesday to Friday at 9.00am, and on Tuesday evening at 6.30PM, for the first time in some years.

This is one of the few groups who don't mind being called 'heathens' as long as you put the 'Black' in front of it.

Sacred Heart Parish Includes: