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| Sacred Heart Church | |
|---|---|
| Location | Andrew Road, Keamari, Karachi |
| Country | Pakistan |
| Denomination | Roman Catholic |
| Membership | 90 families in 2011 |
| History | |
| Founded | 1862 |
| Events | destroyed 1969 |
| Architecture | |
| Years built | 1969 |
| Administration | |
| Archdiocese | Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Karachi |
| Parish | Sacred Heart Parish |
| Clergy | |
| Priest | Father Gul Shehzad OFM |
Sacred Heart Church is a 150-year-old church in a parish of theRoman Catholic Archdiocese of Karachi in Pakistan.
On September 18, 2011, ArchbishopEvarist Pinto and eight priests celebrated Mass for over a thousand people to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the Church.[1]
The present church building was built in 1922 with funds provided by theKarachi Port Trust. There were approximately 200 Christian families living inKeamari at the time. In 1923 the Sacred Heart school was constructed. The medium of instruction was originally theMarathi language. The church has beenheritage-listed.[2]
In 1969 the Church caught fire and much of it was destroyed. The cause of the fire was never known. It was rebuilt with much of its essence being saved as possible.[3]
On June 29, 2019Pope Francis appointed Father Indrias Rehmat, a former parish priest, as Bishop of theDiocese of Faisalabad.[4]
In July 2020, the Archbishop transferred 3 areas - Shireen Jinnah Colony, General Colony and Railway Colony and St Mary's School from St. Anthony's Parish to the Sacred Heart Parish.[5]
The parish has two conferences of theSociety of St Vincent de Paul, Pakistan. The parish is also home to the Sacred Heart Secondary School.TheApostleship of the Sea is based in this port parish.
In November 1990 fanatics attacked the Sacred Heart Church. The parish priest Fr. Bruno Sequeira was brutally beaten. The mob tried to throw him in a fire made from the pews.[7]
In 2009 thieves broke into the church on January 6 and took property worth 80,000 rupees (US$1,000). The chalice, a brass cross, the sound system and emergency lights were among the stolen items.[8]
In October 2010 a special mass was celebrated to consecrate the century-old church vessels recently recovered from the robbery.[9]