Phoenix Sacred Heart Church could re-open
City Council approves development
Editor’s note: A version of this story appeared in some community editions.
After decades of uncertainty and disappointment, the Catholic community in south Phoenix is closer than ever to returning to the historic church built by neighborhood pioneers.
This month, the Phoenix City Council unanimously approved an agreement that will allow development of 2 million square feet of office and commercial space on the land surrounding Sacred Heart Church — and could permit mass in the historic building once more.
The empty church sits on an island of vacant land just west of Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport. It’s the last standing reminder of Phoenix’s earliest Latino barrios, which were mostly bulldozed by the city roughly 30 years ago.
Earlier this year, Phoenix, which now owns the church and the 35 acres surrounding it, sparked panic in the com-
munity when it entered into exclusive development negotiations for the land with nonprofit Chicanos Por La Causa.
Although the nonprofit agreed to preserve the building, many parishioners who had protected it from demolition for decades opposed the deal because they wanted it re-established as a Catholic church.
After months of discussions, Phoenix, Chicanos Por La Causa and the community agreed to give the Roman Catholic Diocese of Phoenix a chance to reactivate the church. The city has three months to finalize a deal with the Diocese.
“I feel like when the bell of this old holy historic church rings again yearround it will be a call to all: ‘You’re welcome. You’re welcome to come home again,’” resident Patricia Gurule told the council.
The church’s history
Neighborhood volunteers constructed — brick-by-brick — the Mission Revival-style church more than 60 years ago.
Phoenix destroyed the neighborhood surrounding the church, which sits at 16th Street and Buckeye Road, in the 1980s. The city bought land and relocated thousands of residents to allow for expansion of the airport.
Neighbors lost their houses but fought to save the 1956 church and got it placed on the National Register of Historic Places. Many say it is still a symbol of solidarity there.
Parishioners built a new church down the street in the 1980s, but a group of them started a nonprofit called the Braun-Sacred Heart Center to ensure the old building was protected and opened to the public once a year — for Christmas Mass.
“Many of us grew up there. It’s a sense of always coming back home,” resident Norma Munoz told the council.
The council has prioritized the redevelopment of the area surrounding the airport in recent years, which led to the development agreement with Chicanos Por La Causa.
The nonprofit was founded just up the road from Sacred Heart Church and has long-standing ties to the community.
President and CEO David Adame said the nonprofit plans to build its corporate headquarters on the land, and eventually bring technology and finance companies, restaurants and possibly a gas station to service rental cars from the airport.
The nonprofit agreed to a 50-year lease with the city for $1.5 million per year.
“We’re trying to bring something that will revitalize the area, bring job opportunities and be a win for the whole community,” Adame said.
‘The best interest of the church’
But Chicanos Por La Causa also supported city negotiations with the Roman Catholic Diocese of Phoenix to see if it would re-establish the church as a Catholic parish — which is the desire of the community.
Phoenix has 90 days to work out an agreement with the Diocese, which the council would have to approve. If the Diocese decides against reactivating the church, it will automatically revert to Chicanos Por La Causa.
Adame said the nonprofit will work to restore the church as a public prayer center if the Catholic Church doesn’t reopen it.
“Everyone at the end of the day has the best interest of the church,” he said.
Councilman Michael Nowakowski, who attended the church and volunteered with its youth group, said he’s received several phone calls from other parishioners who are excited for a reopening.
“I remember when the four barrios were basically condemned and taken over by the city because of the expansion of the airport. Those were some dark times especially within the Latino community,” Nowakowski said.
“And to have CPLC step up and to have some of the community leaders from the Sacred Heart Church step up and work together to preserve this piece of history ... it’s just amazing.”