In 1936 a group of Catholic families living in Cambria Heights found it more and more difficult to bring their families to Mass in Elmont, St. Albans and Rosedale. Several women canvasses the area and collected names on a petition, which they sent to the Bishop of the Diocese of Brooklyn, Most Rev. Thomas E. Molloy. In June of 1936 Father George A. Dawson was send by Bishop Molloy to found a parish in Cambria Heights. Fr. Dawson could not find a building large enough to accommodate the number of people who expressed an interest in attending Mass, so he erected a tent and on Sunday June 21, 1936 celebrated the first Sunday Masses in Sacred Heart Parish.
Since June of 1936, Sacred Heart Parish has been a home to the Catholic community in Cambria Heights. Gathering for worship, religious education, prayer and community life; serving the needs of young and old; growing and changing with the make up of the community, listed below are some of the events and people who have shaped our parish for the last 70 years.
Sacred Heart Historical Dates
| Friday June 19, 1936 | Fr. George A Dawson offers Mass in a private home | |
| January 1937 | Construction of gym-auditorium - what became our Church - begins | |
| June 19, 1937 | The Church - not completed - is dedicated. 97 boys and 86 girls are Confirmed by Bishop Molloy | |
| Circa 1940 |
The Rectory is purchased and enlarged. World War II and the National War effort postpone plans to build a parochial School. The building of homes in Cambira Heights came to a halt. |
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| September 1947 |
Father Dawson is transferred to Good Shepard in Brooklyn. Fr. Daniel U. Hanrahan isnamed the second pastor of Sacred Heart |
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| May 1949 |
Ground breaking for Sacred Heart School Sacred Heart was the first Catholic school to be constructed in Queens since the beginining of World War II (1941) |
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| September 1950 |
Sacred Heart School opens Served by hte Sisters of St. Dominic - the convent was being expanded and the sisters had to live a the Novitiate of the Little Sisters of the Poor in Queens Village |
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| October 26, 1950 | Sacred Heart Convent opens | |
| 1977 | Fr. Guy Sansariq is assigned to Sacred Heart beginning along with Sr. Carmele Nerette a dedicated apostolate to the growing Hatian community in Cambria Heights | |
| Fall 1977 | SacredHeart Choir begins | |
| 1986 | 50th Anniversary of Sacred Heart Parish Renovation of Church begins |