“The Co-Cathedral of the Sacred Heart is excited to announce the construction of the Archbishop Joseph Fiorenza Plaza, a project that is the fruit of the vision and master plan of the late Archbishop Fiorenza. The Fiorenza Plaza has the full support of Cardinal DiNardo and Bishop Italo Dell’Oro. The project takes account of the needs of the Co-Cathedral Parish and mission to the Archdiocese while paying fitting tribute to Archbishop Fiorenza and his legacy in the Church and in the Houston community.”
– Very Rev. Jeffrey Bame,
Pastor & Rector of the Co-Cathedral of the Sacred Heart
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As the Co-Cathedral of the Sacred Heart prepares to celebrate its 15th anniversary, we are proud to present the plans for the Archbishop Joseph Fiorenza Plaza. Details for the capital campaign will be announced soon, but it will include funding for the Plaza, Infrastructure Updates, and an Endowment Fund for long-term upkeep of the facility. Check back for project and campaign updates!
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A native of Beaumont and a graduate of St. Mary’s Seminary here in Houston, Archbishop Fiorenza began attending civil rights marches and gatherings even as a young priest. In 1965, he drove to Alabama to join one of the Selma Marches with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Back in Houston, he met and befriended Rev. William Lawson (now Pastor Emeritus of Wheeler Avenue Baptist Church) – and with the late Rabbi Emeritus Samuel Karff of Congregation Beth Israel, they formed the “Three Amigos” working together on interfaith and social justice initiatives.
For example, Archbishop Fiorenza, Rev. Lawson and Rabbi Karff established the
Coalition for the Homeless in 1987. Archbishop Fiorenza and Rev. Lawson were also active in the Neighborhood Recovery Community Develop- ment Corporation, the Renaissance Corporation, and the Allen Parkway Village Task Force – groups that work to renovate existing houses for low-income and homeless families. In 1995, Archbishop Fiorenza again joined with Rabbi Karff and Rev. Lawson as founding members of the Anti-Defamation League’s Coalition for Mutual Respect, a group of clergy and community leaders formed to present a unified voice against bias, bigotry, and discrimination.
The child of Sicilian immigrants who repeatedly witnessed the injustices of segregated society during his childhood, Archbishop Fiorenza was also a voice for the rights of immigrants and migrants all his life. In 1988, moreover, he established a ministry to those affected by AIDS, regardless of their faith background. He supported the work of The Metropoli- tan Organization (TMO) from its founding in 1984, and was a member of the Board of Directors of United Way. As a priest he directed the diocesan Catholic Campaign for Human Development, the domestic anti-poverty and social justice program of the American Bishops, and as a Bishop himself he chaired the national campaign. His fellow Bishops selected him to chair the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops from 1998-2001.
Archbishop Fiorenza passed away on September 19, 2022. He was 91.
1896: Sacred Heart Parish is founded with the first church being dedicated in 1897 on the eastern side of the block (where the empty school building now stands).
1912: The original Sacred Heart church at the southeast corner of Pierce and San Jacinto Streets is replaced by a larger church at the corner of Pierce and Fannin Streets.
1922: The original parish church at Sacred Heart is demolished so that a new school could be built in its place.
1990: The last major renovation of the “old church” is completed, and are significant enough that the church is rededicated by Archbishop Fiorenza.
2006: Acquisition of the Federal Reserve Building/Cathedral Centre to serve as Sacred Heart’s parish offices, hall, music room, events spaces, and other needs.
2008: Consecration of the new Sacred Heart Co-Cathedral.
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