Church of the Sacred Heart

The Soup Kitchen at St. Bartholomew Church

The Soup Kitchen at St. Bartholomew Church, Bishop Murry Hall, has been nourishing bodies and souls for over three decades. Each year, dedicated volunteers distribute over 2,000 homecooked dinners to anyone in our community needing a warm meal and a welcoming smile. The kitchen at Bishop Murry Hall has served us well; but now, some of the equipment, worn out through love and care of our neighbors, needs to be replaced.

This year, we prayerfully ask you to consider donating to the St. Bart's Soup Kitchen as part of #iGiveCatholic on Giving Tuesday. Your donations will go towards the purchase of a new stove and the installation of a required fire suppression system. With your generosity, we can keep our kitchen open, stepping into the next thirty years of fellowship and connecting with our neighbors through the universal language of food. 

History of St. Bartholomew Roman Catholic Church

In 1940 the parishioners of St. Bartholomew Parish were only asking for a place where they could gather together and worship the Lord. They were faithful, hardworking and God loving people. They wanted a better life for their children. They were concerned about their neighbors. They were family in church and away from church. They took pride in their work. They shared what little they had with others. 

Unlike other Catholic Churches in the City, St. Bart's was not a neighborhood or territorial church. St. Bart's was home to all of the black Catholics in the City and beyond. Each Sunday service became a form of homecoming. After Mass, the parishioners had coffee and cake and would visit with each other - a tradition that continues today.

They worked side by side with the priest and the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament who were assigned to our Parish. The parishioners of St. Bart's always knew who they were indebted to. Never once did they stop their praying, sharing and caring for others even when times were difficult. They continued on no matter what came their way, and they did not forget who should get the thanks.

OH YES, TO GOD BE THE GLORY FOR THE THINGS HE HAS DONE. These things can be attributed to the parishioners of the 1940's, but these attributes can be said about us here today. 

About Sacred Heart Parish

Sacred Heart Parish in Camden, one of the oldest parishes in the Camden Diocese, started as a mission church of The Immaculate Conception Cathedral and was the first church in all of New Jersey named in honor of the Sacred Heart. The mission church became a parish in 1885. Sacred Heart merged with St. Bartholomew Church and St. Joan of Arc in 2017. St. Bartholomew was founded in 1940 for African American Catholics in Camden who were often not welcome in other churches. Our parish is proud to coordinate the Black Catholic Ministry for the Camden Diocese. St, Joan of Arc was founded in 1920 for the people of the Fairview section of Camden, many of whom worked the port and shipbuilding industry along the Delaware River. We are now one family of faith, giving praise and glory to God and serving the community through our many outreach ministries. 

Parish Mission Statement

As a Beacon of Hope for all who desire to encounter God's Love in Camden, Sacred Heart Parish is called to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ through word, sacrament and service. Our diverse multi-cultural expression of worship is our strength, welcoming and inviting all to follow us on this spiritual journey. Our historic Churches of St. Bartholomew, St. Joan of Arc, and Sacred Heart stand on the side of life and justice, uniting us as one faith family, as we strive to conform our hearts to the Heart of Jesus.