Sacred Heart Catholic Church has a deep and rich history with a number of contributing entities.

The church, which has been in existence since 1860, was first under the leadership of the diocesan priests. In 1882, it fell under the leadership of the Jesuits of the Southern Province.

For the past 15 years, Franciscan friars have taken the lead in ministering to the flock.

Each entity has left its mark on the church, not only in the spiritual sense but in the physical sense. The Sacred Heart Church posted a bulletin from Father George, who wrote about the legacies left behind and the the friars' pursuit to add their own.

One project was to renovate and repair the stained glass windows back to their initial glory. The Franciscans left the Jesuit motto Ad Majorem Die Gloriam in place with some thought of adding the friar motto Deus Meus et Omnia, which means "my God, my all."

“Sadly, the scaffolding came down and the moment passed,” Fr. George said in the bulletin.

Parishioners asked about an appropriate project for the friars to tie into, and momentum began to churn when it was decided that the outside of the church would be an appropriate solution, with renovation of the front steps and entry plaza.

It all came together in 2017, when a parishioner approached the friars about the project. As luck would have it, Francesca Bacci, a professor of art at the University of Tampa, was the daughter of Fiorenzo Bacci, who had produced a number of works important to Franciscans including Francis of San Damiano, Fr. George reported in the bulletin.

Serious thought on the matter led the friars to the perfect projects: a statue of St. Francis and the Wolf of San Gubbio, which illustrates the theme of the church.

“When we ask longtime parishioners, new parishioners, and visitors alike, about their experience of the parish, a theme quickly emerges in the words used to describe their experience: welcoming, inclusive, hospitable, friendly, warm, open, and more,” Fr. George said in the bulletin.

The story of St. Francis and the Wolf of Gubbio parallels that of the church: to create a place that is holy and hospitable.

Sacred Heart Church is located on the corner of Twiggs St. and Florida Ave. in Tampa Bay.