Dear Members of the Sacred Heart Family – Parishioners, Parents, and Alumni,
Sacred Heart Parish is blessed in many wonderful and unique ways. We benefit from the hard work and dedication of our ancestors who left us powerful programs, opportunities for worship, and many buildings to call a parish home. Countless families and individuals have spent important parts of their lives here and each added to the reality of Sacred Heart Parish and School in some way.
Our parish and school are gifts from generations past. As we look to the future of Sacred Heart in Morrilton, we must consider how to best care for and sustain these gifts for future generations. It is time for us to study some possible improvements to the facilities that have been so generously provided.
Volunteer committees have studied our property and identified several needs. To best assess the needs and support of potential projects, Sacred Heart School and Church are launching a Feasibility Study to evaluate potential capital projects that will enhance our campus facilities and better serve our students, parishioners, and community. This study will help determine both the needs and the level of community support for proposed improvements, including:
- Expansion and renovation of the school kitchen and cafeteria
- Relocation of the high school office to improve campus safety
- Parish and school projects, based on feedback
Your input is vital to this process. It is important to note that no decisions have been made — we are exploring options together, as one parish and school family, to determine which projects, if any, we should pursue.
Statement of Need
Our current kitchen and cafeteria, built in 1965, are no longer adequate for the needs of our growing Sacred Heart community and the high school office is not optimal for security .
- Kitchen: Serves daily lunches to approximately 300 students and faculty, as well as meals for numerous parish and school events. The space is small and outdated and must be brought up to current code with a fire suppression system and other safety updates.
- Cafeteria: Undersized for current enrollment, forcing multiple lunch shifts beginning as early as 10:45 a.m.
- High School Office: Relocation from the rear of the building to the front of campus would significantly improve school security, while also allowing better flexibility in the existing spaces for the needs of the school.
The Parish Council has been consulted regarding the broader needs of our church and parish facilities to ensure thoughtful long-term planning. We invite you to share any additional needs you feel should be considered as part of this study.
Background
In 2023, Sacred Heart School received a $61,000 Healthy Meals Incentive (HMI) Grant from the USDA to strengthen our school lunch program. This grant funded the purchase of farm-fresh beef, essential kitchen supplies, and major equipment upgrades including a floor mixer and a walk-in cooler/freezer.
While these improvements were significant, the project underscored the need for more extensive renovations and expansion of both the kitchen and cafeteria.
Prior to the installation of the walk-in cooler/freezer, the Buildings and Grounds committee worked with an architect to commission plans not only for the unit itself, but also for potential options for a comprehensive kitchen/cafeteria expansion should additional funding become available and the full project be considered.
To date, the new cooler/freezer unit has been installed. The installation resulted in the need for a new outdoor cook space for the Bazaar and Oktoberfest, as the unit is located in the area previously designated. Plans are currently underway to complete this phase of the project by Spring of 2025.
During the 2025 Strategic Planning Retreat, our volunteer boards reviewed campus needs and considered a plan that includes kitchen and cafeteria expansion, as well as relocating the high school office for increased visibility and security. This led to the discussion of a potential capital campaign to address all of these needs.
Several parish-related projects have been mentioned, but no single project has yet been identified. This survey lists known concerns, but your feedback is paramount in determining what, if any, parish projects should be included in a capital campaign now - or in the future.
Finally, other school projects are also listed. It is possible that these may be completed separately from a capital campaign, but we welcome your feedback as we move forward.
Feasibility Study Overview
The feasibility study will guide our next steps by engaging parishioners, parents, alumni, and community supporters. Through surveys and town hall meetings, participants will:
- Provide feedback on proposed projects
- Suggest additional needs or priorities
- Indicate their level of interest and potential support
This transparent process ensures that our future campaign reflects the shared priorities of the Sacred Heart community.
Our last capital campaign in 2016 successfully raised $3.45 million in less than 18 months, thanks to the extraordinary generosity of our families, alumni, and parishioners. With your participation and prayerful consideration, we are confident this new endeavor will continue that legacy of faith and unity.
Thank you for your continued dedication to Sacred Heart. We ask that you take a few minutes to complete the following survey. Your input will help shape the future of our parish and school community. Surveys will be accepted until December 31, 2025 and may be mailed to the Church, left in the back of the Church, dropped off at the Church or school offices, or completed online.
Finally, we will hold a town hall meeting Wednesday, November 19, 2025, at 6:30pm in the Church. All are welcome to attend this informal listening session to ask questions and share your thoughts and concerns.
ONLINE SURVEY
PAPER SURVEY