Sacred Heart of Jesus Church was officially founded when it was dedicated on October 9, 1898.

The original property, located at the corner of Monroe and Harrison Streets had been a Methodist Church and was purchased for $2,000 in June of that year.  The structure had no sacristy, sanctuary, kneelers, statues
or steeple cross.  St. Joseph Parish raised the money to pay for these.

In 1899, construction of Sacred Heart School began on June 9th, the Feast of the Sacred Heart. Its first class began on September 6, 1899.

In 1905, the church building was raised for a basement to be constructed and the structure was then expanded.  In 1925 a new parsonage was built and the old parsonage was moved nearer the school and converted into
a convent for the Sisters. In 1942, property at the corner of Fremont and Madison Streets was purchased.  The following year, three classrooms were added to the school and a proposal was made to build a larger church.  The present church was built in 1950 on the corner of Monroe and Fremont Streets. The new church and an addition to the school were dedicated on June 18th. The old church was converted to a gymnasium and additional hall space.  In March of 1951 it was destroyed by fire caused by excess gas pressure.  In 1952 the gym, cafeteria and rectory were constructed and seven classrooms were added to the school.  In 1955 the convent, now Tri-Manor Home, was built. In 1989, Sacred Heart School, the last Catholic parish school in the city was closed as Appleton Catholic Educational System (ACES) evolved.  The old school building was razed in 1996. Remaining classrooms are now being used for faith formation and an ACES Pre-School program.The church interior was renovated in 1998.  In 2000 two former classrooms were combined to form the Sacred Heart Room for Parish functions.  A canopied entrance off the parking lot was constructed for easier access for all church functions. Presently serving as pastor is Reverend Robert J. Karuhn, assigned in May of 1999.  Assigned to assist him are Deacon Don Gigure (1995), Deacon Gib Schmidt (1999), and Deacon Dan Koszalinski (2005).

For a complete history of the Sacred Heart of Jesus Church see the 1998 parish pictorial located in the parish library.