The college chapel served as a church for the people of the Lacey area. One
of the priests from St. Martin's made himself responsible for their spiritual
needs. By 1916 the college quarters were too small to be shared by the monks
and the laity. A lot was donated, Bishop Edward O'Dea gave the necessary
permission and in 1922 construction was begun. The little white church, completed
in 1923, still stands and bears the name Fabian Hall, in memory of our first
pastor, Fr. Fabian Sexton, O.S.B
The parish continued to grow and expand during the next forty years, and
by 1964 Fabian Hall was literally bulging at the seams. Permission was given
in 1964 for plans to be drawn for a temporary church and instructional
center (current parish office), with the church to have the dimensions of
a gymnasium and a capacity of 750. Finally on October 16, 1967, Archbishop
Thomas A. Connolly officially dedicated the new structure. Sacred Heart Parish
was raised from a mission to parish status on November 10, 1967. Our pastor
at this time was Fr. Ansgar Hallen, O.S.B.
