About Holy Trinity · Heun, Nebraska
Holy Trinity Parish is a small rural Roman Catholic parish in the unincorporated community of Heun, Colfax County, Nebraska, in the Archdiocese of Omaha. The parish was founded in 1878 by Bohemian (Moravian) and German immigrant settlers, who chose the name 'Holy Trinity' to unite worshippers of both nationalities under a single devotion rather than naming the church after one ethnic group's patron saint. The present brick church, built in 1928, replaced the original 30-by-60-foot wooden framed church and remains active with approximately 200 registered parishioners. It is part of 'Rural Family H' in the Archdiocese of Omaha's family-of-parishes structure and continues to serve the farming communities of the Colfax County countryside.
- Established
- 1878
- Patron
- Holy Trinity (Most Holy Trinity)
- Rector
- Rev. Jairo Enrique Congote
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Omaha (Metropolitan Archdiocese of Omaha)
Why belong here
Holy Trinity is one of the oldest Catholic communities in Colfax County, founded in 1878 by Bohemian and German immigrant farmers, and it offers the experience of a tight-knit, multi-generational rural parish where the same families have worshipped for nearly150 years. Members value its small, intimate country setting, its historic 1928 brick church, its connection to the broader Rural Family H network of parishes in the Archdiocese of Omaha (giving access to confession, formation, and weekend liturgies at neighboring parishes), and the strong tradition of lay fellowship, volunteerism, and cemetery care that grew out of the pioneer sod-house congregations of the 1870s.
Mass times at Holy Trinity
Weekly Mass schedule
History of Holy Trinity Parish
Holy Trinity Parish was founded in 1878 in the Heun community of Colfax County, Nebraska, by Bohemian (Moravian Czech) and German Catholic immigrant farmers. Worship had begun informally on Christmas Day 1871 in the sod house of Josef Šindelář, and by 1871 the settlers had set aside land for a cemetery. In 1878 Wilhelm Heun and John Folda each donated five acres, and a 30 × 60 ft. wooden church was erected largely with donated labor. The first Christmas Mass in the new church was celebrated in 1878. A rectory followed in 1883. The first Confirmation, on 21 June 1879, was conferred by Bishop James O'Connor on 106 parishioners. The current brick church replaced the wooden one in 1928, and the parish marked its 125th anniversary in 2003 with a commemorative history.
- 1871 — first Catholic worship service in Josef Šindelář's sod house
- 1871 — cemetery land acquired
- 1878 — wooden church built; first Christmas Mass
- 1879 — Rev. Cyril Augustinsky, O.F.M., appointed pastor
- 1879 — Bishop O'Connor confirms106 parishioners
- 1883 — first rectory/parish house built
- 1905–1915 — Rev. Joseph Drbal serves as pastor; builds parish house
- 1920–1931 — Rev. Anthony Folta builds brick church and new parsonage
- 1928 — present brick church completed
- 2003 — 125th anniversary history published
Founding Communities: Bohemian and German Settlers
The parish was established by two immigrant groups — Bohemians (Moravians) from Czech lands and Germans — who had often had uneasy relations in Europe but came together in the Colfax County prairie. Rather than choose a Czech or German patron saint, the founders deliberately chose the devotion of the Holy Trinity as a name that would unite all Catholics regardless of nationality. The settlers endured droughts and locust plagues before they could afford to build a permanent church, with many still living in sod houses when the first church was erected in 1878.
- Bohemian (Moravian Czech) settlers
- German settlers led by Wilhelm (William) Heun
- Joint cemetery acquired in 1871
- Name 'Holy Trinity' chosen to be inclusive of both nationalities
Architecture and Buildings
The 1928 brick church is the third liturgical structure on or near this site, following worship in the Šindelář sod house (1871–1878) and the original 30 × 60 ft. wooden church (1878–1928). The wooden church was physically moved east in 1928 to clear the site for the new brick building; its last funeral at the original site was that of Anastazie Oborný Koliha on 10 June 1927. A rectory was first built in 1883; a new brick parsonage followed during Father Folta's pastorate.
- 1878 — wooden church (30 × 60 ft.)
- 1883 — first parish house/rectory
- 1928 — present brick church (cost ~$40,000)
- c.1920s — new brick parsonage (cost ~$14,000)
Franciscans and Early Clergy
In its early decades Holy Trinity was served by Franciscan (O.F.M.) friars based in Columbus, Nebraska. Missionaries had visited the Heun community from as early as 1871 (Rev. Frederick Uhing of West Point), followed by Fathers Bobal and Šulak in 1873–1875, and Rev. J. A. Blaschke of Olean from August 1877 onward. In March 1879 Rev. Cyril Augustinsky, O.F.M., of Columbus was formally appointed the first resident pastor. The Franciscan circuit also covered nearby Maple Creek, Dry Creek, Plasi, and Wahoo churches.
- Missionary visits from 1871
- Rev. J. A. Blaschke — first resident pastor
- Rev. Cyril Augustinsky, O.F.M. — appointed 1879
- Connected to Columbus Franciscan mission network
Clergy and Pastoral Leadership
Holy Trinity has been served by a long succession of resident pastors since1878. The parish is currently staffed as part of Rural Family H of the Archdiocese of Omaha. As of the Archdiocese's 2024 directory, Rev. Jairo Enrique Congote serves as pastor, assisted by four deacons: Deacon Paul M. Doerneman, Deacon Dan K. Hastings, Deacon Librado F. Maiz-Cervantes, and Deacon Pablo G. Tovar.
- Rev. Jairo Enrique Congote — Pastor (current, 2024 directory)
- Deacon Paul M. Doerneman
- Deacon Dan K. Hastings
- Deacon Librado F. Maiz-Cervantes
- Deacon Pablo G. Tovar
Cemetery and Burial Ground
The Holy Trinity Cemetery, adjoining the church, has been in continuous use since 1871 — predating even the construction of the first wooden church. It was created so that the settlers could bury their dead in consecrated ground rather than in private farm burial plots. Today it remains an active Catholic cemetery serving the parish community.
- In use since 1871
- Originally5 acres donated by John Folda and 5 acres by William Heun
- Active parish cemetery adjoining the church
Sacraments
Sacraments celebrated at Holy Trinity include Baptism, First Communion, Confirmation (the first was conferred on 106 parishioners on 21 June 1879 by Bishop James O'Connor), Marriage, and Funeral liturgies. The parish records early 20th-century statistics including baptisms, first communions, marriages, and Paschal communions.
- Baptism
- First Communion
- Confirmation (first: 1879)
- Marriage
- Funeral / Anointing of the Sick
Parish Identity and Cultural Heritage
Holy Trinity remains a small but historically significant country parish of the Archdiocese of Omaha, with about 200 registered parishioners (as of 2016). Its identity is rooted in the cooperation of Bohemian and German immigrant farmers, the choice of the ecumenical name 'Holy Trinity,' and a strong tradition of lay fellowship, volunteerism, and cemetery care. The parish published a 125th anniversary commemorative volume in 2003, drawing on historical archives compiled by Rev. Anthony K. Pluhaček.
- About 200 registered parishioners (2016)
- Part of Archdiocese of Omaha Rural Family H
- 125th Anniversary Book (2003)
- Strong lay/parish-archive tradition
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Frederick Uhing1871–1872
Said Mass in private homes at Heun; based at St. Charles, West Point.
- Rev. F. Bobal1873–1875
Missionary priest alternating with Father Šulak among scattered Czech/Bohemian Catholics.
- Rev. F. Šulak1873–1875
Missionary priest alternating with Father Bobal.
- Rev. J. A. Blaschke1877–1879
Of Olean; first resident pastor at Holy Trinity; first Christmas Mass in the new church was celebrated 1878.
- Rev. Cyril Augustinsky, O.F.M.1879–c.1880s
Franciscan of Columbus; formally appointed pastor of Holy Trinity in March 1879. The parish continued to be served by Franciscans from Columbus in subsequent decades.
- Rev. Joseph Drbal1905–1915
Pastor during construction of the first parish house (1905–1915 era); later at St. John's, Howells, 1920–1952.
- Rev. Anthony Foltac.1920–1931
Built the present brick church (cost ~$40,000) and a new brick parsonage (~ $14,000). Transferred to St. Wenceslaus, Dodge,1 Oct 1931.
- Rev. A. J. Pluhaček
Compiled volumes of historical records and photographs of the Heun parish (acknowledged in 2003 anniversary history).
- Rev. Stanley T. Schmit
Listed as Pastor of Holy Trinity in Archdiocese of Omaha directory (mid-2010s era).
- Rev. Taylor J. Leffler
Listed as Pastor in Archdiocese of Omaha Rural Family H directory.
- Rev. Jairo Enrique Congote2024–present
Current pastor per Archdiocese of Omaha 2024 directory.
