About Sacred Heart · Norfolk, Nebraska
Sacred Heart Parish is a Roman Catholic parish in Norfolk, Nebraska, founded in 1881 and now serving more than 2,400 families (approximately 7,200 members). Since 2019 it has been led by Fr. Patrick McLaughlin as pastor and, together with five mission parishes (St. Peter's in Stanton, St. Leonard's in Madison, St. Patrick's in Battle Creek, St. Joseph's in Pierce, and the on-site St. Mary's Church), it forms the Heart of Jesus Family of Parishes within the Archdiocese of Omaha. The parish operates Norfolk Catholic School (Pre-K through 12), the Sacred Heart Early Learning Center, and the Growing Families religious formation program, and offers bilingual (English/Spanish) weekend Masses.
- Established
- 1881
- Patron
- Sacred Heart of Jesus
- Rector
- Rev. Patrick McLaughlin
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Omaha
Why belong here
Sacred Heart is one of the largest parishes in northeast Nebraska, with more than 2,400 families, two worship sites (Sacred Heart Church downtown and St. Mary's on the west campus), six weekend Masses including bilingual (English/Spanish) celebrations, a Pre-K through 12 Catholic school, an early-learning center, and the Growing Families religious formation program. Visitors and parishioners are supported by a robust pastoral team — a pastor, multiple parochial vicars, and seven deacons — along with ministries for Hispanic Catholics, RCIA/OCIA, music, evangelization and discipleship, hospitality and connections, vocations, and a Healing Hearts bereavement ministry.
Mass times at Sacred Heart
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Monday–Friday at Sacred Heart, Norfolk: 4:45–5:20 pm (May 1 – August 31 schedule)
- Saturday at St. Peter, Stanton: 3:15–3:45 pm (before 4:00 pm Mass)
- Saturday at St. Mary, Norfolk: 4:00–4:45 pm (before 5:00 pm Mass)
- Saturday at St. Patrick, Battle Creek: 5:15–5:45 pm (before 6:00 pm Mass)
- Sunday at St. Joseph, Pierce: 7:15–7:45 am (before 8:00 am Mass)
- Sunday at St. Leonard, Madison: 9:45–10:15 am (before 10:30 am Mass)
Welcome to Sacred Heart Parish
Sacred Heart Parish in Norfolk, Nebraska is a large, multi-generational Roman Catholic community within the Archdiocese of Omaha. Since 2019 it has been led by Fr. Patrick McLaughlin and, together with four surrounding mission parishes, it forms the Heart of Jesus Family of Parishes. The parish runs Norfolk Catholic School (Pre-K through 12), the Sacred Heart Early Learning Center, the Growing Families religious formation program, and ministries for Hispanic Catholics, music, hospitality, evangelization, vocations, and bereavement support.
- Founded 1881
- 2,400+ families / ~7,200 members
- Two churches: Sacred Heart (downtown, 200 S 5th St.) and St. Mary's (west campus, 2300 W Madison Ave.)
- Six weekend Masses, bilingual celebrations at St. Mary's
Parish History
The parish traces its roots to December 1879, when Norfolk's Catholics purchased property for $50 in anticipation of their first resident pastor. Fr. Thomas Carney arrived in 1881 and celebrated Mass in the town's schoolhouse until a small frame church was built at 5th and Madison Avenue in 1883. A 300-seat brick church completed in 1899 under Fr. Thomas Walsh still stands. The parish built a three-story grade school in 1926 under Fr. D.W. Moriarty, and the School Sisters of St. Francis of Rochester, MN taught there until 1974. By the 1950s Msgr. Burns had grown Masses from two to five and the school past 450 students, and a new rectory and convent were built in 1951. Fr. Daniel Andrews (2010) oversaw the remodel of St. Mary's Church (2014–15) and the opening of the Early Learning Center (2017).
- 1881: Parish founded; Fr. Thomas Carney first pastor
- 1899: Brick church completed
- 1926: Sacred Heart School opens
- 1951: New rectory and convent built
- 2014–15: St. Mary's Church remodeled and re-dedicated June 13, 2015
- Sept 2017: Sacred Heart Early Learning Center opens
- 2019: Fr. Patrick McLaughlin becomes pastor; clustering begins
- 2023: Heart of Jesus Family of Parishes formally established
Clergy, Deacons & Staff
The parish is served by a pastor, multiple parochial vicars, and seven deacons, supported by a full office, music, religious education, hospitality, evangelization, development, and maintenance team.
- Rev. Patrick McLaughlin — Pastor ([email protected])
- Rev. Vincent Germace — Parochial Vicar (from Nigeria, joined July 2025)
- Rev. Brian Hula — Parochial Vicar / Hispanic Ministry (newly ordained, joined July 2025)
- Rev. Gregory Carl — Parochial Vicar (listed March 2025 bulletin)
- Deacons: Jim Doolittle, Ted Coler, Mel Schaecher, Al Wolverton, Terry Price, Leon Gentrup, Patrick Roche
- Cari Ramold — Director of Religious Education
- Jackie Polak — Music Coordinator
- Ann Lund — Ministry Coordinator
- Leslie Maldonado — Hospitality & Connections
- Ellen Wagner, Carter Carruthers, Kathryn Harris — Evangelization & Discipleship
- Philip Zimmerman — Operations & Communications / RCIA
- Patsy Taylor — Business Manager
- Bo Ramold / Chanda Davis — Bookkeeper
- Reggie Long — Receptionist/Secretary
- Nick Benes — Development Coordinator
- Don Kellogg — Maintenance Supervisor
Heart of Jesus Family of Parishes
In 2019 the Archdiocese of Omaha began assigning parishes in clusters served by the same priests. Fr. McLaughlin was assigned to Sacred Heart in Norfolk along with St. Peter's in Stanton and St. Leonard's in Madison. St. Patrick's in Battle Creek joined in 2020 and St. Joseph's in Pierce in 2023, forming the Heart of Jesus Family of Parishes. The cluster allows priests to rotate through five rural parishes while strengthening ministry across northeast Nebraska.
- Sacred Heart — Norfolk (lead parish)
- St. Peter — Stanton
- St. Leonard — Madison
- St. Patrick — Battle Creek
- St. Joseph — Pierce
Norfolk Catholic School
Norfolk Catholic School is the parish's Pre-K through 12 Catholic school, teaching around 775 students across its elementary and high school programs. The school sits on the parish's west campus, alongside the Parish Center and St. Mary's Church. School staff share contact channels with the parish (e.g., Development Coordinator Nick Benes).
- Pre-K through 12th grade
- ~775 students
- On the parish's west campus
Sacred Heart Early Learning Center
The Sacred Heart Early Learning Center opened in September 2017, southeast of the elementary school, with room for approximately 65 children. It is part of the parish's expanding educational mission alongside Norfolk Catholic School.
- Opened September 2017
- Located southeast of the elementary school
- Capacity for about 65 children
Faith Formation: Growing Families
The parish's Religious Formation program, formerly known as CCD, has been rebranded as Growing Families and serves approximately 425 students. The Director of Religious Education is Cari Ramold. Becoming Catholic / OCIA (formerly RCIA) sessions begin Thursdays in September at 7:00 pm; interested adults are invited to contact Philip at the Parish Office (402-371-2621).
- Growing Families (Religious Formation) — ~425 students
- Director of Religious Education: Cari Ramold
- Becoming Catholic / OCIA sessions Thursdays in September, 7:00 pm
- Contact: [email protected]
Liturgical, Music & Hispanic Ministries
The parish runs an active Liturgical Ministry program that schedules Lectors, Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion (EMHCs), and Sacristans for weekend Masses. The Music Ministry is led by Coordinator Jackie Polak. Hispanic Ministry is led by Parochial Vicar Fr. Brian Hula and is reflected in the bilingual Sunday Mass at St. Mary's. The parish is currently recruiting new lectors, EMHCs, and sacristans — must be a Catholic in good standing and at least a Junior in high school.
- Liturgical Ministry — Lectors, EMHCs, Sacristans (contact Reggie or Ann Lund)
- Music Coordinator: Jackie Polak
- Hispanic Ministry / Parochial Vicar: Fr. Brian Hula
- Bilingual Mass: Sundays 11:30 am at St. Mary's
Hospitality, Evangelization & Outreach
The parish maintains a Hospitality & Connections ministry (Leslie Maldonado) and a team of Evangelization & Discipleship Coordinators (Ellen Wagner, Carter Carruthers, Kathryn Harris). Healing Hearts Ministry reaches out to parishioners who have lost a loved one; the Heart of Jesus Parishes Vocation Ministry gathers monthly at St. Patrick's Parish Hall from 7–8 p.m. Development and Stewardship work is led by Development Coordinator Nick Benes, and the parish periodically hosts legacy-planning events with Midwest Bank in Norfolk.
- Hospitality & Connections — Leslie Maldonado
- Evangelization & Discipleship — Wagner, Carruthers, Harris
- Healing Hearts Ministry — bereavement outreach
- Heart of Jesus Vocation Ministry — monthly 7–8 p.m. at St. Patrick's
- Legacy Planning events with Midwest Bank, Norfolk
- Development — Nick Benes
Contact, Location & Visiting
The parish can be reached at 402-371-2621 (fax 402-371-0403) or [email protected]. Office hours are 8:00 am to 5:00 pm Monday through Wednesday, 9:00 am to 5:00 pm Thursday, and 8:00 am to 3:00 pm Friday. For sacramental emergencies after hours, callers are prompted to press #3 to reach a priest.
- Phone: 402-371-2621 | Fax: 402-371-0403
- Email: [email protected]
- Parish Office: 204 So. 5th St., Norfolk, NE 68701
- Sacred Heart Church: 200 S 5th St., Norfolk, NE 68701
- St. Mary's Church: 2300 W Madison Ave., Norfolk, NE 68701
- Parish Center: 2301 W Madison Ave., Norfolk, NE 68701
- Office hours: M–W 8–5, Th 9–5, F 8–3
- Sacramental emergency after hours: press #3
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Thomas Carney1881–1884
First pastor; said Mass in the town schoolhouse at 4th and Norfolk Ave.
- Fr. Joseph Ruesing1884
- Fr. Ferdinand Lechleitner1884–1890
- Fr. Thomas Walsh1890–1893
Began planning a larger brick church.
- Fr. W.N. Lawrence1895
- Fr. P. Waldran1896
- Fr. Thomas Walsh1897–1908
Returned as pastor; the 1899 brick church (still standing) was completed during his tenure.
- Fr. J.C. Buckley1908–1914
Added an extension, a sanctuary, and two sacristies.
- Fr. D.W. Moriarty1914–1930
Built the three-story grade school; Sacred Heart School opened fall 1926, staffed by the School Sisters of St. Francis of Rochester, MN.
- Msgr. Burns
Honored as Monsignor in 1952; oversaw the new brick rectory and convent (1951); grew Masses from two to five and the school past 450 students by 1956.
- Fr. Daniel Andrews2010–
Pastor as of the parish's 137th year; oversaw remodel of St. Mary's Church (2014–15) and opening of Sacred Heart Early Learning Center (Sept 2017).
- Fr. Patrick McLaughlin2019–present
Current pastor; formed the Heart of Jesus Family of Parishes by clustering with St. Peter's (Stanton), St. Leonard's (Madison), St. Patrick's (Battle Creek, 2020) and St. Joseph's (Pierce, 2023).