Sacred Heart

Welcome from Fr. Dave Korth

On the parish website, Fr. Dave Korth welcomes visitors to Sacred Heart in a personal letter. He describes the parish as a beacon of hope in the heart of North Omaha — a neighborhood that has witnessed the settlement of Irish immigrants, the white flight and racial tensions of the 1960s, the economic struggles after the closing of the stockyards, and more recently the arrival of immigrants and asylum-seekers from troubled parts of the world. He openly acknowledges that Sacred Heart was not always a welcoming place, noting that 100 years ago African American neighbors were turned away at the doors, and asks for forgiveness for that sinful past. Today, he writes, Sacred Heart is a "destination parish" that people travel great distances to attend — including a family from Grand Island, over 140 miles away — and is striving to be the "field hospital" Pope Francis has called the Church to be.

Parish Identity & Mission

The parish describes itself as "A Vibrant & Diverse Catholic, Christian Community" where "Everyone has a home at Sacred Heart." Its stated mission: "We, the people of Sacred Heart, believing in God, and guided by the Holy Spirit, dedicate ourselves to forming a vibrant Christian community by: celebrating the presence of Jesus, serving the needs of the people, affirming the gifts of each person, and sharing lives and prayer, in love."

• Vision: a vibrant and diverse Catholic Christian community where all are welcome
• Striving to be a "field hospital" for North Omaha in the spirit of Pope Francis
• Welcomes people from across Omaha and beyond — including long-distance travelers

History of Sacred Heart Parish

Founded in 1890 by Bishop James O'Connor, Sacred Heart began as a small suburban parish for the Saratoga neighborhood. Under Father Patrick J. Judge it relocated to Kountze Place in 1897, and the present Late Gothic Revival church was built in 1900–1902 and dedicated June 8, 1902. Father Judge led the parish for nearly five decades, expanding it into a full complex (church, rectory, grade school, high school, parish hall, grotto) and founding the Omaha Catholic newspaper The True Voice. The parish was eventually divided into six daughter parishes. Through the mid-20th century the parish and its Kountze Place neighborhood were protected by race-restrictive covenants; after the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Fair Housing Act of 1968 the parish was briefly integrated, and as the surrounding neighborhood became predominantly Black and several nearby parishes closed, the diocese made Sacred Heart an open parish. It was designated an Omaha Landmark in 1979 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1983. A $3 million restoration was completed in 2012.

• Founded 1890 — first pastor Fr. John T. Smith served five years at N. 26th & Sprague
• 1897 — parish moved to 24th & Binney in Kountze Place after Herman Kountze donated land
• 1900–1902 — present Late Gothic Revival church designed by Fisher & Lawrie, dedicated June 8, 1902
• 1904 — Dominican Sisters arrive; Sacred Heart School founded
• 1895–1942 — Fr. Patrick J. Judge's tenure builds the entire parish complex and founds The True Voice (1903)
• 1979 — declared an Omaha Landmark
• 1983 — listed on the National Register of Historic Places
• 2012 — $3 million restoration: roof, foundation, first air-conditioning, baptismal font, restored stained glass, murals, pews and confessionals

The Historic Church Building

The 1902 church is a Late Gothic Revival masterpiece in the Kountze Place neighborhood, built of rough rock-faced ashlar stone with long stained-glass windows and limestone trim. It features a 124-foot spire, a steeply pitched slate roof, a cruciform plan and a rounded apse over the altar decorated with hand-painted frescoes. The side chapel houses the original white-pine altar from Nebraska's very first Catholic church, St. Mary's at 8th and Howard Streets.

• Architects: Fisher & Lawrie, Omaha
• Style: Late Gothic Revival (inspired by 14th-century English Gothic)
• Spire: 124 feet tall
• Walls: rough (rock-faced) ashlar limestone
• Plan: cruciform with rounded apse and frescoed sanctuary
• Chapel of the Blessed Virgin Mary: original St. Mary's altar
• Status: Omaha Landmark (1979); National Register of Historic Places (1983)

Sacraments

The parish celebrates the full range of Catholic sacraments. Reconciliation is offered twice a week and by appointment, and a communal Reconciliation Service is held each Advent and Lent. Children's First Reconciliation is conferred in November following a parent/child retreat (typically in 2nd grade), and First Communion is celebrated in the spring, usually after Easter. Baptism classes are offered periodically.

• Reconciliation: Sat 4:30–4:50 PM; Sun 10:00–10:20 AM; by appointment; Advent & Lent services
• First Reconciliation: November, parent/child retreat, usually 2nd grade
• First Communion / First Eucharist: spring, usually after Easter
• Baptism: parent class required; contact Sue Vavak to schedule
• Marriage: contact the parish office

Liturgical Ministries

Parishioners serve the liturgy as altar servers (youth must be at least in 4th grade), Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion (archdiocesan training required, offered each August), lectors (archdiocesan training required), greeters, ushers, sacristy assistants (who wash, dry and iron altar linens at home on a rotating monthly schedule), and music ministers (Gene Klosner, Ann Rasmussen, and Boston Reid's Freedom Choir). Interested parishioners contact Brigid or Pam at the parish office to be added to a schedule.

• Altar Servers (adults and 4th-grade-and-up youth) — contact Brigid
• EMHCs (Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion) — archdiocesan training required
• Lectors — archdiocesan training required
• Greeters — contact Pam
• Ushers — contact Pam
• Sacristy Assistants — at-home ministry rotating monthly; contact Brigid
• Music Ministry — Gene Klosner (Sat 5 PM), Ann Rasmussen (Sun), Freedom Choir led by Boston Reid

Faith Formation & Religious Education

Children's sacramental preparation (First Reconciliation, First Communion) takes place within the Sunday-morning Religious Education Program, with parents playing an active role. Older children who wish to receive the sacraments are worked with individually or in small groups. Family Faith is coordinated by Cathy Jenkins Walsh; Rick Crotty coordinates Youth Ministry; Michella Blankman and Sue Vavak staff the religious education program; Jim Chambers serves as Director of Discipleship.

• Families of Faith Coordinator — Cathy Jenkins Walsh
• Youth Ministry Coordinator — Rick Crotty
• Director of Discipleship — Jim Chambers
• Religious Education — Michella Blankman and Sue Vavak
• Individual/small-group sacramental prep available for older children

Sacred Heart School (CUES)

Sacred Heart School, located at 2205 Binney Street next to the church, was founded in 1904 by the Dominican Sisters from Sinsinawa, Wisconsin, and continues as part of the CUES (Center for Urban Education and Sustainability) School System, which also includes All Saints Elementary and Holy Name Elementary. The school serves about 145–170 students in North Omaha with an average class size of 15–16; 100% of families qualify for free and reduced meals and financial education assistance. Mike Jensen is principal.

• Founded 1904 by Dominican Sisters from Sinsinawa, Wisconsin
• Address: 2205 Binney Street, Omaha, NE 68110
• Phone: 402-455-5858
• Website: www.shsomaha.org
• Principal: Mike Jensen
• Part of the CUES School System (alongside All Saints and Holy Name)
• Enrollment approximately 145–170 students; average class size ~15–16
• 100% of families qualify for free/reduced meals and financial aid

Heart Ministry Center — Outreach & Social Enterprise

The Heart Ministry Center (HMC) is the outreach arm that grew out of Sacred Heart's parish ministry beginning in 1982, when Sacred Heart Church founded the "Sacred Heart Human Needs Door Ministry" to provide food, clothing and basic needs to families of Sacred Heart School children. Now a separate 501(c)(3) nonprofit at 2222 Binney Street, it remains closely supported by the parish and is led by CEO Dom Rahn. Its mission is to provide food, healthcare and "a way forward" to people severely affected by poverty in the Omaha area.

• Originated in 1982 as Sacred Heart's Human Needs Door Ministry
• Currently a separate nonprofit at 2222 Binney Street
• Phone: 402-451-2321 | Website: heartministrycenter.org
• CEO: Damany "Dom" Rahn
• Annual food distribution: more than 3 million pounds
• Free medical clinic (6,000+ patient visits annually) and free dental clinic
• Fresh Start job-placement and social-work/case-management programs
• Social enterprises: laundromat, floral shop, silk-screen apparel shop, planned nonprofit grocery store
• Food pantry volunteer hours Wed–Fri 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM (contact Jackie Dumas)
• Volunteer and donation coordinator: Jackie Dumas, (402) 451-2321

Parish Staff & Leadership

Sacred Heart is led by Pastor Fr. Dave Korth, supported by three deacons (one retired), a Director of Discipleship, and a large pastoral and administrative staff. Roles are organized into Discipleship, Empower & Equip, Families of Faith, Youth Ministry, Religious Education, Business/Communications, and Liturgical coordination.

• Pastor: Rev. Dave Korth
• Deacon (Retired)
• Deacon
• Deacon Marty Smith (Pastoral Staff, Part-Time)
• Youth Ministry Coordinator: Rick Crotty
• Families of Faith Coordinator: Cathy Jenkins Walsh
• Director of Discipleship: Jim Chambers
• Empower and Equip Coordinator: Toni Banks
• Business Manager: Tim Adams
• Office & Communications Coordinator: Katie DiLeo
• Religious Education: Michella Blankman, Sue Vavak
• Pastoral Staff (Part-Time): Pam Golka
• Additional staff: John Vrbka

Getting Involved & Contact

Newcomers are welcomed through the parish office at 2207 Wirt Street. The parish is open to all kinds of diversity and invites people to come and "feast on the limitless love of the Sacred Heart of Jesus." Mass attendance, signing up for a liturgical ministry, joining a faith-formation program, volunteering at the Heart Ministry Center food pantry, or enrolling a child at Sacred Heart School are all entry points.

• Parish Office: 2207 Wirt Street, Omaha, NE 68110 — 402-451-5755
• Email: [email protected]
• Rectory: 2204 Binney Street — 402-451-7897
• School: 2205 Binney Street — 402-455-5858
• Heart Ministry Center: 2222 Binney Street — 402-451-2321
• Website: sacredheartchurchomaha.org