About Sacred Heart · Red Cloud, Nebraska
Sacred Heart is a Catholic parish in the small south-central Nebraska town of Red Cloud (Webster County), in the Lawrence Deanery of the Diocese of Lincoln. The parish has served the Red Cloud community continuously since 1907, when the current church at 4th and Seward was opened with an Easter Sunday Mass by Fr. Denis Fitzgerald. It is today pastored together with three mission parishes — St. Katharine Drexel in Franklin, St. Anne in Campbell, and Holy Trinity in Blue Hill — by Very Rev. Douglas Dietrich, appointed pastor of the cluster effective June 16, 2025. The parish's life is marked by a strong Altar Society, CCD religious education, Eucharistic Adoration, and devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus.
- Established
- 1907
- Patron
- Most Sacred Heart of Jesus
- Rector
- Very Rev. Douglas Dietrich
- Diocese
- Diocese of Lincoln (Lawrence Deanery)
Why belong here
Sacred Heart offers a welcoming small-town Catholic community in Red Cloud with the traditional Sacred Heart devotions, daily and weekend Mass, regular Eucharistic Adoration, CCD faith formation for children, and a thriving Altar Society that supports Catholic Relief Services, the Spirit Radio apostolate, the local Heritage Nursing Home, and a Missionary Childhood Association event. As one of four parishes in a tight-knit cluster, it pairs the intimacy of a rural parish with a clear, well-organized devotional and sacramental life.
Mass times at Sacred Heart
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 5:15-5:45 p.m. (per masstime.us)
- Saturday 7:10-7:30 p.m. (per Diocese of Lincoln directory)
- Sundays and weekdays: begins one half hour before each Mass (per Visit Red Cloud)
Adoration times
- Eucharistic Adoration is encouraged and supported by the Altar Society (times vary; see parish bulletin).
About Sacred Heart Parish
Sacred Heart is a Catholic parish in Red Cloud, Nebraska, part of the Lawrence Deanery of the Diocese of Lincoln. The parish is served together with three mission parishes in neighboring towns by a single pastor and parish secretary. Worship is offered in English, with a Saturday Vigil, Sunday Mass, daily Mass, regular Confession, and traditional devotions to the Sacred Heart of Jesus.
- Parish cluster: Sacred Heart (Red Cloud), St. Katharine Drexel (Franklin), St. Anne (Campbell), Holy Trinity (Blue Hill)
- Deanery: Lawrence
- Diocese: Lincoln
- Current church at 4th and Seward since 1907
History
Catholic life in the Red Cloud area began with missionary priests saying Mass in the homes of early settlers William Jackson and J.L. Miner. The community built its first church, St. Juliana Falconieri, in 1883 on land donated by J. L. Miner. As the congregation outgrew that building, parishioners built the present Sacred Heart church at 4th and Seward, and Fr. Denis Fitzgerald celebrated its first Mass there on Easter Sunday, 1907. Since then, fourteen resident priests have served at the same 'House of God.' On April 15, 2007, Bishop Fabian Bruskewitz celebrated the parish's centennial and inaugurated its 'Second 100 Years.'
- 1883 — St. Juliana Falconieri church built (predecessor parish)
- Early Masses said in homes of William Jackson and J.L. Miner
- 1907 — Sacred Heart church at 4th and Seward; first Mass Easter Sunday by Fr. Denis Fitzgerald
- 1935 — Stations of the Cross pictures survived flood at Riverton mission church
- 1986 — New rectory built
- 1994 — Parish hall built (main floor for gatherings, basement for CCD classrooms)
- 2007 — Centennial / 'Second 100 Years' opened by Bishop Fabian Bruskewitz
Clergy & Staff
Very Rev. Douglas Dietrich was appointed pastor of Sacred Heart, St. Anne, Holy Trinity, and St. Katharine Drexel effective June 16, 2025, while being released from his assignment as Vicar for Clergy for the Diocese of Lincoln. The parish secretary, Mikayla Niederklein, serves from the parish office at 413 N Seward Street. The parish mailing address and rectory are in Red Cloud.
- Pastor: Very Rev. Douglas Dietrich (since June 16, 2025)
- Parish Secretary: Mikayla Niederklein
- Office phone: 402-746-3750
- Mailing: 413 N Seward St, Red Cloud, NE 68970
Faith Formation & CCD
Children's religious education at Sacred Heart is provided through the parish's CCD (Confraternity of Christian Doctrine) program, whose classrooms are located in the basement of the parish hall built in 1994. The parish prepares children for First Communion and Confirmation, hosts a CCD Christmas Party each year, and supports youth participation in the Missionary Childhood Association.
- CCD classes (parish hall basement)
- First Communion preparation
- Confirmation preparation
- CCD Christmas Party
- Missionary Childhood Association event
Parish Life & Ministries
The parish's social and devotional life is anchored by an active Altar Society and supported by other lay groups. The Altar Society runs six annual fundraisers, purchases altar linens, candles, and Christmas/Easter flowers, serves funeral dinners, and supports a wide range of local, diocesan, and international Catholic apostolates. The parish also encourages Eucharistic Adoration, retreats, Catholic adult instruction, and membership in the Legion of Mary.
- Altar Society
- Legion of Mary
- Prayer Chain
- Christmas volunteer tea
- Faith & Freedom Picnic
- Heritage Nursing Home monthly Bible Studies & birthday party
Outreach & Charitable Works
Through the Altar Society and parish at large, Sacred Heart supports a broad slate of charitable works — both local and international — and pro-life initiatives. The parish participates in the annual Life Chain each October, hosts a Prayer Chain, and contributes to Catholic Relief Services, Spirit Radio, the St. Gianna Home, and an annual Advent Baby Shower.
- Catholic Relief Services
- Spirit Radio
- St. Gianna Home
- Annual Diaper Drive
- Advent Baby Shower
- Items for the Missions
- Life Chain (Respect Life)
- Prayer Chain
Devotions & Feast Days
As a parish named for the Sacred Heart of Jesus, Sacred Heart cultivates devotion to Christ's Heart throughout the year. The parish has observed the annual Litany of the Sacred Heart Novena (a recent nine-day observance began October 1, 2024 in the cluster parishes). Other devotions include Divine Mercy Sunday, Corpus Christi altar processions, the rosary before weekend Masses, and the annual CCD Christmas Party.
- Litany of the Sacred Heart Novena
- Divine Mercy Sunday
- Corpus Christi altar procession
- Rosary before weekend Masses
- Solemnity of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus (patronal feast)
Predecessor Church: St. Juliana Falconieri (1883)
Sacred Heart's predecessor church, St. Juliana Falconieri, was built in 1883 and named for Julia Miner, wife of land-donor J. L. Miner. The 24 x 30 foot brick building was used until 1906, when the new Sacred Heart church was completed; the old building was sold and converted to a residence. Today the building is preserved by the Willa Cather Foundation as a National Register historic site, famous for its connection to author Willa Cather and her novel My Ántonia.
- Built 1883 on land donated by J. L. Miner
- Named for Julia Miner (St. Juliana Falconieri)
- Abandoned by parishioners in 1903; sold and converted to residence in 1906
- Now a Willa Cather Foundation historic site on the National Register
Visit & Contact
Visitors and parishioners are warmly welcomed at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Red Cloud. The parish office can be reached at 402-746-3750, and the mailing address is 413 N Seward Street, Red Cloud, NE 68970. The church is located at 321 West 4th Avenue.
- Address: 321 West 4th Avenue, Red Cloud, NE 68970
- Mailing: 413 N Seward St, Red Cloud, NE 68970
- Phone: 402-746-3750
- Pastor: Very Rev. Douglas Dietrich
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Denis Fitzgerald1907
Celebrated the first Mass at the new Sacred Heart church on Easter Sunday, 1907.