About Sacred Heart · Shelby, Nebraska
Sacred Heart Catholic Church is a small rural parish in Shelby, Nebraska, serving the communities of Shelby, Rising City, Gresham, and Surprise in Polk and Butler counties. It belongs to the Diocese of Lincoln and is led today by Fr. Andrew Litt, with Maxine Goelz serving as bookkeeper. The parish worships in a striking 1930 church noted for its 90-foot tower modeled on the Nebraska State Capitol, and offers daily and weekend Mass, reconciliation, Eucharistic adoration, CCD/CYO faith formation, a Knights of Columbus council, a Women's Guild, bilingual Bible study, and an active Hispanic ministry. A current Faith • Family • Future capital campaign is helping fund ongoing improvements to the parish plant.
- Established
- 1895
- Patron
- Sacred Heart of Jesus
- Rector
- Fr. Andrew Litt
- Diocese
- Diocese of Lincoln
Why belong here
Sacred Heart is the spiritual home for Catholics across Shelby, Rising City, Gresham, and Surprise, and welcomes anyone who wishes to worship with them. The parish offers a full sacramental life — daily and weekend Mass, reconciliation, Eucharistic adoration, baptism, marriage, and anointing — together with CCD/CYO faith formation, a Knights of Columbus council, a Women's Guild, RCIA, and a bilingual Bible study that reaches out to local Hispanic families. Active parishioners serve in liturgical roles (acolytes, readers, servers, rosary leaders, greeters, gift bearers, counters), making this a tight-knit rural parish where new members are quickly drawn into a community that has worshipped together since 1895.
Mass times at Sacred Heart
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday: 4:20–4:50 p.m.
- Sunday: 8:30–8:50 a.m.
- 30 minutes before each Daily Mass
- Anytime by appointment: 402-527-5425
Adoration times
- Thursday: 7:00–8:00 p.m. (Eucharistic Adoration Holy Hour)
History of Sacred Heart Parish
Sacred Heart traces its beginnings to 1895, when the first Mass was celebrated in the home of John Krumbach. Within three years the growing community of about fifty families had built a frame church and rectory. By 1929 that first building was too small, and the present church — designed by Omaha architects Lohr and Carl Stengel and built by Leo Woerth of Columbus — was dedicated by Bishop Louis Kucera on December 3, 1930.
- 1895 — First Mass in the John Krumbach home; Father Thomas Cullen came from York by horse and buggy.
- 1897 — Parish numbered ~50 families; instruction classes begun by Fathers J.T. Roche and Thomas Cullen.
- 1898 — Cornerstone laid; frame church (50' x 30') and rectory completed by year's end.
- 1905 — Two acres purchased for a parish cemetery.
- 1917 — Original rectory replaced with a new structure.
- 1929 — Fundraising begins for a new, larger church.
- 1930 — Cornerstone laid; church dedicated December 3 by Bishop Louis Kucera at a cost of $78,095.69.
- 1940 — Old frame church torn down; lumber reused to build a parish hall.
- 1954–1956 — Parochial school and convent built and dedicated (~$78,000); staffed by Franciscan sisters from Colorado Springs.
- 1968 — School closes; interior of church remodeled; parish hall and convent later torn down.
- 1995 — Church interior renovated again.
- 2001 — Rectory renovated ($60,000).
- 2011 — Tile roof re-laid ($180,000).
- 2012 — Handicapped parking added north of church; new garage built on rectory (~$80,000).
- 2014 — Front steps and railings installed.
- October 2022 — Sanctuary retiled for its current appearance.
Mass & Liturgy
Sacred Heart offers daily Mass Monday, Thursday, and Friday at 7:30 a.m., Wednesday at 5:30 p.m., and Tuesday as a 7:30 a.m. Communion Service. The Saturday Vigil Mass is at 5:00 p.m. and Sunday Mass is at 9:00 a.m. Reconciliation is heard Saturday 4:20–4:50 p.m. and Sunday 8:30–8:50 a.m., as well as 30 minutes before each Daily Mass and anytime by appointment. Liturgical roles — acolytes, readers, servers, greeters, gift bearers, rosary leaders, and counters — are filled by parishioners each weekend.
- Saturday Vigil Mass: 5:00 p.m.
- Sunday Mass: 9:00 a.m.
- Mon/Thu/Fri Daily Mass: 7:30 a.m.
- Tuesday 7:30 a.m. Communion Service
- Wednesday Daily Mass: 5:30 p.m.
- Confessions: Saturday 4:20–4:50 p.m.; Sunday 8:30–8:50 a.m.; 30 minutes before Daily Mass
Sacraments
Sacred Heart celebrates the full range of parish sacraments. Reconciliation is available on the regular weekly schedule and by appointment (402-527-5425). Baptisms, weddings, and anointing of the sick are arranged through the pastor; in an emergency the priest may be reached at 402-284-0594, with back-up sacramental coverage from Fr. Phan at St. Vincent's in Osceola and St. Mary's in David City.
- Eucharist — daily and weekend Mass
- Confession / Penance
- Baptism
- Wedding (Marriage preparation)
- Anointing of the Sick (emergency line)
Faith Formation & Youth
The parish runs a CCD (religious education) program and a CYO (Catholic Youth Organization) for its young people. CCD classes are scheduled with parent catechesis sheets available after Mass, and CYO meets at the rectory on Sunday evenings. A summer program called Cor Jesu Rex runs in June for students who have completed grades 1–8, and the parish also promotes the diocese's SKY Camp and Totus Tuus missionary opportunities.
- CCD / CYO
- Cor Jesu Rex Summer CCD (June, grades 1–8)
- RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults) — restarts each fall; currently meets following Sunday Mass at the rectory
- SKY Camp / Camp Kateri referrals
- Totus Tuus diocesan summer program
Parish Organizations
Three core lay organizations carry much of the parish's community life: the Women's Guild, the Knights of Columbus, and the bilingual Hispanic ministry / Bible study. The Women's Guild and Knights are longtime parish fixtures; the bilingual Bible study meets virtually on Thursdays at 2:00 p.m. under the coordination of Maru Whitmore, preparing parishioners to study the upcoming Sunday Scriptures in English and Spanish.
- Women's Guild
- Knights of Columbus
- Bilingual Bible Study (English/Spanish) — Thursdays 2:00 p.m., virtual; contact Maru Whitmore (402-527-5648)
Clergy, Staff & Sacramental Coverage
Sacred Heart is led by Fr. Andrew Litt, pastor. Maxine Goelz serves as bookkeeper and is the first point of contact for parish administration. In an emergency, when Fr. Litt cannot be reached, sacramental coverage is provided by Fr. Phan at St. Vincent's Parish in Osceola (402-747-3491) and by St. Mary's in David City (402-367-3579).
- Fr. Andrew Litt — Pastor ([email protected])
- Maxine Goelz — Bookkeeper (402-527-5425)
- Emergency cell: 402-284-0594
- Back-up: Fr. Phan, St. Vincent's, Osceola — 402-747-3491
- Back-up: St. Mary's, David City — 402-367-3579
Facilities & Building Projects
The parish plant is anchored by the 1930 church, the rectory, and a parish cemetery. Major facility investments in recent decades include the 2011 tile roof ($180,000), 2012 handicapped parking and rectory garage (~$80,000), 2014 front steps and railings, and the October 2022 retiling of the sanctuary. A current Faith • Family • Future campaign is raising funds for the next round of parish improvements.
- 1930 church (54' x 115', 37' ceiling, 90' tower inspired by the Nebraska State Capitol)
- Rectory (renovated 2001; new garage 2012)
- Parish cemetery (land acquired 1905)
- Faith • Family • Future capital campaign (in progress)
Parish Territory & Registration
Sacred Heart's territorial parish includes the communities of Shelby, Rising City, Gresham, and Surprise. The parish welcomes anyone to come and worship at any time, and encourages Catholics who live in the area to register as members so they are connected for parish communications and activities. Registration is handled by contacting the pastor.
- Shelby
- Rising City
- Gresham
- Surprise
Contact, Directions & Communications
The parish office and rectory are located at 210 South Walnut Street, Shelby, Nebraska 68662 (mailing address: PO Box 340). The church is one block south of the intersection of Highway 69 and Highway 92. The parish shares news and updates through a current bulletin posted on the website and a Facebook page searchable as 'SacredHeartShelby'.
- Mailing address: PO Box 340, Shelby, NE 68662
- Rectory phone: 402-527-5425
- Emergency: 402-284-0594
- Website: http://www.shelbysacredheart.com/
- Diocese directory page (English): https://www.lincolndiocese.org/directory/parishes/775-sacred-heart-shelby
- Diocese directory page (Spanish): https://es.lincolndiocese.org/directory/parishes/775-sacred-heart-shelby
- Facebook: search for 'SacredHeartShelby'