About St. Lawrence · Silver Creek, Nebraska
St. Lawrence Parish is a small Roman Catholic mission parish serving the village of Silver Creek in Merrick County, Nebraska, within the Archdiocese of Omaha. Founded in 1902 by German and Czech homesteaders, the parish has been gathered in the same small town along the Platte River valley for more than a century. Today it is part of the Archdiocese's 'Rural Family J' grouping and is staffed by Rev. William D. L'Heureux, who also pastors three nearby parishes (St. Rose of Lima in Genoa, Ss. Peter and Paul in Krakow, and St. Edward in St. Edward). Weekly worship is centered on a Tuesday morning weekday Mass and a Saturday evening weekend Mass.
- Established
- 1902
- Patron
- St. Lawrence
- Rector
- Rev. William D. L'Heureux
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Omaha
Why belong here
St. Lawrence offers the rare experience of a small, generational rural Catholic parish where the same families have worshipped for over a century, and where Mass and the sacraments are still celebrated personally by a priest who lives in the town. As a Rural Family J parish of the Archdiocese of Omaha, it keeps a stable weekly rhythm — a Tuesday morning weekday Mass and a Saturday evening Mass — and warmly welcomes visitors, travelers, and returning alumni home to the Platte River valley.
Mass times at St. Lawrence
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 6:30–6:50 PM (before the 7:00 PM Mass)
- By appointment — call Fr. Bill at (308) 773-2282
Identity and Location
St. Lawrence Parish is the Roman Catholic parish serving the village of Silver Creek, a small Platte River community in Merrick County, central Nebraska. It sits within the Archdiocese of Omaha and, as of the Archdiocese's 2025 directory, is part of the rural collaborative grouping known as 'Rural Family J.' The parish's mailing address is P.O. Box 332, Silver Creek, NE 68663, while its physical church is located at 407 Vine Street. The parish is also listed by public Mass-time directories under the same Vine Street address.
- Patron: St. Lawrence (feast day August 10)
- Diocese: Archdiocese of Omaha
- Address: 407 Vine St., Silver Creek, NE 68663
- Mailing: P.O. Box 332, Silver Creek, NE 68663-0332
- Phone: (308) 773-2282
- Email: [email protected]
History
St. Lawrence was founded in 1902 by German and Czech Catholic settlers who homesteaded the Platte River valley between Snyder and Humphrey. The parish marked its centennial in 2002 by publishing 'Blessed be the years : St. Lawrence Catholic Church, 1902-2002,' a community history printed by the Record Printing Company of Cairo, Nebraska. The volume is held in research libraries (including the University of Notre Dame) under subjects 'Catholic Church — Nebraska — Silver Creek — History' and 'Silver Creek (Neb.) — Church history.' Throughout the twentieth century the parish was served largely as a mission by clergy from nearby parishes; in the twenty-first century it joined the Archdiocese of Omaha's Rural Family J collaboration of country parishes.
- 1902 — parish founded by German and Czech Catholic homesteaders
- 2002 — centennial history 'Blessed be the years' published
- 21st century — joined Rural Family J in the Archdiocese of Omaha
Mass and Liturgy
Public Mass is celebrated twice weekly at St. Lawrence: a Tuesday morning weekday Mass at 7:30 AM and a Saturday evening weekend Mass at 7:00 PM. The Liturgy of the Eucharist is celebrated in English in the Roman (Latin) Rite. Because the parish is small and shared-clergy, no additional vigil or Sunday morning Mass is scheduled on site; Catholics of the area gather with neighboring Rural Family J parishes for additional celebrations.
- Tuesday 7:30 AM — Weekday Mass
- Saturday 7:00 PM — Weekend Mass (English, Roman Rite)
- Confessions Saturday 6:30–6:50 PM before Mass
Sacraments
The seven Catholic sacraments are available to parishioners through St. Lawrence, with baptisms, marriages and anointings arranged directly with the pastor by calling (308) 773-2282. The sacrament of Reconciliation (confession) is heard weekly on Saturdays from 6:30 to 6:50 PM, immediately before the 7:00 PM Mass, and at other times by appointment.
- Baptism — by appointment with Fr. Bill
- Reconciliation — Saturdays 6:30–6:50 PM, or by appointment
- First Communion — as part of parish faith formation (by arrangement)
- Confirmation — by arrangement with the pastor and Archdiocese
- Marriage — preparation by appointment with the pastor
- Anointing of the Sick — by appointment, including for the homebound or hospitalized
- Holy Orders / Religious Life — referrals through the Archdiocese of Omaha Vocations Office
Clergy and Staff
St. Lawrence is served by a single pastor who lives locally and shares pastoral responsibility across four parishes. The Archdiocese of Omaha's directory (April 2025) lists Rev. William D. L'Heureux as Pastor, with the priest's residence and parish office in Silver Creek. The parish is also supported by permanent deacons who serve the wider Rural Family J grouping from neighboring parishes.
- Rev. William D. L'Heureux — Pastor (also St. Rose of Lima – Genoa, Ss. Peter and Paul – Krakow, St. Edward)
- Permanent deacons from Rural Family J assist across the parishes
Rural Family J and the Wider Parishes
St. Lawrence belongs to the Archdiocese of Omaha's 'Rural Family J' — one of several collaborative groupings of country parishes introduced by Archbishop George J. Lucas and continued under Archbishop Michael G. McGovern (installed March 31, 2025). The grouping links small parishes in central Nebraska so that they can share a single pastor while keeping their own church buildings, Mass schedules and parish identity. St. Lawrence is grouped with parishes in Genoa, Central City, Fullerton, St. Edward, Krakow and Clarks.
- St. Rose of Lima — Genoa (Rev. William D. L'Heureux, Pastor)
- Ss. Peter and Paul — Krakow
- St. Lawrence — Silver Creek
- St. Edward — St. Edward
- St. Peter — Fullerton
- Ss. Peter and Paul — Genoa
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. William D. L'Heureuxat least 2023–present
Current pastor; also serves St. Rose of Lima (Genoa), Ss. Peter and Paul (Krakow), and St. Edward as part of Rural Family J in the Archdiocese of Omaha.