About St. Mary · Norfolk, Nebraska
Sacred Heart Parish in Norfolk, Nebraska, is a large, vibrant Roman Catholic community established in 1881 that today operates as the lead parish of the Heart of Jesus Family of Parishes, a cluster of five rural parishes in northeast Nebraska (Sacred Heart/St. Mary's in Norfolk, St. Patrick in Battle Creek, St. Joseph in Pierce, St. Leonard in Madison, and St. Peter in Stanton). Worship takes place at two Norfolk churches — the historic Sacred Heart Church downtown at 200 S 5th St and St. Mary's Church on the west campus at 2300 W Madison Ave — between which six weekend Masses (including a bilingual Mass) and two daily Masses are celebrated. The parish serves over 2,400 families / approximately 7,200 members, sponsors Norfolk Catholic School (PreK-12, ~775 students) and the Sacred Heart Early Learning Center, and runs a Growing Families religious formation program serving some 425 students.
- Established
- 1881
- Patron
- Sacred Heart of Jesus
- Rector
- Rev. Patrick (Pat) McLaughlin
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Omaha
Why belong here
A parishioner here gets a parish big enough to offer real Catholic formation at every age — Norfolk Catholic School (PreK-12), the Early Learning Center, a Growing Families religious-ed program of about 425 students, an OCIA/RCIA track for adults, and active liturgical, music, Hispanic ministry, and evangelization/discipleship teams — while still rooted in the brick church Norfolk Catholics have worshipped in since 1899 and in the remodeled St. Mary's Church on the west campus. Six weekend Masses (including a bilingual Mass), daily Mass, regular Reconciliation, and perpetual adoration give plenty of room to find a time that fits. The parish also pairs traditional parish life with hands-on outreach like the White Elephant Rummage Sale and community service projects.
Mass times at St. Mary
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday, 4:00-4:45 pm — St. Mary's, Norfolk (before 5:00 pm Mass)
- Monday-Friday, 4:45-5:20 pm — Sacred Heart, Norfolk
- Saturday, 3:15-3:45 pm — St. Peter, Stanton (before 4:00 pm Mass)
- Saturday, 5:15-5:45 pm — St. Patrick, Battle Creek (before 6:00 pm Mass)
- Sunday, 7:15-7:45 am — St. Joseph, Pierce (before 8:00 am Mass)
- Sunday, 9:45-10:15 am — St. Leonard, Madison (before 10:30 am Mass)
Adoration times
- Perpetual adoration is offered at the parish — multiple hours still need one additional adorer (call the parish office to sign up)
Parish History
Sacred Heart Parish was established in 1881 when Fr. Thomas Carney became Norfolk's first resident pastor; before that, local Catholics were served from West Point. The 1899 brick church still stands as the downtown worship site, and a second church — St. Mary's on West Madison Avenue — was dedicated in 1966 by Archbishop Gerald T. Bergan as part of the Norfolk Centennial. St. Mary's was completely remodeled and re-dedicated on June 13, 2015.
- 1881 — Parish established; first pastor Fr. Thomas Carney
- 1883 — Frame church built at 5th and Madison Ave
- 1899 — Brick Sacred Heart Church completed (still in use)
- 1926 — Sacred Heart School opens, staffed by School Sisters of St. Francis
- 1966 — St. Mary's Church dedicated by Archbishop Gerald T. Bergan
- 2015 — St. Mary's remodeled and re-dedicated (June 13)
- 2017 — Sacred Heart Early Learning Center opens
- 2019 — Fr. Patrick McLaughlin becomes pastor; cluster begins
- 2023 — Cluster formally becomes Heart of Jesus Family of Parishes
Clergy & Staff
Three priests and seven deacons currently minister across the Heart of Jesus Family of Parishes. The pastor is Fr. Patrick McLaughlin, joined by parochial vicars Fr. Vincent B. Germace and Fr. Brian Hula (the latter also leads Hispanic Ministry). The parish staff also includes a Director of Religious Education (Cari Ramold), Music Coordinator (Jackie Polak), Business Manager (Patsy Taylor), Bookkeeper, Receptionist/Secretary (Reggie Long), Operations & Communications Associate / RCIA (Philip Zimmerman), Maintenance Supervisor (Don Kellogg), Development Coordinator (Nick Benes), Hospitality & Connections (Leslie Maldonado), and three Evangelization & Discipleship Coordinators.
- Rev. Pat McLaughlin — Pastor
- Rev. Vincent B. Germace — Parochial Vicar
- Rev. Brian Hula — Parochial Vicar / Hispanic Ministry
- Deacon Jim Doolittle
- Deacon Ted Coler
- Deacon Mel Schaecher
- Deacon Al Wolverton
- Deacon Terry Price
- Deacon Leon Gentrup
- Deacon Patrick Roche
Norfolk Catholic School
Norfolk Catholic School has served Catholic education in Norfolk for more than 85 years. It was founded as Sacred Heart School by Fr. Daniel Moriarty in 1926 and originally staffed by the School Sisters of St. Francis. Today NCS teaches around 775 students in PreK through 12th grade across two connected campuses at 24th & Madison Avenue, with daily prayer, weekly school Mass, retreats, service projects, a 6th Grade Ambassador program, and Catholic Schools Week celebrations at the heart of student life.
- Founded 1926 by Fr. D.W. Moriarty; first-year enrollment 187 students
- High school built 1961 at 24th & Madison Ave
- New Sacred Heart Elementary School built 2003 across from the high school
- PreK-12 enrollment ~775 students
- Daily classroom prayer, weekly school Mass, retreats
- Service: toy/food drives, adopted families, confirmation & high school service projects
Sacred Heart Early Learning Center
Opened in September 2017 southeast of the elementary school, the Sacred Heart Early Learning Center is the parish's youngest education ministry and serves approximately 65 children in a faith-based early-childhood setting.
- Opened September 2017
- Located southeast of Sacred Heart Elementary School
- Capacity ~65 children
Religious Formation & Youth Ministry
Faith formation outside the school day is organized under Growing Families (formerly the CCD program) and serves about 425 students. Adult inquiry is handled through the OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults) — the parish's RCIA — with sessions beginning on Thursdays in September. Each summer the parish runs JC Camp for students of the Heart of Jesus Family of Parishes who have completed 8th grade.
- Growing Families religious formation (~425 students)
- OCIA / Becoming Catholic — Thursdays in September, 7:00 pm (contact Philip Zimmerman)
- JC Camp — summer youth camp for completed-8th-graders
- Confirmation preparation
Liturgical & Music Ministry
The parish runs an active Liturgical Ministry & Schedule for lectors, extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion, altar servers, and sacristans, supported by a Music Ministry coordinated by Jackie Polak. Volunteers can sign up through the parish office.
- Liturgical Ministry & Schedule
- Music Ministry — Jackie Polak, Music Coordinator
- Hispanic Ministry — Fr. Brian Hula
Outreach, Parish Life & Fundraisers
Parish life includes several signature events — most notably the annual White Elephant Rummage Sale at Norfolk Catholic High School's Burns Gym, which accepts clean, in-working-condition donations and draws volunteers from across the parish. Leslie Maldonado serves as Hospitality & Connections, helping newcomers and existing parishioners find a ministry that fits. Safe Environment Training is required for all adults 19 and older volunteering at parish or school events, per Archdiocese of Omaha policy.
- White Elephant Rummage Sale
- Hospitality & Connections (Leslie Maldonado)
- Share Your Gifts / ministry sign-up
- Safe Environment Training (Archdiocese of Omaha)
- Parish Festival, dinners and other community events
Heart of Jesus Family of Parishes
Since 2023, Sacred Heart Parish has led the Heart of Jesus Family of Parishes — a cluster of five rural parishes in northeast Nebraska sharing priests and pastoral planning. Fr. Patrick McLaughlin was assigned to Sacred Heart, St. Peter's Stanton, and St. Leonard Madison in 2019; St. Patrick Battle Creek joined in 2020; and St. Joseph Pierce joined in 2023 to complete the cluster.
- Sacred Heart / St. Mary's — Norfolk (lead parish)
- St. Peter — Stanton
- St. Leonard — Madison
- St. Patrick — Battle Creek
- St. Joseph — Pierce
Contact, Office Hours & Emergencies
The Parish Office is at 204 South 5th Street, Norfolk, NE 68701. Office hours are Monday-Wednesday 8:00 am-5:00 pm, Thursday 9:00 am-5:00 pm (with staff prayer 8-9 am), and Friday 8:00 am-3:00 pm. Pastoral care is available day or night — call 402-371-2621 and press option 3 after hours to reach a priest for an emergency. The fax line is 402-371-0403.
- Parish Office: 204 So. 5th St, Norfolk, NE 68701
- Phone: 402-371-2621
- Fax: 402-371-0403
- Office hours: Mon-Wed 8-5; Thu 9-5 (prayer 8-9); Fri 8-3
- After-hours priest emergency: 402-371-2621, press option 3
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Thomas Carney1881-1884
First resident pastor; said Mass in the town schoolhouse at 4th and Norfolk Ave
- Fr. Joseph Ruesing1884
- Fr. Ferdinand Lechleitner1884-1890
- Fr. Thomas Walsh1890-1893
- Fr. W.N. Lawrence1895
- Fr. P. Waldran1896
- Fr. Thomas Walsh1897-1908
Second term; oversaw completion of the 1899 brick church that still stands
- Fr. J.C. Buckley1908-1914
Added sanctuary and two sacristies
- Fr. D.W. Moriarty1914-1930
Founded Sacred Heart School in 1926; staffed by School Sisters of St. Francis
- Fr. B. Westerman1930-1931
- Fr. Hugh Gately1931-1936
- Msgr. Robert P. Burns1936-1961
Made Monsignor in 1952; retired the parish debt during the Depression; oversaw school and parish expansion
- Fr. Daniel Andrews2010-
Oversaw 2015 St. Mary's remodel/rededication and 2017 opening of Sacred Heart Early Learning Center
- Fr. Patrick McLaughlin2019-present
Assigned also to St. Peter's Stanton and St. Leonard Madison (2019), St. Patrick Battle Creek (2020), St. Joseph Pierce (2023) — now Heart of Jesus Family of Parishes