Church
SACRED HEART EMERSON MASS ON SUNDAYS AT 7:30 A.M. IN ENGLISH
SACRED HEART EMERSON MASS ON SUNDAYS AT 2:00 P.M. IN SPANISH
LOCATED AT 600 NORTH MAIN STREET
The history of Sacred Heart Catholic Church begins with Father Michael O'Toole who road horseback across the fields from Newcastle, NE to the William Sweeney home 5 1/2 miles north of Emerson to offer Mass, hear confessions and baptize babies. The first church building was built in 1885 on the north edge of Emerson. Calvary Cemetery was established in 1897. In the next few years, a larger church was built. It is believed that lightning struck the church causing it to burn to the ground in 1921.
A third church was built on the southeast corner of the same block and an altar, the organ and some pews salvaged from the fire were used in the new church. During the 30's the current church was built; it was dedicated in 1950.
The gymnasium was built in 1965 and was used to serve student lunches, as well as proms, graduations and was home court for the Sacred Heart Crusaders basketball team. It is currently used as a hall for gatherings and receptions as well as youth basketball practices.
A school was also built around this time. It was dedicated on September 3, 1919, with 60 pupils in 9 grades comprising the first student body. A grade was added each year with the first graduating class in 1923. It was a boarding school; providing a Catholic education to those from a distance. Busing was added in 1958. Due to low enrollment and an aging building, the school closed in 2003 and was taken down in 2005. A convent was built and dedicated on the 75th anniversary of the parish. Daniel E. Sheehan attended school at Sacred Heart, initially studied to become a teacher , then explored Pre-Med before answering a call to the priesthood. He was ordained in 1942 and said his first mass at Sacred Heart Church on May 24, 1942. Following several other assignments, he was installed as the Archbishop of the Omaha Archdiocese in 1969.
Sacred Heart has been served by 18 priests prior to 2003. In 2022, Sacred Heart became part of the Holy Apostles Family of Parishes and are currently served by Father Mark Beran and Associate Pastors Father Mark Bridgman and Father Kevin Joyce.
We continue strive to pass on and share our faith, to provide spiritual growth for our members to serve and to use and share our time, talent and resources. Please come join us and see what the Catholic faith has to offer.
St. Luke Evangelical Church (ELCA)
St. Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church (ELCA)
Emerson is a great place to live and grow. At Luke Pauls we are one church with two buildings committed to being more than a place people come to worship once a week. At St Luke and St Paul’s Lutheran Churches of Emerson we offer people of all ages opportunities to explore and grow both individually and as members of the communal body of Christ! As part of a community that recognizes the importance of faith formation, Wednesday night is family night (WNFN) at Luke Pauls. At WNFN all children from the Emerson community are invited to participate in Circle of Friends a VBS style after school program. At WNFN all members of the Emerson community are invited to share a meal. At WNFN we gather to worship led by our very own praise team - “Living Water”. At WNFN we meet both in church and out in the community for small group activities like the Feed My Soul Book Club and Wine & Wisdom at Ginger’s. At St Luke and St Paul’s we strive to make it easy for both members and non-members to get involved. Check us out and/or join us for worship on our Facebook page at Luke Paul’s.
St Luke Evangelical Lutheran Church
211 W 2nd St Emerson, NE 68733
Phone: 402-695-2313 E-mail: stlukeemerson@q.com
St Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church
103 W 3rd St Emerson, NE 68733
Phone: 402-695-2184 E-mail: splcemerson@msn.com
Service times are at 9:00 a.m. each Sunday. The first and second Sunday, services are at St. Paul’s. The third and fourth Sunday, services are at St. Luke. The fifth Sunday alternates between each church. Call the church for more details.
Facebook: Luke Paul’s with two groups:
St Luke Evangelical Lutheran Church & St Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church