Our rich Past and vibrant Present

Throughout the history of Sacred Heart Parish, musicians have filled our worship with beautiful and prayerful music. 

The first Masses in Norfolk were held in the Sam Kent home as they had an organ and there was no Catholic Church. At the turn of the century, it was the Ireland native, Mrs. Mary Kent, who sang the first Latin High Mass in Sacred Heart Church.  She would travel throughout the area on a horse and buggy to sing for funerals and weddings.
In the 1920’s, Leo Schula (organist and music teacher) and Abie Howley (director) led the choir.  From the 30’s through the 50’s, choir directors were Mrs. Mulready and Frances DeLay.  Mrs. Clara Koch was the organist for 20 years.  The choir consisted of 10 men and 16 women and they sang four part music for High Mass every Sunday as well as for Christmas and Easter.
With the arrival of Franciscan nuns in 1926, the Sacred Heart Conservatory of Music began.  The school choirs sang for many daily requiem High Masses and for funerals.  Gregorian chant and Latin were well learned by these young singers.  Organists were students of the conservatory (several of these students continue to play and sing in our parish today).  The Conservatory closed in 1974.
The funeral choir was formed in 1964 by the Catholic Daughters.  Former directors and organists were Joe Van Ackeron, Sr. Cecilia, Jan Brozek, and Curt Bomar.  This choir continues as the Bound for Glory Choir directed by Cherie Murphy and organist Mary Bruckner. 
During the 1970’s, cantors were trained to lead congregational singing and guitarists began to lead music for the first time.  During this time, the adult choir sang for Christmas and Holy Week liturgies under the direction of Muriel Beardslee and with organist Rosemary Koch.

In 2007, following Pope Benedict XVI's motu proprio, "Summorum pontificum," Sacred Heart Parish began celebrating Mass in the extraordinary form (the Extraordinary Form is holy Mass celebrated according to the 1962 Roman Missal, also known as the traditional Latin Mass) several times a year. In his motu proprio, Pope Benedict XVI stated that there are two forms (extraordinary and ordinary) of the Latin Rite and that they mutually enrich each other. Schola Voces pro Deo provides the music for these Masses, singing the same chants that our parishioners and choirs sang before the 1970's.

In Advent, 2011, our parish musicians successfully implemented the revised Roman Missal.  Following Archbishop Lucas' leadership, we learned two new Mass ordinaries: the Roman Missal Mass and the Mass in Honor of St. Cecilia by David Hurd (commissioned by the archdiocese of Omaha).  These two Masses enable us to sing the Mass with Catholics from other parishes in our archdiocese and with English-speaking Catholics from around the world.  We continue to learn new Masses: Missa Simplex by Richard Proulx, Mass of Communion by Matt Maher, the Mass of St. Ann by Ed Bolduc, the Mass of the Angels by Richard Clark, and German Mass by Franz Schubert.

Over 150 talented and dedicated musicians continue to build upon the musical legacy that we have received.  If you love music, please join with us in singing God’s praises.