About Holy Family · Decatur, Nebraska
Holy Family was a Catholic mission parish in the village of Decatur, Nebraska, part of the Holy Apostles Parish Family in the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Omaha. It was served from nearby St. Patrick Parish in Tekamah (Northeast Nebraska Catholic Community, stpatstekamah.com) and traced its origins to 1862, when the first Mass was celebrated locally at the home of A.B. Fuller. After more than 160 years of faith life — including a move from a Sioux City storehouse to a 1924 brick-and-stained-glass church — the parish held its final Mass on Jan. 7, 2025, and its buildings were formally given to the Decatur Museum after the museum was destroyed by fire in May 2024.
- Established
- 1862
- Patron
- Holy Family (Jesus, Mary, and Joseph)
- Rector
- Father Mark Beran
- Diocese
- Metropolitan Archdiocese of Omaha
Why belong here
Holy Family was, in the words of its longtime parishioner Joe Malloy, 'the only parish I've ever known' — a place where 'every Sunday you went to church' and where the choir loft, the Benediction with the priest, and the small-town rhythms of the parish made a real family. For more than 160 years it welcomed worshippers, raised up at least five religious vocations, and offered a mission-style Catholic home in northeast Nebraska now served along with St. Patrick, Tekamah and the other parishes of the Holy Apostles Parish Family in the Archdiocese of Omaha. While the Decatur church itself has been given to the Decatur Museum, its liturgical furnishings, stained glass and tabernacle continue to serve the broader archdiocesan community, and parishioners are warmly folded into the surrounding parishes.
Mass times at Holy Family
Weekly Mass schedule
Parish History
Holy Family's story began in 1862, when the first Mass in Decatur was offered at the home of A.B. Fuller — the same Fuller whose 1875 residence later housed the Decatur Museum, making the final gift of the church to the museum a kind of historical full circle. By 1880 a storehouse had been moved from Sioux City, Iowa, to serve as the mission's first church, and the community was known as St. Michael.
- 1862: First Mass in Decatur, at the home of A.B. Fuller
- 1880: First church — a storehouse moved from Sioux City, Iowa
- Originally known as St. Michael parish
- 1924: Current church built; parish renamed Holy Family
- Part of the Archdiocese of Omaha's Holy Apostles Parish Family
Final Chapter and Gift to the Decatur Museum
In May 2024 a fire destroyed the Decatur Museum (housed in the historic 1875 Fuller home) along with most of its contents. Roughly fifteen active Holy Family families proposed to their pastor, Father Mark Beran, that the parish buildings be donated so the museum could rebuild. Archbishop George J. Lucas approved the gift, and final paperwork was pending in early 2025.
- May 2024: Fire destroys Decatur Museum
- Parishioners approach Father Mark Beran with the donation idea
- Jan. 7, 2025: Final Mass concelebrated by Fathers Beran, Kevin Joyce, and Jim Kramper
- Archbishop Lucas approves the transfer; stained glass retained on site for parish-history display
Clergy and Vocations
Despite its small size, Holy Family produced at least five religious vocations. Father Mark Beran served as the pastor at the time of closure, with associate pastors Father Kevin Joyce (himself a former Holy Family pastor) and Father Mark Bridgman. Former pastors named in the parish's closing coverage include Father Jim Kramper, Father Jerry Connealy, retired Father Michael Malloy, and the late Father John Connealy.
- Father Mark Beran — pastor (closure)
- Father Kevin Joyce — associate pastor and former Holy Family pastor
- Father Mark Bridgman — associate pastor, Holy Apostles Parish Family
- Father Jim Kramper — former pastor
- Father Jerry Connealy — former pastor; received the tabernacle for his Laurel retirement chapel
- Father Michael Malloy — retired; compiled a book of Holy Family history
- Father John Connealy — late
- Sister Joy Connealy, S.N.D.; Sister Joan Paul Tobin, S.S.C.R.
Mass and Devotions
In its final years under the Archdiocese of Omaha's Journey of Faith realignment, Holy Family did not celebrate weekend Masses; instead, one Tuesday-evening Mass was offered each month. Historically, Sunday Mass was scheduled at 8:00 a.m. Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament was a longstanding devotion that Father Jerry Connealy cited as formative in his vocation.
- First Tuesday of the month, 6:00 p.m. (final-period schedule)
- Historical Sunday Mass: 8:00 a.m.
- Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament (parish devotion recalled by Father Connealy)
Parish Family and Sister Parishes
Holy Family was a mission of St. Patrick Parish in Tekamah and was grouped into the Holy Apostles Parish Family — a cluster of 11 to 12 rural parishes along the Missouri River served by just three priests. The mission's shared website (stpatstekamah.com) lists Holy Family alongside St. Patrick, Tekamah, as a single pastoral family.
- Supporting parish: St. Patrick, Tekamah (3480 Highway 32, Tekamah, NE 68061; 402-374-1692)
- Holy Apostles Parish Family — 11–12 parishes, 3 priests
- Joint Vacation Bible School with St. Patrick, Tekamah
- Archdiocese of Omaha parish listing: 'Holy Family Mission - Decatur'
Furnishings and Sacred Items Distributed
After the final Mass, parishioners dispersed Holy Family's furnishings so that 'a little piece of Holy Family' would continue in neighboring Catholic life. Sacred items were especially carefully placed.
- Tabernacle — Father Jerry Connealy's retirement chapel in Laurel, 'Holy Family Chapel'
- Crucifix — St. Joseph Parish, Lyons
- 22 pews — claimed by parish families
- Stained-glass windows — retained on site for Decatur Museum display on parish history
Visit and Contact
Although the Decatur church building has been transferred to the Decatur Museum, the parish's supporting office and the parish family's central office remain active for sacramental needs, with contact routed through St. Patrick, Tekamah.
- Address (historical parish site): 703 4th Ave., Decatur, NE 68020
- Parish phone: 402-374-1672
- Website: stpatstekamah.com/holyfamily.php
- Nearby supporting parish: St. Patrick, Tekamah
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Mark Beranthrough closure (final Mass Jan. 7, 2025)
Pastor of the Holy Apostles Parish Family; led the final Mass and the gift of the church buildings to the Decatur Museum.
- Rev. Kevin Joyce
Former pastor of Holy Family; served as associate pastor of the Holy Apostles Parish Family and concelebrated the final Mass.
- Rev. Jim Kramper
Former pastor; attended the closing Mass.
- Rev. Jerry Connealy
Former pastor; grew up in Holy Family; later senior associate pastor of the Parish Family of the Immaculate Conception; received the Holy Family tabernacle for his retirement chapel in Laurel.
- Rev. Michael Malloy
Retired priest; brother of parishioner Joe Malloy; compiled a book of Holy Family parish history.
- Rev. John Connealy
Late; one of at least five vocations to come from Holy Family.