About Holy Family · Lindsay, Nebraska
Holy Family Parish is a Roman Catholic parish in Lindsay, Nebraska — a small rural community in Platte County — founded in 1894 by Irish Catholic families who had settled in the area from Ontario, Canada. The first parish Mass was celebrated on December 9, 1894 in the home of John Freschauf, and the current church building (cornerstone laid September 15, 1957 and dedicated by Archbishop Gerald T. Bergan on May 20, 1958) seats approximately 450 people. The parish has long been paired with Holy Family School, which opened in 1900 under the Franciscan Sisters of Christian Charity and grew to include a high school (the first class graduated in 1919). Today Holy Family serves more than 300 families as part of the Family of God cluster of parishes within the Archdiocese of Omaha.
- Established
- 1894
- Patron
- Holy Family
- Rector
- Rev. Taylor J Leffler
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Omaha
Why belong here
Holy Family is a welcoming, multi-generational rural parish serving more than 300 families, with strong traditions of Catholic schooling (PK–6), faith formation, and community life nurtured for more than 130 years. Active ministries and groups include the Knights of Columbus, Catholic Order of Foresters, Ladies Guild, Parish Council, Youth Ministry, and PRE (Parish Religious Education) — plus a parish daycare that fosters infants through toddlers on the campus. New parishioners are invited to register at the parish office Monday, Wednesday, or Thursday and join a parish where the church, school, gym, project center, and cemetery all share one campus in the heart of Lindsay.
Mass times at Holy Family
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 6:15 – 7:45 PM
- Tuesday–Friday 7:40 – 8:00 AM
- Sunday 7:30 AM (per Family of God consolidated bulletin)
- Anytime upon request
Adoration times
- Tuesdays 8:30 AM – Midnight
History of Holy Family Parish
Holy Family Parish in Lindsay, Nebraska, was organized in 1894 by Irish Catholic settlers who had come from Ontario, Canada in the early 1870s. The first parish Mass was celebrated on December 9, 1894, in the home of John Freschauf; the Catholic population grew quickly and a brick church was built by September 1895 and dedicated on Thanksgiving Day with sermons in both English and German. A second, larger frame church was begun in 1899, with its cornerstone laid June 19, 1899, by Fr. Herbert assisted by Fr. Ladislaus and Fr. Thomas Wilgenbusch, and the first Mass was held in the new building on August 4, 1900. The cornerstone of the present church was laid September 15, 1957, and Archbishop Gerald T. Bergan dedicated it on May 20, 1958; it seats about 450 and remains the center of parish life today.
- First Mass: December 9, 1894 (Freschauf home)
- First brick church: dedicated Thanksgiving Day, 1895
- Frame church cornerstone: June 19, 1899; first Mass in building August 4, 1900
- Present church cornerstone: September 15, 1957; dedicated May 20, 1958
- Seating capacity: ~450
- Parish serves more than 300 families
Holy Family School
Holy Family School opened in September 1900 with 51 pupils and three Franciscan Sisters of Christian Charity from Manitowoc, Wisconsin. It expanded through the early 20th century — a red-brick school building was completed in 1906, the 9th grade added in 1910, 10th in 1911, and 11th/12th by 1917. The first high school graduating class was 1919, and by 1931 the school had 164 students served by 10 Sisters. Through the decades additions and updates continued, including major expansions in 1985 and 1994. After 94 years of religious service, the last of the Franciscan Sisters departed in 1994. In January 2022 the Archdiocese of Omaha announced the dissolution of Holy Family High School and Junior High to consolidate Catholic secondary education with a 7–12 school in Humphrey, Nebraska; in May 2024 those articles of incorporation were formally dissolved, and Lindsay now operates a PK–6 Catholic elementary school.
- Founded 1900 — 51 students, 3 Franciscan Sisters of Christian Charity
- Red-brick school: 1906
- First high school graduating class: 1919
- Last of the Sisters departed: 1994 (94 years of service)
- High School & Junior High dissolved 2022–2024; consolidated 7–12 school in Humphrey
- Now PK–6 Catholic elementary school (2024/2025)
Facilities and Campus
Holy Family's Lindsay campus includes the parish church, Holy Family School, Holy Family Daycare, a gym, a project center, a greenhouse, and the parish cemetery. A gym was added in 1959, a major school addition came in 1985 with four more rooms added in 1994, the gym was renovated in 2009, a new project center was built in 2011, and Holy Family Daycare opened in 2012. Other recent investments include a greenhouse, distance learning technology, new lighting, and updated WiFi.
- Gym (1959; renovated 2009)
- Project Center (2011)
- Holy Family Daycare (2012)
- Greenhouse, distance learning, new lighting, WiFi upgrades
- Holy Family Parish Cemetery
Mass and Liturgical Schedule
Holy Family celebrates Saturday evening Mass at 7:00 PM, Sunday Mass at 8:00 AM, and Tuesday through Friday Masses at 8:10 AM. The parish is part of the Family of God cluster with coordinated weekend Masses across the partner parishes (Lindsay, Tarnov, Humphrey, Leigh, and Clarkson). Liturgical ministry assignments (lectors, servers, Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion, gift bearers) are published monthly and downloaded from the parish website (e.g., February 2026 and June 2026 ministry schedules).
- Saturday Vigil Mass: 7:00 PM
- Sunday Mass: 8:00 AM
- Weekday Mass: Tuesday–Friday 8:10 AM
- Monthly liturgical minister assignments posted to lhfparish.com
Sacraments (Baptism, Matrimony, Anointing)
Baptisms, weddings, and Anointing of the Sick are coordinated through the parish and the Family of God cluster. Couples are asked by Archdiocesan statute to contact the priest at least six months before the wedding so the date can be set and preparation completed; sacramental requests are submitted online at ourfamilyofgod.org/sacraments/.
- Baptism — submit sacramental request online
- Matrimony — contact priest ≥ 6 months in advance; online request
- Anointing of the Sick — by request through the parish
Parish Staff and Parish Leaders
Holy Family is staffed by a Pastor and Associate Pastor (members of the Family of God cluster) along with parish office, school, daycare, religious education, and youth ministry staff. Parish leaders serve on the Parish Council / Finance Council and lead the parish's fraternal and women's organizations.
- Pastor — Rev. Taylor J Leffler
- Associate Pastor — Rev. Dan Wittrock
- Parish Bookkeeper — Sheri Jarecki
- Parish Secretary — Ann Weeder
- Director of PRE — Tami Wiese
- Youth Ministry Director — Norma Preister
- Cemetery Contacts — Brad Busselman / Andrew Kurtenbach
- Parish Council/Finance President — Bryan Herchenbach
- Knights of Columbus Grand Knight — Roy Zach
- Catholic Order of Foresters Chief Ranger — Virgil Preister
- Ladies Guild President — Sandy Wegener
- Daycare Director — Carly Beller
- School Principal — Andy Bishop
Parish Ministries and Organizations
Parishioners can become involved through a wide range of lay ministries, fraternal organizations, and parish organizations, including liturgy roles (lector, server, EMHC, gift bearer), faith formation (PRE and Youth Ministry), community life groups, and the cemetery committee. Holy Family Daycare (opened 2012) and Holy Family School (PK–6) extend the parish's mission of education and care into the wider community.
- Knights of Columbus
- Catholic Order of Foresters
- Ladies Guild
- Parish Religious Education (PRE)
- Youth Ministry
- Liturgical ministries (monthly assignments)
- Holy Family Daycare (infant/toddler)
- Holy Family School (PK–6)
- Cemetery Committee
Family of God Catholic Parishes
Holy Family in Lindsay is part of the Family of God cluster of parishes within the Archdiocese of Omaha. The other parishes in the cluster include St. Francis in Humphrey, St. Michael in Tarnov, St. Mary in Leigh, and Ss. Cyril & Methodius in Clarkson. A consolidated bulletin and shared sacramental request portal (ourfamilyofgod.org/sacraments/) coordinate Mass times, confession times, and events across the cluster.
- Cluster parishes: Holy Family (Lindsay), St. Francis (Humphrey), St. Michael (Tarnov), St. Mary (Leigh), Ss. Cyril & Methodius (Clarkson)
- Consolidated bulletin and cluster websites: ourfamilyofgod.org
- Cluster clergy includes Priests and Deacons serving multiple parishes
Parish Office and Contact
Parishioners and visitors can reach Holy Family by phone, email, or in person at the rectory and parish office. The parish office is open Monday and Wednesday 8:30 AM to 4:00 PM and Thursday 8:30 AM to 12:00 PM. New parishioners are invited to register at the parish office on those days.
- Address: 103 East 3rd Street, P.O. Box 68, Lindsay, NE 68644
- Parish phone: 402-428-2455
- Email: [email protected]
- School phone: 402-428-3215 / 402-428-3455
- Daycare phone: 402-428-9070
- Office hours: Mon & Wed 8:30–4:00; Thu 8:30–12:00
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Salvator Lehman, O.F.M.1890s (planning)
Franciscan friar who first planned to erect a church at Lindsay because many parishioners missed Mass due to distance and bad roads to St. John's and St. Bernard. The plan was temporarily abandoned after protests from St. John's Nepomucene parishioners.
- Rev. Mauritius Baukholt, O.F.M.December 1893
Preached the mission at St. John's that led to the founding of Holy Family; advised starting a church at Lindsay.
- Rev. Herbert Stotter1894 onward
Obtained permission and arranged for the first Mass on December 9, 1894 in two rooms of John Freschauf's home; later assisted at the laying of the cornerstone of the newer church on June 19, 1899.
- Rev. Jim Novotny (retired)
Listed as 'Rev. Jim Novotny (retired)' in the July 2021 parish bulletin, indicating recent retirement and continued availability to the parishes.
- Fr. Steve EmanuelJuly 2021 onwards
Welcomed to the cluster parishes on Sunday, July 11, 2021 after the 10:00 AM Mass in the HS gym.
- Rev. Taylor J Leffler2025 onwards
Current Pastor per the parish staff page and December 2025 consolidated bulletin.