About Holy Trinity · Brainard, Nebraska
Holy Trinity Catholic Church is a rural parish in the village of Brainard, Nebraska, serving the faithful of Butler County as part of the Diocese of Lincoln (David City Deanery). Established in 1888 by Czech and German Catholic settlers, the parish worships in a stately brick Gothic-style church built under the legendary pastor Msgr. Alois J. Klein and dedicated by Bishop Thomas Bonacum to a crowd of 6,000 in 1906. Today, under the pastoral care of Fr. Steven Snitily (since June 13, 2016), Holy Trinity continues its long tradition of weekend and daily Mass, Eucharistic Adoration devotions to Our Lady of Perpetual Help, and a vibrant community life anchored by the Knights of Columbus and the PCCW (Parish Council of Catholic Women).
- Established
- 1888
- Patron
- Holy Trinity (Blessed Trinity)
- Rector
- Fr. Steven Snitily
- Diocese
- Diocese of Lincoln (David City Deanery)
Why belong here
Holy Trinity is a small but deeply rooted country parish where families know each other by name and traditions span more than 130 years. Daily Mass is offered Monday through Saturday, with a Wednesday evening Mass for those who work during the day, and the parish gathers twice each weekend (Saturday Vigil and Sunday morning). A lively Knights of Columbus council and an active PCCW (Parish Council of Catholic Women) organize community fundraisers — including the famous annual fried chicken dinner every third Sunday of August and the Knights of Columbus Poker Run the fourth Sunday of August — whose proceeds benefit Catholic school tuition assistance in nearby David City. For a Catholic seeking a faithful, generational community in the Brainard area, Holy Trinity offers daily and weekly Mass, regular confession, CCD religious education for children, Marian devotions, and a century-old sanctuary still bearing the mark of Msgr. Alois Klein.
Mass times at Holy Trinity
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday: 6:00–6:25 p.m. (about 30 minutes before Vigil Mass)
- Sunday: 8:30–8:55 a.m. (about 30 minutes before 9:00 a.m. Mass)
Our Story — A Parish Since 1888
Holy Trinity Parish of Brainard was organized in the 1880s and canonically established in 1888 to serve the Bohemian (Czech) Catholic immigrants who had settled the rolling farmland of Butler County, Nebraska. A first, modest church was erected that same year, and it housed the parish's now-iconic statue of the Holy Trinity — still venerated in the center of the main altar today. The parish was first served by missionary priests from surrounding towns until, in 1893, the legendary Msgr. Alois J. Klein became the first resident pastor. Under his sixty-year pastorate, the parish grew from a mission chapel into one of the most substantial Catholic congregations in rural southeast Nebraska. In 1906 Klein built the present brick Gothic church with its 109-foot steeple, and Bishop Thomas Bonacum dedicated it on June 30, 1906 before an astonishing crowd of 6,000 — a mile-long parade having marked the groundbreaking a few years earlier. The building cost $47,000.
- Parish organized 1888
- First church built 1888
- Present church built and dedicated 1906
- St. Cyril, St. Methodius, and St. John Nepomucene statues added to sanctuary
- Our Lady of Perpetual Help statue added 2009
Msgr. Alois J. Klein — A Sixty-Year Pastorate
The single most defining figure in Holy Trinity's history is Msgr. Alois J. Klein (1866–1954). Born in the village of Frauenthal near Prachatitz in Bohemia, he was ordained on June 15, 1889 at the Cathedral of Klagenfurt by the Bishop of Gurk. He arrived in America on October 31, 1889, was briefly assigned to Wahoo (with Brainard and Weston as missions), then moved to Crete, and finally — on September 5, 1893 — became the first resident pastor of Brainard. He remained pastor for nearly 56 years as resident, and almost 60 years total counting his earlier missionary years, retiring on July 1, 1949, and dying on July 2, 1954.
- Built the present Gothic church (1906)
- Built the rectory (1928), modeled on Fr. Flanagan's Boys Town home
- Built the three-story parochial school (1916)
- First monsignor of the Diocese of Lincoln (1908)
- Second vicar general of the Diocese of Lincoln (1916)
- Dean of the Brainard Deanery (1937)
- Subject of the book Brainard's Monsignor Klein by Fr. John Pastorak
The Sanctuary and Its Statues
The sanctuary of Holy Trinity is a small museum of Catholic heritage. At its heart is the unique central statue of the Holy Trinity, which has stood in Brainard's church since 1888. To its sides are statues of St. Cyril and St. Methodius — the 'Apostles to the Slavs,' brothers who brought the faith to the Slavic nations and invented a Slavonic alphabet to translate the Bible — and of St. John Nepomucene, patron saint of Bohemia, martyred for refusing to break the seal of the confessional. In 2009, the statue of Our Lady of Perpetual Help was added to the main altar, and the entire sanctuary was restored with new floors, carpeting, and refurbished high altars.
Pastor and Parish Staff
Holy Trinity has been served by Fr. Steven Snitily as pastor since June 13, 2016. He can be reached at the rectory (402-545-2691) or by email at [email protected]. The parish does not list additional priests or deacons on its website; it appears to be a single-priest parish within the Diocese of Lincoln.
- Pastor: Fr. Steven Snitily (since June 13, 2016)
- Diocese: Diocese of Lincoln, David City Deanery
- Rectory phone: 402-545-2691
- Pastor email: [email protected]
Devotions
Holy Trinity maintains a steady devotional rhythm alongside the Mass schedule. Most notably, the parish prays devotions to Our Lady of Perpetual Help every Tuesday after morning Mass, before the statue that was placed on the main altar in 2009. The parish also marks its major feast — Holy Trinity Sunday — and commemorates the Czech patron saints St. John Nepomucene, St. Cyril, and St. Methodius whose statues stand in the sanctuary.
- Our Lady of Perpetual Help devotions — every Tuesday after morning Mass
- Statue installed in 2009 in honor of Our Lady of Perpetual Help
Knights of Columbus
The Holy Trinity council of the Knights of Columbus is one of the most active lay organizations in the parish. Each year on the fourth Sunday of August the council hosts its Poker Run, whose proceeds benefit the Guardian Angel Fund — a tuition-assistance program for St. Mary's and Aquinas Catholic schools in nearby David City. The council also awards an annual Knights of Columbus Scholarship.
- Grand Knights / Officers: Bill Janak, Steve Rezac, Vern Dvorak
- Annual Poker Run — fourth Sunday of August (2026: Sunday, August 23)
- Proceeds benefit Guardian Angel Fund (Catholic school tuition assistance)
- Knights of Columbus Scholarship Application posted on parish website
Parish Council of Catholic Women (PCCW)
The PCCW is the women's service organization of the parish, supporting the spiritual, social, and fundraising life of Holy Trinity. Among its most beloved contributions is the parish's famous annual fried chicken dinner, held every third Sunday of August on the parish grounds.
- President: Sandy Bongers
- Vice-President: Deb Pleskac
- Secretary: Ashley Kriz
- Treasurer: Andrea Svoboda
- Hosts the annual fried chicken parish dinner
Annual Fried Chicken Dinner
A long-standing Holy Trinity tradition: the parish fried chicken dinner is held the third Sunday of August each year, serving from 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. On that Sunday, Mass is moved to 10:00 a.m. so parishioners and visitors can worship first and then sit down together at the parish hall. The next dinner is scheduled for Sunday, August 16, 2026.
- Held annually the third Sunday of August
- Next dinner: August 16, 2026 (10:30 a.m.–2:30 p.m.)
- Sunday Mass on that day: 10:00 a.m.
Faith Formation — CCD
Holy Trinity provides religious education for its children through a parish CCD (Confraternity of Christian Doctrine) program, with classes typically meeting in the Msgr. A. J. Klein Parish Center. The 2025–2026 CCD Calendar is published on the parish website.
- CCD classes for parish children
- 2025–2026 CCD Calendar posted on the parish website
- Classes held in the Msgr. A. J. Klein Parish Center
Sacraments
Information about Baptism, Marriage, and Annulments is published on the parish website, with policies that follow both diocesan norms and the Code of Canon Law. Couples must contact Fr. Snitily at least six months before a proposed wedding date.
- Baptism — register with the parish; Canon Law godparent requirements apply
- Marriage — at least six months' notice to the pastor
- Annulments — contact Fr. Snitily; see diocesan tribunal website for full process
Cemeteries
The parish maintains two Holy Trinity cemeteries (the old and the new) as well as the mission cemetery of St. Luke's in Loma. Information about Holy Trinity cemetery lots is handled through the parish rectory.
- Holy Trinity (old) Cemetery — contact the rectory (402-545-2691)
- Holy Trinity (new) Cemetery — contact the rectory (402-545-2691)
- St. Luke's Cemetery, Loma — contact Jerome at 402-545-2263
Klein Center (Parish Hall) Rentals
The Msgr. A. J. Klein Parish Center — built 1987–1988 in honor of the parish's legendary founding pastor — is a brick parish hall used for CCD classrooms, parish dinners, and meetings. It is also available for community rental.
- Available for meetings, dinners, and CCD
- Reservations: contact Irene at 402-545-2352
Scholarships
Two scholarship funds support young parishioners pursuing higher education: the Holy Trinity Parish College Scholarship and the Knights of Columbus Scholarship. Application forms are posted on the parish website.
- Holy Trinity Parish College Scholarship Application 2026
- Knights of Columbus Scholarship Application 2026
Visit, Contact, and Giving
Parishioners and visitors are warmly welcomed at Holy Trinity. The parish office is reached through the rectory, and the parish encourages online giving through a link on its homepage. The latest bulletin (linked from the homepage) carries any updates to Mass times, Holy Day schedules, and upcoming events.
- Address: 108 E. Brainard Street, Brainard, NE 68626
- Mailing: PO Box 39, Brainard, NE 68626
- Phone: 402-545-2691
- Online giving available via the parish website
- Latest bulletin linked from the homepage
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Msgr. Alois J. Klein1889–1949
First resident pastor; built the present Gothic church (1906), the rectory (1928), and the school (1916); first monsignor of the Diocese of Lincoln and second vicar general. Retired July 1, 1949 after nearly 56 years as resident pastor (almost 60 years including earlier mission years). Died July 2, 1954.
- Rev. Irvin Weber1973–1976
- Rev. Daniel Pohl1976–1979
- Rev. John Ludvik1979–1983
- Rev. Michael Houlihan1983–1987
- Rev. Garold Gabel1987–1989
- Rev. Stephen Cooney1989–2000
- Rev. Matthew Eickhoff2000–2016
- Fr. Steven Snitily2016–present
Became pastor June 13, 2016.