About Immaculate Conception · Ulysses, Nebraska
Immaculate Conception is a small Catholic parish serving the village of Ulysses and the surrounding rural area in Butler County, Nebraska, within the Diocese of Lincoln (David City Deanery). The community gathers at 205 S 6th Street for weekly Saturday Vigil and Sunday Mass and offers confessions before each weekend liturgy. The current pastor is Rev. Michael Stec, whose residence and mailing address is the parish rectory at PO Box 128, Ulysses, NE 68669. The parish is also closely linked to its active Altar Society, which is a member of the Lincoln Diocesan Council of Catholic Women and runs the parish's charitable and social outreach.
- Established
- 1883
- Patron
- Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary
- Rector
- Rev. Michael Stec
- Diocese
- Diocese of Lincoln
Why belong here
Immaculate Conception is a tight-knit, multigenerational rural parish where the same families have been passing on the Catholic faith in Ulysses for more than 140 years. Weekend Masses are offered Saturday evening and Sunday morning, with confession available before each, making regular sacramental life accessible to the small community. The active Altar Society — affiliated with the Lincoln Diocesan Council of Catholic Women — turns faith into action through a yearly chicken/ham bazaar, funeral dinners, diaper drives, World Marriage Day observances, bingo at local nursing homes, and an Advent baby shower for Birthright and St. Gianna's House, alongside collections for Catholic Social Services.
Mass times at Immaculate Conception
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 4:30–5:00 p.m.
- Sunday 8:30–9:00 a.m.
Parish Identity and Location
Immaculate Conception is a Roman Catholic parish in the village of Ulysses, Butler County, Nebraska, in the David City Deanery of the Diocese of Lincoln. It serves rural parishioners from the town and surrounding farms, with the church located at 205 S 6th Street. The parish mailing address is PO Box 128, Ulysses, NE 68669, and the parish phone line is 402-549-2437.
- Address: 205 S 6th St, Ulysses, NE 68669
- Mailing: PO Box 128, Ulysses, NE 68669
- Phone: 402-549-2437
- Deanery: David City
- Diocese: Diocese of Lincoln
History of Immaculate Conception Parish
Ulysses Catholics built their first church in 1883 and named it for the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary. A larger second church was completed in 1893. On January 30, 1949, the church was destroyed by fire; Fr. Maurice Downey is remembered for rescuing the Blessed Sacrament and the sacred vessels. The present brick church was dedicated by Bishop Louis Kucera on October 30, 1950. It was remodeled in 1969 after Vatican II and refreshed again in 2014, and the parish observed the 75th anniversary of the current building in 2025.
- 1883 (Dec. 15): original 40 x 25 church dedicated and named Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary
- 1893: 90 x 40 second church completed at a cost of $5,328
- Jan. 30, 1949: church destroyed by fire after Communion; Fr. Maurice Downey rescued the Blessed Sacrament and sacred vessels
- Oct. 30, 1950: new light grey buff brick church dedicated by Bishop Louis Kucera, cost $140,000
- 1969: sanctuary remodeled in response to Vatican II; high altars removed
- 2014: interior decorating completed and basement hall kitchen remodeling
- 2025: 75th anniversary of the current church observed with a Jubilee Year pilgrimage
Pastor and Clergy
Immaculate Conception is currently served by Rev. Michael Stec as pastor, whose residence is the parish rectory in Ulysses. The parish's Altar Society is also supported by two spiritual advisors, Rev. Thomas Lux and Rev. Thomas McGuire, who serve in that role for the local circle of the Lincoln Diocesan Council of Catholic Women. Fr. Maurice Downey is remembered in parish memory as the pastor who saved the Blessed Sacrament from the 1949 fire.
- Rev. Michael Stec — Pastor
- Rev. Thomas Lux — Spiritual Advisor, Altar Society
- Rev. Thomas McGuire — Spiritual Advisor, Altar Society
- Fr. Maurice Downey — Pastor at the time of the 1949 fire; rescued the Blessed Sacrament
Parish Ministries and Outreach
Parish life centers on the Altar Society, which is a member of the Lincoln Diocesan Council of Catholic Women and supports both the spiritual and practical life of the parish. In addition to tending the altar, the society organizes an annual chicken/ham bazaar, prepares funeral dinners, runs an Advent baby shower for Birthright and St. Gianna's House, hosts World Marriage Day events, and plays bingo with residents of local nursing homes. Collections support Catholic Social Services, the LDCCW, and a parish diaper drive.
- Parish Altar Society (LDCCW member circle)
- Annual chicken/ham bazaar
- Funeral dinners (coffee and rolls)
- World Marriage Day observance
- Bingo at local nursing homes
- Advent baby shower for Birthright and St. Gianna's House
- Catholic Social Services food and item collections
- LDCCW collections and Diaper drive
Altar Society Leadership
The Immaculate Conception Altar Society is led by elected lay presidents and supported by two priest spiritual advisors, in keeping with the Lincoln Diocesan Council of Catholic Women model.
- Judy Weston — President, 2024–2026
- Rev. Thomas Lux — Spiritual Advisor
- Rev. Thomas McGuire — Spiritual Advisor
Jubilee Year 2025 and Parish Pilgrimage
In 2025, marking the 75th anniversary of the present church, Fr. Michael Stec organized a Jubilee Year pilgrimage for parishioners to the National Shrine of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal in Perryville, Missouri, an official pilgrimage site for the Jubilee Year. The trip connected the parish's devotion to its patroness, the Immaculate Conception, with the broader call of the Holy Year to encounter God's mercy in a renewed way — especially through the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, confession, and pilgrimages to designated shrines.
- 75th anniversary of the current church celebrated in 2025
- Parish pilgrimage led by Fr. Michael Stec to Perryville, Missouri
- Destination: National Shrine of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal
- Theme: renewal of devotion to the Immaculate Conception and to the Mass
Diocese of Lincoln and Deanery
Immaculate Conception is a parish of the Diocese of Lincoln, which covers the southern and central portion of the state of Nebraska. Within the diocese, the parish belongs to the David City Deanery, a grouping of parishes in the David City area. The parish's official directory listing, contact information, and weekend schedule are maintained by the diocesan office.
- Diocese: Diocese of Lincoln
- Deanery: David City
- Diocesan directory listing: lincolndiocese.org/directory/parishes/789-immaculate-conception-ulysses
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Maurice Downey1949
Pastor at the time of the January 30, 1949 church fire; remembered for rescuing the Blessed Sacrament and the sacred vessels from the burning church.