About North American Martyrs · Lincoln, Nebraska
North American Martyrs is a large Catholic parish in northwest Lincoln, Nebraska, founded in 1993 by Bishop Fabian W. Bruskewitz to serve the growing Catholic community in the Highlands area near Interstate 80. The parish is located at 1101 Isaac Drive, across from the Highlands golf course, and operates both the parish church and an attached Catholic school (K-8). Pastored since June 2022 by Fr. Nathan Hall, the parish celebrates a robust schedule of Sunday and weekday Masses, runs an active OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults) process, supports CCD and youth ministry, and is home to a wide range of lay groups including the Knights of Columbus, Women of Martyrs, and numerous small-group Bible studies. Its stated mission is 'To receive and accompany each person in their journey of relationship, identity, and mission with Jesus Christ.'
- Established
- 1993
- Patron
- North American Martyrs (the eight Jesuit missionaries — Sts. Jean de Brébeuf, Isaac Jogues, Antoine Daniel, Gabriel Lalemant, Charles Garnier, Noël Chabanel, René Goupil, and Jean de Lalande — martyred in the 17th century in present-day Canada and upstate New York, canonized 1930)
- Rector
- Rev. Nathan Hall (assigned June 2022)
- Diocese
- Diocese of Lincoln
Why belong here
North American Martyrs is a large, multi-generational parish with five Sunday Masses (Saturday Vigil plus four Sunday Masses) and a robust daily Mass schedule, so Mass is easy to fit into any week. The parish is home to its own K-8 Catholic school, an active OCIA process for adults, CCD for public-school students, a youth ministry that now collaborates with other Lincoln parishes, perpetual Adoration, and dozens of lay-led small groups — Bible studies, men's and women's groups, a Moms Group, a Grief Support Group, Embrace Grace, and more. A Knights of Columbus council and the Women of Martyrs serve the parish and broader Lincoln community. Pastor Fr. Nathan Hall and the Evangelization Team explicitly frame the parish's mission as one of welcoming, accompanying, and forming disciples — making it a good fit for both long-standing Catholics and those returning to or exploring the faith.
Mass times at North American Martyrs
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday: 4:00 PM – 4:40 PM, and again after the 5:00 PM Mass until finished
- Weekdays: 15 minutes before each weekday Mass
Adoration times
- Perpetual Adoration is available — contact the Adoration Coordinator at [email protected] for the current schedule
Welcome & Parish Mission
Pastor Fr. Nathan Hall personally greets visitors on the parish's welcome page with a 'Let me be the first to say, welcome home!' The parish describes itself as 'a joyous and thriving' community. Its stated mission is 'To receive and accompany each person in their journey of relationship, identity, and mission with Jesus Christ.' The Evangelization Team — organized into Formation, Prayer, and Outreach subcommittees — exists to foster a culture of invitation, accompaniment, and discipleship across the parish.
History of North American Martyrs Parish
Founded in 1993 by Bishop Fabian W. Bruskewitz to serve northwest Lincoln's growing Catholic population, the parish's first Mass was held in a converted Ramada Inn near Interstate 80. The congregation then moved to Freedstrom Elementary while the school was built, and into the school gymnasium while the church itself was constructed. The church was designed by local architect Kevin Clark, and the original school and church complex has served the Highlands neighborhood ever since. In March 2023, polished-wood Communion rails — designed by Clark to match his 30-year-old sanctuary — were added to the nave thanks to an anonymous donor.
- Founded 1993 by Bishop Fabian W. Bruskewitz
- First Mass: 1993 in an old Ramada Inn near I-80
- Intermediate Mass locations: Freedstrom Elementary and the school gymnasium
- Church designed by architect Kevin Clark (St. Teresa parishioner)
- New Communion rails installed March 2023
Parish School (K-8)
North American Martyrs Catholic School shares the parish campus and serves students in the Lincoln area. The school is led by Principal Ms. Elizabeth Fairbanks and Assistant Principal Katie Guenther, with a large faculty of classroom teachers, preschool teachers, resource/paraeducator staff, and specialists in music, band, and library. Clergy attached to the school include Fr. Nathan Hall, Fr. Isaac Wahlmeier, and Fr. Matthew Kovar. The school supports parish catechetical programs including Totus Tuus and Vacation Bible School.
- Principal: Ms. Elizabeth Fairbanks
- Assistant Principal: Katie Guenther
- Preschool, elementary, and middle school classrooms (K-8)
- Special subjects: music, band, library
- Resource teachers and paraeducators on staff
Faith Formation — OCIA, CCD & Youth Ministry
The parish runs a full catechetical program across all ages. OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults) welcomes adults exploring the Catholic faith or seeking baptism, confirmation, or full communion — classes, discussion, prayer, field trips, retreats, service, and community are all part of the process. CCD (Confraternity of Christian Doctrine) meets Wednesdays from 6:00 to 7:30 PM during the school year for 1st- through 8th-graders in public school or homeschool, while their parents can step over to OCIA at the same time. Youth Ministry for junior-high and high-school students now collaborates with other Lincoln parishes through the Lincoln Youth Ministry (LNKYM) network.
- OCIA contact: [email protected]
- CCD — Wednesdays 6:00-7:30 PM in the school (grades 1-8); contact Tammy Eymann
- Junior High & High School Youth Ministry via Lincoln Youth Ministry (LNKYM) collaboration
- Totus Tuus summer catechetical program (Grades 1-8 and High School)
Parish Ministries & Lay Groups
An extensive list of lay-led ministries is listed on the parish website, including service, formation, fellowship, and prayer groups. The Evangelization Team coordinates parish-wide outreach through three subcommittees: Formation (training leaders in prayer and discipleship), Prayer (promoting prayer across the parish), and Outreach (extending the parish's mission into the surrounding neighborhoods).
- Knights of Columbus
- Women of Martyrs
- Missionaries of the Holy Spirit in the Family
- Red Bird Ministry
- Embrace Grace
- Hospitality
- Adult Education & Adult Bible Classes
- Martyrs Men's Group
- Schoenstatt Ladies
- Financial Planning ministry
- Grief Support Group
Small Groups & Bible Studies
A wide variety of small groups meet throughout the week at the parish and in members' homes — including men's, women's, and moms' groups, Bible studies, book studies, and a 'Be Healed' discipleship group. Meeting days and times range from early-morning Saturday gatherings at the parish to mid-week evenings in members' homes; the parish encourages anyone interested to fill out a sign-up form to find a fit, and even welcomes leaders for new groups.
- Sunrise Journey to Faith (1st Saturday, 6:00 AM at NAM)
- Men's Group, Women's Small Group, Moms Group
- Serendipity Bible Study
- Seeking Truth Bible Study
- Be Healed Discipleship Group
- Sojourners Small Group
- Women's Bible in a Year, Ladies Book Study
- Seberger Men's Group
Clergy & Staff
Three priests currently serve the parish. Fr. Nathan Hall was assigned pastor in June 2022 and is the public face of the parish, writing the 'Welcome Home' letter on the website. Fr. Isaac Wahlmeier serves as assistant pastor / priest in residence, and Fr. Matthew Kovar is in residence. The Diocese of Lincoln directory lists all three as the assigned priests for the parish.
- Rev. Nathan Hall — Pastor (assigned June 2022)
- Rev. Isaac Wahlmeier — Assistant Pastor / Priest in Residence
- Rev. Matthew Kovar — In Residence
Sacraments & Sacramental Preparation
Beyond the Mass and Confession schedule, the parish coordinates preparation for Baptism, Marriage, First Communion, and Confirmation. Adult inquirers join OCIA; children and youth typically prepare through the parish school or CCD. Couples preparing for marriage are asked to contact the parish office. The parish welcomes inquiries from anyone wanting to learn more about receiving any sacrament.
- Baptism — contact parish office
- Marriage Preparation — contact parish office
- First Communion & Confirmation via OCIA, school, or CCD/Youth Ministry
- Confession — see Mass & Confession schedule
Visit, Contact & Location
The parish is located at 1101 Isaac Drive, Lincoln, Nebraska 68521 — in the Highlands neighborhood of northwest Lincoln, across from the Highlands golf course and close to Interstate 80. The parish office can be reached at (402) 476-8088. Inquiries about Adoration go to [email protected] and OCIA inquiries to [email protected]. The parish's official website is http://www.namartyrs.org/.
- Address: 1101 Isaac Drive, Lincoln NE 68521
- Phone: (402) 476-8088
- Website: http://www.namartyrs.org/
- Diocese: Diocese of Lincoln (Deanery: Lincoln)