About Ss. Peter and Paul · Howells, Nebraska
Sts. Peter and Paul is a Roman Catholic parish in the small town of Howells, Nebraska (Colfax County), one of two historic Catholic parishes that have served the community since the late 19th century. Founded in 1890 by German immigrant homesteaders who settled along the Fremont, Elkhorn and Missouri Valley Railroad, the parish is today one of ten parishes that make up the St. Joseph Family of Parishes in northeast Nebraska, under the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Omaha. The current towering church edifice was built in 1918 to replace the original structure and remains a centerpiece of the town's religious and social life. The parish celebrates a Saturday vigil Mass and weekday Masses, shares clergy and several ministries with neighboring St. John Nepomucene Parish (the town's other Catholic church, founded in 1893 by Czech/Bohemian settlers), and is known for deep multi-generational family ties — including the Baumert family, who have worshipped here since the parish's founding.
- Established
- 1890
- Patron
- Saints Peter and Paul (the Princes of the Apostles)
- Rector
- Fr. James Weeder
- Diocese
- Metropolitan Archdiocese of Omaha
Why belong here
Sts. Peter and Paul offers the rare experience of a small-town Catholic parish where many families have worshipped for four or five generations — the parish is described in regional press as the 'center of all activity in the neighborhood' and a true community anchor in a town of about 550 people. It shares a rich liturgical and cultural life with neighboring St. John Nepomucene, including a combined Catholic school (Howells Community Catholic School), a unified Knights of Columbus council, joint pastoral council meetings, combined funeral choirs and the annual 'Fun Fest.' Multiple priests serve the parish as part of the St. Joseph Family of Parishes, confession is conveniently offered 30 minutes before every Mass, and the historic 1918 church remains a visible sign of the German-Catholic heritage of the Howells community.
Mass times at Ss. Peter and Paul
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- 30 minutes prior to every Mass (per the official St. Joseph Family of Parishes schedule)
- Also by appointment through the parish office
Sts. Peter and Paul — Howells, Nebraska
Sts. Peter and Paul is one of two historic Catholic parishes serving the small town of Howells in northern Colfax County, Nebraska. Founded by German immigrant homesteaders in 1890 and housed in its present church since 1918, the parish is today part of the St. Joseph Family of Parishes within the Archdiocese of Omaha and shares much of its ministry with neighboring St. John Nepomucene Parish. The mailing address is 112 N 6th St, Howells, NE 68641, with the parish office reachable at (402) 986-1653 and [email protected].
Parish History
German settlers who homesteaded the Howells area in the 1870s and 1880s founded Sts. Peter and Paul in 1890, recruited a German-speaking pastor, and built an original church. By 1918 a larger, taller replacement church had been built and remains the parish's home. For decades the parish existed largely in parallel with — and in some tension with — the Czech-founded St. John Nepomucene (1893), only six blocks away; the two parishes kept separate schools, cemeteries and social groups. Reconciliation began in the 1960s with the merger of their Catholic grade schools (formalized in 1968) and continued in 1982 when they first shared a priest. Today the two Howells Catholic parishes share clergy, a school, a Knights of Columbus council, funeral choirs and joint pastoral councils — a rare outcome for a town of roughly 550 people and, per the Omaha Archdiocese, the last small town in the archdiocese with two distinct Catholic parishes.
- 1890 — Parish founded by German immigrant homesteaders
- 1893 — Neighboring St. John Nepomucene founded by Czech/Bohemian settlers
- 1918 — Current Sts. Peter and Paul church built to replace the original structure
- 1968 — Catholic grade schools of the two parishes merged (Howells Community Catholic School)
- 1982 — Sts. Peter and Paul and St. John Nepomucene first shared a priest
- Today — part of the St. Joseph Family of Parishes under the Archdiocese of Omaha
Patron and Feast Day
The parish takes its name from Saints Peter and Paul, the two 'Princes of the Apostles' whom the Catholic Church commemorates together on June 29 — the parish's patronal feast day.
- Patron: Sts. Peter and Paul
- Feast Day: June 29 (Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul, Apostles)
Clergy and Parish Staff
Sts. Peter and Paul is currently served by a team of priests as part of the St. Joseph Family of Parishes, with Chris Coday as the named parish contact.
- Fr. James Weeder — Pastor
- Fr. Walter Jong-A-Kiem — Associate Pastor
- Fr. Matthias Sule — Associate Pastor
- Chris Coday — Parish Contact
- Parish office: (402) 986-1653 — [email protected]
Faith Formation and School
Sts. Peter and Paul shares faith-formation staffing and a Catholic grade school with neighboring St. John Nepomucene Parish. Howells Community Catholic School, formed from the merger of the two parishes' grade schools in 1968, serves roughly 50 students in grades 1–6.
- Howells Community Catholic School (K-6, ~50 students)
- Shared religious education teacher across the two Howells parishes
Parish Ministries and Community Life
The parish's social and service life is closely interwoven with that of St. John Nepomucene. The two parishes run a joint pastoral council, a unified Knights of Columbus council, combined funeral choirs and an annual 'Fun Fest' fundraiser each March. Liturgical and social events are coordinated across the parishes.
- Joint pastoral council (with St. John Nepomucene)
- Knights of Columbus — shared council
- Parish choir — combines with St. John Nepomucene for funerals
- Fun Fest — annual fundraiser in March
- Progressive Supper — parish social event
- Lenten Mission Sessions (with the St. Joseph Family of Parishes)
Sacraments
In addition to the Eucharist and Reconciliation listed on the schedule page, the parish prepares parishioners for and celebrates the other sacraments of the Church, coordinated through the parish office.
- Eucharist
- Reconciliation (Confession)
- Baptism
- Marriage
- Anointing of the Sick
Visiting and Contact Information
Parishioners and visitors can find Sts. Peter and Paul at 112 N 6th Street in Howells. The parish phone line (402) 986-1653 and email [email protected] reach the parish office, and the parish's full information is maintained on the St. Joseph Family of Parishes website along with the weekly bulletin.
- Address: 112 N 6th St, Howells, NE 68641
- Phone: (402) 986-1653
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: https://stjosephfamilyofparishes.org/sts-peter-and-paul-howells/
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Founding pastor (German-speaking)1890–
Recruited by the German-immigrant founders in 1890 to serve the newly established parish.
- Fr. Stanley Schmitthrough at least 2018
Long-serving pastor of both Howells parishes; presided at the 125th anniversary celebrations and was widely quoted on the parishes' shared ministry.
- Fr. James Weederpresent
Current pastor of Sts. Peter and Paul and the broader St. Joseph Family of Parishes.