About St. Andrew · Tecumseh, Nebraska
St. Andrew Catholic Church is a historic parish in Tecumseh, Nebraska, in the Diocese of Lincoln, where Catholics have worshipped since 1861 and the present church building has stood since 1926. The parish serves both Tecumseh and its mission church, St. Mary in St. Mary, Nebraska, with Mass celebrated in English and Spanish. Father Christopher Kubat has been pastor since 2022 and is assisted by Father Thomas McGuire in residence. The parish also runs St. Andrew Catholic School (Pre-K through 8th grade) on its campus, hosts a CCD religious-education program, and provides chaplaincy to the Nebraska State Correctional Institution in Tecumseh.
- Established
- 1868
- Patron
- St. Andrew the Apostle
- Rector
- Rev. Christopher Kubat
- Diocese
- Diocese of Lincoln
Why belong here
St. Andrew offers a tight-knit Catholic community with two worship sites — St. Andrew in Tecumseh and its mission church St. Mary — where Mass is celebrated in both English and Spanish every Sunday. Families can send their children to the parish's own Pre-K through 8th grade Catholic school, and parishioners grow in faith through CCD religious education and the annual Totus Tuus summer program. The parish also reaches beyond its walls through its chaplaincy to the Nebraska State Correctional Institution and Hispanic ministry in the Tecumseh area, giving members tangible ways to live out their faith locally.
Mass times at St. Andrew
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 4:30 pm (before Vigil Mass)
- Sunday 7:30 am (at St. Mary, before the 8:00 am Mass)
- Sunday 12:00 pm (in Spanish, before the 12:30 pm Spanish Mass)
- Monday 5:00 pm
- Tuesday 7:15 am
- Wednesday 5:00 pm (at St. Mary)
Adoration times
- Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament — Monday 4:30–5:30 pm
- Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament — Tuesday 7:00–8:00 pm
- Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament — Wednesday 4:30 pm (at St. Mary)
- Most Mondays through Thursdays and Saturdays, 7:00–8:00 am
Parish History
Catholic worship in the Tecumseh area dates back to 1861 and is rooted in a close-knit founding community of about 15 families. Over more than 150 years the parish has grown from a modest $700 frame church — the first church of any denomination in Johnson County — to a parish complex that includes the 1926/1927 church, a parish hall, and a Catholic school. St. Andrew was first a mission visited monthly from Nebraska City, became a resident parish in 1877, and today is part of the Diocese of Lincoln, sharing ministry with its mission church St. Mary in St. Mary, Nebraska.
- First recorded priestly visit: Father Emmanuel Hartig, O.S.B., July 22, 1861
- First church built in Johnson County: 1868 frame church on Lot 1, Block 18 ($700)
- First resident pastor: Father Patrick McCarthy (ordained August 16, 1877, Pittsburgh)
- Bishop O'Connor Confirmation visit: August 24, 1879 (50 confirmands)
- Second church blessed by Bishop O'Connor: September 30, 1883 ($10,000)
- Present church dedicated 1926, completed 1927, under Father Thomas Barden ($70,000)
- Vicariate of Nebraska (1854) → Diocese of Omaha (1885) → Diocese of Lincoln
Clergy & Staff
The parish is led by Father Christopher Kubat, pastor since 2022, who also serves as chaplain to the Nebraska State Correctional Institution, Diocesan Director of Correctional Institutions, Vicar for Health Care, and National Chaplain of the Catholic Medical Association. Father Thomas McGuire has been in residence since 2018 and was ordained May 30, 1981 at Mount St. Mary Seminary in Emmitsburg, Maryland.
- Fr. Christopher Kubat — Pastor, 2022–present; [email protected]; 402-984-3955
- Fr. Thomas McGuire — In Residence, 2018–present; [email protected]; 402-759-1392
- Parish Office: 402-335-3742, 186 N. 5th Street, Tecumseh, NE 68450
- Bulletin submissions: [email protected] (due by 12:00 pm Tuesday)
- Joint Parish Welcoming Committee Coordinator: Terry Kerr
St. Andrew Catholic School
St. Andrew Catholic School is a parish school serving Pre-K through 8th grade on its campus at 179 N. 6th Street, Tecumseh, Nebraska. The school offers individualized Catholic education in a small-school setting, with a Head Teacher, classroom teachers across the elementary and middle grades, a paraeducator, and an administrative secretary.
- Head Teacher: Kathi Mercure (402-335-2234, [email protected])
- Mrs. Farr — K–2 teacher (College of Saint Mary, endorsements in Early Education, Elementary Education, Special Education, Middle School English and Social Science)
- Miss Brase — 3rd–6th grades and Music (Hastings College; 16th year teaching, 4th at St. Andrew's)
- Mrs. Stutheit — Pre-K teacher (Wayne State College B.S. in Early Childhood Education)
- Maria Martinez — Paraeducator (joined August 2023)
- Rachel — Administrative Secretary (joined January 2023; retired from the State of Nebraska after 47 years)
- Pastor: Fr. Christopher Kubat; In Residence: Fr. Thomas McGuire
Faith Formation & Youth
Beyond the parish school, St. Andrew offers a CCD religious-education program for parish children and runs the Totus Tuus summer program each year, in addition to CYO youth activities. The CCD program meets Wednesday evenings during the school year, and parish families are invited to participate in retreats at Our Lady of Good Counsel Retreat House in Waverly, Nebraska.
- CCD — Wednesday evenings, 6:15–7:30 pm
- CCD contacts: Ivon Johnson (402-209-7306), Christine Gottula (402-490-7168), Fr. Kubat (402-984-3955)
- Totus Tuus — June 21–26, 2026: Day program grades 1–8 (9 am–3 pm, Mon–Fri); Evening program grades 9–12 (7–9 pm, Sun–Thurs)
- CYO (Catholic Youth Organization) — details announced annually
- Our Lady of Good Counsel Retreat House, Waverly, NE — www.goodcounselretreat.com, 402-786-2705
- Registration and bulletins posted at standrewtecumseh.org/news-events
Liturgical Ministries
Parishioners serve the Mass as lectors, acolytes, and altar servers under the direction of the pastor and parish staff. The parish publishes schedules for liturgical roles and welcomes new volunteers; printable schedule samples are linked from the parish website.
- Lectors
- Acolytes
- Altar servers
- Welcoming Committee (joint with St. Mary)
- Online giving available through parish website
Outreach & Wider Ministry
Beyond its walls in Tecumseh, the parish's pastor serves as chaplain to the Nebraska State Correctional Institution, and the parish supports Hispanic ministry across the Tecumseh area. These outreach roles make the parish a center of Catholic service across Johnson County.
- Chaplaincy: Nebraska State Correctional Institution, Tecumseh
- Diocesan Director: Correctional Institutions
- Hispanic Ministry: Tecumseh area (Spanish-language Sunday Mass at 12:30 pm)
- Vicar for Health Care, Diocese of Lincoln (pastor's diocesan role)
St. Mary Mission Parish
St. Mary in St. Mary, Nebraska (about 12 miles south of Tecumseh) is a mission parish served by the pastor and staff of St. Andrew. The two parishes share a bulletin, CCD program, CYO, and welcoming committee, and Mass is celebrated at St. Mary on Sunday mornings and Wednesday evenings.
- Address: 61518 Highway 41, St. Mary, NE (Mailing: PO Box 656, Tecumseh, NE 68450)
- Sunday Mass: 8:00 am
- Wednesday Mass: 5:30 pm
- Confessions: Sunday 7:30 am; Wednesday 5:00 pm
- Adoration: Wednesday 4:30 pm
- Parish Hall Reservations: Louise Masur (402-430-7568)
- Website: stmarystmary.org
Visit, Contact & Get Involved
Parishioners and visitors can reach the parish office by phone, email, or in person. Mass times, bulletins, news, and event sign-ups (including Totus Tuus registration) are all available on the parish website and Facebook page.
- Parish Office: 402-335-3742
- Address: 186 N. 5th Street, Tecumseh, NE 68450 (PO Box 656, Tecumseh, NE 68450-0656)
- Parish Hall: 561 Jackson, Tecumseh, NE 68450
- St. Andrew School: 179 N. 6th St., Tecumseh, NE 68450
- Website: http://www.standrewtecumseh.org/
- Facebook: facebook.com St. Andrew & St. Mary Catholic Church Parishes (Tecumseh NE)
- Diocese: Diocese of Lincoln, Falls City Deanery
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father Patrick McCarthy1877–
Newly ordained August 16, 1877 from Pittsburgh; first resident pastor, given all of Johnson County as his parish.
- Father McNally
Second pastor, from Rochester, NY; began plans for the second church.
- Father Thomas Barden
Directed construction of the present church, dedicated in 1926 and completed in 1927 at a cost of $70,000.