About St. Anthony · Bruno, Nebraska
St. Anthony (formally St. Anthony of Padua) is a small Roman Catholic parish in the village of Bruno, Nebraska, in Butler County. It belongs to the Diocese of Lincoln's David City Deanery and shares pastoral care with the mission parish of Sts. Peter & Paul in Abie. The parish serves roughly 50 farm and ranch families in rural eastern Nebraska and worships in the third church building on its hilltop site, which was dedicated in 1975.
- Established
- 1899
- Patron
- St. Anthony of Padua (Franciscan priest, 1195–1231)
- Rector
- Rev. Caleb Hile
- Diocese
- Diocese of Lincoln
Why belong here
St. Anthony is a tight-knit rural Catholic community of about 50 families in the heart of Butler County, where generations of farm and ranch families have worshipped together for more than a century. Its Altar Society (PCCW) keeps beloved traditions alive — the annual Duck Dinner with over 3,500 handmade dumplings, parish bingo at David City nursing homes, food drives for Catholic Social Services, and an Advent Baby Shower for Birthright. If you are looking for a small, praying, family-oriented parish with deep roots, St. Anthony welcomes you.
Mass times at St. Anthony
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday: 30 minutes before Mass (4:30–4:55 p.m. on 2nd & 4th Saturdays)
- Sunday: 30 minutes before Mass (7:30–7:55 a.m.)
Parish Identity & Patron
The parish is formally known as St. Anthony of Padua Parish, named for the Franciscan priest St. Anthony of Padua (1195–1231), who is widely invoked by the faithful for finding lost objects and who, in his own time, was known as the 'Hammer of Heretics' for his preaching. His feast day is celebrated June 13.
- Patron: St. Anthony of Padua
- Feast day: June 13
History of St. Anthony Parish
The parish traces its origin to 1899, when its first church was built with a $1,000 gift from the Anthony A. Hirst family of Philadelphia, channeled through the Church Extension Society by Father J.T. Roche. That first church was destroyed by a tornado on June 29, 1903, and Mass was temporarily celebrated in the Bruno Public School. A second church was completed in 1905 (and struck by lightning two years later, then repaired by the parishioners) before being replaced by the present church in 1975.
- 1899 — Original St. Anthony of Padua Church built and dedicated by Father Thomas Cullen, V.F., under Bishop Thomas Bonacum.
- 1901 — Rectory built by local farmers.
- 1903 — Church destroyed by tornado; Mass moves to Bruno Public School.
- 1905 — Second church completed (cost: $15,000) by Father Francis Zalud and Joseph Yindrick.
- 1907 — Lightning strikes the steeple; men of the parish make repairs.
- 1949 — New rectory built.
- 1972 — Bishop Flavin suggests a new church.
- 1975 (Sept. 7) — Present (third) church dedicated on the parish's Diamond Jubilee under Father Stanley Schieffer.
- 1999 — Interior redecorated for the parish centennial; outdoor Mass-schedule sign and brick-mosaic cross added.
- June 29, 2024 — 125th anniversary celebrated with Bishop James Conley; Father Caleb Hile installed as pastor.
Clergy & Pastoral Leadership
Since June 29, 2024, the parish has been served by Rev. Caleb Hile, who was installed as pastor by Bishop James Conley during the 125th anniversary Mass. Father Hile also serves as pastor of the mission parish of Sts. Peter & Paul in Abie, and as a teacher at Aquinas Catholic High School in David City; he also serves as assistant Pro-Life Director and Advocate on the Diocesan Tribunal for the Diocese of Lincoln.
- Rev. Caleb Hile — Pastor (installed June 29, 2024)
Parish Life & Ministries (PCCW / Altar Society)
The Parish Council of Catholic Women (PCCW) / Altar Society is the heart of parish life at St. Anthony. Officers are installed each year at a Christmas party and catered meal. The PCCW is best known in the area for its annual Parish Duck Dinner, which features over 3,500 handmade dumplings prepared in a community dumpling day. Members also help with bingo at the David City nursing homes, run bake sales and food stands to support parish initiatives, and lead outreach efforts throughout the year.
- PCCW Officers installed at annual Christmas party
- Annual Parish Duck Dinner (3,500+ dumplings)
- Bingo at David City nursing homes
- Bake sales & food stands to fund parish causes
- Food drives for Catholic Social Services
- St. Gianna House donations
- LDCCW Diaper Drive participation
- Advent Baby Shower for Birthright
Outreach & Charitable Works
St. Anthony's outreach is coordinated largely through the PCCW and reaches beyond the Butler County community. The parish participates in the annual LDCCW Diaper Drive, supports Catholic Social Services through food drives, contributes items to St. Gianna House, and hosts an Advent Baby Shower each year to benefit Birthright of Lincoln.
- Catholic Social Services food drives
- St. Gianna House (Lincoln maternity home) support
- LDCCW Diaper Drive
- Advent Baby Shower for Birthright
Sacraments
As a parish of the Diocese of Lincoln, St. Anthony celebrates all seven Catholic sacraments. Reconciliation (Confession) is offered before each weekend Mass, and additional arrangements for Baptism, Marriage, First Communion, Confirmation, and Anointing of the Sick can be made through the parish rectory at (402) 543-2233.
- Baptism — by appointment
- First Communion & Confirmation — Diocesan preparation
- Marriage — pre-marriage preparation required
- Confession — 30 minutes before Mass (Sat. & Sun.)
- Anointing of the Sick — by request
- Holy Day Masses — 8:00 a.m. & 7:00 p.m.
Visit & Location
St. Anthony Church stands on a hilltop in the village of Bruno — long-time visitors describe it as '1 mile north of David City and 9 miles East.' The street address is 407 Pine Street, Bruno, NE 68014; the mailing address is PO Box 144, Bruno, NE 68014. A parish pavilion on the grounds is used for major celebrations, including the annual anniversary dinners and dances.
- Street: 407 Pine Street, Bruno, NE 68014
- Mailing: PO Box 144, Bruno, NE 68014
- Rectory phone: (402) 543-2233
- Setting: Hilltop in Bruno, 1 mi north of David City & 9 mi east
Diocese, Deanery & Mission Parish
St. Anthony is one of the parishes of the Diocese of Lincoln, within the David City Deanery. Its affiliated mission parish is Sts. Peter & Paul in Abie, Nebraska, which shares the same pastor (Rev. Caleb Hile) under the Diocese of Lincoln's clustering model.
- Diocese: Diocese of Lincoln
- Deanery: David City
- Mission parish: Sts. Peter & Paul, Abie, NE
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father J.T. Rochefounder/first pastor (1899)
Received the founding $1,000 gift from Anthony A. Hirst of Philadelphia via the Church Extension Society.
- Father Francis Zaludc. 1903–c. 1905+
Pastored during the 1903 tornado and led rebuilding of the second church (1905).
- Father Stanley Schieffer1975 dedication
Pastor when the present (third) church was dedicated Sept. 7, 1975.
- Father Caleb Hileinstalled June 29, 2024 — present
Installed by Bishop James Conley at the 125th anniversary Mass; also serves Ss. Peter & Paul, Abie, and teaches at Aquinas Catholic High School, David City.