About St. Anthony · Columbus, Nebraska
St. Anthony Catholic Church is a parish of the Archdiocese of Omaha located at 562 17th Avenue in Columbus, Nebraska. Founded in 1913 to serve the Polish Catholic community that had grown in Platte County, the parish has been part of a regional network of Franciscan-rooted parishes around Columbus for more than a century. Today St. Anthony is a Eucharistic community that offers perpetual adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, a parish religious education (PRE) program, an elementary school, and an active campus of ministries including the Knights of Columbus, St. Vincent de Paul, music ministry, youth ministry, and a rosary group. The parish is pastored by Father Patrick Harrison, who also serves St. Bonaventure in Columbus and St. Stanislaus in Duncan.
- Established
- 1913
- Patron
- St. Anthony (of Padua)
- Rector
- Fr. Patrick Harrison
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Omaha
Why belong here
St. Anthony is a parish that takes the Eucharist seriously, organizing itself around perpetual adoration of the Blessed Sacrament and offering daily and weekend Mass with confessions before each weekday liturgy. Members can grow in faith through OCIA (becoming Catholic), the parish religious education program, a school, music ministry and a rosary group, and serve neighbors through the local St. Vincent de Paul conference and partnership with Simon House. The Knights of Columbus Council #9264 provides fellowship and service for men of the parish, and Columbus Catholic Youth Ministry (a tri-parish program with St. Bonaventure and others) gives teens formation, mission trips, and pilgrimages.
Mass times at St. Anthony
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Tuesday 4:30–5:20 PM
- Thursday 4:30–5:20 PM
- Saturday 3:30–4:30 PM
Adoration times
- Perpetual Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament — contact Head Coordinators Amy Harrington (402-270-4378) and Ann Kudron (402-910-1467) to check available hours
Parish History
St. Anthony was organized in 1913 as the Polish national parish of Columbus, Nebraska, separated from the German-Polish Franciscan parish of St. Bonaventure. Founded with Bishop Richard Scannell's explicit permission in 1912 and led by Franciscan priests, the parish built a temporary church and school from the old Dischner residence and incorporated on September 26, 1913. By 1917 it had completed a neo-Gothic church designed by architect Charles Wurdeman, dedicated by Archbishop J.J. Harty on November 13, 1917. The debt was cleared by 1919, in part through a $6,000 gift from Steve Banach, and the parish soon turned to building a school, auditorium and Sisters' residence.
- Incorporated September 26, 1913 as 'St. Anthony's Church of Columbus, Nebraska.'
- Temporary church blessed October 4, 1913 by Rev. Cyriac Stempel, O.F.M.
- New church dedicated November 13, 1917 by Archbishop J.J. Harty of Omaha.
- Architect: Charles Wurdeman.
- Original debt paid off 1919.
Architecture & Sacred Art
The church is a neo-Gothic structure whose interior glows with golden-hued stained glass. The mural behind the altar and the saint paintings above the stained glass windows were done by a local artist, Ardith Starostka, and continue to be a distinctive feature of the worship space.
- Neo-Gothic style; designed by Charles Wurdeman (1916–17).
- Mural behind the altar and saint paintings by local artist Ardith Starostka.
- Golden-hued stained glass windows.
Parish Staff & Leadership
The parish is led by Pastor Fr. Patrick Harrison and supported by two deacons and a lay staff handling parish operations, faith formation, music, and liturgy.
- Fr. Patrick Harrison — Pastor ([email protected], 402-564-3313).
- Deacon Mark Boeding (402-270-1645).
- Deacon Kelly McGowan (402-564-0174).
- Pamela Siemek — Secretary.
- Kathy Steiner — Bookkeeper.
- Lauri Diamond — Sacristan.
- Lori Olson — PRE (Parish Religious Education) Director.
- Connie Tworek — OCIA Coordinator (402-564-1140).
- Ann Anderson — Music Ministry (402-563-2249).
Faith Formation & Religious Education (PRE)
Parish Religious Education (PRE) classes continue to be held at the St. Anthony building. Registration for the 2026–2027 PRE year was scheduled for Wednesday, August 5 from 3:00 PM to 6:00 PM in the Social Hall, with a tentative supply fee of $70 for one child, $140 for two, and $170 per family for three or more children. The start date was set for September 16.
- PRE Director: Lori Olson (402-564-3313).
- Registration held in the Social Hall; classes begin in mid-September.
OCIA — Becoming Catholic
Adults seeking to become Catholic go through the parish's OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults) process, coordinated by Connie Tworek (402-564-1140).
- OCIA Coordinator: Connie Tworek, 402-564-1140.
St. Anthony Elementary School
St. Anthony Elementary School operates on the parish campus and has long been part of the parish's mission. The historic 1920s push to build a new school, auditorium, and Sisters' residence grew into today's Catholic elementary school serving parish families.
- School continues on parish grounds alongside the church and PRE program.
Youth Ministry
Columbus Catholic Youth Ministry (CCYM) is a tri-parish program that brings together the Catholic junior high and high school youth of Columbus. Its primary program is the Godparent Program, which includes mission trips, the Steubenville conference, the March for Life Pilgrimage, and fundraising. Adult couples and individuals serve as GodTeen teams walking with teens in their faith journey.
- Tri-parish ministry with St. Bonaventure and other Columbus parishes.
- Godparent Program; mission trips; Steubenville conference; March for Life.
- Coordinators: Lynn Heinrich and Sarah Doerneman.
- Contact Sarah at 402-615-3898 to volunteer as a GodTeen couple/team.
Knights of Columbus Council #9264
The St. Anthony Knights of Columbus Council #9264 meets in the Franciscan Parish Center on the second Monday of every month. The council serves as acolytes at the 7:00 AM Sunday Mass, provides 4th Degree Honor Guards for special occasions, attends Mass corporately on the 4th Sunday of the month, runs the annual Tootsie Roll Drive for children with intellectual disabilities, conducts the One Rose, One Life campaign supporting the U.S. Bishops' pro-life work, hosts Lenten fish fries, and provides volunteer labor for parish and school improvements.
- Council #9264; meets second Monday at the Franciscan Parish Center.
- Acolytes at the 7:00 AM Sunday Mass.
- 4th Degree Honor Guards on special occasions.
- Tootsie Roll Drive (intellectual disabilities) and One Rose, One Life (pro-life).
- Lenten fish fries for parish/school improvements.
St. Vincent de Paul Society
The parish's St. Vincent de Paul conference is a local group of 11 Vincentians who make home visits to those in need and partner with Simon House to provide rent, housing, food, clothing, household goods, and medicine. Donation boxes are placed at each church entrance for funds, with a separate food donation box at the front entrance that supports the Simon House food pantry.
- 11 Vincentians from the parish.
- Partners with Simon House for food pantry and direct aid.
- Donation boxes at each entrance; food donations go to Simon House.
- Contact: Judy Puetz, 402-564-3825.
Music Ministry & Rosary
Ann Anderson directs the parish Music Ministry; schedules are posted on the parish website. A rosary leaders group is also active at the parish, with current schedules published on the Ministry Schedules page.
- Music Ministry Director: Ann Anderson (402-563-2249).
- Rosary Leaders schedule posted on the parish site.
Legacy & Planned Giving
St. Anthony encourages parishioners to remember the parish in their estate planning. Bequests help sustain parish good works; for guidance, contact Fr. Harrison at 402-564-3313 or [email protected], or Tony LaMar, Legacy Planning Officer for the Archdiocese of Omaha, at 402-557-5650 / [email protected].
- Legacy Planning contact: Fr. Harrison (402-564-3313).
- Archdiocesan officer: Tony LaMar (402-557-5650, [email protected]).
Visit, Contact & Location
The parish office is at 562 17th Avenue, Columbus, NE 68601, and can be reached at 402-564-3313 or [email protected]. The parish shares its pastor with St. Bonaventure in Columbus and St. Stanislaus in Duncan.
- Address: 562 17th Avenue, Columbus, NE 68601.
- Phone: 402-564-3313.
- Email: [email protected].
- Website: https://stanthonycolumbusne.org.
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Zygmunt (Sigismund) Masalski, O.F.M.1913–(early)
First Franciscan priest to lead the push for a separate Polish parish; canvassed Polish families in 1911 and laid the groundwork for the 1913 incorporation.
- Rev. Protase Kuberek, O.F.M.1913
Organized the parish and oversaw purchase of the Dischner property in July 1913.
- Rev. Canute Lobinski, O.F.M.1917–1925 (approx.)
Celebrated the Solemn High Mass at the dedication of the new church on November 13, 1917; introduced a monthly collection plan toward the new school.
- Rev. Dennis Czech, O.F.M.(preceding Fr. Canute)
Predecessor to Fr. Canute in the early 1920s as pastor.
- Rev. Sigismund Masalski, O.F.M.from September 1925
Returned as pastor and reanimated fundraising for a new school, auditorium, and Sisters' residence (parish had raised about $20,000).