About St. Anthony of Padua · Steinauer, Nebraska
St. Anthony of Padua is a small Catholic parish in the village of Steinauer, Nebraska, in the southeastern part of the state. It belongs to the Diocese of Lincoln and is part of the Falls City Deanery, and it also serves as the home parish for the mission church of Sacred Heart in nearby Burchard. The parish has been a fixture of the local farming community since 1856, when the Steinauer brothers brought the Catholic faith to early settlers, and its present Romanesque church — built in 1926–27 — is regarded as one of the most beautiful in the Diocese of Lincoln. Weekend Masses are celebrated on Saturday evening and Sunday morning, with confessions heard before each, and the parish is served by Fr. K. William Holoubek. Through its parish council of Catholic women, its October bazaar, food pantry and Meals on Wheels ministry, the parish continues the small-town Catholic tradition of caring for neighbors in Pawnee County.
- Established
- 1882
- Patron
- St. Anthony of Padua
- Rector
- Rev. K. William Holoubek
- Diocese
- Diocese of Lincoln
Why belong here
St. Anthony of Padua offers the rhythms of a classic small-town Catholic parish: a beautiful historic Romanesque church, a faithful weekend Mass schedule with confessions before each Mass, and a tight-knit community that looks after its own. Through its PCCW, the parish supports the Knights of Columbus hall, runs a monthly food pantry, supports Meals on Wheels and the bloodmobile, hosts an October parish dinner and bazaar, and remembers shut-ins with a Sunday Homebound Mass and gifts for First Communicants, graduates, and the homebound. Visitors and parishioners alike are invited to call Fr. William Holoubek at the rectory for any further needs.
Mass times at St. Anthony of Padua
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 4:30–5:20 p.m. (parish website)
- Saturday 4:30–5:15 p.m. (Diocese of Lincoln directory)
- Sunday 9:30–9:50 a.m.
- Other times by appointment — contact Fr. William Holoubek at 402-869-2256
Parish History
Catholic life in Steinauer began in 1856 when Joseph, Nicholas, and Anthony Steinauer introduced the faith to nearby settler families. The parish's first church was built in 1882 by Father Augustin Rausch on land donated by Anthony Steinauer at a cost of $300; that original site still serves as the parish cemetery. A second church followed in 1889 a mile west of the first, and the present Romanesque church — begun under Fr. Dowd in 1926 and dedicated in 1927 — has served the parish ever since.
- 1856 — Joseph, Nicholas, and Anthony Steinauer bring Catholic faith to area settlers
- 1882 — First church built by Fr. Rausch on land donated by Anthony Steinauer; cost $300; original site is now the cemetery
- 1889 — Second church built one mile west; cost $3,000
- 1926 — Construction of the third and present Romanesque church begins under Fr. Dowd
- 1927 — Current church dedicated; cost $104,000
- 1932 — Second school, convent, and chapel built; school and convent close in 1970
- 1993 — Old convent becomes 'The Convent House Bed and Breakfast' (sleeps 17) with restored Divine Mercy Chapel
- 2013 — 'Gate to Heaven' restoration completed at a cost of $605,000
Church Building & Architecture
The present St. Anthony of Padua church was begun in 1926 and dedicated in 1927. Built in the Romanesque style for $104,000, it is regarded by the Diocese of Lincoln as one of the most beautiful and magnificent churches in the Diocese. A major parish-wide 'Gate to Heaven' restoration in 2013 raised $605,000 for repairs, remodeling, and the restoration of decorative elements.
- Romanesque architectural style
- Construction begun 1926 under Fr. Dowd
- Dedicated in 1927
- Original construction cost: $104,000
- 'Gate to Heaven' restoration completed in 2013 at $605,000
Clergy & Staff
St. Anthony of Padua is served by Rev. K. William Holoubek, who can be reached at the parish rectory. The parish belongs to the Diocese of Lincoln and is part of the Falls City Deanery.
- Rev. K. William Holoubek — Pastor
- Parish phone: 402-869-2256
- Diocese: Diocese of Lincoln
- Deanery: Falls City
Parish Council of Catholic Women (PCCW)
The women of the parish are organized as the Parish Council of Catholic Women (PCCW), which supports virtually every aspect of parish life — from worship and facilities to outreach and hospitality. The PCCW serves as a featured parish of the Lincoln Diocesan Council of Catholic Women.
- Church Support to Parish
- Purchase supplies for KC (Knights of Columbus) Hall
- Care and cost of candles and flowers
- Church cleaning and funeral luncheons
- Monthly food pantry, bloodmobile, and Meals on Wheels support
- Parish dinner and bazaar in October
- CSS Diaper Drive and Advent Baby Shower
- Support for Sunday Homebound Mass and St. Gianna Homes
- Gifts for First Communicants, graduates, and the homebound
Mission: Sacred Heart, Burchard
Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Burchard, Nebraska has been a mission of St. Anthony of Padua since 1968, when nearby St. John, Table Rock closed. Sacred Heart's first church was built in 1882 under the supervision of Fr. Augustin Rausch, who traveled by train from Table Rock twice a month. Its present Romanesque brick church was begun in 1951 and dedicated in June 1953. Sacred Heart's records are kept at the St. Anthony rectory at 310 Hickory St., Steinauer, NE 68441, and the parish is served by Fr. K. William Holoubek.
- Mission of St. Anthony since 1968
- First church built 1882 under Fr. Augustin Rausch
- Present Romanesque brick church built 1951–1953
- Centennial Anniversary celebrated August 29, 1982
- Mailing address: 310 Hickory St., Steinauer NE 68441
- Phone (via St. Anthony rectory): 402-869-2256
Sacraments
Information about Marriage and the Anointing of the Sick is published on the parish website, with parishioners and visitors directed to contact Fr. William Holoubek for all sacramental needs, including baptisms, First Communion, Confirmation, and arranging additional confession or Mass times.
- Marriage — contact Fr. William Holoubek at 402-869-2256
- Anointing of the Sick — contact Fr. William Holoubek at 402-869-2256
- Other sacraments and appointments by calling the rectory
Visiting & Contact
St. Anthony of Padua is located in the village of Steinauer, Nebraska, in Pawnee County. The parish street address is 201 3rd Street, Steinauer NE 68441, with a mailing address of 310 Hickory St., Steinauer NE 68441. The parish phone is 402-869-2256. The official parish website is hosted at pcocatholics.com.
- Street Address: 201 3rd Street, Steinauer NE 68441
- Mailing Address: 310 Hickory St., Steinauer NE 68441
- Phone: 402-869-2256
- Website: pcocatholics.com
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Augustin Rausch1882
Built the first church in 1882 on land donated by Anthony Steinauer.
- Fr. Dowd1926–1927
Guided the building of the third and present Romanesque church, dedicated in 1927.