About St. Augustine · Winnebago, Nebraska
St. Augustine Catholic Church is a mission parish in Winnebago, Nebraska, located on the Winnebago Reservation in the rolling hills of northeast Nebraska. It is part of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Omaha and a member parish of the Holy Apostles Parish Family, a collaboration of twelve parishes formed in 2023 under Archbishop George Lucas. The parish was founded in 1909 by Saint Katharine Drexel and the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament, making it the only Catholic institution in Nebraska directly founded by a canonized saint, and it continues to serve the Native American people of the Winnebago and Omaha (Ho-Chunk) tribes. Today the parish shares its clergy with neighboring mission churches, offers Sunday and weekday Mass, runs the K-8 St. Augustine Indian Mission School, and is celebrated as a Jubilee Church during the 2025 Holy Year.
- Established
- 1909
- Patron
- Saint Augustine of Hippo
- Rector
- Father Mark Beran
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Omaha
Why belong here
St. Augustine is the historic Catholic heart of the Winnebago Reservation and one of the few Native American Catholic mission parishes in the Archdiocese of Omaha, founded in 1909 by Saint Katharine Drexel and served continuously by religious sisters for over a century. Visitors and parishioners are welcomed into a community where Ho-Chunk (Winnebago) and Omaha tribal heritage, the Kateri Warrior Drum Group, and the teachings of St. Katharine Drexel and St. Kateri Tekakwitha are woven into the Mass and the K-8 school. As a member of the Holy Apostles Parish Family sharing three priests across twelve northeast Nebraska parishes, St. Augustine offers an intimate, culturally rich liturgical life — including weekday 6:30 a.m. Mass, a 9 a.m. Wednesday school Mass, and a Sunday 11 a.m. Mass — where faith, family, and tribal tradition meet.
Mass times at St. Augustine
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Before and after Sunday Mass (11:00 AM)
- Before and after Wednesday School Mass (9:00 AM)
History of St. Augustine Indian Mission
The dream that became St. Augustine began in 1888 with Bishop James O'Connor of the Omaha Diocese, whose spiritual advisee Katharine Drexel went on to found the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament. In 1908 Winnebago and Omaha elders including Joseph LaMere secured 15 acres of land and Father John Griese arrived as missionary. Mother Katharine Drexel herself visited Winnebago in 1909; the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament arrived that fall, the school opened November 8, 1909, and the church and school were dedicated on Thanksgiving Day, November 25, 1909 — named for St. Augustine of Hippo at the request of benefactor Mr. Tack of the Marquette League.
- 1909 — first students welcomed Nov. 8; church and school dedicated Nov. 25
- 1910 — boarding facility opens for girls of the Winnebago and Omaha Reservations
- 1920s–1930s — Father Griese plants thousands of fruit trees, feeds the people through the Depression
- 1944 — Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament sell the property to the Archdiocese of Omaha
- 1945 — Missionary Benedictine Sisters arrive and remain to this day
- 2000 — Katharine Drexel canonized by Pope John Paul II
- 2009 — Centennial of the Mission
- 2012 — Delegation at canonization of St. Kateri Tekakwitha in Rome
- 2023 — New $10M+ school building dedicated
Parish Clergy & Staff
St. Augustine is currently served by Father Mark Beran as Pastor and Director, Father Mark Bridgman as Associate Pastor, and Deacon Don Blackbird (who also serves as Principal of the school). The parish shares three priests across the twelve parishes of the Holy Apostles Parish Family. Parish trustees are Viola LaPointe and Jack LaMere, continuing a multigenerational connection to the families who founded the mission in 1908–1909.
- Father Mark Beran — Pastor / Director
- Father Mark Bridgman — Associate Pastor
- Deacon Don Blackbird — Deacon, also Principal of St. Augustine Indian Mission School
- Trustees: Viola LaPointe and Jack LaMere
St. Augustine Indian Mission School
St. Augustine Indian Mission School serves about 125 students, kindergarten through eighth grade, drawn from both the Omaha and Winnebago tribes — 95% of the student body is Native American. Students are taught both Winnebago (Ho-Chunk) and Omaha languages alongside their cultural heritage, and the school welcomes students of all faiths. Deacon Don Blackbird, himself an alumnus, serves as Principal; Fr. Mark Beran is Director/Pastor. After a 2018 structural review found the 1967 building needed over $7 million in repairs, a $13.5 million capital campaign raised $10.5 million by 2020 and a new school was dedicated in 2023. Its design intentionally fuses Catholicism and Indigenous spirituality: a large cross on the north side, and the paint above the windows on each of the four sides matching the corresponding color of the Native American medicine wheel.
- About 125 students, K-8
- 95% Native American, drawn from the Omaha and Winnebago (Ho-Chunk) tribes
- Winnebago and Omaha languages taught alongside English
- Dedicated in 2023, replacing the 1967 building
- Medicine wheel colors above the windows; cross on north side
Kateri Warrior Drum Group & Cultural Life
Formed in 1993 under Father Tom Bauwens's directorship, the Kateri Warrior Drum Group teaches students traditional Ho-Chunk ways of singing and dancing around the big drum. Named in honor of Blessed (now Saint) Kateri Tekakwitha, the group has performed nationally and internationally, including at the Church of St. Paul Outside-the-Walls in Rome during the 2000 canonization Mass of St. Katharine Drexel. Members pledge to live free of drugs, alcohol, and non-sacred tobacco, and to respect their elders.
- Founded 1993
- Named for St. Kateri Tekakwitha
- Has performed in Rome and across the United States
- Members pledge sobriety, respect for elders, and sacred use of tobacco
Holy Apostles Parish Family
In 2023, in response to Archbishop George Lucas's call to form missional communities, eleven parishes (twelve today) in northeast Nebraska came together as the Holy Apostles Parish Family — named to reflect twelve parishes following Christ as the twelve apostles did. The Family shares three priests and one collaborative parish office, collaborates on religious education and adult faith formation, and supports ministry across the region. St. Augustine, Winnebago, is one of those twelve parishes; Father Mark Beran is its pastor and the Director of the Family.
- Formed 2023 under Archbishop George Lucas
- Twelve parishes and two schools
- Shared priests and one collaborative office
- Mailing: PO Box 552, Winnebago, NE 68071
- Physical office: 705 South Mission Drive, Winnebago, NE 68071
Outreach & Community Life
Pastoral care and outreach are coordinated by Sister Deana Case, supported by the parish staff and the Missionary Benedictine Sisters, who have served at the Mission since 1945. The parish operates the Red Life Youth Ministry, and provides K-8 Catholic education at the Indian Mission School. The parish's ministry is grounded in service to the Native American community and in keeping the cultural and spiritual heritage of the Winnebago and Omaha tribes alive within the Catholic faith.
- Outreach / Pastoral Care — Sister Deana Case
- Red Life Youth Ministry
- Missionary Benedictine Sisters (present since 1945)
- Music ministry with Cody Jorgensen
- Ho-Chunk Culture teacher Vinetta Snow
Visit & Contact
St. Augustine Catholic Church is located at 1 Mission Road S (also listed as 705 South Mission Drive), Winnebago, NE 68071, on the Winnebago Reservation. The parish phone is (402) 878-2402 and the parish secretary email is [email protected]. The mailing address for the Holy Apostles Parish Family office is PO Box 552, Winnebago, NE 68071. Visitors can find Mass times and announcements on the parish page at holyapostlesfamily.org/st-augustine and follow news on the Holy Apostles Parish Family Facebook page.
- Phone: (402) 878-2402
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: holyapostlesfamily.org/st-augustine
- Facebook: facebook.com/holyapostlesfamily
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father John Griese1908–1945
German diocesan missionary who arrived in 1908 and served 37 years; planted orchards and crops, fed the people through the Depression, died April 14, 1945 with the epitaph 'He fed the people.'
- Father Frank Hulsman1942–1985
Named Director in 1942 while Father Griese continued as Pastor; became Pastor in 1945 and led the mission for 43 years, retired in 1985 as Monsignor.
- Father Francis Price1985–
Named Director in 1985; added a kindergarten to the school.
- Father Richard Whiteing1988–
Initiated integration of Native American cultural elements into curriculum and liturgy.
- Father Tom Bauwens1992–
Built on Father Whiteing's cultural work; established an endowment.
- Father Steven Boes1997–
Launched capital campaign to renovate and expand the school.
- Father Tom Gall1998–
Associate Director; oversaw school renovation; also served as Pastor of St. Joseph's, Walthill and Our Lady of Fatima, Macy.
- Father Dave Korth
Departed as Pastor and Director in 2016.
- Father Mark Beran2016–present
Director/Pastor; led $13.5M capital campaign and 2023 new school dedication; in 2023 named pastor of 11 parishes forming the Holy Apostles Parish Family.