About St. Bernard · Julian, Nebraska
St. Bernard is a small Catholic mission parish of St. Joseph in Paul, located in the country in northern Nemaha County near Julian, Nebraska, and is part of the Diocese of Lincoln's Plattsmouth Deanery. The parish shares one Sunday Mass with the broader Paul/Julian Catholic community, celebrated at 10:00 a.m., and is currently cared for by Father Ronald Homes. The church is named for the village of Julian, itself named for Julien Bahuaud, the first French settler in the area — a heritage echoed in the original predominately French congregation that built the first St. Bernard Church in 1881. The parish experienced a major interior renovation and a new altar consecration in August 2024 under the direction of Bishop James Conley.
- Established
- 1881
- Patron
- St. Bernard of Clairvaux
- Rector
- Rev. Ronald Homes
- Diocese
- Diocese of Lincoln
Why belong here
St. Bernard offers rural Catholics in northern Nemaha County a country church with deep pioneer roots — founded by French settlers and built around a tightly knit mission community that recently poured itself into a beautiful new sanctuary. As a mission parish of St. Joseph in Paul, it joins its parishioners and friends for shared worship, the August 20 feast of St. Bernard, and milestones such as the 2021 anniversary of St. Joseph's first Mass. Visitors and members encounter a welcoming, small congregation that takes genuine ownership of its worship space — every new altar, re-stained pew, and refurbished statue reflects a hands-on parish family.
Mass times at St. Bernard
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday (Vigil — time not listed)
- Sunday: 20 minutes before Mass
Identity & Mission Status
St. Bernard is listed in the Diocese of Lincoln directory as a mission parish of St. Joseph in Paul, within the Plattsmouth Deanery. As a mission, it does not have its own resident priest; rather, it shares pastoral care with St. Joseph under Pastor Father Ronald Homes, who also teaches at Lourdes Central High School in Nebraska City. Mail for the parish is routed through 5592 O Rd, Nebraska City, NE 68410, and contact is handled through the parish phone (402-873-4569).
- Diocese of Lincoln — Plattsmouth Deanery
- Mission to: St. Joseph, Paul
- Mailing address: 5592 O Rd, Nebraska City, NE 68410
Parish History
The Catholic community that became St. Bernard grew out of the French pioneer settlement of Julian, founded by Julien Bahuaud. The first St. Bernard Church was built in the village in 1880 and completed in 1881, when members were predominately French. The current country church, in northern Nemaha County along Highway 75, was dedicated by Bishop Louis Kucera in 1951.
- 1881 — first St. Bernard Church completed in Julian
- 1951 — current church dedicated by Bishop Louis Kucera
- Named for the village of Julian, itself named for settler Julien Bahuaud
The 2024 Renovation & New Altar
After more than 50 years without a substantial interior renovation, St. Bernard parishioners completed a sweeping renewal culminating in the August 25, 2024 consecration of a new altar by Bishop James Conley. What began as "we needed new paint and carpet," former pastor Father Stephen Graeve recalled, grew into a full parish-wide collaboration. The centerpiece is a new altar of sacrifice, altar of repose, and matching ambo commissioned from Lincoln craftsman Jean Kriz and his wife Char. A Communion rail, built for another church that never used it, was donated and fit perfectly. Deacon Stephen Kuchar of St. Patrick Parish in Lincoln re-stained the pews and refurbished sacristy cabinets, altar chairs, and cry-room seating. Statues of Ss. Mary and Joseph were repaired and repainted. The parish has expressed hopes to eventually purchase two new larger adoring angels for near the tabernacle and to stain the interior doors.
- August 25, 2024 — new altar consecrated by Bishop James Conley
- Altar, altar of repose, and ambo built by Jean Kriz of Lincoln
- Donated Communion rail fitted to the church
- Pews re-stained and sacristy cabinets refurbished by Deacon Stephen Kuchar (St. Patrick, Lincoln)
- Statues of Ss. Mary and Joseph repaired and repainted
Clergy & Pastoral Care
St. Bernard is currently served by Father Ronald Homes, who was appointed Pastor of St. Joseph in Paul and St. Bernard in Julian in June 2023. Father Homes also teaches at Lourdes Central High School in Nebraska City. He succeeded Father Stephen Graeve, who initiated and oversaw the recent renovation and was reassigned to St. Peter Parish in Bellwood.
- Rev. Ronald Homes — Pastor (appointed June 2023); also teaches at Lourdes Central Catholic High School, Nebraska City
- Rev. Stephen Graeve — former pastor; now at St. Peter, Bellwood
Visiting & Location
St. Bernard Church stands in the countryside of northern Nemaha County along Highway 75, about one mile south of the Julian exit. The mailing address for the parish is 5592 O Rd, Nebraska City, NE 68410, and the parish phone is 402-873-4569.
- Street address: On Hwy 75, 1 mile South of Julian exit, Julian, NE 68379
- Mailing address: 5592 O Rd, Nebraska City, NE 68410
- Phone: 402-873-4569
Combined Parish Life with St. Joseph, Paul
Because St. Bernard is a mission of St. Joseph in Paul, the two parishes share pastoral care and celebrate major feast days together. In 2021, Father Graeve marked St. Joseph's 150th anniversary of its first Mass with a combined celebration that included St. Bernard parishioners; the August 20 feast of St. Bernard was chosen as a fitting day for the joint event.
- Feast of St. Bernard: August 20 (celebrated jointly with St. Joseph, Paul)
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Stephen Graeveapprox. 2021 – June 2023
Initiated and oversaw the major 2024 renovation; appointed to St. Peter Parish, Bellwood, in June 2023.
- Rev. Ronald HomesJune 2023 – present
Appointed Pastor of St. Joseph in Paul and St. Bernard in Julian in June 2023; also teaches at Lourdes Central High School in Nebraska City.