St. Boniface

History of St. Boniface Parish

St. Boniface traces its beginnings to the fall of 1869, when Father F. Lechleitner came from St. Helena to organize twenty-four German Catholic families in the Antelope Creek Valley. A frame church started in 1870 was destroyed by storm, and a second attempt began in 1871 with funds Herman Witte raised in Dubuque, Iowa. In 1882 Father Irle became the first resident pastor; construction of the stone church began in 1886, was gutted by fire in October 1900, and was rebuilt on the surviving chalk-rock walls and re-blessed by Bishop Scannell in 1902. By 1906 the parish had 102 registered families at Menominee plus 18 at Beaver Creek.

• 1869 — 24 families meet in Antelope Creek Valley
• 1870 — first frame church destroyed by storm
• 1871 — second church begun; Herman Witte raises $245 in Dubuque
• 1872 — Menominee becomes a mission of St. Helena
• 1882 — Father Irle arrives as first resident pastor
• 1886 — stone-and-frame church built (chalk rock from Peter Goeden Sr. farm)
• October 1900 — fire leaves only the stone walls standing
• June 3, 1902 — rebuilt church blessed by Bishop Scannell under Father Louis Becker

The Church Buildings & Campus

The 16-acre complex effectively constitutes the village of Menominee. The Gothic Revival church of native chalk rock, with its pointed-arch openings, engaged steepled tower, buttresses, copings and brick detailing, is the centerpiece. Flanking it are a two-story brick rectory completed about 1911, a Second Renaissance Revival chalk-rock school built in 1923 (run by the Benedictine Sisters when classes opened in fall 1924), and a metal Quonset parish hall added in 1977–78 that joins the school along its north facade. The grounds also include several outbuildings and the parish cemetery, where many of the original pioneers are buried.

• Church: chalk-rock Gothic Revival, 1886 / rebuilt 1900–1902
• Rectory: two-story brick, c. 1911
• School: two-and-a-half-story chalk-rock, Second Renaissance Revival, 1923
• Parish Hall: metal Quonset, 1977–78
• Cemetery: original pioneer burial ground, still in use

National Register Listing

The St. Boniface Catholic Church Complex was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1983 (six contributing buildings and the cemetery on 16 acres). It is recognized as a landmark of Cedar County and as the cultural base of the late-19th-century German Catholic settlement of northeast Nebraska. The nomination form notes that both the church and the school were originally roofed with wooden shingles, now replaced by asphalt, and that interior remodelings have altered the church while leaving its exterior and most historic detailing intact.

Our Catholic Family of Parishes

St. Boniface is now one of three congregations that merged on July 1, 2018 to form All Saints Parish, branded as "Our Catholic Family of Parishes" and administered from Fordyce. The merger, led by Father James Keiter, brought together St. Boniface (Menominee), St. John the Baptist (Fordyce), and St. Joseph (Constance), along with associated mission parishes and schools, while keeping all three historic church buildings open for worship. A single pastoral council and a single finance committee share staff and reduce meetings, leaving the pastor more time for direct ministry. Mass times at each site remained unchanged after the merger.

• Formed July 1, 2018 as All Saints Parish
• Three original parishes: St. Boniface (Menominee), St. John the Baptist (Fordyce), St. Joseph (Constance)
• Pastor: Rev. James E. Keiter, residing at Fordyce
• Senior Associate Pastor: Rev. David L. Wittrock
• Associate Pastor: Rev. Marcus Knecht
• All three historic church buildings and three cemeteries preserved

Parish Staff & Contacts

Day-to-day operations for St. Boniface and its sister parishes are run from the Our Catholic Family office in Fordyce. Clergy serving the family of parishes include the pastor, a senior associate, an associate, and seven permanent deacons, supported by executive, finance, facilities, and administrative staff.

• Fr. James Keiter — Pastor (402-357-3506 ext. 3, [email protected])
• Fr. David L. Wittrock — Senior Associate Pastor
• Fr. Marcus Knecht — Associate Pastor (402-358-3596)
• Alex Nissen — Executive Assistant to the Pastor & Finance Director (ext. 6)
• Jake Olson — OCF Director of Facilities and Grounds; Evangelization and Adult Faith (ext. 2)
• Marnie Kleinschmit — OCF Director of Finance (ext. 9)
• Deacon Shane A. Kleinschmit — Director of Youth Religious Formation (ext. 7)
• Lynette Pinkelman — Secretary / Bulletin Editor (ext. 5)
• Erin Foxhoven — Admin Assistant, St. Rose of Lima (402-388-4814)

Visiting St. Boniface

The historic church is in tiny Menominee, about 1½ miles east of U.S. Highway 81 between Fordyce and South Yankton, nestled in the Antelope Creek Valley. Visitors are warmly welcomed at the regular Saturday Mass and during Thursday adoration. For sacraments, parish business, weddings, baptisms, or to reach the pastor, contact the Our Catholic Family parish office in Fordyce, which serves as the mailing address and administrative hub for St. Boniface and the other parishes in the family.

• Address: 55770 894th Rd., Fordyce, NE 68736 (parish mailing)
• Phone: (402) 357-3506
• Email: [email protected]
• Office hours: Mon–Thu 9:00–4:30; Fri 9:00–noon