About St. Columbkille · Papillion, Nebraska
St. Columbkille Catholic Church is a large parish in Papillion, Nebraska, situated on the corner of 84th Street and East 6th Street in Sarpy County. As the spiritual home to nearly 10,000 parishioners, it serves one of the fastest-growing suburbs of the Omaha metropolitan area within the Archdiocese of Omaha. The parish traces its roots back to 1877–1878 and today offers seven Sunday Masses plus a sensory-friendly liturgy, a K–8 Catholic school founded in 1916, faith formation for children and adults, and a wide array of ministries reaching from adoration and prayer shawls to the Knights of Columbus and the NeighborGood Community Pantry.
- Established
- 1877
- Patron
- St. Columbkille (Columba of Iona)
- Rector
- Fr. Thomas Greisen
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Omaha
Why belong here
St. Columbkille offers an unusually full liturgical life for a parish of its size — seven Sunday Masses, daily morning and evening Masses Monday through Thursday, weekday Communion services, perpetual-style adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, and a sensory-friendly Mass on the third Sunday of each month. A K–8 Catholic school and religious education programs serve its many families, while adult parishioners can join the Knights of Columbus, Legion of Mary, Women's Guild, St. Vincent de Paul, prayer lines, Conversation Dinners, or serve the tri-city community through the NeighborGood Community Pantry. It is a parish that takes seriously both the Eucharist and works of mercy.
Mass times at St. Columbkille
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Monday – Thursday: 5:00–5:20 p.m.
- Saturday: 3:30–4:30 p.m.
- Anytime by appointment
Adoration times
- Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament (times published by the parish — see parish website)
Parish History
St. Columbkille was formally established on August 22, 1877, when 13 Catholic families in the Papillion area — who had worshipped for years in private homes and a Union Pacific railway section house — built their first church. They borrowed $650 at 10% interest to help cover the $1,500 cost of construction, and the Pioneer Church on Washington and 5th Street was dedicated in 1878. The parish grew steadily; by 1912 it had about 50 families, a school (built 1916 on land made possible by a legacy gift from Robert McCormick), and by 1923 a second church on Jefferson Street. The present, third church — on the corner of 84th Street and East 6th Street — was dedicated in 1982 by Archbishop Daniel Sheehan. The parish now numbers nearly 10,000 parishioners.
- 1877: Parish established (August 22)
- 1878: Pioneer Church completed on Washington & 5th Street
- 1912: Parish reaches 50 families; $900 borrowed for land purchase
- 1916: Sacred Heart Academy (parish school) built
- 1923: Second church ('Village Church') opens on Jefferson Street, December 23
- 1978–79: School renamed from Sacred Heart Academy to St. Columbkille Catholic School
- 1982: Current (third) church dedicated by Archbishop Daniel Sheehan
- Today: Nearly 10,000 parishioners
Parish Leadership & Staff
The parish is served by a pastor, an associate pastor, a retired priest, and a large corps of permanent deacons, supported by parish office and operations staff.
- Fr. Thomas Greisen — Pastor
- Fr. Patrick Moser — Associate Pastor
- Fr. Tom Magnuson — Retired
- Deacons: Dcn. Bill Hill, Dcn. Dave Graef, Dcn. Steve Jordan, Dcn. Brian Thomas, Dcn. Russ, Dcn. Eric Vande Berg, Dcn. Bob Stier, Dcn. Tracy Ortgies, Dcn. Eldon Lauber
- Pastoral leadership supported by Development, Operations, Missions, and School teams
St. Columbkille Catholic School
St. Columbkille Catholic School has provided Catholic K–8 education in Papillion since 1916, when it opened as Sacred Heart Academy staffed in its earliest years by the Benedictine Sisters. During the 1978–79 school year under Fr. Steinhausen, the school was renamed St. Columbkille Catholic School to identify it clearly as a ministry of the parish. The school continues today with a mission of helping everyone take their next step to be more like Jesus, focusing on faith, academic excellence, integrity, and inclusion.
- Founded 1916 as Sacred Heart Academy
- Originally staffed by Benedictine Sisters
- Renamed St. Columbkille Catholic School in 1978–79
- Grades K–8
- Address: 224 East 5th Street, Papillion, NE 68046
- Mission: Helping everyone take their next step to be more like Jesus
Religious Education & Faith Formation
Alongside the K–8 school, the parish runs a Religious Education program for parish children whose primary schooling is elsewhere. New parishioners are welcomed through 'St. Columbkille 101' orientation sessions, scheduled through the parish office.
- St. Columbkille Religious Education program
- St. Columbkille Preschool
- St. Columbkille 101 — new parishioner orientation
- Parish Registration Form available online
Ministries & Parish Life
St. Columbkille offers one of the widest ministry rosters of any parish in the Archdiocese of Omaha, organized into spiritual, service, family, youth, and senior categories. Volunteers are matched to ministries through the parish office.
- Spiritual: Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, Legion of Mary, Prayer Line, Prayer Shawl Ministry, Rosary Makers, Teams of Our Lady
- Service & Charity: St. Vincent de Paul Society, NeighborGood Community Pantry (Papillion, Ralston, LaVista), Respect Life, Parish Nurses
- Family & Fellowship: Conversation Dinners, Women's Guild, Moms of Faith, Just Older Youth (JOY)
- Youth: American Heritage Girls, Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts/Cub Scouts, parish athletics
- Care & Support: Bereavement Support Group, Little Souls (pregnancy/infant loss), funeral hospitality, Senior Exercise Program, Senior Luncheon (first Monday of the month)
- Liturgical: Art and Environment Committee
Sacraments
The parish prepares parishioners for and celebrates all seven Catholic sacraments. Reconciliation is offered on a regular weekly schedule and by appointment; Baptisms, Marriages, Anointing of the Sick, and Communion for the homebound are arranged through the parish office.
- Reconciliation: Mon–Thu 5:00–5:20 p.m.; Sat 3:30–4:30 p.m.; by appointment
- Baptism — preparation through the parish
- Marriage — preparation through the parish
- Anointing of the Sick and Communion for the homebound
- Funeral hospitality ministry
Visit & Contact
The parish office is open 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday (closed for inclement weather or holidays). The church sits at 200 East 6th Street, Papillion, NE 68046, with the school and preschool at 224 East 5th Street.
- Parish Office Phone: 402-339-3285
- Parish Address: 200 East 6th Street, Papillion, NE 68046
- School/Preschool Address: 224 East 5th Street, Papillion, NE 68046
- Office Hours: Mon–Fri 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
- Parish Registration Form available on the website
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Henry Hoheisel1897–1940
- Fr. Clarence Trummer1940–1956
- Fr. John Stears1956–1970
- Fr. Robert SteinhausenJune 1970 – June 1993
During his tenure the parish school was renamed from Sacred Heart Academy to St. Columbkille Catholic School in 1978–79.
- Fr. Steven J. StillmunksJune 1993 – August 2003
- Fr. Damian ZuerleinJune 2004 – 2016
- Fr. David Reeson2016–2020
- Fr. Thomas Greisen2020–present
Current pastor.