About St. John · Lincoln, Nebraska
St. John the Apostle Catholic Church is a Roman Catholic parish in northeast Lincoln, Nebraska, within the Diocese of Lincoln. The parish serves approximately 1,500 registered families and operates St. John's Grade School, a preschool through 8th-grade program that enrolls roughly 450 students. The parish offers a robust sacramental and devotional life with four Sunday Masses, daily Masses, multiple confession opportunities, weekly Eucharistic Adoration, and First Friday exposition. Its ministries include the Knights of Columbus, the St. Vincent de Paul Society, Altar Society, OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults), CCD religious education, Bible studies, and a pro-life committee.
- Established
- 1958
- Patron
- St. John the Apostle
- Rector
- Rev. Lyle Johnson
- Diocese
- Diocese of Lincoln
Why belong here
St. John the Apostle is a thriving parish of roughly 1,500 families with a full sacramental schedule — four Sunday Masses, daily Masses, multiple weekly confession slots, weekly Wednesday Eucharistic Adoration, and a First Friday exposition of the Blessed Sacrament from 9 AM to 5 PM. It supports an attached parish school (preschool through 8th grade), an active OCIA process for adults entering the Church, CCD religious education, Knights of Columbus and St. Vincent de Paul outreach, men's and women's Bible studies, a Moms' Group, Regnum Christi Men's Prayer Group, and a pro-life Walking with Moms in Need ministry. The parish's own motto — to 'know, love, and serve our Lord Jesus Christ' — shapes a community where families can grow as disciples through every season of life.
Mass times at St. John
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Wednesday 6:15–6:45 PM (when CCD classes are in session)
- Saturday 3:00–3:50 PM
- Saturday 5:00–5:30 PM
- Eve of First Fridays 6:45–7:45 PM
- Vigil of Holy Days 6:30–7:00 PM
Adoration times
- Wednesday 6:00–9:00 PM (Eucharistic Adoration following 5:30 PM Mass, exposed by Fr. Nemec)
- First Friday 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM (Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament)
Parish History
St. John the Apostle was decreed by Bishop James Casey on December 27, 1958 — the Feast of St. John the Apostle — to serve Catholics in northeast Lincoln. Its first pastor, Msgr. Maurice Helmann, celebrated the inaugural Mass on January 25, 1959 in the auditorium of Meadow Lane School. A first church building opened by Christmas Eve 1959 and was dedicated by Bishop Casey on May 1, 1960. Within twenty years the parish had outgrown that original structure, and under Rev. Joseph Mroczkowski a new, larger church was built on the same Vine Street campus; the first Mass in the current church was celebrated July 20, 1980, and Bishop Glennon Flavin formally dedicated it on October 5, 1980.
- Decreed December 27, 1958 by Bishop James Casey
- Inaugural Mass January 25, 1959 — Msgr. Maurice Helmann at Meadow Lane School Auditorium
- First Mass in original church: Christmas Eve 1959
- Original church dedicated May 1, 1960 by Bishop Casey
- Current church constructed under Rev. Joseph Mroczkowski
- First Mass in current church: July 20, 1980
- Current church dedicated October 5, 1980 by Bishop Glennon Flavin
Becoming Catholic (OCIA) & Religious Education
Adults seeking to become Catholic — or Christians seeking full communion, or Catholics wishing to complete their Sacraments — are served through the parish's OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults) program. Children in grades 1–8 are served through CCD religious education, which meets during the school year and is accompanied by a Wednesday-evening confession slot.
- OCIA — instruction, formation, and sacramental preparation for inquirers and catechumens
- OCIA adult sponsor program
- CCD classes Grades 1–8 during the academic year
- CCD Substitute Teachers and CCD Teachers needed
- Sunday Children's Liturgy of the Word
St. John's School (Preschool–8th Grade)
St. John's Grade School shares the Vine Street campus with the parish and serves preschool through 8th grade. The school is a Christ-centered learning community overseen by the pastor as superintendent and by the school principal, and accredited by the Nebraska Department of Education. The parish also supports Pius X High School as its associated Catholic high school.
- Preschool through 8th grade on the parish campus
- Pastor: Rev. Lyle Johnson (superintendent of the school)
- Principal: Mr. Tony Arens
- Accredited by the Nebraska Department of Education
- Mission: pass on the Catholic faith through Mass, Sacraments, and Christ-like role models
- Feeds into Pius X High School
Parish Life, Fellowship & Adult Ministries
St. John's supports a wide range of adult ministries and fellowship groups that help parishioners grow in faith and friendship across every stage of life — from young couples to seasoned parishioners.
- Men's and Women's Bible Study groups
- Regnum Christi Men's Prayer Group
- St. John Moms' Group
- Young Couples Group
- Adult Choir
- Men's Basketball Night
Outreach, Service & Pro-Life
The parish actively reaches beyond its walls through the Knights of Columbus, the St. Vincent de Paul Society, the parish Pro-Life Committee, and Walking with Moms in Need, alongside annual fundraisers like the Harvest Festival, Craft Fair, and Garage Sale.
- Knights of Columbus
- St. Vincent de Paul Society
- Altar Society
- Parish Pro-Life Committee
- Walking with Moms in Need
- Life Chain / Walk for Life
- St. John's Harvest Festival
- St. John's Craft Fair
- St. John's Garage Sale
- Funeral Luncheon Ministry
Liturgical Ministries
Parishioners serve the liturgy as lectors, acolytes, ushers, and Eucharistic Ministers, including those who bring Communion to the homebound.
- Lector Ministry
- Acolyte Ministry
- Ushers
- Eucharistic Ministry to the Homebound
- Adult Choir
Youth & Family Programs
Children and teens are supported through parish school athletics (the 'Jets'), scouting programs, and Catholic virtue clubs for elementary-aged kids.
- Jets Athletic Club
- Boy Scouts and Cub Scouts
- Blue Knights Boys Club (K–5th)
- Little Flowers Girls Club (K–5th)
- Coaching opportunities
Stewardship & Getting Involved
Stewardship of time, talent, and treasure is a hallmark of parish life at St. John the Apostle. A dedicated Stewardship page lists dozens of ways to get involved — from classroom support and lunchroom volunteering to SCRIP sales, the parish library, and the Welcoming Committee.
- Substitute teaching, classroom support, and library volunteering at the school
- SCRIP gift card fundraising program
- Parish Library volunteers
- Welcoming Committee and Stewardship Committee
- Bus drivers for school field trips
- Facilities Maintenance and Facilities & Grounds Committee
Strategic Plan 2022–2027
The parish discerned and published a five-year Strategic Plan spanning 2022–2027, organized around four pillars: Faith, Community & Outreach, Education, and Facilities & Finances. Each pillar has its own team, goals, and projects — a roadmap for the parish's next chapter of growth.
- Pillar 1: Faith
- Pillar 2: Community & Outreach
- Pillar 3: Education
- Pillar 4: Facilities & Finances
- Prayer opening the plan written by Fr. Lyle Johnson, Pastor
Joining the Parish
Newcomers are warmly invited to register with the parish. Registration stores sacramental records (important for serving as a godparent or Confirmation sponsor), helps the parish prepare families for the sacraments, and connects parishioners to ministries and periodic email updates.
- Online registration form on the parish website
- Paper forms available in church and at the parish office
- Parish Office can mail a form on request
- Tours of the parish available by appointment — call or email the Parish Office
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Msgr. Maurice Helmann1959–
First pastor; celebrated the inaugural Mass on January 25, 1959 at Meadow Lane School Auditorium.
- Rev. Joseph Mroczkowski
Directed construction of the current church; first Mass in the new church celebrated July 20, 1980.
- Rev. Lyle Johnson
Current pastor; authored the prayer opening the parish's 2022–2027 Strategic Plan; announced for retirement in 2026 diocesan clergy appointments.