About St. John Nepomucene · Weston, Nebraska
St. John Nepomucene is a small rural Catholic parish in Weston, Nebraska, part of the Diocese of Lincoln and the Wahoo Deanery. The parish was founded in 1885 by Bohemian (Czech) immigrant families and is named for Saint John of Nepomuk, the 14th-century Bohemian martyr of the confessional. It shares weekend Mass coverage with its mission parish, St. Vitus in Touhy, and is closely tied to St. John Nepomucene Catholic Elementary School (Pre-K through 6th grade), part of the Saunders Catholic Schools system. As of 2015 the parish had 132 registered envelope-holders and remains a tight-knit farming-community congregation in Saunders County.
- Established
- 1885
- Patron
- Saint John of Nepomuk (John Nepomucene)
- Rector
- Rev. Matthew Vandewalle
- Diocese
- Diocese of Lincoln (Deanery of Wahoo)
Why belong here
St. John Nepomucene offers a warm, multigenerational small-town Catholic community rooted in 140 years of Bohemian-Catholic heritage, with regular weekday and weekend Masses (plus confession before every Mass), a lively parish Altar Society (funeral dinners, coffee-and-rolls the first Sunday of the month, salad-buffet luncheons, food-pantry and diaper drives), and a partnership with St. Vitus in Touhy. Families with children can send them to St. John Nepomucene Catholic Elementary School (Pre-K through 6), part of the Saunders Catholic Schools system, with daily Mass, monthly Confessions, robotics, athletics, and bus service across Saunders County. It is the kind of rural parish where one still knows every face in the pew and every name of the priests who built the place.
Mass times at St. John Nepomucene
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday: 4:30–5:15 p.m.
- Sunday: 30 minutes before Mass
- 20 minutes before Weekend Masses (or by appointment)
Parish History
St. John Nepomucene traces its roots to December 8, 1885, when Fr. Choka celebrated the first Mass for 18 Czech-immigrant families in a 24' x 30' wooden structure on what is still the parish's current site. Within four years the parish had grown to 140 families. Over the next century it built a brick church (1906), a rectory (1915), stained-glass windows and a new roof (1947), a parish grade school (1956), and eventually a sweeping renovation completed for its 125th anniversary in 2011.
- 1885 — First Mass celebrated by Fr. Choka on Dec. 8 in a 24' x 30' wooden church
- 1889 — Parish grows to 140 families
- 1891 — Fr. Klein adds sacristy and 32' x 24' annex; interior remodeled (pews, side altars, statues, pulpit)
- 1894 — Five adjoining lots purchased for $200 for future needs
- 1897 — Bishop Bonacum confirms 110 parishioners
- 1903 — St. Vitus, Touhy established as a mission parish
- 1905 — Original wooden church moved off foundation (sold for $553)
- 1906 (July 25) — Dedication of the new 101' x 42' brick church designed by James H. Craddock
- 1915 — Rectory built east of the church for Fr. Bor, the first resident pastor
- 1947 — Fr. Ekhaml installs supporting bars, replaces stained-glass windows, new roof
- 1956 (Sept.) — St. John Nepomucene Catholic Grade School opens with 56 students; Notre Dame Sisters of Omaha staff it
- 1974 — Fr. Paul York becomes pastor; leads extensive interior remodel with volunteer labor
- 2005 — Fr. Tom Brouillette begins renovation of school and church
- 2011 (June 5) — Bishop Fabian Bruskewitz, with Fr. Christopher Goodwin, celebrates Mass of Rededication and 125th anniversary; altar consecrated with sacred chrism
Parish Staff & Clergy
The parish is currently served by its pastor and a parish secretary. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
- Rev. Matthew Vandewalle — Pastor
- Nanette Sabatka — Church Secretary
- Phone: 402-642-5245
St. John Nepomucene Catholic Elementary School
The parish grade school, founded in 1956 by Fr. Otto Ekhaml with the Notre Dame Sisters of Omaha, today enrolls about 85 students in Pre-K through 6th grade and is part of the Saunders Catholic Schools system. It is supported by parishes in Weston, Touhy, Prague, Plasi, Davey, and Valparaiso. The school offers daily Mass, monthly Confessions, robotics clubs, Cavalry athletics, band and music, before- and after-school extended care, and bus service across Saunders County (and within about 15 minutes of Omaha/Lincoln).
- 85 students, Pre-K through 6th grade
- 1/8 teacher-student ratio; average teacher tenure 15 years
- Over 60% of teachers hold master's degrees
- Daily Mass, monthly Confessions
- Religious staff includes the pastor and visiting sisters
- Cavalry Sports: basketball, wrestling, softball, volleyball
- Robotics: Lego League (K–4) and Cavalry VEX (5th–12th)
- Band (5th–6th), Music (K–6)
- Tuition assistance via Good Shepherd Scholarship and Guardian Angel Fund; Family Tuition Cap for 3+ enrolled students
- Free & Reduced Lunch Program
- Bus service across Saunders County and within ~15 minutes of Omaha/Lincoln
- Address: 130 N Front St, Weston, NE 68070 — Phone: 402-642-5234
Saunders Catholic Schools System
St. John's is one of the parish schools within Saunders Catholic Schools, the diocesan Catholic-school network serving Saunders County, Nebraska. Families may apply for the Good Shepherd Scholarship (Diocese of Lincoln, $1,800 K–8 / $2,100 9–12 for families at or below 225% of the federal poverty level) and the Guardian Angel Scholarship through FACTS, regardless of income level or religious affiliation.
- Good Shepherd Scholarship (Diocesan)
- Guardian Angel Scholarship (SCS)
- Family Tuition Cap (3+ enrolled students)
- Single FACTS application covers all scholarships
Parish Life & Ministries
The parish's lay life centers on the Altar Society, the Men's Club, and a strong culture of funeral meals and hospitality. The Altar Society is the visible backbone of parish life, hosting fellowship, fundraising, and service events throughout the year.
- Altar Society officers: President Shelly Pleskac; Vice-President Teresa Virgil; Secretary Ginger Laughridge; Treasurer Joyce Palensky
- Prepare & serve funeral dinners
- Coffee & rolls on the 1st Sunday of each month
- Annual Salad Buffet Luncheon
- Diaper drive / food-pantry drive / Advent baby shower
- Games & bake stand at the Men's Club Pancake Feed
- Prepare & serve the Neumann High School athletic banquet
- Contributed to the church renovation
- Men's Club Pancake Feed
Mission Parish: St. Vitus, Touhy
St. Vitus in Touhy was established in 1903 as a mission of St. John Nepomucene to relieve the overcrowding of the Weston parish, which had grown to 140 families. The two parishes share a pastor and rotate weekend Mass coverage so both communities have regular access to Mass close to home; the Wednesday evening Mass is held at St. Vitus.
- St. Vitus, Touhy — established 1903
- Shares the pastor with St. John Nepomucene
- Sunday Mass rotates between the two churches (1st & 3rd Sun.: Weston 8 a.m. / Touhy 10 a.m.; 2nd, 4th & 5th Sun.: Touhy 8 a.m. / Weston 10 a.m.)
- Wednesday 5:30 p.m. Mass at St. Vitus
Contact & Visit
Parishioners and visitors can reach the parish office by phone Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The parish shares an online presence with its mission through stjohnschurchweston.com and is listed in the Diocese of Lincoln parish directory.
- Address: 450 School Street, Weston, NE 68070
- Mailing: PO Box 10, Weston, NE 68070-0010
- Phone: 402-642-5245
- Office hours: Mon–Fri 9 a.m.–3 p.m.
- Diocese listing: lincolndiocese.org/directory/parishes/796-st-john-weston
- Deanery: Wahoo
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Choka1885
Celebrated the first Mass at St. John Nepomucene on Dec. 8, 1885 in the original wooden church.
- Fr. Klein1891 (approx.)
Added a sacristy and 32' x 24' annex; remodeled the interior with new pews, side altars, statues, and a pulpit.
- Fr. Bor1915
First resident pastor; parishioners built the rectory east of the church for him.
- Fr. Otto Ekhamlapprox. 1946–1974
Installed supporting bars, replaced stained-glass windows, new roof (1947); founded the parish grade school in Sept. 1956 with 56 students and the Notre Dame Sisters of Omaha; served 28 years.
- Fr. Paul York1974 (approx.)
Led extensive church remodel — parishioners volunteered to paint, install carpeting and new pews, update the interior.
- Fr. Tom Brouillette2005 (approx.)
Began the major renovation of the school and church that was completed in 2011.
- Fr. Christopher Goodwin2011
Concelebrated the Mass of Rededication and 125th anniversary with Bishop Bruskewitz on June 5, 2011.