About St. John · Prague, Nebraska
St. John the Baptist is a Roman Catholic parish in the village of Prague, Saunders County, Nebraska, within the Diocese of Lincoln (Wahoo Deanery). It serves the historic Czech-Bohemian farming community of Prague and its mission church of Sts. Cyril & Methodius at Plasi. The parish offers weekend Masses, confessions before Mass, and is currently shepherded by Rev. Carson Kain, with weekend liturgies at the parish church at 122 Center Street (PO Box 96), Prague, NE 68050.
- Established
- 1901 (church built); 1904 (formally erected as a parish by Bishop Bonacum)
- Patron
- St. John the Baptist
- Rector
- Rev. Carson Kain
- Diocese
- Diocese of Lincoln (Wahoo Deanery)
Why belong here
St. John the Baptist offers a tight-knit Catholic community rooted in more than a century of Czech-Bohemian Catholic heritage on the Nebraska prairie, with regular weekend Masses (Saturday Vigil and twice on Sunday), confession before each Mass, and a warm village setting. It is also the mother parish that retains the historic mission of Sts. Cyril & Methodius at Plasi and historically supported Neumann High School in Wahoo for Catholic secondary education — making it a meaningful home for families, retired parishioners, and anyone connected to the Saunders County Bohemian Catholic tradition.
Mass times at St. John
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 4:00 p.m. – 4:50 p.m. (30 min. before Mass)
- Sunday 7:30 a.m. – 8:00 a.m. (30 min. before all weekend Masses)
Parish Identity & Patron
St. John the Baptist is the patron of this Czech-Bohemian Catholic parish in Prague, Nebraska. The feast of St. John the Baptist (Nativity, June 24) is the parish's patronal feast. The parish belongs to the Diocese of Lincoln, Wahoo Deanery, and is currently pastored by Rev. Carson Kain.
- Patron: St. John the Baptist
- Feast day: June 24 (Nativity of St. John the Baptist)
- Diocese of Lincoln – Wahoo Deanery
- Current pastor: Rev. Carson Kain
History
Catholic faith in the Prague area predates the village. The very first Mass for Czechs in Nebraska was celebrated in September 1871 in the nearby farm home of pioneer Joseph Simanek by missionary Rev. F. Sulak of Chicago. Until 1901, local Catholics attended the church at Plasi as a mission, traveling to worship there. That year, the community built its own 36-by-90-foot frame church with a cross-topped belfry; in 1904 Bishop Bonacum formally erected Prague as a regular parish (with Sacred Heart at Cedar Hill annexed). A parish house was added in 1905 and replaced in 1917. Under Pastor Rev. Martin Bogar in the early 1920s, a brick Catholic school was built and staffed by the Notre Dame Sisters of Omaha until 1973, with Czech as part of the curriculum.
- 1871 – First Czech Mass in Nebraska, in the farm home of Joseph Simanek near Prague (Rev. F. Sulak)
- 1887 – Village of Prague platted along the Omaha & North Platte railroad
- 1901 – Frame church of St. John the Baptist built; Rev. John Vlcek serves from Plasi
- 1904 – Parish formally erected by Bishop Bonacum; Rev. John Novotny first resident pastor
- 1905 – Parish house acquired; 1917 replaced by a larger home
- 1921 – Brick Catholic school built; staffed by Notre Dame Sisters of Omaha until 1973
- 1964 – Joins founding of Neumann High School, Wahoo
- 1982–83 – New brick church, day chapel, hall and classroom replace the 1901 frame church
Our Priests (Pastor Succession)
The succession of pastors who have served St. John the Baptist, Prague, as recorded in parish and diocesan histories, beginning with the first resident pastor in 1904 and continuing to the present pastor Rev. Carson Kain, is listed below. Many early pastors were born and trained in Moravia (Czech lands) before coming to the Lincoln diocese.
- Rev. John Vlcek – 1901–1904 (served from Plasi)
- Rev. John Novotny – 1904–1908 (first resident priest)
- Rev. Vaclav (Wenceslaus) Pokorny – 1908–1920
- Rev. Martin Bogar – 1920–1923/24 (built the parish school)
- Rev. Joseph / Jaroslav Hancik (Horacek) – c. 1923–1930
- Rev. Alfonse Biskup – 1930–1934
- Rev. Bede Cernik, O.S.B. – 1934–1938
- Rev. Joseph A. Tupy – 1938–1950
- Rev. William (Wm.) Rezabek – 1950–1968
- Rev. George Stoeckinger – 1968–1970
- Rev. Donald Imming – 1970–1972
- Rev. Ray Roh – 1972–1976
- Rev. John J. McCabe – 1976–1981
- Rev. John Glaves – 1981– (led the new-brick-church project)
- Rev. Carson Kain – present (Diocese of Lincoln directory)
Parish School & Faith Formation
From 1921 until its closure in 1973, St. John operated its own parish school — a brick building purchased in 1921 and remodeled — staffed throughout its life by the Notre Dame Sisters of Omaha. Czech was taught as part of the curriculum, preserving the heritage language of the founding community. Five young women from the parish themselves became Notre Dame Sisters (Sisters Barnadine, Pauline, and Leona of the Mazanec family; Sisters Agnes and Mildred of the Ostry family). Since 1964, the parish has also been one of ten supporting parishes of Neumann High School in Wahoo, giving local Catholic children a path to Catholic secondary education.
- Parish school: 1921–1973 (Notre Dame Sisters of Omaha)
- Czech language taught as part of the curriculum
- Five parishioners became Notre Dame Sisters
- Founding supporter of Neumann High School, Wahoo (1964)
Mission Church — Sts. Cyril & Methodius, Plasi
Plasi, just south of Prague, is the older Catholic community — the village where Prague's Catholics worshipped before they had their own church. Sts. Cyril & Methodius remains a mission parish of St. John the Baptist, served by the same pastor. Until 1901, priests from Plasi (notably Rev. John Vlcek) traveled to hold services at Prague; the relationship reversed direction once Prague became its own parish.
- Mission of St. John the Baptist, Prague
- Historically the mother parish of the Prague Catholic community before 1901
- Currently served by Rev. Carson Kain
Contact & Visit
Parishioners and visitors can reach St. John the Baptist at the parish address on Center Street in Prague, Nebraska, or by calling the parish phone. The Diocese of Lincoln publishes the parish's contact information and priest assignment on its directory page. Mass and confession times above reflect the most recent schedule published by the diocese.
- Address: 122 Center Street, Prague, NE 68050 (Mailing: PO Box 96, Prague, NE 68050)
- Phone: (402) 663-4615
- Email: [email protected]
- Diocese of Lincoln directory listing used as primary schedule source
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. John Vlcek1901–1904
Came from Plasi to hold services before Prague was erected as a parish.
- Rev. John Novotny1904–1908
First resident priest; born 1873 in Boskovice, Moravia; ordained 1898 in Brno; also oversaw Plattsmouth and Cedar Hill.
- Rev. Vaclav (W.) Pokorny1908–1920
Listed in the 1983 history as serving 1908–1920 (also noted later at Plasi 1920–1926).
- Rev. Martin Bogar1920–1923/24
Born 1877, Blatnice, Moravia; built the parish school (~$30,000) staffed by Notre Dame Sisters.
- Rev. Jaroslav (Joseph) Hancik / Horacekc. 1923–1927
During his tenure Cedar Hill's church and hall were remodelled.
- Rev. Alfonse Biskup1930–1934
Per 1983 parish history.
- Rev. Bede Cernik, O.S.B.1934–1938
Benedictine priest assigned to Prague.
- Rev. Joseph A. Tupy1938–1950
Long-serving pastor.
- Rev. William (Wm.) Rezabek1950–1968
Oversaw 1964 founding support of Neumann High School, Wahoo.
- Rev. George Stoeckinger1968–1970
- Rev. Donald Imming1970–1972
- Rev. Ray Roh1972–1976
- Rev. John J. McCabe1976–1981
- Rev. John Glaves1981–
Past pastor at time of 1983 history; led fundraising and construction of the new brick church complex.
- Rev. Carson Kainpresent
Current pastor per Diocese of Lincoln directory.