About St. John the Baptist · Crawford, Nebraska
St. John the Baptist is a Roman Catholic parish in Crawford, Nebraska, in the panhandle of the state's northwestern corner, listed at 808 4th Street, Crawford, NE 69339. It is part of the High Plains Catholic Parishes cluster in the Diocese of Grand Island, sharing clergy and office staff with St. Patrick's Church in Chadron, Nativity of the B.V.M. in Harrison, and the St. Pier Giorgio Frassati Newman House (which serves Chadron State College). Weekend Mass is celebrated Saturday evening in Crawford, with confessions beforehand; the parish also maintains the St. John the Baptist Cemetery south of town.
- Patron
- St. John the Baptist
- Rector
- Rev. Matthew Nash
- Diocese
- Diocese of Grand Island
Why belong here
St. John the Baptist offers a faithful Catholic presence in the small panhandle community of Crawford, with regular Saturday evening Mass and confessions in the parish church. The parish is part of the High Plains Catholic Parishes family, so it shares resources — faith formation, OCIA (formerly RCIA), adult faith formation, Knights of Columbus, Catholic Daughters, and an active Catholic cemetery — with fellow Catholics across Crawford, Chadron, and Harrison. It's a welcoming rural parish where the Eucharistic Lord is adored in exposition on Tuesdays and Fridays and where families can worship in the historic heart of the Pine Ridge region.
Mass times at St. John the Baptist
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 4:15 PM – 4:45 PM (Crawford)
- Or by calling the Parish Office (308-432-2626)
Adoration times
- Tuesdays 4:00 PM – 5:15 PM (parish-wide)
- Fridays 7:30 AM – 8:30 AM (Church)
Cluster of High Plains Catholic Parishes
St. John the Baptist in Crawford is one of four Catholic worship sites served by a single pastoral team under the banner High Plains Catholic Parishes. The Crawford church is paired with St. Patrick's Church in Chadron (340 Cedar Street), the St. Pier Giorgio Frassati Newman House (907 Main Street, Chadron — serving Chadron State College), and the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary Church in Harrison (280 Kate Street), plus the non-active Immaculate Conception Chapel at the intersection of Hat Creek Road and Montrose Road in Harrison. A shared parish bulletin and online-giving portal serve all four communities.
- St. Patrick's Church — 340 Cedar Street, Chadron, NE 69337
- St. Pier Giorgio Frassati Newman House — 907 Main Street, Chadron, NE 69337
- St. John the Baptist Church — 808 4th Street, Crawford, NE 69339
- Nativity of the B.V.M. Church — 280 Kate Street, Harrison, NE 69346
- Immaculate Conception Chapel — non-active, Hat Creek Rd & Montrose Rd, Harrison
Parish Staff
All four High Plains parishes are served from the Parish Office in the St. Patrick's Scholasticum, just north of St. Patrick's Church in Chadron. The pastor for the cluster is Rev. Matthew Nash, supported by an Administrative Secretary, Ministerial Secretary, Directors of Religious Education for each parish, a Newman Director, and a maintenance / custodial team.
- Rev. Matthew Nash — Pastor (308-747-2182, [email protected])
- Mrs. Melissa Webster — Administrative Secretary (308-432-2161, [email protected])
- Mrs. Athena Hinrichs — Ministerial Secretary (308-432-2840, [email protected])
- Mrs. Bre Schrack — St. Patrick's DRE (308-432-4969, [email protected])
- Mrs. JJ Rudloff — St. John the Baptist DRE (308-432-2626)
- Mr. Jack Buhr — Nativity of BVM DRE (308-432-2626)
- Miss. Kayla Brion — Newman Director ([email protected])
- Mr. Ron Bright — Maintenance Director (St. Patrick's)
- Mrs. Frances Gonzalez — Our Lady of the Assumption Arena Custodial
Faith Formation and Sacramental Preparation
Faith formation for St. John the Baptist parishioners is coordinated through the High Plains parishes' shared religious-education office. Children preparing for First Communion and Confirmation are served through the parish's Director of Religious Education; adults interested in becoming Catholic participate in O.C.I.A. (the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults); and ongoing Adult Faith Formation opportunities are offered across the cluster. The parish website also provides an Examination of Conscience resource to help with the Sacrament of Reconciliation.
- Religious Education (CCD) for children
- Adult Faith Formation
- O.C.I.A. (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults)
- Examination of Conscience guide (for Confession)
- First Communion, Confirmation, and ongoing sacramental catechesis
Parish Ministries, Organizations and Outreach
Lay faithful across the High Plains parishes serve the local Church through longstanding Catholic organizations, social events, and service efforts. The Knights of Columbus and Catholic Daughters are active in the cluster, and the community gathers for events such as the annual Mardi Gras celebration. Parish bulletins and downloadable parish forms are kept online, and online giving is available for each of the four parishes (St. Patrick's, St. John the Baptist, Nativity of the B.V.M., and the Newman Center).
- Knights of Columbus
- Catholic Daughters of the Americas
- Online Giving (parish-by-parish)
- Parish Bulletin and downloadable Parish Forms
- Mardi Gras 2026 community event
- Our Lady of the Assumption Arena (parish facility)
St. John the Baptist Cemetery
The parish operates St. John the Baptist Cemetery, located south of Crawford off Highway 71 at 13501 NE-71, then 0.3 miles east on the access road. Each cemetery in the High Plains cluster operates under different juridical rules, and a downloadable parish pamphlet lists current information on plot costs, perpetual care, opening and closing procedures, and use of vaults. Inquiries about purchasing plots are handled by the Parish Administrative Secretary at the Parish Office in the St. Patrick's Scholasticum, 340 Cedar Street, Chadron.
- St. John the Baptist Cemetery — 13501 NE-71, Crawford, NE 69339
- St. Mary Cemetery (cluster)
- Mt. Calvary Cemetery, Chadron
- Immaculate Conception Cemetery, Harrison
- Office of record: Parish Administrative Secretary, 340 Cedar St., Chadron
Visiting and Contacting the Parish
Visitors and parishioners can reach the Crawford church at 808 4th Street, Crawford, NE 69339 (telephone 308-665-1584) or contact the shared Parish Office at 340 Cedar Street, Chadron, NE 69337. The Parish Office is open Monday through Thursday from 7:45 AM to noon and 1:00 PM to 3:30 PM, and Friday from 8:30 AM to noon (with Adoration in the church Friday morning from 7:30 to 8:30). The Rummage Room run by the Catholic Daughters is open Saturdays from 9 AM to 5 PM. The shared email for parish business is [email protected].
- Parish phone (Crawford church): 308-665-1584
- Parish Office phone: 308-432-2626
- Parish Office email: [email protected]
- Office hours: Mon–Thu 7:45 AM–Noon & 1:00–3:30 PM; Fri 8:30 AM–Noon
- Rummage Room (CDA): Saturdays 9 AM – 5 PM
- Pastor visits: by appointment
Helpful Links and Media
The High Plains Catholic Parishes website points parishioners to a range of Catholic resources, including Spirit Catholic Radio 91.3 FM ('Encounter Jesus'), the Diocese of Grand Island, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, Hearts Restored (post-abortion healing), an Examination of Conscience guide, and the St. Isidore Novena. The current weekend Mass and Confession schedule across all four parishes is published on the homepage, and a downloadable letter explains the 2026 revised Mass times beginning May 23–24, 2026.
- Spirit Catholic Radio 91.3 FM
- Diocese of Grand Island
- U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops
- Hearts Restored — Healing after abortion
- St. Isidore Novena
- 2026 Revised Mass Times Letter (PDF)