About St. John the Baptist · Pender, Nebraska
St. John the Baptist Catholic Church is a small Roman Catholic parish serving the community of Pender in Thurston County, northeast Nebraska. Located at 108 North 5th Street, the parish is part of the Archdiocese of Omaha and since 2023 has been a member of the Holy Apostles Parish Family, a collaborative grouping of twelve parishes and two schools in the northeast corner of the archdiocese that share three priests and one parish office. St. John the Baptist offers Sunday Mass at 10:00 AM and is pastored by Rev. Gerald A. Leise, Jr., who also serves Sacred Heart Parish in neighboring Emerson. The parish maintains a long-standing Catholic presence in this rural farming community that dates back to the late 1880s.
- Established
- 1889
- Patron
- St. John the Baptist
- Rector
- Rev. Gerald A. Leise, Jr.
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Omaha
Why belong here
St. John the Baptist offers a welcoming, intimate Catholic community in the heart of Pender's farming country, with weekly Sunday Mass and the Sacrament of Reconciliation available before Mass. As one of the twelve parishes of the Holy Apostles Parish Family, the parish is connected to a wider network of faith formation, schools, and ministry across northeast Nebraska, while still maintaining its own identity and community life. Parishioners enjoy traditional Catholic worship in a small-town setting, with parish events like the annual Soup Luncheon bringing the community together.
Mass times at St. John the Baptist
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Sunday 9:30–10:00 AM
About St. John the Baptist Parish
St. John the Baptist is a small Catholic parish in Pender, Nebraska, part of the Archdiocese of Omaha and one of the twelve parishes of the Holy Apostles Parish Family. The parish was established in 1889 and continues to serve the faithful of Thurston County with weekly Sunday Mass and the sacraments.
- Founded 1889
- Located at 108 North 5th Street, Pender, NE 68047
- Part of the Archdiocese of Omaha
- Member parish of Holy Apostles Parish Family (since 2023)
Holy Apostles Parish Family
In 2023, Archbishop George Lucas of Omaha called on parishes to form 'missional communities.' Twelve parishes in the northeast corner of the archdiocese responded by coming together as the Holy Apostles Parish Family — named for the Twelve Apostles to reflect the unity of twelve unique parishes following Christ together. The family shares three priests, one collaborative parish office, religious education, adult faith formation, and ministry between the communities served.
- St. Augustine, Winnebago
- St. Cornelius Mission, Homer
- Holy Cross, Bancroft
- Holy Family, Decatur
- St. John the Baptist, Pender
- St. Joseph, Lyons
- St. Joseph, Walthill
- St. Mary, Hubbard
- St. Michael, South Sioux City
- Our Lady of Fatima, Macy
- St. Patrick, Jackson
- Sacred Heart, Emerson
Parish Staff & Clergy
St. John the Baptist is pastored by Rev. Gerald A. Leise, Jr., who is shared across the Holy Apostles Parish Family and also serves Sacred Heart Parish in Emerson, Nebraska. Day-to-day parish administration is handled through the central Holy Apostles Parish Family office in Winnebago.
- Pastor: Rev. Gerald A. Leise, Jr.
- Parish Secretary: [email protected]
Parish Life & Events
The parish hosts community gatherings that bring parishioners together socially and as fundraisers. The annual Soup Luncheon is a longstanding parish tradition held at the church.
- Soup Luncheon (e.g., Sunday, February 16, 2025, starting at 11:00 AM)
Contact & Visit
Parishioners and visitors can reach St. John the Baptist through the central Holy Apostles Parish Family office. The parish office is located in Winnebago, and the parish itself sits in downtown Pender.
- Phone: (402) 385-3258 (parish) / (402) 878-2402 (family office)
- Email: [email protected]
- Mailing Address: Holy Apostles Parish Family, PO Box 552, Winnebago, NE 68071
- Family Office: 705 South Mission Drive, Winnebago, NE 68071
- Website: https://holyapostlesfamily.org
- Facebook: facebook.com/holyapostlesfamily