About St. Joseph · Harvard, Nebraska
St. Joseph Catholic Church is a small, bilingual Catholic parish serving Harvard, Nebraska, and the surrounding Clay County area within the Diocese of Lincoln. Its roots reach back to 1873, when early Catholic settlers began gathering for Mass in private homes long before the Diocese of Lincoln was erected in 1887. Today the parish serves roughly 70 registered families across about 200 square miles, offering Mass in both English and Spanish each Sunday, religious education (CCD) for children pre-K through high school, and a warm community life rooted in nearly 150 years of local Catholic tradition.
- Established
- 1873
- Patron
- St. Joseph
- Rector
- Rev. Craig Clinch (Administrator, per Diocese of Lincoln directory; the parish website's Visit Us page also lists Fr. Denton Morris as Pastor)
- Diocese
- Diocese of Lincoln (Hastings Deanery)
Why belong here
St. Joseph is a small, family-sized parish where it is easy to know your priest and your fellow parishioners. It offers the full rhythm of Catholic life — weekend Mass in both English and Spanish, weekday Mass, Sunday CCD religious education from pre-K through high school, RCIA for adults, a women's Endow study group, Adult Bible Study, and a Knights of Columbus council — while reaching out across roughly 200 square miles of Clay County. For Catholics in Harvard and the surrounding countryside, it is a faithful, growing community that welcomes new and young families.
Mass times at St. Joseph
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Sunday: 8:30 - 8:50 am
- Sunday: after the 11:30 am (Spanish) Mass
- By appointment
History of St. Joseph Parish
St. Joseph's story begins in 1873 with Masses said in private homes and continues through the purchase of a former Presbyterian church, the construction of a 1893 brick church (destroyed by fire in 1927 and rebuilt in 1928), and a major 2006 roof renovation overseen by Fr. James Benton. The full timeline — from the first Catholic settlers of 1871 through the arrival of the parish's first resident pastor in 1897 and the growth to about 70 registered families today — is told in detail on the parish's History page.
- 1871: Catholic families among Harvard's first settlers
- 1874: Fr. Ferdinand Lechleitner begins monthly visits from Crete
- 1878: Fr. George Glauber in Hastings takes Harvard as a mission; church materials diverted
- 1881: First St. Joseph Church — a renovated former Presbyterian building
- 1893: Second St. Joseph Church built by A. H. Pontius; dedicated by Bishop Bonacum
- 1897: Fr. Michael Shine becomes first resident pastor — parish becomes independent
- 1898: Redemptorist Fathers begin conducting parish missions
- 1927: Basement fire destroys the 1893 church
- 1928: Present brick church constructed; Mass said at a Main Street hall in the interim
- 1929: Rectory fire badly damages the second story
- 1949: Church renovated and rededicated; furnishings donated by parishioners
- 1958: Parish hall built for about $11,500
- 2005-2013: Fr. James Benton serves as pastor
- 2006: Roof on the verge of collapse is fully replaced
About the Parish
St. Joseph traces its tradition back to 1873 — a little over a decade before the foundation of the Diocese of Lincoln by Pope Leo XIII in 1887. It is the third Catholic parish established in Clay County. Originally mission territory, it became an independent parish in 1897 with the arrival of its first resident pastor. Today it remains an independent parish serving Harvard and the surrounding area, with boundaries that span roughly 200 square miles.
Sacraments
All seven Catholic sacraments are available at the parish level, with information, requirements, and registration listed on the parish website. Children preparing for sacraments normally do so through the parish CCD program; adults preparing for sacraments (including adults entering the Church through RCIA) should contact the pastor. Confirmation is celebrated at the parish every three years, and is open to children in 5th through 7th grade when it comes due. Children as young as 7 may receive First Holy Eucharist.
- Baptism
- Confirmation (every three years; 5th-7th grade)
- First Holy Eucharist (First Communion)
- Confession / Reconciliation
- Anointing of the Sick
- Holy Orders
- Matrimony
- RCIA for adults
CCD & Religious Education
CCD (Confraternity of Christian Doctrine) classes meet on Sundays during the school year, 10:00 am to 11:15 am, in the Church Hall, for students from Pre-K through 12th grade. At least one parent is expected to attend every class session so the parish can follow all diocesan Safe Environment practices. Sacramental preparation for First Communion and Confirmation normally takes place through CCD.
- Pre-K through High School
- Sundays 10:00 am - 11:15 am
- Held in the Church Hall
- Registration forms available online and at the back of the church
Adult Formation
Adults can grow in the faith through RCIA, Adult Bible Study, and a women's Endow study group. Additional group study options for men or mixed groups are available through Formed.org. The parish has also purchased a Formed.org parish subscription, sponsored by the Altar Society, which families can sign up to use.
- RCIA — for adults seeking to become Catholic or learn more about the Faith
- Adult Bible Study (resumes each August)
- Endow women's study group (meets during CCD hours)
- Formed.org parish subscription ($25/family suggested donation)
Parish Ministries & Organizations
Beyond the Mass and education programs, St. Joseph is supported by a small group of lay organizations that sustain parish life and outreach, including the Knights of Columbus and the Altar Society. A Hispanic Ministry, directed at the diocesan level by Fr. Craig Clinch, supports the parish's Spanish-speaking community.
- Knights of Columbus
- Altar Society (sponsors the Formed.org subscription)
- Hispanic Ministry / Spanish-language outreach
- Safe Environment & Child Protection program
Visit Us — Location & Contact
The church is located at 611 N. Kearney Avenue in Harvard, Nebraska. The parish office can be reached by phone; the mailing address is P.O. Box 70, Harvard, NE 68944. The parish uses Flocknote as its primary communication platform, and updates are also posted to Facebook.
- Address: 611 N. Kearney Ave, P.O. Box 70, Harvard, NE 68944
- Phone: 1-(402)-772-3511
- Flocknote: stjosephharvard1.flocknote.com
- Text STJHN1 to 84576 (English) or (202)765-3441 (Spanish) to join Flocknote
Weekly Bulletins & News
The parish publishes weekly bulletins with the Mass schedule, announcements, and Holy Day Mass times. Bulletins are available as PDFs on the parish website.
Safe Environment & Child Protection
In keeping with the Diocese of Lincoln's Safe Environment policies, training is mandatory for all priests, acolytes, lectors/readers, Knights of Columbus, CCD teachers, and anyone with direct contact with minors in parish or school settings. The parish links directly to diocesan Safe Environment Protocol and Training resources.
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Ferdinand Lechleitner1874 (mission visits from Crete)
Began visiting Harvard monthly to offer Mass in private homes.
- Fr. George Glauber1878 onward
Pastor in Hastings; gained Harvard as a mission; money raised for a church that was never built.
- Fr. James Simeon1881
Pastor in Hastings with Harvard as a mission; oversaw purchase and renovation of the former Presbyterian church as the first St. Joseph.
- A. H. Pontius (builder) / Bishop Bonacum (dedicator)1893
New St. Joseph Church constructed by Pontius; dedicated by Bishop Bonacum in June 1893.
- Fr. Michael Shine1897
First resident pastor; formally established St. Joseph as an independent parish. Arranged Redemptorist missions beginning 1898.
- Fr. Paul Brounts1899-1901
Purchased land with a house; renovated and furnished it debt-free before leaving.
- Fr. James Benton2005-2013
Oversaw the 2006 church renovation and full roof replacement.