About St. Joseph · Omaha, Nebraska
St. Joseph Catholic Church (Parroquia de San José) is a historic Roman Catholic parish in Omaha, Nebraska, located in the Archdiocese of Omaha. Founded in 1887 to serve Omaha's German-speaking Catholics, it is today a bicultural (English/Spanish) community rooted in a Romanesque Revival complex that was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1985 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1986. The parish complex at 17th and Center Streets includes a 1915 church, an 1896 friary, a 1901 school/convent, and a 1928 school, designed by Franciscan architects Brother Adrian Wever and Brother Leonard Darscheid. Since 1992 it has been a bilingual parish with prominent Spanish-language Masses, currently led by Rev. Rafael Majano.
- Established
- 1887
- Patron
- St. Joseph
- Rector
- Rev. Rafael Majano
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Omaha
Why belong here
St. Joseph is a historic, bicultural parish in the heart of south Omaha whose Sunday experience is naturally bilingual — Sunday features one English Mass at 10:30 a.m. and three Spanish Masses at 8:30 a.m., noon, and 5:00 p.m., with weekday Spanish Masses on Tuesday and Thursday evenings. The parish offers Wednesday all-day Eucharistic Adoration (9:00 a.m.–noon and 6:00–9:00 p.m.), regular Confessions three days a week, and a brotherhood rooted in 135 years of Catholic life — making it a warm choice for English-speaking Catholics who want exposure to Latino Catholic devotion as well as for Hispanic families looking for a parish that actively ministers in Spanish under the Archdiocese of Omaha.
Mass times at St. Joseph
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Thursday 6:00 PM
- Saturday 4:00 PM
- Sunday 4:00 PM
Adoration times
- Wednesday 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM (Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament)
- Wednesday 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM (Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament)
Parish Identity and Bilingual Mission
St. Joseph Catholic Church (Parroquia de San José) is the Archdiocese of Omaha's historic Romanesque Revival parish serving south Omaha as a unified English/Spanish community. Weekly Masses are offered in both languages, with three of four Sunday Masses celebrated in Spanish, reflecting the parish's intentional decision in 1992 to extend its mission beyond its German-heritage roots and serve the broader Hispanic Catholic population.
- Mass in English — Saturday 5:00 PM and Sunday 10:30 AM
- Mass in Spanish — Tuesday & Thursday 7:00 PM; Sunday 8:30 AM, 12:00 PM, and 5:00 PM
- Pastoral greeting: 'predominantemente de familias jóvenes hispanas de México, Guatemala y El Salvador'
History of St. Joseph Parish
Founded in 1887 to serve Omaha's German-speaking Catholics, St. Joseph grew from a mission of St. Mary Magdalene into one of south Omaha's anchor institutions. Its story includes the 1894 transfer of the parish to the Sacred Heart Province of Franciscan Fathers, the construction of the present Romanesque Revival church in 1914–1916, and the post-1985 transition back to archdiocesan leadership and bilingual ministry.
- 1884 — Fr. George Glauber buys lots at 17th & Center for $10,000
- 1886 — first frame church built; mission of St. Mary Magdalene
- 1887 — formal dedication on September 11 (135th anniversary celebrated in 2022)
- 1890 — Fr. Charles Breitkopf becomes first resident pastor
- 1894 — parish transferred to Sacred Heart Province Franciscans (St. Louis)
- 1896 — basement church and friary designed by Brother Adrian Wewer
- 1901 — school/convent built to Wewer's plans
- 1914–1916 — present Romanesque Revival church designed by Brother Leonard Darscheid, dedicated October 22, 1916
- 1928 — Jacob Nachtigall-designed school opened ($135,000)
- 1985 — National Historic Landmark designation; end of Franciscan pastorate
- 1988 — Fr. Daniel Pfeilshifter begins 22-year pastorate
- 1992 — Spanish Masses begin; school sold
- 1995 — Fr. Jack McCaslin assumes pastorate alongside Immaculate Conception
- 2020 — Rev. Rafael Majano appointed pastor on July 1
St. Joseph Parish Complex — Architecture
The complex on the crest of a bluff two miles south of downtown is composed of four contributing buildings and is the city's only surviving work of Franciscan provincial architects. The 1915 Romanesque Revival church, 1896 friary, and 1901 school/convent are local adaptations of the round-arched medieval style brought to the United States from Germany.
- 1896 friary — Brother Adrian Wewer, O.F.M. (Provincial Architect)
- 1896 basement church — Brother Adrian Wewer, O.F.M.
- 1901 school/convent — Brother Adrian Wewer, O.F.M. (now a retreat center)
- 1915 church (dedicated 1916) — Brother Leonard Darscheid, O.F.M., assisted by local architect Jacob Nachtigall; about $40,000
- 1928 school — Jacob Nachtigall (parishioner), Jacobethan Revival
- Carved German altars installed c. 1920; Franciscan-decorated apse wall (1962)
- NRHP #86001716 — listed July 17, 1986; National Historic Landmark 1985
Liturgical Schedule and Sacraments
The parish publishes its bilingual Horario Litúrgico on the homepage of stjosephomaha.org. Confessions are offered three times a week and Eucharistic Adoration is held all day Wednesday, with the Blessed Sacrament exposed in two blocks.
- Masses: Tue & Thu 7:00 PM (Spanish); Sat 5:00 PM (English); Sun 8:30 AM (Spanish), 10:30 AM (English), 12:00 PM (Spanish), 5:00 PM (Spanish)
- Confessions: Thu 6:00 PM, Sat 4:00 PM, Sun 4:00 PM
- Eucharistic Exposition: Wed 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM and 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM
- Daily Readings / Lecturas del Día linked from the parish website
- Office hours Tue–Fri 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Pastoral Team and Staff
The current pastoral team includes the pastor, a permanent deacon, parish secretarial staff, the safe-environment coordinator, and an IT coordinator — a bilingual team serving an increasingly Hispanic congregation from offices at 1723 S. 17th Street.
- Rev. Rafael Majano — Pastor (since July 1, 2020)
- Deacon Gonzalo Palma — Permanent Deacon
- Mayra Duarte Chavez — Secretary/Receptionist
- Ivonne Hernandez — Safe Environment Coordinator
- David Chavez — IT Coordinator
- Juan Ignacio Iñiguez (associated)
Ministry and Outreach
St. Joseph continues its century-plus tradition of Catholic education and ministry, now centered on Hispanic evangelization and sacramental preparation. The parish runs a Safe Environment program and has historically sponsored Catholic K-12 education, including high-school formation for Gross High School students.
- Hispanic ministry — began 1992; 30 years celebrated in 2022
- Safe Environment program
- Chaplaincy at Gross High School (1995)
- Parish retreat ministry — 1901 school/convent serves as a retreat center
Catholic Education at St. Joseph
The parish has a long history of Catholic schooling that began in the basement of the original 1886 frame church. After more than a century of operation, the school — together with Paul VI School — was sold to Bellevue Christian in 1992. The 1901 school/convent now operates as a parish retreat center.
- 1886 — 90 students taught by three Sisters of the Most Precious Blood from O'Fallon, MO
- 1901 — new school and convent built
- 1909 — school addition
- 1928 — second school built ($135,000)
- 1937 — expanded to four-year high school
- 1939 — first high-school graduates
- 1992 — schools sold to Bellevue Christian; 1901 building begins use as retreat center
Visiting and Contact
St. Joseph Catholic Church welcomes visitors and worshippers at 1723 S. 17th Street in south Omaha. The parish office is open Tuesday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., and Sunday visitors are invited to experience one of the parish's bilingual Masses or stop in for Wednesday Eucharistic Adoration.
- Address: 1723 S. 17th Street, Omaha, NE 68108
- Phone: (402) 342-1618
- Fax: (402) 342-2640
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: http://www.stjosephomaha.org/
- Office hours: Tuesday–Friday, 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father (Fr.) George Glauber1884–c.1887
Mission founder; bought the Center Street lots for $10,000 in 1884 and oversaw construction of the first frame church (1886) and dedication (Sept. 11, 1887); initial sole trustee of the property.
- Father (Fr.) Charles Breitkopfc.1890–c.1894
Silesian-born priest fluent in seven languages; appointed first resident pastor; transferred to Atkinson, NE after the trustee-deed dispute over the word 'German'.
- Father (Fr.) William Jungelsc.1894
Served only about one year; suggested to Bishop Scannell that the parish be turned over to the Franciscans.
- Father (Fr.) Joseph Hanefeldt (Hanefelt)c.1894
Later Bishop of Grand Island; named pastor in 1894 as the diocese's last parish-administering pastor before the Franciscans took over.
- Father Timothy Magnien, O.F.M.early 20th c.
Pastored during the 1914–16 building campaign; launched the campaign for the new $135,000 school dedicated in 1928.
- Father Pacificus Kohnen, O.F.M.20th c.
Pastored and initiated a building campaign during the parish's continued growth.
- Father Daniel Pfeilshifter, O.F.M.1988–c.2010
Long-serving pastor; tenure of 22 years.
- Father Russ Monzu, O.F.M.1985–June 1985 noted
Last Franciscan priest to serve as pastor of St. Joseph before the order handed the parish to the archdiocese.
- Father James Kennyafter 1992
First archdiocesan pastor since Fr. John Jungels in 1894 (succeeded the Franciscans in pastoring the parish).
- Father Jack McCaslin1995–
Pastor of Immaculate Conception who also assumed the pastorate of St. Joseph in 1995; continued and promoted the Spanish Mass.
- Father Walter Wancewicz1995–
Assistant to Fr. McCaslin; lived at St. Joseph and served as chaplain at Gross High School.
- Rev. Rafael Majano2020–present
Appointed pastor of St. Joseph's Parish on July 1, 2020; leads the present bilingual English/Spanish parish.