About St. Joseph · Ponca, Nebraska
St. Joseph Catholic Church is a parish of the Holy Spirit Catholic Parishes family of seven rural northeast Nebraska parishes, located in Ponca — the oldest town in the family. The parish was founded in 1890 by Father Schmitt and worships today in the brick church dedicated on June 17, 1956 by Archbishop Gerald T. Bergan of Omaha on the grounds of the former Pat Rush homestead. The current parish is one of seven churches reorganized under the Archdiocese of Omaha's Journey of Faith initiative into the Holy Spirit Catholic Parishes, with the parish's Mass now celebrated Sunday at 8:00 am. St. Joseph is also the longtime mother parish for the former St. Paul's Southcreek Mission and Immaculate Conception at Waterbury.
- Established
- 1890
- Patron
- St. Joseph
- Rector
- Rev. Kevin Vogel
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Omaha (Metropolitan Archdiocese of Omaha)
Why belong here
St. Joseph is one of the oldest Catholic communities in northeast Nebraska, tracing its roots to 1890 — many current families still carry the surnames of the original 18 founding households. As part of the Holy Spirit Catholic Parishes family, worshippers here join a tight-knit rural parish where generations sit side by side, where faith formation is offered for 5th through 12th graders on Wednesday evenings, and where the nearby Calvary/Southcreek Cemetery carries on the memory of the missionaries and pioneers who first brought the faith to this bluff country.
Mass times at St. Joseph
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Confessions are available right before the scheduled (weekend) Masses (per the parish schedule). Refer to the Holy Spirit Catholic Parishes bulletin or Mass Calendar for the current week's complete schedule.
About St. Joseph Parish
St. Joseph Catholic Church in Ponca, Nebraska is one of seven parishes in the Holy Spirit Catholic Parishes family. The parish worships in a church dedicated June 17, 1956, and traces its origin to 1890. The patron is St. Joseph, whose feasts are celebrated on March 19 (Spouse) and May 1 (Worker); the parish marked its 125th anniversary in 2015 and looks ahead to its 150th in 2040.
History of St. Joseph, Ponca, Nebraska
The parish was founded in 1890 by Father Schmitt with eighteen families and a frame church and parsonage. That first church burned in 1896; Father Patrick Brophy oversaw a replacement frame church in 1897. The present rectory dates to around 1905. By 1955 the old frame church could no longer serve the growing parish, so Father Stanley C. Mitera led the building of the present church, with construction by Theisen Contractors of Hartington, groundbreaking on May 31, 1955 and dedication by Archbishop Gerald T. Bergan of Omaha on June 17, 1956. The full construction debt was paid off within two years, and the building still stands on land formerly owned by Pat Rush.
- 1890 — First Catholic Church and parsonage built by Father Schmitt with 18 registered families
- 1877 — First recorded baptism in the parish: Joanna Doyle (November 13, 1877)
- 1890 — First recorded marriage: John Harney and Mary Elizabeth Scollard (July 7, 1890)
- 1896 — First church destroyed by fire
- 1897 — Replacement frame church built under Father Patrick Brophy
- c. 1905 — Present rectory built
- May 31, 1955 — Groundbreaking for the present church
- June 17, 1956 — Church dedicated at 4:00 p.m. by Archbishop Gerald T. Bergan
- 2015 — 125th anniversary celebration and parish directory published
Missions Connected to St. Joseph
For decades St. Joseph was the mother parish for several surrounding communities, with pastors making the circuit to bring Mass and sacraments to scattered Catholic families across Dixon and Dakota counties. Those missions left a lasting legacy on the parish and a memorial at the old St. Paul's Southcreek site.
- St. Paul's, Southcreek — first services in an 1869 log schoolhouse; frame church built 1877; served from Ponca; destroyed by lightning in 1973; memorial dedicated spring 1976 under Father Daniel F. Soltys
- Immaculate Conception, Waterbury — became a mission of Ponca in June 1978 under Father John Rizzo; later served by Fathers John McCaslin, Patrick Carroll, Dean Uhing, and Robert Irwin
- Calvary Cemetery / Calvary Southcreek Cemetery
Religious Formation & Education
Faith formation for youth is offered through weekly Wednesday evening classes for students in 5th through 12th grade.
- Grades 5–12 Religious Formation Classes — Wednesday evenings, 7:00–8:00 pm
Parish Organizations & Ministries
Two long-standing parish groups carry the bulk of parish life at St. Joseph — the Knights of Columbus for the men and the Altar Society for the women — together with religious formation for the parish's young people.
- Knights of Columbus — Gene Day Council #9935; Grand Knight Kevin Connot
- Altar Society (parish women's group)
- Religious Formation for grades 5–12
- Calvary Cemetery care
- Parish Hall rental for family gatherings and weddings (basement of the church); contact 402-755-2773
Holy Spirit Catholic Parishes Family
Under the Archdiocese of Omaha's Journey of Faith reorganization, St. Joseph is one of seven northeast Nebraska parishes grouped as the Holy Spirit Catholic Parishes (named for the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit). The Rev. Kevin Vogel and the Rev. Owen Korte serve as pastors and rotate among the churches; the main parish office is hosted at Holy Trinity in Hartington, while individual parish offices — including St. Joseph's at 421 W 2nd St — remain open.
- Holy Trinity, Hartington
- St. Jane Frances de Chantal, Randolph
- St. Joseph, Ponca
- St. Mary of the Seven Dolors, Osmond
- St. Michael, Coleridge
- St. Paul, Plainview
- St. Peter, Newcastle
Visit, Contact & Parish Office
Parishioners and visitors can reach St. Joseph's at its Ponca office, with the main Holy Spirit Catholic Parishes office hosted in Hartington. The church stands at 420 W 2nd St, Ponca, NE, and the parish hall fills the church basement.
- Address: 420 W 2nd St, Ponca, NE 68770 (church); 421 W 2nd St, PO Box 898, Ponca, NE 68770 (parish office)
- Phone: 402-755-2773
- Email: [email protected]
- Parish Office Hours: Monday–Thursday 8:30 am–4:30 pm; Friday 8:30 am–12:00 pm
Parish History Books & Archives
The parish has published two major historical works documenting its first century and 125-year mark, both available through the parish office.
- A Century of Faith 1890–1990, St. Joseph's Catholic Church, Ponca, Nebraska — contains history, biographies of priests, organizations, and the Calvary South Creek Cemetery
- St. Joseph's Catholic Church 2015 Parish Directory, Celebrating 125 Years of Faith, Families & Fellowship
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father Schmitt
Built the first St. Joseph Catholic Church and parsonage in Ponca in 1890.
- Father Patrick Brophy
Pastored Ponca when the 1897 replacement frame church was built after the 1896 fire.
- Father Stanley C. Mitera
Led construction of the present church, groundbreaking May 31, 1955, dedicated June 17, 1956 by Archbishop Gerald T. Bergan.
- Father Daniel F. Soltys
Pastor when the memorial at the former St. Paul's Southcreek site was dedicated in spring 1976.
- Father John RizzoJune 1978
Appointed pastor; in his tenure Immaculate Conception at Waterbury became a mission of Ponca.
- Father John McCaslin, Father Patrick Carroll, Father Dean Uhing, Father Robert Irwin
Subsequent pastors who served the Immaculate Conception mission from Ponca after 1978.
- Rev. Owen Korte
Co-pastor of the newly formed Holy Spirit Catholic Parishes alongside Rev. Kevin Vogel.