About St. Joseph · York, Nebraska
St. Joseph Catholic Church is a parish of the Diocese of Lincoln located at 428 N. East Ave. in York, Nebraska. The parish runs both a parish school (Preschool through 8th grade) and serves as the home for the neighboring mission church of St. Patrick in McCool Junction. It offers a robust liturgical schedule with multiple daily Masses, weekend Masses at both locations, regular confession times, Eucharistic Adoration on Sundays, and a wide range of parish ministries and Catholic schools programs.
- Established
- 1877
- Patron
- St. Joseph
- Rector
- Rev. John Sullivan
- Diocese
- Diocese of Lincoln
Why belong here
St. Joseph offers a complete Catholic life in the heart of rural Nebraska: two weekend Masses plus a Saturday Vigil, daily Mass Monday through Saturday, generous daily confession opportunities, and weekly Sunday Eucharistic Adoration from noon to 8 p.m. Families can hand their children Catholic formation all the way from Little Angels Preschool through eighth grade at St. Joseph Catholic School, supported by CCD and GodTeens programs. Active parish groups — the Knights of Columbus, Legion of Mary, Catholic Daughters, Altar Societies at both churches, parish Bible study, Meals on Wheels and more — make it easy to plug in, and its mission to St. Patrick in McCool Junction extends the parish's reach into the surrounding countryside.
Mass times at St. Joseph
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Monday–Friday: 6:35–6:50 AM
- Saturday: 7:30–7:50 AM
- Saturday: 4:00–5:00 PM
- Sunday: 7:30–7:50 AM
- Sunday: 9:30–9:50 AM
- St. Patrick (McCool Junction): Sunday 9:30–9:50 AM
Adoration times
- Sunday: Noon – 8:00 PM (Eucharistic Adoration)
Parish History
St. Joseph Catholic Church of York traces its roots to 1877, when Father William Byrne established a mission and organized it into a parish. The first church, built north of the Burlington railroad tracks between 1879 and 1881, cost $1,100. Under Bishop Thomas Bonacum the parish acquired the former Nebraska Methodist College property in 1888 and laid the cornerstone for the brick church on September 30, 1890. In the decades since, the parish has built a new school (dedicated 1981 by Bishop Flavin), a new church (dedicated March 14, 1998 by Bishop Fabian Bruskewitz) and has been served by a long succession of priests — most recently Father John Sullivan with Father Janusz Marzynski as Senior Parochial Vicar.
- Founded 1877 by Father William Byrne
- First church built 1879–1881 for $1,100
- Brick church cornerstone laid September 30, 1890 by Bishop Bonacum
- New school dedicated September 20, 1981 by Bishop Flavin
- New church dedicated March 14, 1998 by Bishop Fabian Bruskewitz
Clergy & Staff
St. Joseph is currently led by Father John Sullivan as pastor with Father Janusz Marzynski serving as Senior Parochial Vicar. The parish secretary is Andrea Wright, with parish office hours Monday, Wednesday and Friday 9:30 AM to 1:30 PM. Contacts for the St. Joseph Altar Society (Becky Bartek) and St. Patrick Altar Society (Jane Seigel) are listed in the bulletin.
- Rev. John Sullivan — Pastor
- Rev. Janusz Marzynski — Senior Parochial Vicar
- Andrea Wright — Parish Secretary (Mon/Wed/Fri 9:30 AM–1:30 PM)
St. Joseph Catholic School
St. Joseph Catholic School, located at the same campus (428 N. East Ave.), serves Preschool through 8th grade and is led by Principal Dr. Ken Heinz with a full teaching faculty and parish priest involvement (both Father Sullivan and Father Marzynski participate in school life). The school is the direct continuation of an academy opened by 15 Ursuline Sisters in 1890; today the Franciscan Apostolic Sisters from the Philippines serve the school community, as they have since August 1992.
- Preschool–8th grade Catholic school
- Principal: Dr. Ken Heinz
- Little Angels Preschool (3- and 4-year-olds)
- Kindergarten through 8th grade academics
- Taught in succession by Ursuline, then Benedictine Sisters of Yankton, since 1992 by the Franciscan Apostolic Sisters from the Philippines
Faith Formation & Youth
Religious education for parish children runs through the school day for Grades 1–8 (CCD coordinator: Cindy Lackey) and for high-schoolers through the GodTeens program. The Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (OCIA, formerly RCIA) meets on Tuesday evenings at 7:00 PM in Mandeville Hall.
- CCD for Grades 1–8 — coordinator Cindy Lackey
- GodTeens for Grades 9–12
- OCIA (RCIA) Tuesdays 7:00 PM in Mandeville Hall
- Little Angels Preschool faith formation
Parish Groups & Outreach
The parish supports a full roster of organizations for spirituality, fellowship, and service: the Knights of Columbus, Catholic Daughters (which offers a $1,000 scholarship for graduating Catholic seniors), the Legion of Mary, both Altar Societies, Parish Council, Bible Study, and a Meals on Wheels / York Home Meal Delivery volunteer team.
- Knights of Columbus
- Catholic Daughters (annual $1,000 scholarship for 2026 Catholic Senior)
- Legion of Mary
- St. Joseph Altar Society
- St. Patrick Altar Society
- Parish Council & Noon Book Study
- Meals on Wheels volunteer team
- Catholic Relief Services Rice Bowl collection
Sister Parish Mission: St. Patrick, McCool Junction
St. Joseph serves as the parish church for the mission church of St. Patrick in McCool Junction (305 East M Street, McCool Junction, NE 68401). St. Patrick celebrates Sunday Mass at 10:00 AM with confessions heard Sunday 9:30–9:50 AM, and shares the parish's clergy and bulletin ministry.
- Address: 305 East M St., McCool Junction, NE 68401
- Sunday Mass: 10:00 AM
- Sunday Confessions: 9:30–9:50 AM
- Separate St. Patrick Altar Society (Jane Seigel)
Visit & Contact
Parishioners and visitors can reach the Rectory by phone at (402) 362-4595 or by email at [email protected]. The parish office at 428 N. East Ave. is open Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 9:30 AM to 1:30 PM. The latest bulletin and ministry schedules are posted on the parish website, stjosephyork.com.
- Rectory: 402-362-4595
- Email: [email protected]
- Office hours: Mon/Wed/Fri 9:30 AM–1:30 PM
- Bulletin deadline: Tuesday noon prior to publication Sunday
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father William Byrne1877–1878
Founded the mission and organized the parish
- Father O'Brien1878–1880
- Father Wallace1880–1881
- Father C. J. Quinn (of Utica)1881–1882
- Father Lysaght1882–1888
First resident pastor of York
- Father John T. Lee1888–1890
Acquired property and laid cornerstone for brick church Sept. 30, 1890
- Monsignor Thomas Cullen1890–1933
Completed the new church; Ursuline Academy flourished under his tenure
- Father John F. Hennessey1933–?
- Reverend J.J. Carey
Served 1933–1960 era
- Monsignor Luke L. Mandeville
Served 1933–1960 era
- Father Clarence Reisdorff1960s
- Reverend Clement Green
A ten-bedroom convent was built during his pastorate
- Father Rawley Myers1966–1968
- Monsignor Jerome E. Murray1968–1974
Interior of church redecorated Jan. 1973
- Father William A. Kalin1974–1984
Organized construction of new school dedicated 1981
- Reverend John W. Kelly1984–1989
- Reverend M. James Divis1989–2000
Plans made for new church building
- Father Leo Seiker2000–2006
- Father Mark Tasler2006–2010
Died in 2010
- Monsignor James Reinert2010–2020
Died of cancer January 2020
- Reverend Denton Morris
Brief tenure before Father Sullivan
- Father John Sullivan2020–present
Current pastor, with Father Janusz Marzynski as Senior Parochial Vicar