About St. Mary · Ashland, Nebraska
St. Mary Catholic Church is a parish of the Diocese of Lincoln located at the corner of 17th and Adams Streets in Ashland, Nebraska. Founded in 1924 with just twelve founding families, the parish shares a pastor with its mission church, St. Joseph in nearby Greenwood, and the two communities worship and serve together. The parish is known for its warm small-town character, its 1957 stone church, a Grotto dedicated to Our Lady, the annual Harvest Fest, First Friday 24-hour Eucharistic Adoration, and active faith formation for both parishes through the St. Mary Education Center.
- Established
- 1924
- Patron
- The Blessed Virgin Mary (St. Mary)
- Rector
- Rev. Robert Matya
- Diocese
- Catholic Diocese of Lincoln (Deanery: Wahoo)
Why belong here
St. Mary offers the warmth and familiarity of a small-town Catholic community grounded in a century of faith. Parishioners gather for daily Mass, weekend Mass with confession beforehand, and 24-hour Eucharistic Adoration on First Fridays; they learn together through the CCD program at the Education Center; they serve others by providing meals for the Rock Youth Center; and they celebrate their heritage each fall at the annual Harvest Fest. Sharing a pastor with the mission parish of St. Joseph in Greenwood, St. Mary Ashland is a place where families can truly be known, pray together, and grow in discipleship.
Mass times at St. Mary
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 4:00 PM (before 5:00 PM Vigil Mass at St. Mary, Ashland)
- Sunday 10:10 AM (before 10:30 AM Mass at St. Mary, Ashland)
- Sunday 8:10 AM (before 8:30 AM Mass at St. Joseph, Greenwood)
- Daily: approximately 25 minutes before daily Masses
Adoration times
- First Friday 8:00 AM through First Saturday 8:00 AM — 24-hour Eucharistic Adoration with Benediction at 8:00 AM Saturday; drop-ins welcome and hourly sign-ups available by calling the rectory at 402-944-3554
History of St. Mary Parish, Ashland
Catholic life in Ashland began long before the parish existed. The first twelve Catholic families in the area had to travel — usually by train, which ran only twice a day — to Greenwood for Sunday Mass, often spending the whole day away from home. In 1900 Mrs. Edward Larkin gave Bishop Thomas Bonacum a deed to a lot in Ashland hoping its house could become a Catholic church, but renovations proved unworkable. It was Franciscan Father Philip Matuska, O.F.M., who began ministering to Catholics in Ashland and raising funds for a proper church. With a $1,000 grant from the Catholic Extension Society — which stipulated the parish be named St. Mary — and $200 from Bishop Charles O'Reilly, the parish bought a former Baptist church (built 1893), added a steeple, and Bishop Francis Beckman dedicated St. Mary on October 29, 1924. Franciscan Capuchins and Oblate Fathers served the parish until 1932, when priests from St. Mary Cathedral in Lincoln took over.
- Oct. 17, 1900 — Mrs. Edward Larkin donates land to Bishop Bonacum.
- 1924 — Parish founded with 12 families; old Baptist church renovated and dedicated by Bishop Francis Beckman, Oct. 29, 1924.
- 1932 — Care of parish passes to priests of St. Mary Cathedral, Lincoln.
- 1936–1949 — Msgr. Dennis Barry (pastor of Colon) travels to serve Ashland.
Building the Current Church
As Ashland grew, the original wooden structure could no longer hold the parish. After fundraising and another $5,000 gift from the Catholic Extension Society, ground was broken on March 18, 1956, for a new stone church. Msgr. Thomas Kealy dedicated the finished building on February 27, 1957. It seats 325 and was built at a cost of $60,000. In 1950 a new rectory had already been built and the parish had received its first resident priest — who also served St. Joseph in Greenwood.
- 1950 — New rectory built; first resident priest assigned.
- 1956 — Ground broken March 18 for the new stone church.
- 1957 — Current St. Mary Church dedicated by Msgr. Thomas Kealy, Feb. 27.
- 1980 — Bell tower built using the bell from the original 1893 church; Grotto dedicated to Our Lady constructed; garage and parking lot added.
Renovations and the Education Center
By 1970 the parish had grown to eighty-five families, and the next decade saw major additions to support faith formation and parish life. In 1981 the Education Center — containing seven classrooms and a library and serving both St. Mary and its mission parish St. Joseph in Greenwood — was erected. The interior of the church was extensively renovated in 2003–2004, and in the fall of 2004 the Monument to the Unborn was dedicated in front of the Education Center on Silver Street. In 2006–2007 the parish marked the 50th anniversary of the church building and the 25th anniversary of the Education Center; in November 2024 it celebrated its centennial with Bishop James Conley concelebrating.
- 1981 — Education Center built (7 classrooms + library, shared with St. Joseph).
- 2003–2004 — Extensive interior renovations to the church.
- Fall 2004 — Monument to the Unborn dedicated on Silver Street.
- 2006–2007 — 50th anniversary of the church; 25th anniversary of the Education Center.
- Nov. 3, 2024 — Centennial Mass celebrated with Bishop James Conley.
Faith Formation and Religious Education
Religious education for St. Mary and St. Joseph, Greenwood is centered at the St. Mary Education Center, built in 1981 with seven classrooms and a library. The CCD program is coordinated by Tayna Keith (402-944-2167), and the Education Center/Church Basement can be reached at 402-944-7509. The parish also maintains an active Youth Ministry.
- CCD / Religious Education — Coordinator Tayna Keith, 402-944-2167.
- St. Mary Education Center — 402-944-7509.
- Shared faith formation with St. Joseph, Greenwood.
- Youth Ministry — active program for parish young people.
Outreach and Community Life
St. Mary parishioners extend their faith beyond the church walls through service projects and parish-wide gatherings. The parish provides meals for the Rock Youth Center, with a sign-up sheet in the back of the church. Each fall the parish hosts the Harvest Fest, a community celebration featuring a smoked pork-loin dinner with homemade sides and desserts, a Bake Shoppe of homemade baked goods, a silent auction, and games. The parish also maintains the Monument to the Unborn on its grounds as a public witness to the pro-life cause.
- Meals provided for the Rock Youth Center (sign-up sheet in back of church).
- Annual Harvest Fest — smoked pork-loin dinner, Bake Shoppe, silent auction, games.
- Monument to the Unborn — parish grounds, dedicated 2004.
- Visits to Ashland Care Center (Wednesday Mass) and Oxbow Living Center (Saturday Mass).
Parish Staff and Contacts
St. Mary and its mission parish St. Joseph, Greenwood share a pastor and several staff members. The parish office is at the rectory, 1625 Adams St., Ashland, NE 68003.
- Pastor — Rev. Robert Matya.
- Rectory / Parish Phone — 402-944-3554.
- Parish Email — [email protected].
- CCD Coordinator — Tayna Keith, 402-944-2167.
- Education Center / Church Basement — 402-944-7509.
- Diocesan contact — Catholic Diocese of Lincoln (Deanery: Wahoo).
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Franciscan Capuchins and Oblate Fathers1924–1932
Served the new parish until 1932.
- Priests of St. Mary Cathedral, Lincoln1932–1936
Took over care of the parish from the Franciscans.
- Msgr. Dennis Barry1936–1949
Pastor of Colon who traveled to serve St. Mary, Ashland.
- Fr. Zygmund Rydz1979–1986
Served both St. Mary and St. Joseph Greenwood.
- Fr. Francis Murphy1986–1998
Served both parishes.
- Fr. Paul York1998–2004
Served both parishes.
- Fr. Gary Coulter2004–2013
Served both parishes.
- Fr. Thomas Auafter 2013
Listed as pastor on the historical parish website (frcoulter.com).
- Rev. Robert Matya
Current pastor per the Diocese of Lincoln parish directory.