About St. Mary · Cedar Bluffs, Nebraska
St. Mary Catholic Church in Cedar Bluffs, Nebraska is a small mission parish of the Diocese of Lincoln, partnered with St. Joseph Parish in nearby Colon since 1985. Located in the village of Cedar Bluffs in Saunders County at 207 S. 3rd Street, the parish shares its pastor and pastoral staff with St. Joseph's and offers Sunday Mass at 10:00 a.m. The congregation worships in a church building whose cornerstone was laid in 1917 and dedicated in June 1918 by Bishop J. O'Reilly, on land rooted in the pioneer Catholic settlement of Saunders County. Today St. Mary's continues to serve as a welcoming rural mission community under the leadership of Fr. Luke Fleck, with weekly Liturgy, monthly parish breakfasts, mission outreach and the Sacraments at the heart of parish life.
- Established
- 1918
- Patron
- The Blessed Virgin Mary
- Rector
- Rev. Luke Fleck
- Diocese
- Diocese of Lincoln (Lincoln Deanery: Wahoo)
Why belong here
St. Mary is a small, rural mission parish where everyone knows each other by name, yet it is paired with neighboring St. Joseph's in Colon to offer a full sacramental life — daily and Sunday Mass, regular Confession, Eucharistic Adoration, RCIA, marriage and baptism preparation, and a part-time parish secretary to support growing pastoral needs. The community gathers for weekly Liturgy, monthly parish breakfasts, active mission outreach, and involvement in broader community initiatives, making it a warm place to encounter Jesus in the Eucharist and to put faith into service.
Mass times at St. Mary
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Sunday: 9:30–9:50 a.m. at St. Mary's (20 minutes before Mass)
- Saturday: 4:30–4:50 p.m. at St. Joseph's, Colon (20 minutes before Mass)
- Sunday: 7:30–7:50 a.m. at St. Joseph's, Colon
- Weekdays at St. Joseph's, Colon: 20 minutes before Mass
- Or by appointment — call the parish office
Adoration times
- Eucharistic Exposition at St. Joseph's, Colon: Saturdays 4:00–4:50 p.m., Sundays 7:00–7:50 a.m., and Wednesdays 7:00 a.m.–1:00 p.m. (year-round)
Parish Identity & Mission
St. Mary in Cedar Bluffs is a mission parish of the Diocese of Lincoln in the Wahoo Deanery, sharing pastoral leadership with St. Joseph Parish in Colon. The two parishes together describe themselves as 'a place of community, faith, and mission' whose goal is 'to foster a sense of community, provide spiritual guidance, and engage in the great commission of Jesus for all.' Weekly Liturgy, monthly parish breakfasts, mission work, and involvement in local community initiatives form the backbone of parish life.
- Diocese of Lincoln — Wahoo Deanery
- Mission to St. Joseph, Colon
- Joint pastoral team with St. Joseph's
- Part of the larger Wahoo Deanery Council of Catholic Women
History of St. Mary Parish
Catholic life in the Cedar Bluffs area began in 1869 when Father Shine of St. Patrick's in Fremont forded the Platte River to say Mass in Michael Malloy's dug-out for Irish, German, and Czech pioneer families. The settlers built their first church on three acres donated by Patrick Malloy Sr. in 1873, originally called St. Patrick's and later renamed St. Augustine's — the 'Mother Church' of Saunders County. In 1917 Bishop J. O'Reilly ordered a new church built in the village of Cedar Bluffs; the cornerstone was laid September 16, 1917, the church was dedicated in June 1918, and Father Timothy Corcoran was installed as the first resident pastor.
- 1869 — First Mass in Michael Malloy's dug-out by Father Shine
- 1873 — First church built on Patrick Malloy Sr.'s donated land (St. Mary's Cemetery)
- 1873–1884 — Known as St. Patrick's
- 1884–1918 — Renamed St. Augustine's of Malloy/Malice Settlement
- 1917 — Cornerstone of the present church laid
- 1918 — Church dedicated in June by Bishop J. O'Reilly; St. Mary's Parish formally established
- 1921–~1960 — Operated St. Theresa's in Estina as a mission
- 1985 — Named a mission of St. Joseph, Colon
- 1985–1998 — Major building and grounds improvements
Church Building & Grounds
The present church was constructed in 1917–1918 under Father Joseph Stockinger and dedicated in June 1918. During a concentrated 1985–1998 improvement campaign the rectory was sold, the main entrance was made handicap-accessible with new front steps, glass doors and etched-glass panels were installed, the chimney was removed, a donated heating and air-conditioning system was added, and a new keyboard was purchased for liturgical music.
- Cornerstone: September 16, 1917
- Dedication: June 1918 by Bishop J. O'Reilly
- Handicap-accessible front entrance with glass doors and etched-glass panels
- New HVAC system donated
- New keyboard for liturgical music
Parish Staff & Clergy
St. Mary's is currently served by Rev. Luke Fleck, who also pastors St. Joseph's in Colon. In a recent parish letter Fr. Fleck noted that the joint parishes had celebrated over 25 baptisms during his first two years and that a part-time parish secretary was being added to help manage the growing administrative needs.
- Pastor — Rev. Luke Fleck
- Part-time parish secretary (recently added)
- Shared parish office email: [email protected]
Pastoral Succession
St. Mary's has been served by a long line of priests since its 1918 dedication. The succession began with Father Timothy Corcoran as the first resident pastor and continued through the late twentieth century with Father Edward Orzechowski listed as the pastor in the 1983 Saunders County history.
- Father Timothy Corcoran (first resident pastor, 1918)
- Father J.M. Van DeValle
- Father Henry Wattelle
- Father Paul Ulenberg
- Father William A. Murphy
- Father (later Msgr.) Raymond Wageman
- Father Oscar Schlacter
- Father Anthony T. Trausch
- Father John M. Kozlik
- Father Verness Ketter
- Father Harold Birkel
- Father Edward Orzechowski (pastor in 1983)
- Rev. Luke Fleck (current pastor)
Parish Ministries & Community Life
Beyond Sunday Mass, St. Mary's and its partner St. Joseph's offer a range of lay ministries and community activities. A published Minister Schedule assigns lectors, servers, and other liturgical roles; the parish women's group (PCCW) supports parish life through fundraisers and service; and the community gathers for monthly breakfasts and outreach initiatives.
- Liturgical ministry schedule (lectors, servers, etc.)
- Monthly parish breakfasts
- Mission and outreach work
- Parish Council of Catholic Women (PCCW) — Wahoo Deanery activities, fundraisers, support for Confirmation candidates and First Communicants
- Joint community initiatives with St. Joseph's, Colon
Sacraments & Sacramental Preparation
Through the joint pastoral team with St. Joseph's, the parish offers all seven Sacraments. Confession is available before every Mass and by appointment; Baptism, Marriage preparation, and other sacramental needs are coordinated through the parish office, with marriage preparation supported by the Diocese of Lincoln Office of Family Life & Discipleship.
- Baptism (over 25 celebrated under current pastor)
- Reconciliation (Confession) before Mass and by appointment
- Eucharist (daily and Sunday Mass, plus Adoration)
- Confirmation — prepared with parish and diocesan support
- Matrimony — preparation via the Diocese of Lincoln
- Anointing of the Sick and other pastoral rites by request
Visiting & Contact
St. Mary's shares its office, phone, and email with St. Joseph's, Colon. The mailing address is the Colon PO Box, and the parish office phone and email are the primary point of contact for scheduling Mass intentions, sacramental preparation, and parish registration.
- Street address: 207 S. 3rd Street, Cedar Bluffs, NE 68015
- Mailing address: PO Box 58, Colon, NE 68018
- Parish office phone: (402) 647-4901
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: https://www.stjosephstmary.org/
- Bulletin and ministry schedules posted on the website
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father Timothy Corcoran1918–
First resident pastor of St. Mary's Parish; built the rectory.
- Father J.M. Van DeValle
Successor to Father Corcoran.
- Father Henry Wattelle
- Father Paul Ulenberg
- Father William A. Murphy
- Father (later Msgr.) Raymond Wageman
Later elevated to Monsignor.
- Father Oscar Schlacter
- Father Anthony T. Trausch
- Father John M. Kozlik
- Father Verness Ketter
- Father Harold Birkel
- Father Edward Orzechowski
Listed in 1983 Saunders County history as the then-present pastor.