About St. Mary · Davey, Nebraska
St. Mary Catholic Church is a rural parish serving the small village of Davey in northern Lancaster County, Nebraska, within the Wahoo Deanery of the Diocese of Lincoln. The parish traces its roots to the Irish Catholic settlers of Rock Creek Precinct in the 1860s and 1870s, with the first Mass celebrated in 1871 and the first resident pastor, Rev. William Murphy, arriving in 1887. Today's brick church was built in 1923 after the original wooden structure was destroyed by fire in 1919. Now past its 150th anniversary, St. Mary's draws families from northern Lancaster and southern Saunders counties and continues to grow as families move out from nearby Lincoln.
- Established
- 1871
- Patron
- The Blessed Virgin Mary (parish name)
- Rector
- Fr. Joseph Wahlmeier
- Diocese
- Diocese of Lincoln (Wahoo Deanery)
Why belong here
St. Mary in Davey offers a small, multigenerational Catholic community rooted in 150-plus years of Irish-Catholic heritage, with three weekend Masses, daily Mass Monday through Friday, and Confessions before each Sunday Mass. Active ministries — CCD religious education for grades 1–8, a vibrant Altar Society with four specialized groups (P.R.A.I.S.E., Social, Maria Goretti, and Consolation), the Knights of Columbus, a Music Ministry, and a Prayer Chain — give every age and family a way to plug in. As families move out from Lincoln into the rural parishes to the north, St. Mary's warmly welcomes new members into a close-knit country parish where the 1923 brick church still anchors the village.
Mass times at St. Mary
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 5:00–5:25 p.m.
- Sunday 7:30–7:55 a.m.
- Sunday 9:30–9:55 a.m.
- Or anytime by appointment
Parish History
St. Mary's in Davey descends from the Irish Catholic settlement of Rock Creek Precinct, Lancaster County, where the first Mass was offered in 1871. St. Patrick's — built on land from Patrick McGeer at 40th and Agnew Road and dedicated in 1878 — served as the original church, with the cemetery still located at that site. In 1887 Rev. William Murphy became the first resident pastor. After the railroad brought the town of Davey into being in 1886, a 'South Irish' group purchased the local Methodist church in 1901 to serve as a more centralized Catholic church; that wooden structure burned in 1919, and the present brick church was built in its place and dedicated in 1923. A new rectory across the street was finished in April 1998. The parish marked its 150th anniversary in 2020, with the in-person celebration postponed to August 2021 due to the pandemic.
Worship & Sacraments
St. Mary's offers three weekend Masses, daily Mass Monday through Friday, and frequent opportunities for Confession. Weekend Confessions are heard before every Sunday Mass in the church, and the parish Sunday Rosary at 7:35 a.m. is led by the Knights of Columbus.
- Saturday Vigil Mass — 5:30 p.m.
- Sunday Masses — 8:00 a.m. and 10:00 a.m.
- Daily Mass — Monday 11:30 a.m.; Tuesday–Friday 7:00 a.m.
- Confessions — Saturday 5:00–5:25 p.m.; Sunday 7:30–7:55 a.m. and 9:30–9:55 a.m.; or by appointment
- Parish Rosary — every Sunday at 7:35 a.m. in the church
Faith Formation — CCD
St. Mary's CCD (Confraternity of Christian Doctrine) program educates parish children in grades 1 through 8 who do not attend Catholic school. Classes meet on Wednesdays from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m., with registration at the end of August and sessions running September through May. The program partners with parents as the primary educators of their children in faith and prepares 2nd graders for Reconciliation and First Eucharist and 5th–7th graders for Confirmation.
- CCD Coordinator: Mary Meister
- Classes for grades 1–8
- Wednesdays 6:30–8:00 p.m., September–May
- Sacramental prep for First Reconciliation, First Eucharist, and Confirmation
Parish Life & Ministries
St. Mary's parishioners are organized into a rich web of lay ministries. The Altar Society unites all women of the parish under four subgroups — P.R.A.I.S.E., Social, Maria Goretti, and Circle of Consolation — each dedicated to a distinct service. The local Knights of Columbus council supports parish and community needs, leads the Sunday Rosary, and gathers for monthly meetings. A Music Ministry enlists volunteer vocalists and instrumentalists for Mass and special occasions, and a Prayer Chain offers ongoing prayer support.
- Altar Society (President: Karla Lechtenberg)
- P.R.A.I.S.E. group — prayer chain, choir, liturgy, adoration, Christmas caroling, elderly rides
- Social group — welcomes, family events, fundraisers, parish picnic, potlucks
- Maria Goretti group — supports parish youth and sacramental milestones
- Circle of Consolation — funeral dinners and outreach to the grieving and ill
- Knights of Columbus (Grand Knight: Randy Scanlon)
- Music Ministry (Choir Director: Karen Gokie)
- Prayer Chain (Marty Minchow, 402-785-7885)
Staff & Leadership
St. Mary's current pastor is Fr. Joseph Wahlmeier, who also teaches at St. Gregory the Great Seminary in Seward. Sophia Custer serves as Church Secretary and Bookkeeper, Mary Meister coordinates CCD, Karen Gokie directs the choir, and Denis Herman is Financial Secretary. Trustees are Rob Miler and Sue Allen.
- Pastor — Fr. Joseph Wahlmeier
- Church Secretary / Bookkeeper — Sophia Custer
- CCD Coordinator — Mary Meister
- Choir Director — Karen Gokie
- Financial Secretary — Denis Herman
- Trustees — Rob Miler & Sue Allen
- Prayer Chain — Marty Minchow
Diocese & Deanery
St. Mary's is one of the parishes of the Diocese of Lincoln, Nebraska, and falls within its Wahoo Deanery.
- Diocese of Lincoln
- Wahoo Deanery
Parish Cemetery
The St. Mary parish cemetery remains at the original site of St. Patrick's church at 40th and Agnew Road in rural Lancaster County — the location of the parish's very first Catholic cemetery.
- Original 1878 cemetery at 40th and Agnew Road
- Still in use by the parish
Visit, Register & Get Involved
St. Mary's welcomes new parishioners and visitors. Mass is offered three times each weekend plus daily, and Confessions are heard before every Sunday Mass or by appointment. Those who wish to formally register with the parish are asked to contact the pastor by email.
- Rectory phone: 402-785-3445
- Parish email: [email protected]
- Website: stmarydavey.org
- Address: 17630 N. 3rd Street, Davey, NE 68336
- Mailing: PO Box 37, Davey, NE 68336
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. William Murphy1887-
First resident pastor of the parish (formerly St. Patrick's). Priests of Lincoln cared for the Irish Catholics before his arrival.
- Fr. Douglas Dietrich
Listed as pastor in parish bulletins dated July–August 2024; immediately preceded Fr. Wahlmeier.
- Fr. Joseph Wahlmeier
Current pastor per the parish staff page and Lincoln Diocese articles; also an instructor at St. Gregory the Great Seminary in Seward.