About St. Mary · Elmwood, Nebraska
St. Mary Catholic Church is a small mission parish in the village of Elmwood, Cass County, Nebraska, served by the Diocese of Lincoln and currently pastored by Father Jason Doher. It is paired with St. Patrick Catholic Church in nearby Manley, with the two parishes sharing a pastor, staff, mailing address (P.O. Box 27, Manley, NE 68403), and most ministries. Mass is celebrated at St. Mary's on Sundays at 9:00 a.m., and confessions are heard before each Mass. The parish belongs to the Plattsmouth Deanery of the diocese and is identified by GCatholic as a mission of St. Patrick, Manley.
- Patron
- The Blessed Virgin Mary (parish name 'St. Mary'; specific patron title not stated on the parish's public pages)
- Rector
- Rev. Jason Doher (Father Jason Doher)
- Diocese
- Diocese of Lincoln (Deanery: Plattsmouth)
Why belong here
St. Mary in Elmwood is a welcoming, family-sized Catholic community where — as Father Jason Doher puts it — 'St. Mary parishioners have always responded well to events.' Mass is celebrated each Sunday, confessions are heard before every Mass, and the parish shares a robust ministry roster with its sister mission St. Patrick in Manley, including OCIA classes, K-8 CCD & Youth Group, a combined choir, Men's Group, Small Groups, Prayer Chain, Altar Society, and the usual liturgical guilds of greeters, lectors, acolytes, and altar servers. For Catholics living in or visiting rural Cass County — east of Lincoln and south of the Platte — it offers a faithful Sunday worship home with strong lay involvement and a pastor who emphasizes both the Eucharist and the parish as a gathered community.
Mass times at St. Mary
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Sunday: 30 minutes before each Mass
- Saturday: 30 minutes before Mass (at St. Patrick, Manley)
About St. Mary Catholic Church
St. Mary is a Catholic mission parish in the village of Elmwood, Cass County, Nebraska, entrusted to the pastoral care of the Diocese of Lincoln. It is formally listed as a mission of St. Patrick, Manley — meaning that the two parishes share one pastor and operate as a single pastoral unit for scheduling, finances, and ministry. The church sits at 500 West G Street in Elmwood and serves Catholic families in the rural area south of the Platte River and east of Lincoln.
Parish Identity
- Type: Mission (Mission of St. Patrick, Manley)
- Diocese: Diocese of Lincoln
- Deanery: Plattsmouth
- Rite: Roman (Latin)
- Patron: The Blessed Virgin Mary
- GCatholic Church ID: 36935
- Address: 500 W G St., Elmwood, NE 68349
- Phone: (402) 234-3595
Pastor and Staff
St. Mary is served by Father Jason Doher, who is pastor of both St. Patrick (Manley) and St. Mary (Elmwood). Father Doher has been quoted in the diocesan Register newspaper praising his parishioners' generosity and noting the importance of lay gifts of time and talent alongside financial stewardship. The shared mailing address (P.O. Box 27, Manley, NE 68403) is the main point of contact for both parishes.
- Rev. Jason Doher — Pastor (St. Patrick, Manley & St. Mary, Elmwood)
- Shared parish office: 107 Broadway St., Manley, NE 68403
- Parish phone: (402) 234-3595
History of the Parish
St. Mary's public-facing history online is limited, but diocesan and Catholic-directory sources confirm it has been a long-standing Catholic presence in Elmwood, Cass County. Today it functions as a mission of St. Patrick, Manley. Notable recent milestones include the 2023 retirement of longtime combined-parish organist Regina Colbert (78 years / ~10,000 Masses) and the first 'Dinner with the Saints' parish fundraiser organized by Father Doher, which drew 42 guests to support the parish.
- Status today: Mission of St. Patrick, Manley (Diocese of Lincoln)
- 2023: Regina Colbert retires after 78 years as organist for both parishes
- Recent parish event: 'Dinner with the Saints' fundraiser hosted by Fr. Jason Doher
Ministries and Groups
Because St. Mary and St. Patrick share one pastor, the two parishes also share most lay ministries and groups. These cover liturgical service, faith formation for children and adults, fellowship, and prayer support. New members are encouraged to get involved through the shared parish office.
- Mass Greeters
- Altar Servers
- Lectors (Readers)
- Acolytes
- Choir and Musicians (combined parish choir)
- K-8 CCD & Youth Group
- OCIA Classes (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults)
- Men's Group
- Small Groups
- Prayer Chain
- Altar Society
- Baptism preparation
Faith Formation
Faith formation for children in grades K-8 is offered through a shared CCD and Youth Group program. Adults preparing for full initiation into the Catholic Church are served by OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults) classes. Both programs are coordinated jointly between St. Mary and St. Patrick.
- K-8 CCD & Youth Group (shared between the two parishes)
- OCIA Classes for adult initiation
- Baptism preparation for parents and godparents
Sacraments
Information about the sacraments is coordinated through the shared parish office. The public site highlights Baptism preparation specifically and points would-be spouses, the sick, and others to the pastor.
- Baptism — preparation available; contact the parish office
- First Communion / Confirmation — through K-8 CCD program
- OCIA — adult initiation through the OCIA Classes
- Matrimony, Anointing of the Sick, and other sacraments — by contacting Fr. Jason Doher through the shared office
Music and Liturgy
Liturgical music is supported by a combined parish choir and musicians from both St. Patrick and St. Mary. Father Doher has publicly emphasized that 'music is a vital and essential part of liturgy,' particularly honoring the decades-long service of organist Regina Colbert, who played for both parishes for 78 years before retiring in March 2023.
- Combined parish Choir and Musicians
- Greeters, Lectors, Acolytes, and Altar Servers serve the liturgies
- Father Doher has highlighted the importance of sacred music in parish worship
Parish Life and Events
St. Mary is a small but socially active community. Father Doher has noted that parishioners 'have always responded well to events.' The parish has hosted social and fundraising gatherings such as the 'Dinner with the Saints' dinner, which paired a meal with reflection on the Communion of Saints and raised funds for the parish.
- Parish social events and fundraisers coordinated with St. Patrick, Manley
- Parish bulletin is the primary channel for current event information
- Men's Group, Small Groups, and Prayer Chain support fellowship and ongoing spiritual growth
Contact and Location
The easiest way to reach the parish is through the shared St. Patrick / St. Mary parish office and mailing address. St. Mary's physical church building is at 500 West G Street in Elmwood; Mass is celebrated there on Sundays.
- St. Mary Church address: 500 West G Street, Elmwood, NE 68349
- Shared parish office / mailing address: P.O. Box 27, 107 Broadway St., Manley, NE 68403
- Phone: (402) 234-3595
- Diocese: Diocese of Lincoln (Deanery: Plattsmouth)
- Parish boundary map: see Diocese of Lincoln directory
Getting Involved
New parishioners and visitors are warmly welcomed. The parish invites participation across the full range of shared ministries — from liturgical service (greeters, lectors, altar servers, choir) to formation (CCD, OCIA) and fellowship (Men's Group, Small Groups, Altar Society).
- Join the Choir and Musicians
- Serve as Lector, Acolyte, Altar Server, or Greeter
- Volunteer for K-8 CCD or Youth Group
- Join the Men's Group, Small Groups, or Prayer Chain
- Contact the parish office to learn about the Altar Society and other parish activities