About St. Mary · Leigh, Nebraska
St. Mary Catholic Church is a small rural parish in the village of Leigh, Nebraska, founded in 1900 and named for the Blessed Virgin Mary, whose feast — the Assumption on August 15 — is the parish's titular celebration. It is one of five parishes that together form the Family of God Catholic Parishes in east-central Nebraska (with Holy Family in Lindsay, St. Francis in Humphrey, St. Michael in Tarnov, and Ss. Cyril & Methodius in Clarkson). The current church building dates to 1969, and Sunday Mass is celebrated at 8:30 AM with confessions heard beforehand by the priests who pastor the cluster.
- Established
- 1900
- Patron
- Blessed Virgin Mary
- Rector
- Rev. Taylor J. Leffler
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Omaha
Why belong here
St. Mary is a welcoming rural parish with deep roots in Leigh since 1900, now part of a five-parish Family of God cluster that shares priests and resources so Mass, confession, faith formation, and the sacraments are steadily available. Parishioners find a real community here: an active Altar Society, a Knights of Columbus council, a quilting group, a parish cemetery committee, a Parish Religious Education program for the children, and a Parish Council that keeps the parish grounded in its members' lives. If you're looking for a small, faithful, family-style Catholic parish in east-central Nebraska where everyone knows your name and the Blessed Virgin Mary is honored at her Assumption each August, St. Mary's Leigh is the place.
Mass times at St. Mary
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Sunday 8:00–8:20 AM (before Mass), with Fr. Taylor Leffler and Fr. Dan Wittrock
About St. Mary Catholic Church
St. Mary Catholic Church sits at 319 N Oak Street in the village of Leigh, Nebraska, and is the Catholic parish home for families across this part of Colfax County. The parish was founded in 1900 and is named for the Blessed Virgin Mary, whose Solemnity of the Assumption on August 15 is celebrated as the parish feast each year. The current church building was constructed in 1969 and continues to host the parish's Sunday worship, sacraments, and community life. St. Mary is one of five parishes that together make up the Family of God Catholic Parishes in east-central Nebraska, sharing clergy and programs with Holy Family in Lindsay, St. Francis of Assisi in Humphrey, St. Michael in Tarnov, and Ss. Cyril & Methodius in Clarkson. Despite its small size, St. Mary's maintains a full roster of lay leaders, parish staff, and ministry organizations that keep the parish active week to week.
- Founded 1900 in Leigh, Nebraska
- Named for the Blessed Virgin Mary
- Feast day: Assumption of Mary, August 15
- Current church building built in 1969
- Member of the Family of God Catholic Parishes cluster
Parish Staff and Clergy
The parish is shepherded by priests who serve the broader Family of God cluster, and supported by a small staff of lay leaders handling the parish's day-to-day ministry, finances, music, faith formation, and grounds.
- Rev. Taylor J. Leffler — Pastor
- Rev. Daniel L. Wittrock — Senior Associate Pastor
- Gary Wieseler — Parish Bookkeeper
- Melissa Brabec — Parish Secretary
- Kendra Dvorak — Director of Parish Religious Education (PRE)
- Rita Reichmuth — Organist / Liturgist
- Mark Kabes — Cemetery Contact
Parish Council and Parish Leaders
St. Mary is led in its pastoral planning and community life by a Parish Council of elected lay members, alongside the presidents of the parish's main organizations. Together they guide the parish's mission, finances, and events.
- Parish Council: Marcus Urban, Myles Kabes, Tom Reichmuth, Bryan Mohnson, Michelle Wendt, Joan Hollatz
- Altar Society President: Joan Hollatz
- Knights of Columbus Grand Knight: Sam H.
- Prayer Line: available through the parish office
Parish Ministries and Organizations
The parish offers a wide range of ministries so that members of every age and interest can find a way to participate. Liturgical roles are filled by trained laypeople, and the parish's social and service arms — Altar Society, Knights of Columbus, and the Quilters — keep the community connected throughout the year.
- Altar Society
- Knights of Columbus
- Parish Quilters
- Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion (EMHC)
- Lectors
- Altar Servers
- Liturgical Music ministry (Organist Rita Reichmuth)
- Funeral ministry
- Beautification of Church and Cemetery Grounds
- Prayer Line
- Stewardship and volunteer signup (Administrative tasks, EMHC, Lector, Liturgical Music, Serving at Mass, Funerals, Beautification, Other)
Faith Formation — Parish Religious Education (PRE)
Parish Religious Education (PRE) provides faith formation and Sacramental preparation for youth in the Family of God parishes who do not attend a Catholic school. Through weekly classes led by dedicated catechists, young parishioners grow in their understanding of the Catholic faith, receive preparation for their Sacraments, and deepen their relationship with Christ within the life of the parish community.
- Director of PRE (St. Mary): Kendra Dvorak
- Weekly catechetical classes
- Sacramental preparation for youth
- Cluster-wide PRE program across the Family of God parishes
Parish Cemetery
St. Mary maintains a parish cemetery that is part of its ongoing care for the community, both living and deceased. Volunteers assist with the beautification of the church and cemetery grounds throughout the year.
- Cemetery contact: Mark Kabes
- Beautification of Church and Cemetery Grounds is an active volunteer ministry
- Cemetery matters handled through the parish office
Family of God Catholic Parishes (Cluster)
St. Mary is one of five parishes that together form the Family of God Catholic Parishes, a rural pastoral grouping in east-central Nebraska under the Archdiocese of Omaha. The cluster shares priests and resources, publishes a unified Mass and Confession schedule, and runs regional programs such as Parish Religious Education and stewardship. Together the parishes represent one body in Christ across the small towns of Leigh, Lindsay, Humphrey, Tarnov, and Clarkson.
- Holy Family Parish — Lindsay, NE (Fr. Taylor Leffler, Pastor; Fr. Dan Wittrock, Senior Associate)
- St. Francis of Assisi Parish — Humphrey, NE
- St. Mary Parish — Leigh, NE
- St. Michael Parish — Tarnov, NE
- Ss. Cyril & Methodius Parish — Clarkson, NE
- Cluster-wide unified Mass & Confession schedule
- Cluster PRE program
Visit, Contact, and Getting Involved
New parishioners and visitors are warmly welcomed. The parish office can be reached by phone, email, or in person, and there is an online contact form on the Family of God website for stewardship sign-ups and general inquiries. Stewardship opportunities are listed across liturgical, administrative, and grounds-keeping roles so newcomers can serve in a way that fits their gifts.
- Address: 319 Oak Street, PO Box 385, Leigh, NE 68643
- Parish phone: (402) 487-2666
- Father Taylor Leffler: (402) 923-0913
- Email: [email protected]
- New parishioner form on the Family of God website
- Stewardship sign-up via ourfamilyofgod.org/stewardship
- Facebook: 'St. Mary's Catholic Church-Leigh, NE'