About St. Mary · Nebraska City, Nebraska
St. Mary Catholic Church is an English-speaking Roman Catholic parish in Nebraska City, Nebraska, belonging to the Diocese of Lincoln. It was founded in 1869 by Irish-American Catholics who sought a parish separate from the German-language St. Benedict parish, and it remains the oldest parish in southern Nebraska established to bridge cultural-linguistic divisions. The current light-brick Romanesque church and attached rectory on the corner of First Avenue and Sixth Street were designed by architect Anton Kettler and dedicated by Bishop Kucera on July 12, 1942. The parish describes itself as 'a welcoming Catholic community, called by God to live out the message of Christ in love and service to all people,' offering daily Mass, perpetual adoration in the hospital chapel, CCD faith formation, the OCIA process, and an active network of lay organizations.
- Established
- 1869
- Patron
- The Blessed Virgin Mary (parish is called 'St. Mary'; the bell donated by Bishop Kucera was named for St. Anthony)
- Rector
- Father Thomas Schultes (2019–present)
- Diocese
- Diocese of Lincoln
Why belong here
St. Mary's offers daily Mass seven days a week, an unusually rich Eucharistic Adoration schedule (perpetual Monday morning through Thursday night in the hospital chapel and morning adoration in the church on weekdays), and a vibrant sacramental and devotional life — daily Rosary, Flame of Love Rosary on Thursdays, OCIA, Perpetual Adoration, Prayer Chain, and a strong Pro-Life ministry. Parishioners are visibly active in longstanding organizations like the Altar Society, Catholic Daughters of the Americas, Knights of Columbus Council 3152, and the Legion of Mary, and they support Lourdes Central Catholic School (PreK–12). For a Catholic moving to Nebraska City, it is a parish with deep roots, an active calendar, multiple daily Masses, and a clear mission of hospitality and faith sharing.
Mass times at St. Mary
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 4:00 – 5:00 p.m.
- Sunday 20 minutes before Mass
- By appointment — call the rectory
Adoration times
- St. Mary Church: Monday–Friday following the 6:20 a.m. Mass until the 8:00 a.m. Mass
- St. Mary's Hospital Chapel: Monday 6:00 a.m. through Thursday 11:59 p.m. (perpetual)
Parish History — From 1869 to Today
St. Mary was founded in December 1869 as the first English-speaking Catholic parish in southern Nebraska, growing out of tension with the German-only liturgy at St. Benedict's. Its first pastor, Father John McGoldrich, was ordained in 1870. The parish worshiped in Hawk's Hall, then a frame church, then a renovated Christian church bought at auction for $1,100, before moving into the present Romanesque church designed by Anton Kettler and dedicated in 1942. St. Mary was staffed by the Precious Blood Fathers from 1910 to 1983 and returned to diocesan clergy under Father Philip Rauth in 1983.
- Lots purchased Dec. 4, 1869 at Second Corso and Tenth Street
- McGoldrich ordained 1870, first pastor
- Precious Blood Fathers serve 1910–1983
- Current Romanesque church dedicated July 12, 1942
- Centennial Mass with Bishop Glennon P. Flavin — June 13, 1976
Architecture & the 1942 Church
Architect Anton Kettler designed the present light-brick Romanesque church and attached rectory in 1941. The building measures 72 feet wide by 126 feet long and cost an estimated $72,000. Bishop Kucera blessed the cornerstone on September 1, 1941, and dedicated the finished church on July 12, 1942. The Very Reverend Joseph M. Maraling, Provincial of the Precious Blood Fathers, preached at the dedication. Inside, the 1947 memorial stained-glass windows, the 1943 Stations of the Cross, and the bell named for St. Anthony (first rung June 20, 1942) all reflect generous parish giving.
- Light-brick Romanesque, 72 ft × 126 ft
- St. Anthony bell donated by Bishop Kucera
- Memorial windows installed 1947 ($12,795.80)
- 1,300-pound Daprato statue of Our Lady of Grace — Feb. 3, 1943
- Stations of the Cross erected March 7, 1943
Devotions: Rosary & Flame of Love
The parish maintains a strong devotion to the Blessed Mother. The Rosary is recited in church every day at 7:30 a.m., and the Flame of Love Rosary is prayed on Thursdays at 1:30 p.m. Other devotions highlighted in parish history include Divine Mercy Sunday, perpetual adoration, and parish retreats.
- Daily Rosary at 7:30 a.m. in church
- Flame of Love Rosary – Thursdays 1:30 p.m.
- Divine Mercy Sunday observance
- Parish retreats, missions, and Cup of Grace
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Children's CCD classes are held on Wednesdays from 5:30–6:45 p.m. at Lourdes Primary School (Grades 1–8) and Sundays 7:00–8:00 p.m. at St. Benedict Abbey (Grades 9–12). Lourdes Central Catholic School on Second Avenue serves Pre-School through 12th grade. The OCIA process (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults — formerly RCIA) meets Thursdays during the school year to gradually initiate catechumens and candidates into the Church.
- CCD Grades 1–8 — Wed 5:30–6:45 p.m., Lourdes Primary
- CCD Grades 9–12 — Sun 7:00–8:00 p.m., St. Benedict Abbey
- Lourdes Central Catholic School — Pre-K to 12, 412 Second Avenue, 402-873-6154
- OCIA — Thursdays 6:45–8:00 p.m. (Aug.–Dec. at St. Benedict Abbey; Jan.–May at St. Mary Church Hall)
- Adult Studies during Lent
Parish Organizations & Lay Life
St. Mary's has a deep bench of lay organizations that have shaped the parish for generations. The Altar Society (all women of the parish) cares for altar and sacristy supplies, prepares funeral dinners, and remembers the elderly and homebound. Catholic Daughters of the Americas provides scholarships and supports school activities; the Knights of Columbus Council 3152 emphasizes charity, unity, fraternity, and patriotism and actively supports Lourdes Central Catholic School. The Legion of Mary meets Wednesdays at 1:30 p.m. in the church hall for prayer and weekly legionary works such as visiting the homebound.
- Altar Society — last Wed of month, church hall (Pam Gress, Kathy Wigington)
- Knights of Columbus Council 3152 — first Tue of month (Jason Esser)
- Catholic Daughters of the Americas (Julie Volkmer)
- Legion of Mary — Wed 1:30 p.m. (Tom Wigington)
- Funeral Dinners — Mary Mills, Carline Moles
- Semi-Annual Rummage Sale
Spiritual Life & Sacramental Ministries
Beyond devotions, the parish maintains ministries of prayer, formation, and outreach. The Prayer Chain (Patrice Wulf, [email protected]) responds to individual prayer requests. Pro-Life Activities (Pam Gress, Noreen Harris) carry on the Church's witness to life, and the parish publishes weekly bulletins that keep parishioners informed of news, Mass intentions, and events.
- Prayer Chain – [email protected]
- Pro-Life Activities
- Daily Rosary Leader (Tom Wigington)
- Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration co-coordinators
- Cursillo, Marriage Encounter, Disciples in Mission
Getting Involved & Council
Parish governance is supported by a Parish / Finance Council that meets on the 2nd Tuesday of every 4th month (February, June, October) in the church hall. The parish's Communications team connects the parish to the local News-Press and B103 radio. Ministries are open to all parishioners, and contact information for ministry leaders is published on the parish website.
- Parish / Finance Council — 2nd Tue (Feb., June, Oct.)
- Communications — Suzi Martin
- Contact rectory at 402-873-3024 to get involved
Contact, Visit & Service Area
St. Mary Catholic Church is located at 218 N 6th Street, Nebraska City, NE 68410. The rectory can be reached at 402-873-3024 for appointments, including confession outside posted times, anointing of the sick, and sacramental preparation. The parish's history notes that its original pastors also tended the missions of Tecumseh, Brownville, and Turkey Creek.
- Address: 218 N 6th Street, Nebraska City, NE 68410
- Phone: 402-873-3024
- Web: stmarysnebraskacity.com
- Part of Diocese of Lincoln
- Historical mission territory: Tecumseh, Brownville, Turkey Creek
Pastors & rectors through the years
- John McGoldrich1870–
First pastor; celebrated first Mass in Hawk's Hall
- John Hayes1876–
Named pastor after Benedictines shepherded the parish
- B. Mackin1877
- Hugh Cumminskey1878–1879
- Eugene Cusson1879–1898
Renovated the old Christian church for parish use; died Feb 1, 1898
- Walter McDonald1898–1899
- William McKenna1899–1904
- Joseph T. Roche1904–1908
- Bernard Ulbrick1908–1909
- John E. Hahn1909–1910
- C. Vogelmann, C.P.P.S.1910–1911
Precious Blood Fathers begin 63-year tenure
- Ambrose Dows, C.P.P.S.1911–1912
- Bartholomew Besinger, C.P.P.S.1912–1914
- Theodore Sauer, C.P.P.S.1914–1925
- Rudolph Stolz, C.P.P.S.1925–1935
- Albert Gerhardstein, C.P.P.S.1936–1938
- Albin Bauer, C.P.P.S.1938–1953
Oversaw design and construction of the current Romanesque church and rectory
- Richard Steinmann, C.P.P.S.1953–1963
- George W. Heinzen, C.P.P.S.1963–1968
- Anthony Ley, C.P.P.S.1968–1979
- Paul Sattler, C.P.P.S.1979–1983
Last Precious Blood pastor before order's withdrawal
- Philip Rauth1983–1993
Returned parish to diocesan clergy after 63 years of C.P.P.S. ministry
- Steven Major1993–1998
- Michael McCabe1998–2018
Long-serving pastor of two decades
- Jonathan Haschke2018–2019
Continued at parish in residence from 2019
- Thomas Schultes2019–present
Current pastor