About St. Mary · Osceola, Nebraska
St. Mary (Pilzno) is a small rural Catholic mission church in Polk County, Nebraska, located about 12 miles north of the town of Osceola. Founded in 1891 by Polish immigrants from the township of Pilzno, Poland, it now serves as a mission church supported by St. Vincent Ferrer Parish in Osceola and is part of the Diocese of Lincoln's York Deanery. Weekend Mass is celebrated Saturday evening at 4:00 p.m., with confessions beforehand, and the parish is currently served by Fr. Allan Phan, pastor of St. Vincent Ferrer.
- Established
- 1891
- Patron
- The Blessed Virgin Mary (Nativity of the BVM)
- Rector
- Fr. Allan Phan
- Diocese
- Diocese of Lincoln
Why belong here
St. Mary (Pilzno) is a small, family-sized rural mission where parishioners know one another and the priest by name, and where Mass is celebrated in the Polish-rooted Catholic tradition that has defined this community since 1891. Worshippers share in a deep Marian devotion centered on the September 8 patronal feast, gather monthly for the Beers & Bonfires social, and join the larger Osceola-area Catholic family in CCD/CYO religious education, the Knights of Columbus, the Parish Council of Catholic Women, and the diocesan Hope of the Poor mission to street kids in Mexico City. For anyone seeking a quiet, faith-centered country parish with a vivid history and a generous spirit, St. Mary's offers a welcoming home.
Mass times at St. Mary
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday: 3:30 p.m. – 3:50 p.m. (at St. Mary)
- Monday–Friday: 7:30 a.m. – 7:50 a.m. (at St. Vincent Ferrer)
- Saturday: 2:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. (at St. Vincent Ferrer)
- Sunday: 7:30 a.m. – 7:50 a.m. (at St. Vincent Ferrer)
- Or by appointment
Parish History
St. Mary (Pilzno) traces its roots to 1891, when Polish farming families from the township of Pilzno, Poland, settled this stretch of northern Polk County and built a church of their own — before a single priest was available. Their appeal brought Bishop Thomas Bonacum to appoint Fr. Bobkiewicz as the first pastor; he slept in the east sacristy. Under Fr. J. Moneta (from 1893) the first rectory was built, and under Fr. Blacha (from 1910) the present church was constructed and dedicated on September 8, 1912, the Feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary. A 1942 rectory and a 1946 hall once rounded out the property, but both are now gone. The parish continues to bear fruit in vocations — most recently Fr. Mark Cyza, ordained in 2004.
- 1891 — Polish settlers build the first church themselves
- 1891 — Fr. Bobkiewicz becomes first pastor; lives in the east sacristy
- 1893 — Fr. J. Moneta appointed; first rectory built the following year
- 1910 — Fr. Blacha begins construction of the present church
- May 1912 — First Mass in the new church
- September 8, 1912 — Church dedicated on the Feast of the Nativity of the BVM
- 1942 — New rectory begun
- 1946 — New parish hall completed (since lost)
- May 2004 — Fr. Mark Cyza, a St. Mary's vocation, is ordained
Clergy & Staff
St. Mary (Pilzno) is served by Fr. Allan Phan, pastor of St. Vincent Ferrer Parish in Osceola, who also ministers to this mission. His residence and parish office are at the St. Vincent Ferrer rectory at 751 S. Nance St., Osceola. In an emergency when Fr. Phan cannot be reached, parishioners are asked to contact Fr. Litt in Shelby at 402-527-5425. The parish also shares in the ministry of Fr. Mark Cyza, a native son of St. Mary's ordained in 2004 who continues to serve the Diocese of Lincoln.
- Fr. Allan Phan — Pastor (St. Vincent Ferrer and St. Mary mission)
- Fr. Mark Cyza — Son of the parish, ordained May 2004
- Emergency backup: Fr. Litt, Shelby — 402-527-5425
Parish Ministries & Involvement
The parish's life is sustained by a wide range of lay ministries, social groups, and service apostolates. Liturgical roles (acolytes, lectors, altar servers, offertory gift bearers) carry the Mass; the Parish Council of Catholic Women (PCCW) coordinates service, fundraisers, and parish life; the Knights of Columbus offer Catholic men a brotherhood of faith and service; CCD/CYO provides faith formation for children in grades 1–12; and OCIA welcomes adults exploring the Catholic faith. Hospitality flows from the simple Coffee & Rolls after Mass, and the parish shares in the diocesan Hope of the Poor mission to drug-addicted street kids, homeless families, and people living at the city dump in Mexico City.
- Liturgical lay ministries: Acolytes, Lectors, Altar Servers, Offertory Gift Bearers
- Parish Council of Catholic Women (PCCW)
- Knights of Columbus
- CCD/CYO (faith formation, grades 1–12)
- OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults)
- Rosary Leaders
- Coffee & Rolls hospitality
- Hope of the Poor mission partnership
- Fundraisers: Polk County Fair food stand, January Soup Supper
Faith Formation: CCD/CYO & OCIA
CCD/CYO offers supplemental religious education for children in grades 1 through 12, helping parents lay a solid sacramental foundation and a relationship with Jesus through prayer, Gospel teaching, virtues, and service. Volunteers are always welcome in the classrooms. For adults, OCIA (the restored name for the former RCIA) walks inquirers through the four periods of formation — Evangelization and Precatechumenate, Catechumenate, Purification and Enlightenment, and Mystagogy — culminating in reception of the Sacraments of Initiation at the Easter Vigil.
- CCD/CYO for grades 1–12
- OCIA for adults — four periods of formation
- Sacraments of Initiation received at the Easter Vigil
- Volunteer opportunities in classrooms and activities
Devotions: The Rosary
The parish prays the Rosary as a family before Mass on the first Sunday of each month and every Sunday during the months of October (the Month of the Rosary) and Lent. Parishioners are invited to sign up to lead this prayer, and rosary guides are available. The parish website quotes St. Josemaria Escriva and St. John Paul II on the Rosary as a humble, theologically rich, and powerful weapon for these times.
- Rosary before Mass: 1st Sunday of every month
- Rosary before Mass: every Sunday in October and Lent
- Volunteer rosary leaders welcome; guides provided
Beers & Bonfires Social
One Sunday a month, weather and schedule permitting, St. Mary's hosts a Beers & Bonfires social on the parish grounds. It is a potluck-style gathering, BYOB and lawn chair, for parishioners and the pastor to get to know each other. There is plenty of space for kids to run around with yard games and kickball, and a fire is lit for s'mores when weather allows. Name tags are provided so everyone can learn one another's names. Summer hours run 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.; school-year hours run 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Visitors can come and go as they please.
- One Sunday a month (weather permitting)
- Potluck, BYOB, bring a lawn chair
- Yard games, kickball, s'mores by the fire
- Summer: 5:00–9:00 p.m.; School year: 5:00–8:00 p.m.
Hope of the Poor Mission
The parish partners with Hope of the Poor, a Diocese of Lincoln apostolate founded in 2013 by Nebraskans Craig Johring and Danny Leger. Its mission field is drug-addicted street kids, homeless families, and people who live at the city dump. The apostolate feeds the poor, rents homes to take families off the street, and works with employers to find them jobs — but, as St. Mother Teresa often said, the greatest poverty is being unloved. Hope of the Poor works to inspire all generations to radically love and bring hope to the hopeless, and the parish is one of many sending mission trips to serve in Mexico City.
- Founded 2013 by Craig Johring and Danny Leger
- Serves street kids, homeless families, and people at the city dump
- Feeds the poor, provides housing, finds jobs
- Parish joins diocesan mission trips to Mexico City
Contact & Visiting
The parish office and priest's residence are at St. Vincent Ferrer, 751 S. Nance St., Osceola, NE 68651, and the mailing address for both churches is PO Box 212, Osceola, NE 68651. The office number is 402-747-3491. For emergencies when Fr. Phan cannot be reached, call Fr. Litt in Shelby at 402-527-5425. From the town of Osceola, take Hwy 81 north 3 miles, turn left on County Rd Q, go north 9 miles, then turn left on County Rd 140 to reach the church.
- Mailing address: PO Box 212, Osceola, NE 68651
- Office: 402-747-3491
- Emergencies: 402-647-0805
- Backup priest: Fr. Litt, Shelby — 402-527-5425
- Directions: Hwy 81 N 3 mi → County Rd Q N 9 mi → County Rd 140 W
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Bobkiewicz1891–c.1893
First pastor, appointed by Bishop Thomas Bonacum; slept in the east sacristy as no rectory yet existed.
- Fr. J. Monetafrom 1893
Came from Austria-Poland; first rectory built the year after his arrival.
- Fr. Blachafrom 1910
Built the present church, dedicated September 8, 1912.