About St. Mary · Shickley, Nebraska
St. Mary is a small Catholic mission parish in the village of Shickley, in Fillmore County, Nebraska, belonging to the Diocese of Lincoln (York Deanery). It is administered as a mission to St. Joseph Church in nearby Geneva, sharing its pastor and mailing address. The parish celebrates one Sunday Mass each week at 8:00 a.m., preceded by Sunday confessions from 7:30–7:50 a.m., in its church at 703 Swartzendruber Drive. Its roots stretch back to 1878, when ten German Catholic families from Wisconsin founded St. Mary's of Turkey Creek on the prairie four miles north of today's Shickley.
- Established
- 1878
- Patron
- Blessed Virgin Mary
- Rector
- Rev. Craig Doty
- Diocese
- Diocese of Lincoln
Why belong here
St. Mary is a small but living rural Catholic community with deep pioneer roots: ten German families from Wisconsin built it in 1878, and four vocations from its families testify to its continuing witness. Worship is intimate and faithful — one Sunday Mass at 8:00 a.m. with confessions beforehand — and the parish's Altar Society keeps the women of the parish active in service through quilt-making, food drives for Catholic Social Services, and diaper and baby-shower drives for Birthright. As a mission to St. Joseph in Geneva, it shares the pastoral care of a priest dedicated to the wider cluster of country parishes in the York Deanery.
Mass times at St. Mary
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Sunday 7:30–7:50 a.m.
History & Heritage
St. Mary traces its origin to 1878, when ten German Catholic families from Wisconsin homesteaded in the western part of newly organized Fillmore County, Nebraska. The first Mass in the settlement was celebrated in 1875 by Father F. Lechleitner of Crete, and the first church was built in 1879 by parishioners Peter Gergen, John Marson, and the architect-builder Mr. Schommer. The parish was formally organized in 1916, and in 1984 the present church was built in the village of Shickley, incorporating the stained glass windows, six main statues, and bell of the old Turkey Creek church.
- Founded 1878 by 10 German families from Wisconsin
- Originally St. Mary's of Turkey Creek, 4 miles north of Shickley
- First church built 1879 by Peter Gergen, John Marson, and Mr. Schommer
- Larger church built c. 1892–1894; parish formally erected 1916
- Present village church built 1984, preserving old stained glass, statues, and bell
- Four priestly and religious vocations from the parish's families
Altar Society & Parish Life
St. Mary's Parish Council of Catholic Women (Altar Society) is the main lay organization of the parish. Current officers include President Carol Grote, Vice President Chris Sissel, Secretary Rosalie Klechinschmidt, and Treasurer Pat Mau. The Society supports parish life through meal service for church activities, legislative awareness, and a range of charitable drives.
- Officers: Carol Grote (President), Chris Sissel (Vice President), Rosalie Kleinschmidt (Secretary), Pat Mau (Treasurer)
- Serving meals for parish activities
- Staying educated on the activities of the Nebraska Legislature
- Quilt making
- Diaper drives and baby showers for Birthright
- Food drives for Catholic Social Services (CSS)
Vocations from the Parish
The parish counts four priestly and religious vocations from its families, including an ordination and two religious professions traceable to early-settler families.
- Rev. Charles L. Gergen — ordained in St. Mary's on April 14, 1948 (grandson of founding parishioner Peter Gergen)
- Sister Marionita (Gladys M. Gergen) — entered the teaching Sisters of St. Frances in September 1940
- Sister M. Jane Frances — daughter of early settler Peter Weis; joined the Poor Sisters of St. Francis Seraph
Diocese & Deanery
St. Mary's belongs to the Diocese of Lincoln and sits within the York Deanery. It is administered as a Mission to St. Joseph Church in Geneva. Other parishes in the deanery include St. Mary in Aurora, Sacred Heart in Beaver Crossing, St. Joseph in Geneva and Giltner, St. Patrick in McCool Junction and Utica, St. Mary in Osceola (Pilzno), St. Vincent in Osceola, St. Vincent de Paul in Seward, and St. Joseph in York.
- Diocese: Diocese of Lincoln
- Deanery: York
- Status: Mission (to St. Joseph, Geneva)
- Dean: Very Rev. John Sullivan, V.F.
Visiting & Contact
Parishioners and visitors reach St. Mary's through the same contact used by its mother parish, St. Joseph in Geneva. Mail is sent to the Geneva post office box even though Mass is celebrated in Shickley.
- Street address: 703 Swartzendruber Dr, Shickley, NE 68436
- Mailing address: PO Box 383, Geneva, NE 68361-0383
- Phone: 402-759-3225
- Email: [email protected]
- Directory listing: lincolndiocese.org/directory/parishes/776-st-mary-shickley
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. F. Lechleitner1875–
Celebrated the first Mass in the Turkey Creek settlement; based in Crete and serving missions from Crete west to Kearney.
- Rev. A. J. Lutz1916–1935
First resident pastor when Turkey Creek was made a parish; built the rectory; served nearly 20 years.
- Rev. Paul Ulenberg1935–
Succeeded Fr. Lutz; oversaw purchase and conversion of a Fairmont Army Air Base barracks into the parish hall (in use since 1947); under him Rev. Charles L. Gergen was ordained in the church on April 14, 1948.