About St. Mary · Wayne, Nebraska
St. Mary Catholic Church in Wayne, Nebraska is the largest parish in the Family of the Immaculate Conception, a cluster of three rural Nebraska parishes that includes St. Mary in Wayne, St. Anne in Dixon, and St. Mary in Laurel. Located at 412 East 8th Street, the parish serves the Wayne community and Wayne State College students through Wildcat Catholic campus ministry. Weekend Masses are offered Saturday evening and three times on Sunday (with one Mass in nearby Dixon), and the parish maintains a Catholic elementary school that has been in continuous operation since 1953.
- Patron
- The Blessed Virgin Mary (parish name 'St. Mary'; the family of parishes is 'Family of the Immaculate Conception')
- Rector
- Fr. Matthew Capadano
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Omaha
Why belong here
St. Mary's offers the full rhythm of a rural Nebraska Catholic parish — three Sunday Masses, daily Mass Monday through Friday, monthly 24-hour Adoration, regular Reconciliation, and a thriving school serving PK–6. The parish extends that life outward through Wildcat Catholic campus ministry at Wayne State College, the Hispanic groups Jóvenes y Adultos para Cristo and the Spanish Legion of Mary, Knights of Columbus, Legion of Mary, OCIA, youth group, religious education, and a parish breakfast and pork-dinner tradition. Its Mission Statement says it plainly: 'A parish family, inviting all to live and share the Love and Mercy of Jesus.'
Mass times at St. Mary
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- 30 minutes prior to each weekend Mass
- Anytime by appointment — call 402-375-2000
Adoration times
- 24-hour Adoration: First Monday of the month, 5:00 pm through Tuesday 5:00 pm (unless there is a holiday)
- Thursday evenings 7:00 pm Reconciliation & Adoration at Wayne (per bulletin schedule)
About St. Mary Catholic Church, Wayne
St. Mary Catholic Church in Wayne, Nebraska is the principal parish of the Family of the Immaculate Conception, a family of three rural parishes that also includes St. Anne in Dixon and St. Mary in Laurel. The parish serves the Catholic faithful of Wayne and Wayne State College through worship, formation, school, and outreach. Its Mission Statement — 'A parish family, inviting all to live and share the Love and Mercy of Jesus' — was developed by the pastor and leadership team and chosen by the Pastoral Council. The centralized parish office is at 412 E. 8th Street, Wayne.
- Parish: St. Mary Catholic Church, Wayne, NE
- Cluster: Family of the Immaculate Conception (with St. Anne Dixon and St. Mary Laurel)
- Diocese: Archdiocese of Omaha
- Pastor: Fr. Matthew Capadano
- Office: 412 E. 8th Street, Wayne, NE 68787 — 402-375-2000
History of St. Mary's School & Parish
The most fully documented chapter of the parish centers on the founding of its Catholic school. In 1952 Pastor Fr. Robert Hupp broke ground on six acres on East Seventh Street in Wayne, with the dream of nurturing religious vocations through Catholic education. When Fr. Hupp was transferred back to Omaha, Fr. William C. Kleffman directed completion, and classes opened on September 8, 1953, with 43 students in grades 1–8 taught by the Sisters of Saint Benedict: Sr. Iniga, Sr. Ludovica, Sr. Joseph, and Sr. Josephine. Fr. Kleffman also initiated the school board, the building committee, and liturgical reform at the parish. Through the decades the school has continually grown and adapted: a school board was formed in 1968; kindergarten began in 1980; the Education Endowment was created in 1985 and the Booster Club in 1989; Little Lambs Preschool opened in 1992 and was reorganized for three- and four-year-olds in 2001; a window-replacement fund was launched in 2001 with installations in 2002 and 2003; and recent projects have updated flooring, bathrooms, the playground, and the lower level.
- 1952: Ground broken on East Seventh Street school site under Fr. Robert Hupp
- Sept. 8, 1953: School opens with 43 students and four Benedictine Sisters as teachers
- 1968: First school board formed
- 1980: Kindergarten added
- 1985: Education Endowment established
- 1989: St. Mary's Booster Club formed
- 1992: Little Lambs Preschool opens
- 2001: Little Lambs reorganized for ages 3–4; window fund established
- Today: PK–6 program with 37 students
Catholic Faith Traditions at the School
Beyond academics, St. Mary's School intentionally passes on Catholic practices to the next generation. Children are taught the meaning of the liturgy, attend Reconciliation as part of their formation, walk to the old church for Forty Hours, Advent services, and other traditions, and celebrate the Blessed Virgin Mary's birthday near September 8. Students, staff, and families pray a monthly Rosary on the last Monday of each month; a Thanksgiving Mass with elderly parishioners is celebrated; Christmas programs instill that 'Jesus is the Reason for the Season'; Catholic Schools Week highlights the importance of Catholic education; and May crownings honor the Blessed Mother. Religious pilgrimages have included St. Cecilia Cathedral in Omaha, the Benedictine Mission House in Schuyler, Queen of Peace in Sioux City, the House of Mary Shrine in Yankton, and Immaculata Convent in Norfolk.
- Monthly Rosary on the last Monday
- Thanksgiving Mass with elderly parishioners
- May crownings honoring Mary
- Catholic Schools Week celebrations
- Pilgrimages to St. Cecilia Cathedral, Benedictine Mission House Schuyler, Queen of Peace Sioux City, House of Mary Shrine Yankton, Immaculata Convent Norfolk
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Faith formation for youth and adults is offered through Religious Education classes, a Youth Group, Children's Liturgy of the Word during the 8:00 am Sunday Mass, and the parish school. Adults seeking initiation or completing sacraments journey through OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults), which meets on Sunday evenings and Tuesday evenings at the Wayne campus.
- Religious Education (Kinship)
- Youth Group (HFH, 8:00 pm)
- Children's Liturgy during 8:00 am Sunday Mass
- OCIA — Sunday 5:00 pm in the Church; Tuesday 7:00 pm in HFH
- Confirmation preparation through Religious Education
Wildcat Catholic — Wayne State College Campus Ministry
St. Mary's ministers to the Wayne State College community through Wildcat Catholic, the parish's Newman / Catholic campus ministry program. Fr. Zach Tucker serves as WSC Chaplain and Jared Ludwig as the Wildcat Catholic College Minister. The campus ministry is integrated into the parish's weekly rhythm, with a Thursday evening Mass at 8:00 pm during the WSC academic year and a reserved hall on Thursday evenings for Newman gatherings.
- Chaplain: Fr. Zach Tucker ([email protected], ext. 101)
- College Minister: Jared Ludwig ([email protected], ext. 120)
- Thursday 8:00 pm Mass when WSC is in session
- Newman gatherings Thursdays in HFH
Hispanic Ministry
The parish actively welcomes and serves Spanish-speaking parishioners through bilingual groups. Cecilia Modrell has served as Hispanic Coordinator, and two ongoing groups meet weekly: 'Jóvenes y Adultos para Cristo' on Monday evenings and the Spanish Legion of Mary on Sunday evenings. The parish Bulletin is printed bilingually with Spanish devotional notices and announcements.
- Jóvenes y Adultos para Cristo — Monday 6:00 pm, HFH
- Spanish Legion of Mary — Sunday 5:00 pm, Kitchen
- Hispanic Coordinator: Cecilia Modrell
Parish Organizations & Councils
A network of councils and lay groups supports parish life and the school. The Pastoral Council selected the parish's Mission Statement; the Knights of Columbus, Legion of Mary, Spanish Legion of Mary, Men's Group, parish VIA, Boosters Club, and Education Endowment all play active roles in parish life.
- Pastoral Council
- Knights of Columbus
- Legion of Mary (English & Spanish)
- Men's Group — Thursday 5:45 am, HFH
- Parish VIA
- Boosters Club
- Education Endowment
- Maintenance Committee
Parish Life & Fellowship
Beyond the sacraments, St. Mary's is known for its community meals and fellowship traditions. The parish gathers monthly for breakfasts in the Holy Family Hall (HFH) and hosts a Parish Pork Dinner, bringing together parishioners from across the Family of the Immaculate Conception. Trivia nights, family movie nights at the Majestic, and other seasonal events round out the social calendar.
- Parish Breakfast — Sunday mornings, HFH
- Parish Pork Dinner (Sunday noon, HFH)
- Trivia Night in the Auditorium
- Family Movie Night at the Majestic
- Dairy Queen Spirit Night for St. Mary's School
Clergy, Staff & Office
The parish is led by Fr. Matthew Capadano with Fr. Zach Tucker serving as WSC Chaplain and Deacon Gary French assisting. Lay staff manage the centralized Family of the Immaculate Conception office and the school.
- Fr. Matthew Capadano — Pastor ([email protected], ext. 125)
- Fr. Zach Tucker — WSC Chaplain ([email protected], ext. 101)
- Rev. Mr. Gary French — Deacon
- Donna Kraft — Program & Office Manager ([email protected])
- Sarah Claussen — Business & Communications Manager ([email protected])
- Sara Westerhold — School Principal
- Michaela Fehringer — Youth Ministry Coordinator
- Amy Woerdemann — Evangelization Coordinator (in 2023)
- Jared Ludwig — Wildcat Catholic College Minister
- Francis and Camille Kantai — OCIA
Contact, Location & Visiting
The centralized parish office is located at 412 E. 8th Street in Wayne, Nebraska. Office hours are Tuesday through Thursday 9:00 am – 5:00 pm and Friday 8:00 am – 1:00 pm. An after-hours emergency line is available at 402-375-2000 ext. 9. The parish website is stmaryswayne.org and the cluster site is familyofic.org.
- Centralized Office: 412 E. 8th Street, Wayne, NE 68787
- Phone: 402-375-2000
- Email: [email protected]
- Office Hours: Tue–Thu 9:00 am–5:00 pm; Fri 8:00 am–1:00 pm
- After-hours emergency: 402-375-2000 ext. 9
- Websites: stmaryswayne.org and familyofic.org
- Facebook: facebook.com/stmaryswayne
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Robert Huppearly 1950s
Broke ground on the school site in 1952; envisioned a Catholic elementary school to promote vocations; later transferred back to Omaha.
- Fr. William C. Kleffmanearly-to-mid 1950s
Directed completion of the school; classes opened September 8, 1953; initiated the school board, building committee, and liturgical reform.
- Fr. Thomas E. McDermott
Former pastor; quoted on Catholic education as 'an expression of the mission entrusted by Jesus to the Church He founded.'
- Fr. Jerry Connealy
Former Senior Associate Pastor (listed in 2023 bulletin).
- Fr. Matthew Capadanocurrent
Current Pastor; led development of new parish Mission Statement with the leadership team and Pastoral Council.