About St. Mary · West Point, Nebraska
St. Mary's Parish, formally the Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, is a Roman Catholic parish in West Point, Nebraska, belonging to the Archdiocese of Omaha. Founded in 1875 by Father Uhing, it is one of the oldest and largest churches in northeast Nebraska, serving as the hub of a four-parish family (with St. Aloysius in Aloys, St. Anthony in St. Charles, and St. Boniface in Monterey) and of the Family of St. Joseph grouping of parishes. The parish operates Guardian Angels Central Catholic School, runs Perpetual Adoration around the clock, offers a Spanish-language Sunday Mass, and is supported by an active Knights of Columbus council, Catholic Daughters court, Christian Mothers, and a Pro-Life ministry.
- Established
- 1875
- Patron
- Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary
- Rector
- Fr. James Weeder (Pastor, per the Family of St. Joseph listing)
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Omaha
Why belong here
St. Mary's is one of the oldest and largest churches in northeast Nebraska, with a striking 1891 Gothic sanctuary that seats more than 700 and a parish life organized around some two-dozen active ministries and organizations. Worship is offered in both English and Spanish, the Blessed Sacrament is exposed in Perpetual Adoration 24 hours a day, weekday Mass is celebrated Monday through Friday at 7:15 am, and Reconciliation is available six days a week. Catholic education is woven into parish life through the on-site Guardian Angels Central Catholic School, and the parish anchors a four-parish family that includes St. Aloysius, St. Anthony and St. Boniface.
Mass times at St. Mary
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 5:30 pm (30 minutes before the 6:00 pm vigil Mass) at St. Mary's
- Sunday 9:30–10:00 am (30 minutes before the 10:00 am Mass) at St. Mary's
- Monday 5:30–6:30 pm at St. Mary's
- Thursday and Friday before and after the 7:15 am daily Mass
- 30 minutes before Mass at St. Anthony (St. Charles), St. Boniface (Monterey), and St. Aloysius (Aloys)
Adoration times
- Perpetual Adoration 24 hours a day at St. Mary's (organized into four shifts: midnight–6:00 am, 6:00 am–noon, noon–6:00 pm, 6:00 pm–midnight)
- Vespers, Adoration and Benediction held on the Sundays of Lent
About St. Mary's Parish
St. Mary's Parish in West Point, Nebraska is formally the Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. It belongs to the Archdiocese of Omaha and is part of the Family of St. Joseph, a grouping of ten parishes in northeast Nebraska. The 1891 Gothic church seats more than 700 people and is one of the largest in northeast Nebraska.
- Formally: Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary
- Archdiocese of Omaha; Family of St. Joseph grouping
- Sister parishes within the local family: St. Aloysius (Aloys), St. Anthony (St. Charles), St. Boniface (Monterey)
Parish History
The parish was founded in 1875 by Father Uhing, who came to West Point from the rural St. Charles Parish. After a flooding on Pebble Creek during a parish dance that caused a drowning, the decision was made to build the new church on higher ground in West Point (then called New Philadelphia). The present Gothic church, the third pastor Father Reising's signature achievement, went up in 1891 and still dominates the parish today. A tornado ripped the roof in 1918, and a major 1928–30 expansion brought in two massive paintings from Düsseldorf, Germany. The parish was largely German in its first decades, and German was still heard in the confessional into the 1960s.
- Founded 1875 by Father Uhing
- Present church built 1891 under Father Reising
- Tornado damaged roof and stained glass in 1918
- 1928–30 expansion added the Düsseldorf paintings
- Norfolk, today the largest archdiocesan parish beyond Omaha, grew up as a West Point mission
Architecture & Interior
Father Reising's 1891 telegraph to the New York architects — 'Larger Church Gothic' — set the style that still defines the church. High arching ceilings, prominent Gothic woodwork, life-size statues of Jesus and the saints, and two massive Düsseldorf paintings mark the sanctuary. An extensive interior remodeling was completed about a decade ago.
- Gothic style with high ceilings and carved wood
- Life-size statues of Jesus, St. Patrick, St. Thomas, St. Francis, St. Anthony, St. Mary
- Two 15-foot paintings from Düsseldorf, Germany (Christ's Ascension vs. the seven deadly sins)
- Interior remodeled within the last ~10 years
Parish Staff & Clergy
St. Mary's is led today by Fr. James Weeder, pastor, with associate pastors Fr. Walter Jong-A-Kiem and Fr. Matthias Sule, and deacons Francis Meiergerd and Dave Baumert. Pastoral and operational staff listed on the parish website include a parish secretary (Elaine Maly / Melann Wiechman), business coordinator RaNae O'Brien, music director Patty Meiergerd, family faith formation coordinator Alicia Lewis, and confirmation staff including Sr. Elizabeth Ann.
- Pastor: Fr. James Weeder
- Associates: Fr. Walter Jong-A-Kiem, Fr. Matthias Sule
- Deacons: Francis Meiergerd, Dave Baumert
- Business Coordinator: RaNae O'Brien
- Secretary: Melann Wiechman
- Music: Patty Meiergerd
- Family Faith Formation Coordinator: Alicia Lewis
Parish Organizations & Ministries
The parish runs or hosts some two-dozen active organizations and ministries, with lay leaders named on the parish website. Highlights include Catholic Daughters, Christian Mothers, Knights of Columbus (III and IV Degree), St. Mary's Guild, Holy Name Society at St. Anthony, a parish council, and a flourishing Pro-Life ministry that supports the Nebraska Knights of Columbus 'One Rose, One Life' fundraiser.
- Catholic Daughters
- Christian Mothers
- Knights of Columbus – III & IV Degree
- St. Mary's Guild
- Holy Name Society (St. Anthony)
- Parish Council
- Pro-Life Ministry / One Rose, One Life
Faith Formation & Sacraments
Faith formation spans cradle to adult at St. Mary's. Preschool-age children attend Sunday School; elementary and middle-school youth take part in CCD and EDGE; high-schoolers are served by YDisciple and a separate Youth Ministry. The Confirmation program is coordinated by Sr. Elizabeth Ann (with Lisa Hunke on the older staff roster). The Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults is led by Fr. Frank Lordemann. Sacramental prep includes First Communion (with Jody Disher and Carol McAuliffe) and a Spanish-language Baptism class run by Juany Lopez.
- Sunday School for Preschoolers
- CCD / Family Faith Formation
- EDGE Middle School Youth Ministry
- YDisciple High School Ministry
- Confirmation Program (Sr. Elizabeth Ann)
- RCIA / OCIA (Fr. Frank Lordemann)
- First Communion prep
- Spanish Baptism class (Juany Lopez, 402-372-7170)
Devotions & Prayer Life
Beyond the Eucharist and Confession, St. Mary's offers Perpetual Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament around the clock, a Prayer Line coordinated by Karen Plagge, and seasonal devotions such as Vespers, Adoration, and Benediction on the Sundays of Lent. The parish also supports a Vocations '31 Club' and runs the men's program 'This Man is You.' Knights of Columbus fish fries are a parish fundraiser tradition during Lent.
- Perpetual Adoration 24/7
- Prayer Line (Karen Plagge)
- Lent: Vespers, Adoration & Benediction
- Vocations '31 Club'
- This Man is You men's program
- Lenten Knights of Columbus Fish Fry
Outreach & Parish Life
Outreach is anchored by the Pro-Life Ministry (Wendy Ridder) and Knights of Columbus 'One Rose, One Life' campaigns supporting the Bishop's Pastoral Plan for Pro-Life Activities and Nebraska pro-life projects, plus Catholic Daughters and Christian Mothers service projects. Guardian Angels Central Catholic School — the first Catholic coeducational school in Nebraska — anchors the parish's educational mission across the regional Catholic family of parishes.
- Pro-Life Ministry (Wendy Ridder)
- One Rose, One Life (Knights of Columbus)
- Catholic Daughters service
- Christian Mothers service
- Guardian Angels Central Catholic School
Family of Parishes
St. Mary's in West Point is the hub of a four-parish local family within the broader Family of St. Joseph grouping of ten parishes in northeast Nebraska. Its sister parishes include St. Aloysius in Aloys (which hosts the 8:30 am Sunday Mass), St. Anthony in St. Charles (with a Saturday Vigil on the 2nd and 4th Saturdays) and St. Boniface in Monterey (with a Saturday Vigil on the 1st, 3rd and 5th Saturdays). All four parishes share the same pastor and many sacramental schedules.
- St. Aloysius – Aloys, NE (8:30 am Sunday)
- St. Anthony – St. Charles, NE
- St. Boniface – Monterey, NE
- Part of Family of St. Joseph
Guardian Angels Central Catholic School
St. Mary's parish helps sponsor Guardian Angels Central Catholic School, founded in 1885 and the first Catholic coeducational school in Nebraska. Originally staffed by Franciscan Sisters of Christian Charity from Manitowoc, Wisconsin, GACC now serves K-12 students with the central Catholic high school completed in 1964 and an elementary campus at 408 E. Walnut Street and the high school at 419 E. Decatur Street, both in West Point. The school remains the educational center for the Family of St. Joseph parishes.
- Founded 1885 — first Catholic coeducational school in Nebraska
- Originally staffed by Franciscan Sisters of Christian Charity
- Central Catholic High School completed 1964 (419 E. Decatur St.)
- Elementary at 408 E. Walnut St.
- Principal: Kate Hagemann
Contact & Visit
Parishioners and visitors can reach St. Mary's at the parish office (402-372-2188) at 343 N. Monitor Street, West Point, NE 68788, or stop in during office hours. Staff email addresses are listed on the parish website. The parish maintains a Facebook page for general parish news and a separate youth ministry Facebook page and website (wpyouthministry.com).
- Address: 343 N. Monitor Street, West Point, NE 68788
- Parish office: 402-372-2188
- Parish Facebook page (Church of the Assumption of the BVM – St. Mary)
- Youth Ministry: facebook.com/WpYouthMinistry and wpyouthministry.com
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father Uhing1875–
Founded the parish in 1875 while pastor of the rural St. Charles Parish; also built the original rectory in West Point.
- (Second pastor)
- Father Reising (Msgr. Joseph Ruesing?)
Third pastor; built the present Gothic church in 1891 and reportedly raised $16,000 in the parish's first week of fundraising, telegraphing the New York architects the order 'Larger Church Gothic.'