About St. Michael · Fairbury, Nebraska
St. Michael's Catholic Church is a parish in Fairbury, Jefferson County, Nebraska, in the Catholic Diocese of Lincoln. It serves Fairbury and its mission church, St. Mary in Alexandria, gathering Catholics in the southeastern part of the diocese for weekly Mass, Reconciliation, Adoration, religious education, and a range of parish ministries. The current pastor is Rev. Justin Fulton (appointed June 17, 2024). Weekend Masses are celebrated Saturday at 4:00 p.m. (vigil) and Sunday at 10:00 a.m., with Confessions before each, and weekly Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament is offered every Wednesday from September through May.
- Established
- 1872
- Patron
- St. Michael the Archangel
- Rector
- Rev. Justin Fulton
- Diocese
- Catholic Diocese of Lincoln
Why belong here
St. Michael's offers the full rhythm of Catholic parish life in a small, neighborly setting: weekend and daily Mass, frequent Confession, and weekly Wednesday Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament from September through May. Families with children can enroll them in the K–12 CCD program held at Paul Prellwitz Hall, and adults can find community and service through the Parish Council of Catholic Women (PCCW), the local Knights of Columbus council, and parish-wide outreach to shut-ins and those facing crisis. As a mission partner with St. Mary in Alexandria, the parish also extends its welcome across the wider Fairbury Deanery.
Mass times at St. Michael
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday: 3:00–3:45 PM
- Sunday: 7:30–7:45 AM
Adoration times
- Wednesdays, 12:00 PM – 7:15 PM (September through May)
About St. Michael's Catholic Church of Fairbury
St. Michael's Catholic Church of Fairbury sits in the heart of Jefferson County, Nebraska, as a parish of the Catholic Diocese of Lincoln. Its tagline — 'Christ, Communion, Community' — frames the parish's three pillars: a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, life-giving sacramental communion, and a parish family that lives and serves together. The parish is paired with mission church St. Mary in Alexandria, and together they serve Catholics across the Fairbury Deanery under the pastoral care of Rev. Justin Fulton. Visitors are warmly invited to register as members, download the latest bulletin, and connect via the parish's social media channels.
- Parish motto: Christ, Communion, Community
- Diocese: Catholic Diocese of Lincoln
- Deanery: Fairbury
- Mission parish: St. Mary, Alexandria
- Mailing address: PO Box 406, Fairbury, NE 68352
Parish History
Catholic settlers first came to the Fairbury area in 1869, and by 1872 Bishop O'Connor sent Father Francis Bobal to care for the growing community. Construction of the first church began in 1885 and was completed by 1890; the parish received its first resident pastor in 1887. The present church was built in 1907–1908 under Rev. J. J. Carey, who also built the original school and convent. In 1924, Saint Michael School opened, staffed by a succession of religious sisters for most of its history, and the school remained a centerpiece of parish life until closing in May 2008.
- 1869 — Catholic settlers arrive in Fairbury
- 1872 — Father Francis Bobal becomes first priest sent to Fairbury
- 1885–1890 — First church built
- 1887 — First resident pastor appointed to St. Michael
- 1904 — Rev. J. J. Carey arrives as pastor (July 4, 1904)
- 1907–1908 — Present church constructed
- 1924 — Saint Michael School opens (Sisters of the Holy Cross, 1924–1939)
- 1939–1981 — Sisters of Saint Joseph from Concordia, Kansas
- 1976 — Church renovated and new rectory built (funded by a 1973 inheritance)
- November 15, 2008 — Bishop Bruskewitz celebrates centennial rededication Mass
- May 2008 — Saint Michael School closes due to declining enrollment
St. Michael's School (1924–2008)
Saint Michael School was built in 1924 and became a hub of parish social and educational life for more than eight decades. Initially staffed by the Sisters of the Holy Cross, the school was later taught by the Sisters of Saint Joseph (Concordia, Kansas) from 1939 to 1981, then by the Marian Sisters of the Diocese of Lincoln, and briefly by the Sisters of Charity of the BVM. A preschool was added in 1987, and the school dropped grades seven and eight in 1990. Decreasing enrollment led to the school's closure in May 2008, and the building is now used for CCD classes and parish functions.
- Opened 1924 (grades 1–8, later adding and dropping grades 9 and 10)
- Religious order staffing: Sisters of the Holy Cross → Sisters of Saint Joseph → Marian Sisters → Sisters of Charity of the BVM → largely lay teachers
- Preschool added 1987; grades 7–8 dropped 1990
- Closed May 2008; building reused for CCD and church functions
CCD – Religious Education (K–12)
CCD (Confraternity of Christian Doctrine) is the parish's religious education and faith-formation program for children in kindergarten through 12th grade. Classes meet on Wednesdays from 6:00 to 7:15 PM during the school year at Paul Prellwitz Hall, using curriculum from the Catholic Diocese of Lincoln, and conclude with Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament in the church. The program is staffed by committed volunteer teachers, with parents recognized as the first and best teachers of the faith for their children.
- Grades served: K–12
- Meeting time: Wednesdays, 6:00–7:15 PM (school year)
- Location: Paul Prellwitz Hall (then Adoration in the church)
- Curriculum: Catholic Diocese of Lincoln
- Coordinator: Amy Engle-Evans — 402-429-6836 — [email protected]
Parish Ministries & Organizations
Parish life at St. Michael's is shaped by a small but active network of ministries. The Parish Council of Catholic Women (PCCW) — to which any woman over 18 belongs — supports altar needs, funeral luncheons, nursing-home BINGO, and outreach. The Knights of Columbus council partners with the PCCW on local service and supports the Church through scholarships, charity, and the patriotic Fourth Degree. Adoration is itself a central parish devotion, and the CCD program anchors faith formation for the parish's children and youth.
- Parish Council of Catholic Women (PCCW) — Contact: Vickie Banahan, (402) 314-8614, [email protected]
- Knights of Columbus (Fairbury Council, Fourth Degree) — Contact: Randy Prellwitz, (402) 300-0076, [email protected]
- Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament — Wednesdays 12:00 PM–7:15 PM
- CCD — K–12 religious education
Parish Council of Catholic Women (PCCW)
The Parish Council of Catholic Women is open to every woman in the parish over 18 and is central to the parish's outreach and fellowship life. The PCCW meets throughout the year for saint and Scripture study, fellowship, and laughter; hosts funeral luncheons; purchases altar items such as candles and linens; gives crucifixes to graduates and First Holy Communion gifts; sponsors BINGO at the local nursing home; and periodically hosts parish breakfasts and dinners. The PCCW also partners with the Knights of Columbus to host a Christmas party for friends with special needs.
- Hosts funeral luncheons and parish meals
- Purchases altar candles, linens, and devotional items
- Provides First Holy Communion and graduation gifts
- Partners with Knights of Columbus on a special-needs Christmas party
- Supports Totus Tuus with meals and funding
- Takes food to shut-ins and helps families in crisis
Knights of Columbus of Fairbury
The local Knights of Columbus council is a Catholic fraternal organization dedicated to charity, unity, fraternity, and patriotism. Members engage in charitable outreach — financial assistance, volunteer hours, food drives, support for pregnancy centers, and disaster relief — and actively support the Catholic Church through seminarian scholarships, Catholic education, and religious-liberty efforts. The Fourth Degree arm of the Knights focuses on patriotism and civic engagement, while the wider order also offers insurance and financial services to members and their families.
- Founded 1882 by Father Michael J. McGivney
- Charity, unity, fraternity, and patriotism
- Seminarian scholarships and Catholic-education support
- Food drives, pregnancy-center support, disaster relief
- Fourth Degree: patriotic and civic engagement
- Contact: Randy Prellwitz, (402) 300-0076, [email protected]
Bulletin, Member Registration & Visit Info
Parishioners and visitors can stay connected through several practical touchpoints on the parish website: the latest bulletin can be downloaded online, member registration forms are available for new families, and an event calendar highlights parish happenings. A Facebook page is maintained for additional community engagement, and the parish office can be reached by phone at (402) 729-2058 during business hours. Those interested in joining the parish are warmly welcomed — the parish invites all to register, attend, and grow in Christ together.
- Download the latest bulletin from stmichaelsfairbury.org
- Register as a member (form on the parish website)
- Event calendar on the parish website
- Facebook: 'Meet us on Facebook' link from the parish site
- Office phone: (402) 729-2058
Contact & Location
St. Michael's Catholic Church is located at 807 F Street, Fairbury, NE 68352. The parish mailing address is PO Box 406, Fairbury, NE 68352. The main parish phone line is (402) 729-2058, and the parish email listed by the Diocese of Lincoln is [email protected]. The parish is part of the Fairbury Deanery and is led by Dean Rev. Steven Major, with Rev. Justin Fulton serving as pastor since June 17, 2024.
- Street address: 807 F Street, Fairbury, NE 68352
- Mailing address: PO Box 406, Fairbury, NE 68352
- Phone: (402) 729-2058
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: http://stmichaelsfairbury.org/
- Pastor: Rev. Justin Fulton
- Dean of Fairbury Deanery: Rev. Steven Major
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father Francis Bobal1872
First priest sent by Bishop O'Connor to minister to Catholic settlers in Fairbury.
- First resident pastor (unnamed in parish records)1887
First resident pastor appointed to St. Michael.
- Rev. J. J. Carey1904 onward
Arrived as pastor July 4, 1904; renovated the rectory, built the school and convent, and oversaw construction of the present church (1907–1908).
- Rev. Justin Fulton2024–present
Appointed pastor June 17, 2024; also serves mission St. Mary, Alexandria.