About St. Michael · Hastings, Nebraska
St. Michael's Catholic Church is a vibrant parish of more than 650 families in Hastings, Nebraska, part of the Diocese of Lincoln. It was canonically established on February 1, 1945 by Bishop Louis Kucera for the Catholics of southern Hastings, and worship today centers on its 1968 church at the corner of 7th and Creighton Avenue. The parish operates St. Michael Elementary School and Theisen Family Parish Center, and its mission is 'To invite all to encounter and know Christ through the Catholic Church, and to equip them to live fully as his disciples.' A statue of St. Michael the Archangel by artist Herb Mignery greets visitors in the vestibule, a tribute to its patron.
- Established
- 1945
- Patron
- St. Michael the Archangel
- Rector
- Fr. Jeremy Hazuka
- Diocese
- Diocese of Lincoln
Why belong here
St. Michael's offers the full sacramental life of a Diocese of Lincoln parish — daily and weekend Masses, regular Confession, a Catholic elementary school (St. Michael's), and active outreach through parish and Hastings community ministries. With more than 650 families worshipping in a single 1968 church, it is large enough to offer a rich schedule (Saturday Vigil, three Sunday Masses, weekday and school-day Masses, Tuesday evening Mass, and Saturday morning Mass) yet rooted in the close-knit southern Hastings community it was founded to serve. Its mission — to invite all to encounter and know Christ and to live fully as his disciples — is lived out through Hastings Catholic Schools, faith formation, and a legacy of giving (the Theisen Parish Center, Habitat for Humanity).
Mass times at St. Michael
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 3:00–4:30 p.m.
- Before weekday Masses (weekdays before 6:45 a.m. Mass)
- Saturdays before 8:00 a.m. Mass
Parish History
Until 1940 every Catholic in Hastings belonged to St. Cecilia's. In May 1941 Monsignor Michael Grogan purchased a former Lutheran/Church of God chapel at C Street and South Lexington as a chapel of ease for the south side. Bishop Louis Kucera's decree of February 1, 1945 formally established St. Michael's as an independent parish for all Catholics south of the Burlington railroad tracks, with Msgr. Charles Keenan as founding pastor.
- 1945: Parish canonically established by Bishop Louis Kucera
- 1954: Six-classroom school opens for grades K–3
- 1959: School expanded to K–8
- 1966: Bishop James Casey consolidates grades 7–12 with St. Cecilia
- 1968: All grades consolidated; new church at 7th & Creighton opens (first Mass May 5; dedicated June 16 by Bishop Glennon Flavin)
- 1972: New rectory built at 715 Creighton
- 1996–1997: Theisen Family Parish Center and new St. Michael Elementary built; blessed Sept. 28, 1997 by Bishop Fabian Bruskewitz
- 2001: Old rectory donated to Habitat for Humanity; Alice Payne property acquired at 700 Creighton
Patron Saint & Statue
The vestibule of St. Michael's church is graced by a life-sized statue of St. Michael the Archangel, the parish's patron saint. It was created by artist Herb Mignery and dedicated on September 28, 1997, through the generosity of benefactors Beatrice and Clarence Jurgensmeier. The parish describes it as 'a beautiful work of art' and 'our reminder of our patron saint and the strength St. Michael gives to all through prayer and divine intervention.'
- Patron: St. Michael the Archangel
- Statue sculptor: Herb Mignery
- Dedicated: September 28, 1997
- Benefactors: Beatrice and Clarence Jurgensmeier
Clergy & Staff
St. Michael's is currently served by Pastor Fr. Jeremy Hazuka and Parochial Vicar Fr. Prageeth Chamara Perera. Ryan Hall serves as the parish's Administrative Assistant and Bookkeeper, reachable through the parish office at 715 Creighton Avenue.
- Pastor: Fr. Jeremy Hazuka ([email protected])
- Assistant Pastor / Parochial Vicar: Fr. Prageeth Chamara ([email protected])
- Administrative Assistant & Bookkeeper: Ryan Hall ([email protected])
Hastings Catholic Schools (St. Michael Campus)
St. Michael's parish operates St. Michael Elementary as part of the broader Hastings Catholic Schools system, which also includes St. Cecilia Middle and High School. The system has served the Hastings area for more than 100 years. Religious instruction uses the Faith and Life Series, with classroom teachers instructing four days a week and a parish priest teaching religion once a week — building relationships between students and their priests.
- St. Michael Childcare, Preschool & Elementary School
- St. Cecilia Middle & High School (shared with St. Cecilia parish)
- Daily Mass for Grades 1–5
- Monthly Holy Hours and Confessions
- Religious instruction daily using the Faith and Life Series, plus weekly priest-taught class
- Sacramental preparation: Reconciliation, First Holy Communion, Confirmation
- Stations of the Cross during Lent, daily prayer
- Spirit Singers choir (5th grade), band, Quiz Bowl, computer classes
Campus Ministry (Middle & High School)
The Campus Ministry Department of Hastings Catholic Schools supports middle and high school students, their parents, faculty, and staff in living out the school's Catholic mission. Activities include student retreats, service-learning days, weekly Wednesday evening Holy Hours, Penance Services, Catholic Schools Week events, and coordinating the March for Life trip to Washington, D.C. with the Diocese of Lincoln.
- Middle school and high school retreats
- Service learning days
- Weekly Wednesday evening Holy Hours
- Penance Services and additional confession times
- Catholic Schools Week events
- March for Life pilgrimage to Washington, D.C.
Parish Mission
St. Michael's publishes a concise mission statement on its website: 'To invite all to encounter and know Christ through the Catholic Church, and to equip them to live fully as his disciples.' The parish tagline is 'Love Jesus. Serve Others.'
- Mission: To invite all to encounter and know Christ through the Catholic Church, and to equip them to live fully as his disciples.
- Tagline: Love Jesus. Serve Others.
Facilities & Giving
The parish campus includes the 1968 church at 701 Creighton Avenue, the Theisen Family Parish Center built 1996–97, the St. Michael elementary school north of the church, and the rectory at 715 Creighton. Online giving is available through ParishSoft, allowing one-time or recurring donations.
- Church: 701 Creighton Avenue
- Parish office/mailing: 715 Creighton Avenue
- Theisen Family Parish Center (built 1996–97)
- St. Michael Elementary School (built 1996–97)
- Online giving: ParishSoft platform
- Parish office hours: Mon–Thu 8 a.m.–4 p.m.; closed Fri/holidays
Contact & Visit
Visitors and parishioners can reach St. Michael's by phone at (402) 463-1023 or by email at [email protected]. The parish also maintains a Facebook page (Facebook.com/STMHastings) and a YouTube channel for news and livestreamed content. The parish office at 715 Creighton Avenue is open Monday through Thursday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., closed on Fridays, holidays, and holy days.
- Phone: (402) 463-1023
- Email: [email protected]
- Web: stmichaelshastings.com
- Facebook: facebook.com/STMHastings
- Office hours: Mon–Thu 8 a.m.–4 p.m.
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Msgr. Charles Keenan1945–1958
First pastor of the newly independent parish.
- Msgr. George Schuster1958–1960
- Fr. Patrick Lyons1960–1989
Longest-tenured pastor; oversaw the move to the 7th & Creighton church in 1968.
- Fr. Garold Gabel1989–1993
- Fr. David Bourek1993–2000
- Fr. Michael Houlihan2000–2017
- Fr. Jeremy Hazuka2017–present
Current pastor; assisted by Fr. Prageeth Chamara.