About St. Michael · Tarnov, Nebraska
St. Michael's Catholic Church in Tarnov, Nebraska, is the first Polish Catholic parish still operating in the state. Founded in 1880 by Polish immigrants from Tarnów, Poland (then Austrian Galicia), the parish built its current Gothic Revival church in 1900–1901 and was formally dedicated on October 24, 1901. The church, along with its rectory, school-convent, grotto, and surrounding 8.4-acre complex, was placed on the National Register of Historic Places on November 28, 1990. Since July 2019, St. Michael's has been part of the Family of God Catholic Parishes cluster in Platte County, alongside Holy Family (Lindsay), Ss. Cyril & Methodius (Clarkson), St. Francis (Humphrey), and St. Mary (Leigh). Today Mass is celebrated regularly, and the former school now serves as a social hall and museum while the old rectory — known as The Michael House — is available for event rentals.
- Established
- 1880
- Patron
- St. Michael the Archangel
- Rector
- Rev. Taylor Leffler (Pastor of Family of God Parishes; began July 1, 2025)
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Omaha
Why belong here
St. Michael's offers a rare chance to belong to Nebraska's oldest continually operating Polish Catholic parish, with a weekly Mass in a church that has welcomed Polish-American families for more than a century. Active ministries include Parish Religious Education (PRE) led by Director Michelle Brandl, a parish choir with regular practices, finance and parish councils, gift-card and Leigh Cares food drives for local families in need, and the annual observance of 40 Hours with Jesus. The historic complex — including a museum in the old school and The Michael House rental — is stewarded by the St. Michael's Historical Society and remains a gathering place for the wider Platte County community. Visitors and parishioners are warmly invited to share in this living legacy of faith, heritage, and rural hospitality.
Mass times at St. Michael
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday — 5:30 PM (St. Michael, Tarnov)
Adoration times
- 40 Hours with Jesus (annually, hosted in rotation among Family of God parishes)
History of St. Michael the Archangel Parish
St. Michael's was founded in 1880 by Polish immigrants from Tarnów, Poland, who had initially worshipped at St. Anthony's in Burrows township. When ethnic tensions arose with the German congregations, the Polish families separated and, under Franciscan Fr. Cyril Augustinsky, O.F.M., built their own 'rude church' and cemetery on land donated by Frank and Sophia Paprocki. The arrival of the Union Pacific Railroad made the original structure obsolete, and in December 1899 Fr. A. Czech, O.F.M. initiated a new, larger church with $1,800 of his own savings. Dedicated on October 24, 1901 — with a special Columbus-to-Tarnov excursion train bringing visitors for 80 cents round trip — the Gothic Revival church has been in continuous use ever since and was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on November 28, 1990.
- 1880 — Parish founded by Polish immigrants; first church built without foundation or plastering
- December 1899 — Fr. A. Czech, O.F.M. launches plans for a larger church
- 1900–1901 — Current Gothic Revival church designed by Br. Leonard Dorschied, O.F.M. and built at a cost of $17,000
- October 24, 1901 — Formal dedication by the Bishop, Fr. Czech, and 20–30 priests
- 1910–1911 — Rectory, school-convent, and chicken house constructed
- 1926–1927 — Memorial Grotto of Our Lady of Lourdes built to honor 16 WWI servicemen
- 1961 — Parish school closes; many local businesses later depart
- November 28, 1990 — Complex added to the National Register of Historic Places
- July 2019 — Joins Family of God Catholic Parishes cluster
Architecture & the Historic Complex
The 8.4-acre St. Michael's Complex is anchored by a Gothic Revival church designed by Franciscan Br. Leonard Dorschied, O.F.M., with the Gothic theme of pointed arches and spires carried throughout the church and school. The building sits on a 24-inch-thick cut-limestone foundation (quarried near Florence, Kansas) atop a deep cement footing, with a 10-foot-deep unfinished basement under the west half. The 110-foot tower and steeple house two bells weighing 600 and 1,000 pounds. Materials were sourced economically: used brick and lumber came from the 1898 Trans-Mississippi Exposition in Omaha, and farmers hauled sand from the Loup River twenty miles to the south.
- Gothic Revival church with 110-foot tower and steeple
- Two bells weighing 600 lb and 1,000 lb
- Limestone foundation from a Florence, Kansas quarry
- Salvaged brick and lumber from the 1898 Omaha Trans-Mississippi Exposition
- Rectory, school-convent, and chicken house (1910–1911)
- Memorial Grotto of Our Lady of Lourdes (1926–27) by Charles Wurdeman
- NRHP reference #90001766
Memorial Grotto of Our Lady of Lourdes
Built in 1926–1927 to a scaled-down design modeled on the shrine in Lourdes, France, the grotto was championed by longtime pastor Fr. Knute and parishioner Andrew Jarosz after his return from overseas service. The ex-soldiers of the Tarnov area — sixteen of whom went to serve in World War I, with Andrew Matya making the supreme sacrifice — collected funds and helped build it. The grotto is an outward expression of the parish's religious devotion and complements the church and other complex structures.
- Built 1926–1927
- Designed by Charles Wurdeman
- Honors 16 Tarnov-area WWI servicemen
Parish Staff & Leadership
Since July 2019 St. Michael's has been served as part of the Family of God Catholic Parishes by Pastor Rev. Taylor Leffler and Associate Pastor Rev. Dan Wittrock. The parish is supported by Deacon Louis Dohmen and his wife Doris, Parish Bookkeeper/Secretary Rita Keller and Mindy Stock, PRE Director Michelle Brandl, and a Parish Council/Finance Board chaired by Mitch Dohmen. Cemetery inquiries are handled by Bob Eisenmenger, and Ruth Mausbach coordinates Parish Hall rentals.
- Rev. Taylor Leffler — Pastor (Family of God Parishes)
- Rev. Dan Wittrock — Associate Pastor
- Deacon Louis & Doris Dohmen — Deacon Couple
- Rita Keller / Mindy Stock — Parish Bookkeeper & Secretary
- Michelle Brandl — Director of Parish Religious Education (PRE)
- Bob Eisenmenger — Cemetery Information
- Ruth Mausbach — Parish Hall Rentals
- Parish Council/Finance Board: Mitch Dohmen, Rob Brandl, Mindy Stock, Joy Hemmer, Adam Korth
Sacraments
Baptisms are scheduled by contacting the parish office. Couples preparing for marriage are asked to contact the priest at least six months before the wedding to begin preparation classes. Children’s faith formation is offered through the Parish Religious Education (PRE) program under Director Michelle Brandl.
- Baptism — contact the parish office
- Marriage — contact the priest six months in advance
- Parish Religious Education (PRE) for children
Parish Religious Education & Faith Formation
Faith formation for children of the parish is led by PRE Director Michelle Brandl. The program operates as part of the wider Family of God Parishes PRE effort, helping young parishioners grow in the Catholic faith rooted in the parish's Polish Catholic heritage.
- PRE Director — Michelle Brandl ([email protected] / 402-923-1308)
Outreach, Community & Giving
St. Michael's participates in cluster-wide and local outreach. Highlights include the annual Leigh Cares ecumenical Christmas food and gift collection (now in its 13th year, supporting ten families and 22 children in the most recent season), a holiday Gift Card Drive, and 100% of designated giving returning to area families. The parish supports the wider Family of God 'Campaign for Human Development' collection and seasonal charitable appeals.
- Leigh Cares — annual ecumenical Christmas food/gift drive
- Holiday Gift Card Drive
- Campaign for Human Development
- Parish Finance Committee — Mitch Dohmen (President), Rob Brandl (Vice President), Mindy Stock (Secretary)
St. Michael's Historical Society & Museum
The St. Michael's Historical Society is organized as a non-profit, tax-free corporation dedicated to preserving and maintaining the historic complex. The former 1911 school-convent now serves as a social hall and museum, and the society offers History/Church Directory books ($30, plus $5 shipping if mailed) covering parish Sacramental records from inception to 2004, plus Sacramental records of St. Anthony parish (inception to 1973 closure) and stories of five closed area parishes (St. Mary of the Angels, St. Anthony, St. Bernard, St. John Nepomucene, and Sacred Heart). Parish and museum tours are available.
- Non-profit Historical Society
- Social hall & museum in the old school building
- History/Church Directory book ($30 + $5 shipping)
- Parish and museum tours — contact Judy Hanzel at 402-246-4807
- Repair Fund accepts donations for upkeep of the historic complex
The Michael House & Facilities Rentals
The old rectory, known as The Michael House, is available for gatherings and overnight stays, and is a popular feature for visitors and family events. The parish hall (former school) is also available for rental through Ruth Mausbach.
- The Michael House (old rectory) — available for events and overnight stays
- Parish Hall (old school) — rental inquiries to Ruth Mausbach, 402-920-3140
Family of God Catholic Parishes Cluster
Since July 2019, St. Michael's has shared pastoral and administrative resources with four neighboring parishes in Platte County: Holy Family (Lindsay), Ss. Cyril & Methodius (Clarkson), St. Francis (Humphrey), and St. Mary (Leigh). The cluster publishes a consolidated bulletin listing weekend Mass times, confessions, holy days, and parish events across all five communities. The cluster is led by Pastor Rev. Taylor Leffler (since July 1, 2025) and Associate Pastor Rev. Dan Wittrock, with deacons serving their home parishes.
- Holy Family — Lindsay, NE
- Ss. Cyril & Methodius — Clarkson, NE
- St. Francis — Humphrey, NE
- St. Mary — Leigh, NE
- St. Michael — Tarnov, NE
- Cluster formed July 2019
Visiting Tarnov & Polish-American Heritage
Tarnov is a small village in Platte County named for the Polish town of Tarnów (then in Austrian Galicia) from which many of its founders emigrated. The St. Michael's complex — church, rectory, grotto, and museum — stands as one of Nebraska's most tangible expressions of Polish-American Catholic heritage and remains a point of pride for descendants of the original settlers. Visitors are welcome at Mass, for tours of the museum and historic complex, and at the seasonal events hosted by the Historical Society.
- Named after Tarnów, Poland (Austrian Galicia)
- Heritage of Polish immigrants from the late 1870s onward
- Listed on the National Register of Historic Places since 1990
- Museum and parish tours available
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Cyril Augustinsky, O.F.M.1880
Founded the Polish parish and erected the first 'rude church' in December 1880.
- Fr. A. Czech, O.F.M.1899–1901
Initiated planning for the new Gothic Revival church in December 1899 with $1,800 of his own savings; presided at the October 24, 1901 dedication.
- Br. Leonard Dorschied, O.F.M.1900–1901
Designer of the current Gothic Revival church.
- Fr. Knute1920s
Longtime pastor who championed the Memorial Grotto honoring WWI veterans.
- Rev. Stan SchmitJuly 1, 2023 – June 2025
Pastor of the Family of God Parishes cluster before Fr. Leffler.
- Rev. Taylor LefflerJuly 1, 2025 – present
Current pastor of the Family of God Parishes; also president of Archangels Catholic High School.