About St. Paulinus · Syracuse, Nebraska
St. Paulinus Catholic Church is a Roman Catholic parish in the small town of Syracuse, Nebraska, in the Catholic Diocese of Lincoln (Plattsmouth Deanery). It shares its pastor and parish life with its mission church, Holy Trinity, in rural Avoca, and serves a growing rural community southeast of Lincoln. The parish offers weekend and daily Mass at 476 Poplar Street, plus a robust religious-education program for children in grades K–8 and a chartered Knights of Columbus council. After a $1.75 million renovation completed in 2024 — which flipped the sanctuary 180 degrees, expanded the entrance, restored the bell tower, and added a stained-glass window of the patron — St. Paulinus continues to welcome new families drawn by Syracuse's growth as a commuter town.
- Established
- 1906
- Patron
- Saint Paulinus of York (Paulinus of York)
- Rector
- Rev. Ryan Salisbury
- Diocese
- Diocese of Lincoln (Plattsmouth Deanery)
Why belong here
St. Paulinus is a welcoming rural parish that combines the intimacy of a small-town Catholic community with a surprising array of programs. Weekend Masses are offered Saturday evening and twice on Sunday, plus a daily 7:00 a.m. Mass four days a week and live-streamed liturges for the homebound. Families raising children in the faith are supported by a parish-based CCD program for grades K–8, liturgical ministries (acolytes, readers, servers) with clear expectations, and a chartered Knights of Columbus council (#7614) that bears the name of the parish's beloved first resident pastor. With its recently renovated, larger sanctuary and continued growth as Syracuse nearly doubles in size, this is a parish with deep roots and an active present.
Mass times at St. Paulinus
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 4:15–4:50 pm (Syracuse, St. Paulinus)
- Sunday 6:40–6:55 am (Syracuse, St. Paulinus)
- Sunday 8:30–8:50 am (Syracuse, St. Paulinus)
- 15 minutes before Mass at Holy Trinity (Avoca)
- 20 minutes before each daily Mass
About St. Paulinus Parish
St. Paulinus Catholic Church is the Catholic parish of Syracuse, Nebraska, in the Diocese of Lincoln's Plattsmouth Deanery. Together with its mission church, Holy Trinity in Avoca, it serves farm families and commuters from the surrounding rural communities of Otoe County. The parish combines traditional small-town Catholic life with modern programs: weekend Masses twice on Sunday, four daily Masses a week, a CCD religious-education program for grades K–8, a chartered Knights of Columbus council, and live-streamed Sunday Masses for the homebound. The pastor is Fr. Ryan Salisbury, and the parish office and rectory are at 863 5th Street in Syracuse.
- Pastor: Fr. Ryan Salisbury
- Diocese: Catholic Diocese of Lincoln (Plattsmouth Deanery)
- Mission church: Holy Trinity, Avoca, NE
- Parish address: 476 Poplar St, Syracuse, NE 68446
- Mailing/rectory: 863 5th St, Syracuse, NE 68446-9504
- Phone: 402-269-3382
Parish History
Catholic life in Syracuse dates to 1880, when priests from Nebraska City occasionally visited and celebrated Mass in the community center, in homes, or on the second floor of a local store. In 1905, seven or eight families pooled their labor and about $2,500 to build the first church, dedicated by Bishop Bonacum in 1906 with seating for roughly 85 people. Father McFadden became the first resident priest in 1935 and served Syracuse and Avoca for 27 years until his death in 1962.
- 1880 — Syracuse becomes a station on the Nebraska City circuit
- 1906 — First church built by 7–8 families and dedicated by Bishop Bonacum (~85 seats)
- 1935 — Father McFadden becomes first resident priest
- 1944 — Rectory acquired adjacent to the church
- 1957 — New 85' x 50' church built on the same site; cornerstone blessed by Bishop James V. Casey
- 1962 — Father McFadden passes after 27 years of service
- 1981 — Knights of Columbus Council #7614 chartered and named after Father McFadden
- 1988 — Present rectory purchased; old rectory converted to CCD Center
- 1990s — South-side properties purchased and sold to create a new parking lot
- 2024 — $1.75M renovation completed: entrance expanded, sanctuary flipped 180°, bell tower restored, stained-glass window of St. Paulinus installed
Faith Formation & Religious Education (CCD)
St. Paulinus offers a CCD (Confraternity of Catholic Doctrine) program for children in grades K–8 throughout the school year. Classes meet on Wednesday evenings and provide a sequential learning pattern in a 'community of faith' environment. Parents are recognized as the first and foremost religious educators; CCD supports and reinforces their work. On alternating weeks the classes take turns: one week offers confession to the students, and the other has Mass for everyone beginning at 7:10 p.m. Grade-specific prayers are assigned each year, and parents can use the parish website to learn them.
- CCD classes — Wednesdays during the school year
- Grades K–8
- Alternating weeks: Confession available / 7:10 pm Mass for all
- Grade-specific prayer requirements
- Godteens youth program (in formation)
Liturgical Ministries
St. Paulinus involves parishioners of all ages in the sacred liturgy as acolytes, readers, and altar servers. The parish publishes clear expectations for each role, emphasizing dignity of dress (dress shoes and slacks for servers and acolytes, 'dressy' attire for lectors) and proper preparation before each liturgy. Ministers are expected to arrange their own substitutes well in advance if they cannot serve at their assigned time.
- Acolytes (with published schedule)
- Readers / Lectors
- Altar Servers
- Minister Requirements page on the parish website
Knights of Columbus Council #7614
The parish's Knights of Columbus council was chartered in 1981 and named after Father McFadden, the first resident pastor of St. Paulinus, who served the parish for 27 years until his death in 1962. The council continues the charitable and fraternal mission of the order at the local parish level.
- Council number: 7614
- Chartered: 1981
- Patron namesake: Father McFadden (pastor 1935–1962)
Sacraments
St. Paulinus follows the baptismal guidelines of the Diocese of Lincoln: a preparation class must be completed before a couple's first child is baptized, and a Baptism Application must first be filled out. Couples wishing to marry at the parish must meet with the pastor at least six months before reserving a date and sending 'Save the Dates,' and are expected to familiarize themselves with the Parish Wedding Policy.
- Baptism — diocesan guidelines; preparation class for first child; Baptism Application required
- Marriage — 6 months minimum notice to the pastor; Parish Wedding Policy applies
Contact & Visit
St. Paulinus Catholic Church is located at 476 Poplar Street, Syracuse, Nebraska 68446. The parish rectory and office are at 863 5th Street, Syracuse, NE 68446. The parish phone number is 402-269-3382. Inquiries to the pastor (Fr. Ryan Salisbury) or to the parish office can be made by email through the addresses listed on the parish website, or simply by calling the rectory during office hours.
- Physical address (church): 476 Poplar St, Syracuse, NE 68446
- Mailing / rectory address: 863 5th St, Syracuse, NE 68446-9504
- Phone: 402-269-3382
- Parish website: https://paulinustrinity.weebly.com/
- Live Masses / videos: facebook.com/stpaulinus/videos
- Diocese: lincolndiocese.org (directory listing #784)
2024 Renovation & Growth
After years of planning, St. Paulinus completed a $1.75 million renovation in spring 2024, finishing in time for Easter. The work expanded the front entrance and flipped the sanctuary 180 degrees so that worshippers enter directly from the parking lot into a more accessible, larger worship space. Seating capacity increased by roughly 35%. The historic bell — silent since the church was rebuilt in 1957 — was reinstalled in a new bell tower and rang again on Easter Sunday. A new stained-glass window depicting the parish's patron, Saint Paulinus, was installed. The former altar is displayed at the front of the church as a reminder of the parish's history.
- Total renovation cost: $1.75 million
- Sanctuary flipped 180 degrees to face the new entrance
- Seating capacity increased ~35%
- Bell tower restored; bell rang again on Easter 2024
- New stained-glass window of Saint Paulinus installed
- Old altar preserved as a memorial in the front of the church
- Parishioners report 'exponential' growth in families
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father McFadden1935–1962
First resident priest assigned to St. Paulinus; also given charge of Avoca. Served 27 years and passed away November 26, 1962. Honored by the naming of Knights of Columbus Council #7614 in 1981.
- Rev. Jerel Schollappointed 2015
Appointed Pastor of St. Paulinus in Syracuse and Holy Trinity in Avoca in 2015; also assigned to teach at Lourdes Central Catholic School in Nebraska City.
- Rev. Ryan Salisburypresent
Current pastor of the St. Paulinus / Holy Trinity parishes.