About St. Peter · Newcastle, Nebraska
St. Peter Catholic Church is a small Roman Catholic parish serving Newcastle, Nebraska, in the rolling farmland of Dixon County. Established in 1873 and now past its 150th anniversary, the parish is part of Holy Spirit Catholic Parishes, a family of seven rural parishes in northeast Nebraska administered jointly under the Archdiocese of Omaha. Currently pastored by Rev. Kevin Vogel with associate Rev. William Targy and Deacon Dennis Knudsen, St. Peter's continues a Catholic tradition in Newcastle that reaches back to a frontier Mass celebrated in a sod hut in 1858.
- Established
- 1873
- Patron
- St. Peter the Apostle
- Rector
- Rev. Kevin Vogel
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Omaha
Why belong here
St. Peter's offers a close-knit, multi-generational Catholic community in rural northeast Nebraska with deep roots going back to 1873 and a beautiful 1955 modified-Gothic church that has been carefully maintained by its parishioners. As part of Holy Spirit Catholic Parishes, members share in a wider network of ministries, faith formation, and pastoral care spanning seven parishes while still belonging to a small-town parish family where the Sacred Heart Sodality, Knights of Columbus, parish trustees, and a 100+ member congregation actively shape parish life. It is a place where the heritage of 150 years of Catholic witness meets a present-day commitment to being a 'missional' church reaching into the surrounding community.
Mass times at St. Peter
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Sunday 7:30 AM - 8:00 AM
Adoration times
- First Friday of each month, 8:00 AM - 11:00 AM (Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament)
History of St. Peter Parish
St. Peter Parish in Newcastle, Nebraska traces its origin to 1873, though Catholic worship in the area goes back to a frontier Mass in William Pfister's sod hut in 1858. The first resident pastor, Rev. Michael O'Toole, arrived in 1877 and oversaw the entire Dixon County mission from Newcastle. Over the following decades the parish grew around a small rural congregation, building and finishing its early church and supporting successive priests. By the mid-twentieth century the parish had outgrown its original structure, and in June 1954 Msgr. Albert Krejci launched a drive for a new church that raised $30,000 in its first year without active solicitation. Construction contracts were signed July 14, 1954, and on May 4, 1955 Archbishop Gerald T. Bergan officiated the pontifical blessing of the present building. The parish went debt-free in November 1957 and celebrated its 125th anniversary in 1998 and its 150th anniversary on May 28, 2023.
- 1858: First known Mass in Newcastle, offered by Father Jillion in William Pfister's sod hut
- 1873: Parish established; church building erected and dedicated as St. Peter's Catholic Church
- 1877: Rev. Michael O'Toole becomes first resident pastor
- 1954: Msgr. Albert Krejci initiates new church campaign; contracts signed July 14, 1954
- May 4, 1955: Archbishop Gerald T. Bergan blesses the new church
- November 1957: Parish becomes debt-free
- 1993-1996: St. Peter's officially yokes with St. Joseph's Parish, Ponca under Rev. Rick Arkfeld
- 2023 (May 28): 150th anniversary celebrated
Architecture of the 1955 Church
Designed by the Sioux City architectural firm of William Beutler/Buettler, St. Peter's is a modern modified Gothic structure emphasizing practical, clean lines. The church is 105 feet long with a maximum width of 53 feet, featuring a nave 40 feet wide by 73 feet long that seats 320. A south-end choir loft accommodates 40 singers, and glass doors form the main entrance on the south side. The large sanctuary is flanked by a priest's sacristy on one side and a server's sacristy on the other. The basement contains restrooms, a utility room, and the furnace room; more recently a handicap-accessible restroom has been added off the west end of the vestibule. Recent stewardship projects have included exterior pintucking, stained-glass window resealing, full pew restoration with new songbook holders, and moving the communion rail outdoors.
- Architect: William Beutler/Buettler, Sioux City
- Style: Modern modified Gothic
- Dimensions: 105 ft long x 53 ft max width
- Nave: 40 ft x 73 ft, seating 320
- Choir loft: south end, 40 persons
Holy Spirit Catholic Parishes
St. Peter Parish is one of seven parishes that together form Holy Spirit Catholic Parishes, a family-of-parishes model serving rural northeast Nebraska. The Seven Parish Circle includes Holy Trinity (Hartington), St. Michael (Coleridge), St. Jane Frances (Randolph), St. Mary (Osmond), St. Paul (Plainview), St. Joseph (Ponca), and St. Peter (Newcastle). In November 2022 the parish was informed it would join a yoke served by two or three priests serving all seven parishes. St. Peter's no longer receives a regular weekend Mass but is granted Holy Day Masses and one weekday Mass per month, with the parish encouraged to embrace a 'missional' identity while remaining a community of faithful.
- Family of seven parishes under the Archdiocese of Omaha
- Central parish office: 406 South Broadway, PO Box 278, Hartington, NE 68739
- Pastoral team: Rev. Kevin Vogel (Pastor), Rev. William Targy (Associate Pastor), Deacon Dennis Knudsen
Clergy and Parish Staff
St. Peter's is currently served by Rev. Kevin Vogel as pastor and Rev. William Targy as associate pastor, both of whom serve the broader Holy Spirit Catholic Parishes family. Deacon Dennis Knudsen serves as deacon for both St. Peter (Newcastle) and St. Joseph (Ponca). The parish office is staffed and reachable through the central Hartington office.
- Rev. Kevin Vogel - Pastor (since 2025)
- Rev. William Targy - Associate Pastor
- Deacon Dennis Knudsen - Deacon at SPN and SJP
Mass and Liturgical Schedule
St. Peter's offers a weekly Sunday Mass at 8:00 AM, with a Saturday evening Mass also listed at 7:00 PM on some schedules. As part of the Seven Parish Circle, the parish receives one weekday Mass per month and is granted Holy Day Masses; the complete up-to-date schedule is published in the weekly bulletin and on the Holy Spirit Catholic Parishes Google Calendar.
- Sunday Mass: 8:00 AM
- Saturday Mass: 7:00 PM
- Weekday Mass: once per month (see bulletin)
- Holy Day Masses: as announced
- Confessions: Sunday 7:30 AM - 8:00 AM
- Eucharistic Adoration: First Friday of each month, 8:00 AM - 11:00 AM
Parish Organizations and Ministries
Parish life at St. Peter's is sustained by a variety of lay organizations, with the women's group organized as the Sacred Heart Sodality and men's fraternity offered through the Knights of Columbus Gene Day Council #9939 (shared with St. Joseph, Ponca). Liturgical ministries include lectors, extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion, altar servers, sacristans, music ministers, greeters, gift bearers, ushers, and a decorating committee. Pastoral councils include the Family Pastoral Council and Stewardship Council. Outreach is supported through a funeral committee, nursing home and shut-in visitation, prayer chain, prayer shawl ministry, bereavement ministry, and a pro-life/Walking with Moms group.
- Sacred Heart Sodality (women's group)
- Knights of Columbus - Gene Day Council #9939 (Grand Knight: Kevin Connot)
- Parish Trustees
- Family Pastoral Council / Stewardship Council
- Lectors, EMHCs, Altar Servers, Sacristans
- Music Ministers (Cantors, Musicians, Choir)
- Greeters, Gift Bearers, Ushers
- Funeral Committee; Nursing Home & Shut-In Visitation
- Prayer Chain / Prayer Shawl / Bereavement
- Pro-Life / Walking with Moms; Outreach Ministry
Faith Formation and Adult Education
Through Holy Spirit Catholic Parishes, St. Peter's parishioners have access to OCIA/RCIA, adult faith education, Bible studies, parish library resources, and small-group prayer/scripture/faith sharing opportunities. Baptism formation is offered for parents preparing for the sacrament, and annulment sponsors are available to walk with those pursuing declarations of nullity. Children's religious education and catechesis is coordinated across the seven parishes.
- OCIA/RCIA
- Bible Studies
- Baptism Formation
- Faith Education for Adults
- Religious Education & Catechesis (children)
- Parish Library
- Annulment Sponsors
- Small Groups (contact Deacon Dennis 605-670-9958)
Sacraments
St. Peter Parish celebrates the seven sacraments in conjunction with the wider Holy Spirit Catholic Parishes family. Confessions are heard before Sunday Mass, and Mass is celebrated weekly (and on Holy Days). Baptism preparation, marriage preparation, OCIA/RCIA initiation, and annulment accompaniment are coordinated through the parish office.
- Baptism (with Baptism Formation)
- Confirmation (coordinated family-wide)
- Eucharist (Sunday 8:00 AM; Saturday 7:00 PM; weekday monthly)
- Confession (Sunday 7:30-8:00 AM)
- Anointing of the Sick
- Marriage (contact parish office)
- Holy Orders - discernment supported
- OCIA/RCIA for adult initiation
Parish Facilities and Hall Rental
Beyond the church building itself, St. Peter Parish maintains a parish hall that is available for rent for family events and weddings. The hall is the practical hub for Sacred Heart Sodality gatherings, funeral lunches, and other parish fellowship. Recent physical improvements include exterior pintucking, resealed stained-glass windows, refinished pews with new songbook holders, an outdoor communion rail, and a handicap restroom addition in the vestibule.
- Parish Hall available for rental (weddings, family events)
- Hall rental contact: 402-755-2773
- Accessibility: handicap restroom in vestibule
- Recent improvements: exterior pintucking, stained-glass resealing, pew restoration, outdoor communion rail
Contact and Getting Involved
Parishioners and visitors can reach the parish through the Holy Spirit Catholic Parishes office in Hartington. The parish email and phone are listed on the website, and ministry contacts are published for each organization. Whether one is a lifelong parishioner, a returning Catholic, or a visitor, the parish office can connect individuals with sacramental preparation, ministries, or volunteer opportunities.
- Parish Office: 402-254-6559
- Parish Hall: 402-755-2773
- Email: [email protected] / [email protected]
- Address: 403 Annie St., Newcastle, NE 68757
- Website: https://www.holyspiritfamily.org/st-peter-church
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Michael O'Toole1877-
First resident pastor of Newcastle; oversaw all of Dixon County and parts of Dakota and Cedar Counties; finished the interior of the 1873 church and built the rectory. About 40 families when he arrived.
- Rev. Robert Irwin-1991
Administrator of St. Peter's prior to Father Jindra.
- Rev. Frank Jindra1992-1993
- Rev. Rick Arkfeld1993-1996
During his tenure St. Peter's officially began a yoke arrangement with St. Joseph's Parish in Ponca.
- Rev. James J. Bartak1996-2001
- Rev. David F. Liewer2001-2013
Appointed jointly to St. Peter's, Newcastle, and St. Joseph's, Ponca; lived in the Newcastle rectory and used Ponca's as his office. Twelve-year pastorate before assignment to St. Mary's Laurel, St. Anne's Dixon, and St. Michael's Coleridge.
- Rev. Andrew L. Sohm2013-2023
Arrived summer 2013 after serving as U.S. Air Force chaplain at Holloman AFB, Alamogordo, NM. Served as pastor of St. Patrick's Jackson, St. Joseph's Ponca, and St. Peter's Newcastle.
- Rev. Owen Korte2023-2025
- Rev. Kevin Vogel2025-Present
Current pastor of Holy Spirit Catholic Parishes.