About St. Robert Bellarmine · Omaha, Nebraska
St. Robert Bellarmine Catholic Parish is a Roman Catholic parish in west Omaha, Nebraska, founded in 1966 as Omaha's population expanded westward. The parish is part of the Archdiocese of Omaha and serves families across the 11802 Pacific Street campus, which includes the church, St. Robert Bellarmine School, Reed Early Learning Academy, extended care, and a religious education program. The parish community marked its 60th anniversary in 2026, celebrating a continuing tradition of worship, Catholic education, and outreach that has grown from a single founding pastorate and a basement chapel into a thriving multi-faceted campus.
- Established
- 1966
- Patron
- St. Robert Bellarmine (Jesuit cardinal, Doctor of the Church; 1554–1621)
- Rector
- Fr. Mark
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Omaha
Why belong here
St. Robert's welcomes parishioners into a large, multigenerational Catholic community with abundant ways to pray, learn, and serve together. Daily and Sunday Masses are complemented by Reconciliation several times a week, Perpetual Adoration in a dedicated Adoration Chapel, a Prayer Garden open 7:00 a.m.–9:00 p.m., and ongoing devotions like Divine Mercy and Perpetual Help. The parish campus supports Catholic education from infant care (Reed Early Learning Academy) through elementary school (St. Robert Bellarmine School) and religious education, plus fellowship opportunities such as the first-Sunday Breakfast/Donut Sunday and an annual parish festival — making it easy for newcomers to plug into parish life.
Mass times at St. Robert Bellarmine
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday: 4:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m.
- Thursday before first Friday: 4:30 p.m. and 7:00 p.m.
- Or by appointment
Adoration times
- Perpetual Adoration Chapel (Adoration Chapel available daily — see bulletin for current schedule)
- Prayer Garden open daily 7:00 a.m.–9:00 p.m.
Parish History
St. Robert Bellarmine Parish was founded June 9, 1966 by Archbishop Gerald T. Bergen to serve Omaha's expanding western population. Fr. Eugene H. Kerwin became founding pastor and oversaw the construction of the school (1968) and permanent church (1979). Through five pastors and sixty years, the parish has remained a center of Catholic education, worship, and community life on a 14-acre campus that was once a horse farm. The parish marked its 60th anniversary with celebrations in 2026.
- 1966 — Parish founded; first Mass in Crestridge School gymnasium
- 1967 — Groundbreaking May 13 (former feast day of St. Robert Bellarmine)
- 1968 — School opened September 3; facility dedicated October 20
- 1969 — First graduating class of 32 students
- 1979 — First all-school Mass in the new permanent church, September 27
- 1997 — Fr. Kerwin retires after 31 years as pastor
- 1998–2012 — Fr. Donald W. Shane serves as third pastor
- 2000 — Major renovation groundbreaking; Mainelli Parish Center built
- 2006 — Archbishop Elden F. Curtiss consecrates new altar April 5
- 2012 — Fr. Steven Stillmunks installed as fourth pastor
- 2026 — Parish celebrates 60th anniversary
Founding Pastor & Pastor Succession
Five pastors have shepherded St. Robert's over six decades. Fr. Eugene H. Kerwin led from founding in 1966 until his 1997 retirement. Msgr. Blasé J. Cupich succeeded him in 1997 before being named Bishop of Rapid City in 1998. Fr. Donald W. Shane — son of founding members — served from 1998 to 2012. Fr. Steven Stillmunks was installed as fourth pastor in June 2012. Fr. Mark is the parish's current pastor and is known for community-building events like Baseball with Fr. Mark.
- Fr. Eugene H. Kerwin (1966–1997) — founding pastor
- Msgr. Blasé J. Cupich (1997–1998) — later Cardinal Archbishop of Chicago
- Fr. Donald W. Shane (1998–2012) — third pastor
- Fr. Steven Stillmunks (2012–) — fourth pastor
- Fr. Dave Reeson — fifth pastor per parish history
- Fr. Ryan Lewis — assigned 2024 per parish history
- Fr. Mark — current pastor
St. Robert Bellarmine School
St. Robert Bellarmine School opened September 3, 1968 under founding principal Sister Dolorita Reandeau, O.S.F., with 451 students and nine lay teachers. The first graduating class of 32 students received diplomas in 1969, and a permanent church building was completed a decade later in 1979 with the first all-school Mass on September 27. The school remains a flagship ministry of the parish, located at 11900 Pacific Street (phone 402-334-1929).
- Address: 11900 Pacific St., Omaha, NE 68154
- Phone: 402-334-1929
- Fax: 402-333-7188
- Founded 1968 by Sister Dolorita Reandeau, O.S.F.
- First graduating class of 32 in 1969
Reed Early Learning Academy
Reed Early Learning Academy extends the parish's Catholic education mission to its youngest learners, located next to the main campus at 11910 Pacific St., Omaha, NE 68154 (phone 402-885-8111).
- Address: 11910 Pacific St., Omaha, NE 68154
- Phone: 402-885-8111
Religious Education & Faith Formation
The parish Religious Education program traces its roots to Fr. Kerwin's launch of both high school CCD (September 14, 1966) and the elementary program (October 1, 1966) within months of the parish's founding. Today the program continues under the direction of parish staff at 11900 Pacific St. (phone 402-333-1959), preparing children and youth for the sacraments and supporting lifelong faith formation.
- Address: 11900 Pacific St., Omaha, NE 68154
- Phone: 402-333-1959
- Elementary CCD program
- High School CCD program
- Sacramental preparation (Baptism, First Communion, Confirmation)
Extended Care & Kid's Team
St. Robert's provides before- and after-school care through Extended Care & Kid's Team, located at 11900 Pacific St. (phone 402-933-9366), supporting busy parish families.
- Address: 11900 Pacific St., Omaha, NE 68154
- Phone: 402-933-9366
Parish Life & Fellowship
Parishioners are invited into community through the first-Sunday Breakfast/Donut Sunday, special events such as the annual Parish Festival, and seasonal celebrations like the 60th Anniversary Festival in June 2026. Fr. Mark hosts parish-wide outings such as Baseball with Fr. Mark — a family tailgate in the parking lot followed by cheering on a ballgame with fellow parishioners. The Ladies Guild, founded in 1967, remains the parish's oldest permanent organization.
- Breakfast/Donut Sunday — first Sunday of the month
- Parish Festival (annual; combined with 60th Anniversary in 2026)
- Baseball with Fr. Mark
- Ladies Guild (founded 1967)
- Parish bulletin (online at stroberts.com)
Contact, Location & Hours
The parish campus is centered at 11802 Pacific Street, Omaha, NE 68154. The Parish Office is open Monday through Thursday 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., and Friday 9:00 a.m. to noon (excluding holidays). The main parish phone is 402-333-8989. Email is protected on the website (contact form). All campus buildings — parish offices, school, Reed Early Learning Academy, extended care, and religious education — are within walking distance along Pacific Street.
- Parish: 11802 Pacific St., Omaha, NE 68154 — 402-333-8989
- St. Robert School: 11900 Pacific St. — 402-334-1929
- Reed Early Learning Academy: 11910 Pacific St. — 402-885-8111
- Extended Care & Kid's Team: 11900 Pacific St. — 402-933-9366
- Religious Education: 11900 Pacific St. — 402-333-1959
- Office hours: Mon–Thu 9 a.m.–5 p.m.; Fri 9 a.m.–noon
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Eugene H. Kerwin1966–1997
Founding pastor; built parish from 425 families; oversaw school opening in 1968; retired 1997.
- Msgr. Blasé J. Cupich1997–1998
Second pastor; installed June 25, 1997; appointed Bishop of Rapid City July 6, 1998; later Cardinal Archbishop of Chicago.
- Fr. Donald W. Shane1998–2012
Third pastor, installed September 13, 1998; parents were founding members; celebrated 40th anniversary of ordination 2009; retired June 21, 2012.
- Fr. Steven Stillmunks2012–
Fourth pastor, installed June 2012; later retired.
- Fr. Dave Reeson
Fifth pastor per parish history.