About St. Teresa · Lincoln, Nebraska
St. Teresa Catholic Church (often called 'St. Teresa the Little Flower' or 'StLF') is a Lincoln, Nebraska parish of the Diocese of Lincoln, dedicated to St. Thérèse of Lisieux. Established on February 3, 1926 — just nine months after St. Thérèse was canonized — it was reportedly among the first U.S. churches to claim the Little Flower as patroness. The parish serves south-central Lincoln from its campus on South 36th Street, which includes St. Teresa School (Pre-K through 8th grade), a Convent, and a parish Thrift Shop. It is known for its rich liturgical life, 24-hour Eucharistic Adoration, the annual Corpus Christi procession to the nearby Pink Sisters' Chapel, and a deeply devotional Catholic culture rooted in the prayer traditions of the Diocese of Lincoln.
- Established
- 1926
- Patron
- St. Thérèse of Lisieux (St. Teresa of the Child Jesus, the 'Little Flower')
- Rector
- Rev. Nicholas Kipper
- Diocese
- Diocese of Lincoln
Why belong here
St. Teresa offers one of the most prayer-rich parish environments in the Diocese of Lincoln, with 24-hour Eucharistic Adoration Sundays 1pm–9pm, weekdays 9am–9pm, and Saturdays 9am–4pm, alongside multiple daily Masses and confessions six days a week. The parish grounds host St. Teresa School (Pre-K–8th grade), the Sisters' Convent, a parish Thrift Shop, and a beautiful procession route to the nearby Pink Sisters' Chapel on South Cotner Boulevard. Active parishioners can join liturgical teams (acolytes, lectors, altar servers, EMHC), the Legion of Mary, the Confraternity of Christian Mothers, Pro-Life work, Scouting, the Saint Vincent de Paul conference, the parish choir, Altar Society, and family ministries including St. Veronica (child loss support) and SCRIP — a flourishing, multigenerational Catholic community with deep roots going back nearly a century.
Mass times at St. Teresa
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 3:00–4:00 pm
- Saturday 5:00–5:30 pm
- A half-hour before each Daily Mass (Mon–Fri 6:30 am and 8:15 am; Sat 8:15 am)
Adoration times
- Sunday 1:00 pm – 9:00 pm
- Monday 9:00 am – 9:00 pm
- Tuesday 9:00 am – 9:00 pm
- Wednesday 9:00 am – 9:00 pm
- Thursday 9:00 am – 9:00 pm
- Friday 9:00 am – 9:00 pm
- Saturday 9:00 am – 4:00 pm
History of St. Teresa Parish
St. Teresa parish was established on February 3, 1926, carved from St. Mary Cathedral parish to serve southeast Lincoln. Founded just nine months after St. Thérèse of Lisieux was canonized, it was among the first U.S. parishes dedicated to the 'Little Flower.' The community began with about 20 families and was soon in debt. After the Oblates of Mary Immaculate withdrew during the Depression and a Dominican pastor fell ill, diocesan priest Fr. Mitchell Kaczmarek arrived in 1936 and led novenas to St. Thérèse to lift the parish out of near-bankruptcy. He served 45 years, and every church and school addition since has been paid off at completion. In the mid-1970s the diocese created St. Joseph's Parish, splitting the territory at approximately 56th Street.
- Founded: February 3, 1926
- First patroness: St. Thérèse of Lisieux (canonized May 17, 1925)
- Longest-serving pastor: Fr. Mitchell Kaczmarek (1936–c.1981, 45 years)
- Mid-1970s: St. Joseph's Parish created from St. Teresa's territory at ~56th Street
- Original boundaries: O Street to South Street, 27th Street east to city limits
Meet Our Staff & Clergy
The parish is led by Pastor Rev. Nicholas Kipper, who also serves as Dean of the Lincoln Central Deanery and Chaplain to the Pink Sisters. He is assisted by Parochial Vicar Rev. Mitchell Schleis and In-Residence priest Rev. Timothy Danek. Lay staff handle parish operations, and the parish school is led by Principal Sr. Mary Michael, CK, of the School Sisters of Christ the King. The parish office is open Monday–Thursday 9:00 am–4:00 pm and closed Fridays; all staff can be reached at the main parish number.
- Rev. Nicholas Kipper — Pastor (also Lincoln Central Deanery Dean & Pink Sisters' Chaplain)
- Rev. Mitchell Schleis — Parochial Vicar
- Rev. Timothy Danek — Priest in Residence
- Sr. Mary Michael, CK — Principal, St. Teresa School
- Mary Schmit — Parish Secretary
- Jeanne Kee — Financial Secretary
- Ben Hirsch — Facilities Manager
Sacraments at St. Teresa
St. Teresa joyfully prepares parishioners for all seven sacraments. The parish baptizes new members into the faith, offers confession six days a week, prepares couples for marriage, and provides thoughtful preparation for children and youth receiving Reconciliation, Holy Communion, and Confirmation. The Anointing of the Sick is offered in homes or hospitals when needed, and the parish supports and prays for vocations to the priesthood and religious life. Those interested in becoming Catholic are welcomed through OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation for Adults) classes.
- Baptism — first-time parents required to be prepared by a priest
- Confirmation — deepens baptismal grace with the gifts of the Holy Spirit
- First Reconciliation and First Communion — parish-based preparation
- Marriage — six-month preparation and counseling
- Anointing of the Sick — offered in homes and hospitals
- Holy Orders — vocation support; Diocese of Lincoln seminary at St. Gregory the Great
- OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation for Adults) — for those entering the Catholic Church
St. Teresa School
St. Teresa School opened in 1930, just four years after the parish was founded. Two Dominican Sisters from Saint Catherine, Kentucky, began teaching 23 students in two rooms furnished only with the bare necessities. By 1940 enrollment had reached 110, and in 1948 the school became an accredited junior high. Today the school serves more than 250 students from Pre-Kindergarten through eighth grade and is guided by the School Sisters of Christ the King. The school's motto is 'Learn, Pray, Serve.'
- Year opened: 1930
- Grades served: Pre-K through 8
- Enrollment: 255 students
- Faculty/staff: 38
- Religious serving school: 4 (School Sisters of Christ the King)
- Priests serving school: 2
- Principal: Sr. Mary Michael, CK
- Phone: (402) 477-3358
- Website: stlfschool.org
- Address: 616 S. 36th St, Lincoln, NE 68510
Parish Life & Ministries
St. Teresa's parish life is organized around liturgical service, prayer, family, and outreach. Liturgical ministries — acolytes, lectors, altar servers, and Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion — sustain the Masses and adoration. The Confraternity of Christian Mothers, Pro-Life committee, Scouting, St. Veronica (child-loss support), SCRIP fundraising, and Natural Family Planning education all support family and parish life. The parish operates a Thrift Shop in the older section of the school building.
- Liturgical Ministries: Acolytes, Lectors, Altar Servers, EMHCs
- Family Ministries: Confraternity of Christian Mothers, Pro-Life, NFP/FertilityCare, Scouting, St. Veronica (child loss), SCRIP
- Prayer Ministries: Legion of Mary, Prayer Line, Retreats (at Our Lady of Good Counsel, Waverly)
- Outreach: Saint Vincent de Paul conference
- Service: Altar Society (flowers, sanctuary care, funeral dinners, coffee & donuts)
- Parish Thrift Shop
Prayer Ministries & Devotions
The prayer life at St. Teresa is anchored in the Rosary, perpetual Eucharistic Adoration, and a robust Legion of Mary praesidium. Parishioners also pray together through a Prayer Line, plan parish retreats at Our Lady of Good Counsel Retreat House near Waverly, and gather for annual Marian and Corpus Christi processions that link the parish church with the nearby Pink Sisters' Convent.
- Legion of Mary — Wednesday 9:00 am in the Meeting Room
- Prayer Line (intercessory prayer requests)
- Parish retreats at Our Lady of Good Counsel Retreat House, Waverly
- Choir practice (Thursday evenings)
- Annual Corpus Christi procession (June) — parish church to Pink Sisters
- Marian Mass and Candlelight Rosary Procession at Waverly (September)
Annual Parish Events & Traditions
St. Teresa's calendar is marked by beloved annual traditions that draw the parish together and tie it to the wider Diocese of Lincoln. The year opens with the parish picnic on October 1, the feast of St. Teresa, followed in November by the annual Bazaar and Spaghetti Supper. Liturgical highlights include the June Corpus Christi procession and a Marian Mass and Candlelight Rosary at the Waverly Retreat Center grounds each September.
- Parish Picnic — October 1 (Feast of St. Teresa)
- Bazaar & Spaghetti Supper — November
- Corpus Christi Procession — June (St. Teresa to Pink Sisters' Chapel)
- Marian Mass & Candlelight Rosary — September at Waverly Retreat Center
Visit, Contact & Connect
Parishioners and visitors are warmly welcomed. The parish office is open Monday–Thursday 9:00 am–4:00 pm and closed Fridays; the main phone number (402) 477-3979 reaches all staff. Newcomers can join the parish Flocknote list for email updates, give online, read the weekly bulletin, browse the full parish calendar, and find current ministry schedules (altar servers, lectors, acolytes, EMHCs) on the parish website.
- Address: 735 S. 36th Street, Lincoln, NE 68510
- Phone: (402) 477-3979
- Website: stlfchurch.org
- School website: stlfschool.org
- Office hours: Mon–Thu 9 am–4 pm (closed Fridays)
- Flocknote sign-up available on the website
- Online Giving available on the website
- Weekly bulletin (PDF) available online, with archive back to mid-2025
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Oblates of Mary Immaculate (religious order)early years through the Depression
Departed during the Great Depression, leaving the young parish in financial distress.
- Dominican pastor1930s
The parish's only priest at the time; fell ill, deepening the parish's crisis.
- Rev. Mitchell Kaczmarek1936–c.1981
Diocesan priest who arrived to find the parish on the verge of bankruptcy. Led novenas to St. Thérèse, rallied families to pledge property against the debt, and served as pastor for 45 years, establishing the parish's financial stability and devotional culture.