About St. Vincent de Paul · Seward, Nebraska
St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church is a parish of the Diocese of Lincoln serving Seward, Milford and the surrounding communities of south-central Nebraska from its campus at 152 Pinewood Avenue in Seward. Founded in 1878, it is a combined parish-and-school community that today ministers to more than 600 families with a parish school offering pre-school through sixth grade and a CCD/Godparent youth faith-formation program running through twelfth grade. Weekend Masses are celebrated Saturday evening and twice on Sunday, with daily Mass Monday through Saturday and a live-streamed broadcast for those who cannot attend in person.
- Established
- 1878
- Patron
- St. Vincent de Paul
- Rector
- Monsignor Robert Tucker
- Diocese
- Diocese of Lincoln (York Deanery)
Why belong here
St. Vincent de Paul is a one-stop Catholic home for every age: weekend and daily Mass in a beautiful 1973 church themed on the Sermon on the Mount, an on-site parish school serving pre-school through sixth grade, and a complete faith-formation track from first-grade CCD through the high-school Godparent Program. With RCIA/OCIA for adults, 1,500+ weddings and 3,000+ baptisms celebrated over the parish's lifetime, and a campus that includes a school, social hall, classrooms and rectory on Pinewood Avenue, newcomers find a full Catholic life — sacraments, formation, school and community — in one place.
Mass times at St. Vincent de Paul
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday: 4:30 pm – 5:20 pm
- Sunday: 7:30 am – 7:50 am
- Sunday: 9:30 am – 9:50 am
- Monday – Friday: 20 minutes before each daily Mass
- Other times available by appointment
Parish History
St. Vincent de Paul Parish traces its roots to 1872, when Seward was a mission of the Lincoln (Salt Creek) parish served by Father William Kelly. Father William Byrne and his assistant Father John Lee took over in 1876 and advanced plans for the village's first Catholic church. On July 20, 1878, Father P. N. O'Brien — Seward's first resident pastor — arrived from Springbrook, New York, and at a cost of $2,500 completed a frame church on the corner of Seward and Third Streets, along with a five-room rectory. Additions in 1910 under Father F. A. O'Brien and in 1913 under Father George Agius accommodated the growing congregation, and in 1944 Milford became a mission of the Seward parish. Under Father Joseph Kenney in 1949 the church was cut in half and 'stretched' over a larger foundation, with a new basement creating the parish's first social hall. The parish went from 45 families in 1930 to 153 families by 1950.
- 1872 — Seward served as a mission of the Lincoln (Salt Creek) parish by Father William Kelly.
- 1876 — Father William Byrne and Father John Lee begin planning the first church.
- 1878, July 20 — Father P. N. O'Brien arrives from Springbrook, NY as first resident pastor.
- 1910 — Addition under Father F. A. O'Brien.
- 1913 — Addition under Father George Agius.
- 1944 — Milford becomes a mission of the Seward parish.
- 1949 — Father Joseph Kenney enlarges the church and adds the first social hall in the basement.
Building the Present Church
In 1962, Father Gregory Petrus purchased 20 acres at 2nd and Pinewood for a new church, social hall and rectory. Ground was broken on March 19, 1972 under Father Clarence Reisdorff, and the present church was dedicated debt-free on October 7, 1973 at a total cost of $542,448. The building was designed around the theme 'Sermon on the Mount,' with stained-glass windows depicting the Eight Beatitudes. A 1978 addition added three classrooms and office space for $98,000. In 1989 Father Reisdorff retired and was succeeded by Monsignor Thomas Olmsted, who organized the RCIA program and the high-school Godparent Program. Father James Benton arrived in 1993 and directed a $1,479,277 expansion that enlarged the sanctuary and added the social hall and additional classrooms — the church proper as it exists today. By 2001 Father Brad Zitek was shepherding 550 families and 1,485 members.
- 1962 — Father Petrus purchases 20 acres at 2nd and Pinewood.
- 1972, March 19 — Groundbreaking for the new church.
- 1973, October 7 — Dedication of the Sermon on the Mount-themed church, debt-free at $542,448.
- 1978 — Three classrooms and office space added ($98,000).
- 1989 — Monsignor Thomas Olmsted succeeds Father Reisdorff; RCIA and Godparent Programs launched.
- 1993 — Father James Benton's $1,479,277 expansion of sanctuary, social hall and classrooms.
- 2001 — Father Brad Zitek serves as pastor to 550 families / 1,485 members.
Faith Formation & Religious Education
The parish runs a complete faith-formation track from first grade through high school. CCD classes meet each Wednesday evening during the school year from 7:00 to 8:15 pm and are open to all parish students in Grades 1 through 8 using a diocesan-approved curriculum. Students in Grade 2 are prepared for the Sacraments of Reconciliation and Holy Eucharist, and students in Grade 5 are prepared for Confirmation. Carmen Brown serves as CCD Coordinator (Grades 1–8).
- CCD Program — Grades 1–8, Wednesdays 7:00–8:15 pm
- Coordinator: Carmen Brown
- Grade 2 — preparation for First Reconciliation and First Eucharist
- Grade 5 — preparation for Confirmation
- Diocesan-approved curriculum
Godparent Program (Grades 9–12)
The Godparent Program is the high-school religious education program for teens in Grades 9 through 12. Using a diocesan-approved curriculum of prayer, scripture and Catholic doctrine, weekly sessions are held in 'Godparent homes' on Wednesdays from 7:00 to 8:15 pm. Each freshman class is divided into small groups, each paired with its own married 'Godparent couple' who opens their home, witnesses to the Sacrament of Marriage and shares their faith for all four years of high school. Groups take part in service projects, fundraisers, special prayer services and annual weekend retreats.
- Coordinator: Beth Nemec
- Pastor: Monsignor Robert Tucker
- Format: weekly Godparent-home gatherings, Wednesdays 7:00–8:15 pm
- Service projects, fundraisers, prayer services and annual retreats
- Named couples include Wade & Megan and & Amanda Godfrey among listed leaders
RCIA / OCIA
RCIA (Rite/Order of Christian Initiation of Adults) is the Church's official process for welcoming new members. This nine-month program of instruction is intended for the unbaptized, those baptized in another faith, and Catholics wishing to return to the practice of the faith. The process moves through the Inquiry Phase, the Candidacy Phase beginning in December, the Election Phase during Lent, initiation at the Easter Vigil, and the Mystagogical Phase after Easter. Inquiries should contact Monsignor Tucker at (402) 643-3421.
- Inquiry Phase — initial questions and study
- Candidacy — December expression of desire to join
- Election — Lenten preparation
- Easter Vigil — full initiation into the Church
- Mystagogical Phase — post-Easter deepening
- Contact: Monsignor Tucker, (402) 643-3421
St. Vincent de Paul Catholic School
St. Vincent de Paul Catholic School shares the Pinewood Avenue campus with the parish. Opened in 2001 under Father Brad Zitek, the school serves pre-school through sixth grade and is led by Principal Janet Bohaty. The Catholic Pre-School program welcomes children ages 3–5 with 2-day, 3-day and 5-day per-week options, all held from 8:00 am to 11:00 am. The school's record with the Diocese of Lincoln lists 60 students with 9 faculty and 8 staff, with one priest serving the school.
- Opened in 2001 under Father Brad Zitek
- Grades served: Pre-K through 6
- Principal: Janet Bohaty
- Pre-School options: 2-day, 3-day or 5-day per week, 8:00–11:00 am
- Phone: (402) 643-9525
- Website: http://mystvincentschool.com/
Parish Staff
The parish and school staff share ministry across the Pinewood Avenue campus. Monsignor Robert Tucker serves as Pastor and Father Jamie Hottovy as Priest in Residence. Tausha Dybdal and Nicki Wintz are parish secretaries, Mel Aldrich handles maintenance, Carmen Brown coordinates the CCD program for Grades 1–8, and Beth Nemec coordinates the Godparent Program for Grades 9–12. Janet Bohaty serves as school principal.
- Monsignor Robert Tucker — Pastor — (402) 643-3421
- Father Jamie Hottovy — Priest in Residence
- Tausha Dybdal — Parish Secretary — (402) 643-3421
- Nicki Wintz — Parish Secretary — [email protected]
- Mel Aldrich — Maintenance — (402) 643-3421
- Carmen Brown — CCD Coordinator (1st–8th) — (402) 643-3521 ext. 106
- Beth Nemec — Godparent Program Coordinator
- Janet Bohaty — School Principal
Diocese & Deanery
St. Vincent de Paul is a parish of the Diocese of Lincoln, in the York Deanery. It is listed in the official diocesan parish directory under Bishop James D. Conley of the Diocese of Lincoln. The parish's long history with the diocese is part of the parish's own story: the Diocese of Lincoln itself was established in 1887 with Bishop Thomas Bonacum as its first bishop — only nine years after St. Vincent de Paul Parish was founded in Seward.
- Diocese of Lincoln
- York Deanery
- Diocese established 1887; Bishop Thomas Bonacum first bishop
- Current pastor Monsignor Robert Tucker listed as diocesan contact
Live Stream & Social Media
All Masses at St. Vincent de Paul are currently live-streamed on the parish Facebook page for the homebound and those unable to attend in person. A separate Facebook page is maintained for the parish school. The parish also publishes a rotating Lay Ministry Schedule (the most recent covering December 13 – March 1, 2026) listing lectors, Eucharistic ministers and other lay liturgical volunteers.
- Live-stream of every Mass on the parish Facebook page
- School has its own Facebook page
- Lay Ministry Schedule published quarterly for liturgical volunteers
Sacraments & Devotions
Beyond Mass and Confession, the parish celebrates the full range of Catholic sacraments: Baptism (with more than 3,000 celebrated over the parish's lifetime), Marriage (more than 1,500 weddings), First Reconciliation and First Holy Eucharist (Grade 2), Confirmation (Grade 5), and RCIA/OCIA initiation at the Easter Vigil. A current diocesan expansion project at the parish — under the theme 'gather and grow' — broke ground in June 2022 to add further facilities on the Pinewood Avenue campus.
- Baptism — contact parish office
- Marriage — contact parish office to begin preparation
- Reconciliation — see confession schedule
- First Eucharist & First Reconciliation — Grade 2 preparation
- Confirmation — Grade 5 preparation
- OCIA/RCIA — adult initiation at Easter Vigil
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father William Kelly1872
Mission pastor from Lincoln (Salt Creek parish) serving Seward before the parish was formally established.
- Father William Byrne (with Father John Lee)1876
Advanced plans for Seward's first Catholic church at Seward and Third Streets.
- Father P. N. O'Brien1878
First resident pastor; came from Springbrook, NY. Built the first church ($2,500) and a five-room frame rectory.
- Father F. A. O'Brien1910
Oversaw an addition to the church.
- Father George Agius1913
Oversaw a further addition to the church.
- Father Joseph Kenney1949
Stretched the church over an enlarged foundation; built the parish's first social hall in the new basement.
- Father Gregory Petrus1962
Purchased 20 acres at 2nd and Pinewood for the future church, social hall and rectory; selected St. Vincent de Paul as the parish's precise patron in the early 1960s.
- Father Clarence Reisdorff1972-1989
Broke ground March 19, 1972; dedicated the present church October 7, 1973 (built free of debt at $542,448); added classrooms/offices in 1978 ($98,000).
- Monsignor Thomas Olmsted1989
Succeeded Father Reisdorff; organized the RCIA program and the high-school Godparent Program.
- Father James Benton1993
Directed the sanctuary expansion, social hall and additional classrooms at a cost of $1,479,277.
- Father Brad Zitek2001
Spiritual leader of 550 families and 1,485 members.
- Monsignor Robert Tucker
Current pastor; presides over a parish of 600+ families serving Seward, Milford and surrounding communities.