About St. Vincent · Osceola, Nebraska
St. Vincent Ferrer Catholic Church in Osceola, Nebraska is a small but active parish in the Diocese of Lincoln's York Deanery, incorporated on the feast of its patron saint, St. Vincent Ferrer, on April 5, 1946. The parish worships at 751 S Nance Street and shares its pastor with its country mission church, St. Mary (Pilzno), located at 1740 140th Road. Under the current pastoral care of Rev. Allan Phan, the parish offers daily Mass, weekend Vigil and Sunday Masses, daily and Saturday confession, Eucharistic adoration, a strong CCD/CYO religious education program, OCIA, Knights of Columbus, Parish Council of Catholic Women, and a long-standing tradition of community service such as the Polk County Fair food stand and Meals on Wheels in the town of Osceola.
- Established
- 1946
- Patron
- St. Vincent Ferrer
- Rector
- Rev. Allan Phan
- Diocese
- Diocese of Lincoln
Why belong here
St. Vincent Ferrer is a welcoming small-town parish with daily Mass, frequent confession (including a half-hour before every morning Mass and on Saturday afternoon), and Eucharistic adoration. Parishioners are formed through a robust CCD/CYO program for grades 1-12 and an OCIA process for adults, served by active lay ministries (Acolytes, Lectors, Altar Servers, Knights of Columbus, Parish Council of Catholic Women), and live out their faith through the prayer chain, the Rosary prayed before Mass each first Sunday and during October and Lent, and a remarkable tradition of community outreach through Meals on Wheels, the Polk County Fair food stand, and the Pro-Life Committee.
Mass times at St. Vincent
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Monday–Friday: 7:30–7:50 AM (St. Vincent Ferrer)
- Saturday: 2:00–3:00 PM (St. Vincent Ferrer) and 3:30–3:50 PM (St. Mary, Pilzno)
- Sunday: 7:30–7:50 AM (St. Vincent Ferrer)
- Or by appointment
Adoration times
- Eucharistic Adoration — Mondays (per Discover Mass listing: 8:30 AM–8:30 PM); check parish Facebook for current weekly schedule
About St. Vincent Ferrer Parish
St. Vincent Ferrer Catholic Church serves the small town of Osceola in Polk County, Nebraska, as part of the Diocese of Lincoln's York Deanery. It shares its pastor with its country mission church, St. Mary (Pilzno), and gathers daily for Mass, weekday confession, and a full schedule of lay-led ministries serving both the parish and the wider community.
- Patron: St. Vincent Ferrer (feast day April 5)
- Incorporated April 5, 1946 in the Diocese of Lincoln
- Current pastor: Rev. Allan Phan
- York Deanery mission: St. Mary (Pilzno)
History
The parish grew from the seed planted on October 29, 1944, when Bishop Louis Kucera prayed an outdoor Mass at the dedication of St. Francis Hospital in Osceola. A founding committee met with the bishop on March 7, 1946, and on April 5, 1946 — the feast of St. Vincent Ferrer — the parish was officially incorporated. The community purchased the old American Legion Hall for $5,000 and celebrated its first Mass on June 2, 1946, with 65 people in attendance. Within months, on September 22, 1946, Fr. John Howe arrived as the first resident pastor.
- April 5, 1946 — parish incorporated on the feast of St. Vincent Ferrer
- June 2, 1946 — first Mass celebrated by Fr. Gregory Petrus
- Sept 22, 1946 — Fr. John Howe becomes first resident pastor
- Oct 7, 1959 — ground broken for new church building
Building the Present Church
By the early 1950s, the old Legion Hall was no longer adequate. Property was purchased in July 1954, and Fr. Derwinski rallied the parish to plan and fund the new building. Ground was broken October 7, 1959, and the congregation moved into the new church on August 12, 1960. Bishop James Casey dedicated both the church and the rectory on April 16, 1961. A parish hall followed, with ground broken March 24, 1985 under Fr. Anthony Kotz. The most recent renovation — replacing sanctuary carpet with tile — was completed in Spring 2024.
- New church bid: $68,418.80 (groundbreaking Oct 7, 1959)
- Rectory construction cost: $28,000
- Church and rectory dedicated April 16, 1961 by Bishop James Casey
- Parish hall groundbreaking March 24, 1985
St. Mary (Pilzno) — Country Mission
St. Mary at Pilzno is the parish's country mission church, located at 1740 140th Road, Osceola, sharing the same pastor. It is named for the township of Pilzno and has long been a wellspring of religious vocations; the most recent is Fr. Mark Cyza, ordained in May 2004. While the historic cemetery is no longer standing and the old rectory has deteriorated, the mission community continues to thrive with its own Saturday Vigil Mass (4:00 PM), Saturday confessions, and the parish's popular monthly Beers & Bonfires social (B&B).
- 1740 140th Rd, Osceola, NE 68651
- Patronal link to the township of Pilzno
- Vocations: Fr. Mark Cyza, ordained May 2004
- Monthly Beers & Bonfires (B&B) social
Faith Formation (CCD/CYO)
CCD/CYO provides supplemental religious education and faith formation for children in grades 1–12, helping parents lay the foundation for a sacramental life and a relationship with Jesus. Volunteers are welcome to assist in the classrooms and with activities.
- Grades 1–12
- Classroom and activity volunteers welcomed
Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (OCIA)
OCIA accompanies adults who want to become Catholic (or simply learn more about the faith) through the four traditional periods: Evangelization and Precatechumenate (inquiry), Catechumenate (catechesis), Purification and Enlightenment (Lent), and Mystagogy (post-Easter discipleship). It culminates in the reception of the Sacraments of Initiation at the Easter Vigil.
- Open to inquirers year-round
- Covers Scripture, prayer, sacraments, Catholic doctrine, moral ethics, and the Mass
- Rite of Election at the Easter Vigil
Lay Liturgical Ministries
Lay faithful are essential to the parish's liturgical life. Men and boys serve as Acolytes, Lectors, and Altar Servers; families sign up to bring up the Offertory Gifts; and parishioners lead the Rosary before Mass on the first Sunday of every month, and every Sunday in October and Lent.
- Acolytes — processional cross, altar preparation, communion assistance
- Lectors — proclaim God's Word at Mass
- Altar Servers — assist the priest at the altar
- Offertory Gift Bearers — families sign up to bring forward the gifts
- Rosary Leader — guide provided; sign up online
Parish Council of Catholic Women (PCCW)
PCCW empowers the women of the parish to live out a feminine spirituality of nurturing physical and spiritual life, organizing service projects, fundraisers, spiritual events, and parish volunteer opportunities. Their work extends into the wider community through Meals on Wheels, Senior Center meals, the Polk County Fair food stand, and the Soup Luncheon Fundraiser.
- Meals on Wheels delivery (Feb/May/Aug/Nov)
- Senior Center Special Meals (Feb/May/Aug/Nov)
- Polk County Fair food stand (every 3rd year)
- Annual Soup Luncheon Fundraiser (January)
- Rosary at Good Samaritan chapel (Fridays)
- Coffee & Rolls for new parishioners, graduates, and back-to-school
Knights of Columbus
The local council of the Knights of Columbus offers Catholic men opportunities for service, brotherhood, leadership development, and parish involvement — forming one another in faith, protecting families, and standing for the defenseless.
- Service to parish and community
- Brotherhood and leadership formation
- Opportunities for Catholic men
Community Life & Socials
The parish cultivates community through a number of recurring gatherings: Coffee & Rolls is offered three times a year (new parishioner recognition, graduating seniors, back-to-school), while the Beers & Bonfires (B&B) social brings mission parishioners together at St. Mary's (Pilzno) one Sunday a month. The parish also rallies together every third year for the five-day Polk County Fair food stand — serving three meals a day plus desserts — and in the years between hosts a Sunday Soup Supper Luncheon fundraiser in January.
- Coffee & Rolls (three Sundays per year)
- Beers & Bonfires (monthly, May–Sept 5–9 PM; school-year 5–8 PM)
- Polk County Fair food stand (every 3rd year)
- Soup Supper Luncheon Fundraiser (January, in fair-off years)
Outreach & Prayer
Beyond the food stand and the soup luncheon, the parish maintains the St. Vincent Ferrer Prayer Chain for prayer requests and the Pro-Life Committee, which honors each baptism by presenting the parents with a rose and a crib medal, while also coordinating a variety of parish activities throughout the year.
- St. Vincent Ferrer Prayer Chain
- Pro-Life Committee (baptism rose & crib medal)
- Meals on Wheels for the town of Osceola
Contact & Practical Information
Mailing address for both St. Vincent Ferrer (Osceola) and St. Mary (Pilzno) is PO Box 212, Osceola, NE 68651. The parish office is reached at 402-747-3491 and the email is [email protected]. For sacramental emergencies, dial 402-647-0805; if Fr. Phan cannot be reached, please contact Fr. Litt in Shelby at 402-527-5425. Visitors are reminded that during the winter months the parish Facebook page should be checked for any weather-related cancellations.
- Office: 402-747-3491
- Email: [email protected]
- Emergency line: 402-647-0805
- Backup priest (Shelby): Fr. Litt, 402-527-5425
- Website: https://stvincentmary.weebly.com/
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Gregory Petrus1946
First pastor of the parish; celebrated the inaugural Mass on June 2, 1946, with 65 in attendance.
- Fr. John Howe1946–
First resident pastor of the parish, arrived September 22, 1946.
- Fr. Derwinski
Rallied parishioners to build the new church; ground broken October 7, 1959.
- Fr. Anthony Kotz
Oversaw construction of the parish hall; ground broken March 24, 1985.
- Fr. Thomas McGuire
Previous pastor; spoke at the 75th Anniversary celebration on June 6, 2021.
- Fr. Thomas Au
Past pastor; spoke at the 75th Anniversary celebration on June 6, 2021.
- Fr. Allan Phan
Current pastor (per the Diocese of Lincoln directory and parish website).