About Sts. Mary and Joseph · Valparaiso, Nebraska
Sts. Mary and Joseph Catholic Church is a small rural parish in Valparaiso, Nebraska, in the Wahoo Deanery of the Diocese of Lincoln. The parish is the merged successor of two historic country parishes — St. Joseph in Agnew (1888) and St. Mary's in Valparaiso (1913) — and was united in 1975 under Fr. John Glaves, with the present church dedicated on August 21, 1977. Today the parish is led by Fr. Matthew Zimmer, offers daily and Sunday Mass with livestreamed services on Facebook, weekly Eucharistic Adoration, and a CCD religious-education program coordinated by Billie Kollars.
- Established
- 1975
- Patron
- Blessed Virgin Mary and St. Joseph
- Rector
- Rev. Matthew Zimmer
- Diocese
- Diocese of Lincoln (Wahoo Deanery)
Why belong here
Sts. Mary and Joseph offers a small, family-sized Catholic community in the rolling 'Valley of Paradise' just north of Lincoln, with a full schedule of daily and Sunday Masses, weekday and Sunday confessions, and Eucharistic Adoration open to visitors. Worship is livestreamed on Facebook so the homebound and those far away can still pray with the parish. A CCD program run by Billie Kollars forms the parish's children in the faith, and the parish family — two country parishes merged in 1975 — has a long tradition of welcoming neighbors into the church built in 1977.
Mass times at Sts. Mary and Joseph
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 3:00–3:45 p.m.
- Sunday 7:15–7:45 a.m.
Adoration times
- Eucharistic Adoration is offered — visitors are welcome to 'stop on in for prayer or Eucharistic Adoration' (specific hours not posted on the website).
About Sts. Mary & Joseph
Saints Mary and Joseph Catholic Church, located in Valparaiso, Nebraska, is a parish of the Diocese of Lincoln in the Wahoo Deanery. The church sits in what the parish affectionately calls the 'Valley of Paradise,' just north of Lincoln, and welcomes visitors to stop in for prayer or Eucharistic Adoration. The parish community is led by Pastor Fr. Matthew Zimmer, with Paula Masek as Office Manager and Billie Kollars coordinating the CCD religious-education program.
- Diocese: Diocese of Lincoln, Wahoo Deanery
- Pastor: Fr. Matthew Zimmer
- Office Manager: Paula Masek
- CCD Coordinator: Billie Kollars
- Address: 637 S. Iver St., Valparaiso, NE 68065
- Phone: (402) 784-2511
- Email: [email protected]
Parish History
The parish is the 1975 merger of two earlier country churches that had served the rural community north of Lincoln for generations. The first, St. Joseph Church in the village of Agnew, was founded in 1888 with Fr. William Murphy as its first pastor. The second, St. Mary's Church in Valparaiso, was founded in 1913 with Fr. Alois Faessler as its first pastor. Because of a shortage of priests, the Agnew church was soon made a mission parish of the new Valparaiso church. In 1975, under the pastorship of Fr. John Glaves, the two parishes were formally merged into a single parish — Saints Mary and Joseph Church. A new, larger church was planned and built to accommodate the combined congregations, and it was dedicated on August 21, 1977. Fr. Matthew Zimmer was appointed the parish's current pastor in 2017.
- 1888 — St. Joseph Church, Agnew, founded (Fr. William Murphy, first pastor)
- 1913 — St. Mary's Church, Valparaiso, founded (Fr. Alois Faessler, first pastor)
- Shortly after 1913 — Agnew made a mission of Valparaiso due to priest shortage
- 1975 — Two parishes merged into Saints Mary and Joseph under Fr. John Glaves
- August 21, 1977 — Present church building dedicated
- 2017 — Fr. Matthew Zimmer appointed pastor by the Diocese of Lincoln
Mass & Service Schedule
Sts. Mary and Joseph offers a generous daily Mass schedule for a parish its size, plus Saturday Vigil and two Sunday Masses. Weekday 7:00 a.m. Masses (Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday) and the Sunday 9:30 a.m. Mass are livestreamed on the parish's Facebook page so the homebound and those away from home can worship with the parish family. Mass times for Monday and Wednesday are 6:30 p.m. The parish website encourages visitors to stop in for prayer or Eucharistic Adoration.
- Weekday Masses: Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday at 7:00 a.m. (livestreamed)
- Monday & Wednesday: 6:30 p.m. Mass
- Saturday Vigil Mass: 4:00 p.m.
- Sunday Masses: 8:00 a.m. and 9:30 a.m. (livestreamed)
- Confessions: Saturday 3:00–3:45 p.m.; Sunday 7:15–7:45 a.m.
- Eucharistic Adoration available — visitors welcome
Livestreamed Mass & Online Prayer
Sts. Mary and Joseph livestreams a number of its Masses on Facebook so the homebound, the elderly, and members of the parish who are away can still participate in the parish's worship. Livestreamed liturgies include the 7:00 a.m. weekday Masses (Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday) and the 9:30 a.m. Sunday Mass. The Diocese of Lincoln notes that the livestreamed Sunday Mass can help the faithful fulfill their Sunday obligation when they are unable to attend in person due to illness or other reasons.
- Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday — 7:00 a.m. Mass (livestreamed)
- Sunday — 9:30 a.m. Mass (livestreamed)
- Watch live or replay at the parish Facebook page
CCD Religious Education
The parish runs a CCD (Confraternity of Christian Doctrine) program for the formation of its children in the Catholic faith, coordinated by Billie Kollars. CCD is the parish's faith-formation program for school-age children whose families are parishioners of Sts. Mary and Joseph.
- Program: CCD (religious education for children)
- Coordinator: Billie Kollars
Parish Bulletins & Commitment Lists
The parish posts its weekly bulletins and monthly commitment lists online at stsmaryandjosephval.com/bulletins. Current monthly commitment lists (for liturgical ministers, counters, and other volunteers) are published for each month of the parish year.
- Weekly bulletins posted on the parish website
- Monthly Commitment Lists for liturgical and parish volunteers
Giving & Stewardship
Saints Mary and Joseph Catholic Church survives through the generosity of the People of God. The parish is a non-profit organization and all donations are tax-deductible. The parish offers several ways to give: in person at Mass, online via the parish website, by manual setup with an Electronic Tithing Enrollment Form, and through traditional Sunday envelope giving for registered parishioners.
- In-person giving at Mass
- Online giving via the parish website
- Electronic Tithing Enrollment Form (printable or in person)
- Registered parishioner envelope giving
Connect & Visit
Visitors and parishioners are warmly welcomed. The parish invites anyone to 'stop on in for prayer or Eucharistic Adoration,' and publishes its contact information and livestream link prominently on its website. The parish's official Facebook page is the main social channel and is where livestreamed Masses and saved videos can be watched.
- Church phone: (402) 784-2511
- Email: [email protected]
- Address: 637 Iver St., Valparaiso, NE 68065
- Official Facebook: facebook.com/Sts-Mary-and-Josephs-Church-Valparaiso-249556488526086
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. William Murphy1888–
Founding pastor of St. Joseph Church in Agnew, one of the two predecessor parishes.
- Fr. Alois Faessler1913–
Founding pastor of St. Mary's Church in Valparaiso, the other predecessor parish.
- Fr. John Glaves1975–
Pastor at the time the two parishes were merged in 1975 into Saints Mary and Joseph; oversaw construction and dedication of the present church on August 21, 1977.
- Fr. Matthew Zimmer2017–present
Appointed pastor in 2017 by the Diocese of Lincoln.