About Sts. Peter and Paul · Abie, Nebraska
Sts. Peter & Paul is a small Catholic mission church in the village of Abie, in eastern Butler County, Nebraska. It holds the distinction of being the first and oldest Czech Catholic parish in the state, founded in 1876 by Moravian and Bohemian immigrant families who settled the surrounding farmland. The parish is canonically linked as a mission to St. Anthony de Padua Parish in nearby Bruno, and together the two churches share a pastor. From its current brick church — built in the town of Abie after the original was destroyed by fire in 1918 — the parish serves roughly 65 families in the David City Deanery of the Catholic Diocese of Lincoln.
- Established
- 1876
- Patron
- Saints Peter and Paul
- Rector
- Rev. Caleb Hile
- Diocese
- Diocese of Lincoln
Why belong here
Sts. Peter & Paul is a tight-knit rural mission parish where most of the 65 or so families know one another by name, and where weekend worship is celebrated in the historic 1920 brick church that was painstakingly restored to its original Gothic beauty. The parish shares a pastor with St. Anthony in Bruno, giving members the warmth of a small community and the reach of two cooperating congregations. Its Altar Society keeps generations-old traditions alive — from a monthly coffee-and-rolls gathering after Mass to the annual Duck and Ham Dinner and a hand-quilted raffle quilt — while extending faith outward through Catholic Social Services, Birthright, the St. Gianna House, area food pantries, and sponsorship of two children in Latin America. For a Czech-Catholic heritage rooted in 1876 — the oldest such parish in Nebraska — this is a place where history, family, and faith meet every Sunday at 10 a.m.
Mass times at Sts. Peter and Paul
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday: 30 minutes before Mass
- Sunday: 30 minutes before Mass
Parish History
Organized in 1876 by Czech Catholic settlers in eastern Butler County, Sts. Peter & Paul holds the distinction of being the first and oldest Czech parish in Nebraska. The original log-and-frame church was built where the parish cemetery now stands. A larger second church, erected in 1890, was destroyed by fire on June 18, 1918. With land donated by James F. Pavel, the congregation built the present brick church in the village of Abie; it was consecrated on June 29, 1920. In the 2010s a painstaking restoration returned the building to its original Gothic splendor, and Bishop James Conley rededicated the church on January 29, 2017. The parish celebrated its 150th anniversary in June 2026.
- 1876 — Parish organized as the first Czech Catholic parish in Nebraska.
- 1890 — Larger church built to accommodate the growing congregation.
- June 18, 1918 — Second church destroyed by fire.
- 1920 — Present brick church built in Abie and consecrated June 29, 1920; land donated by James F. Pavel.
- January 29, 2017 — Bishop James Conley rededicated the restored church.
- June 27, 2026 — Parish celebrated its 150th anniversary with Bishop Conley.
Building & Architecture
The parish church is a brick Gothic Revival–style building erected in the village of Abie after the 1918 fire. Its handsome high altar and matching side altars are original to the building and were carefully preserved through the recent restoration. Work conceived around 2011 returned the sanctuary to its original Gothic character while modernizing lighting, sound, electrical, and fire-safety systems, and included refinishing the historic hardwood pews. The renovation was led by then-pastor Father Ronald Homes and a committee of about a dozen parishioners, with major construction work performed by parishioner Paul Augustine and art by his wife Denise Augustine, a Florence-trained interior designer who repainted the altars and crafted faux-marble finishes.
- Brick Gothic Revival church built in 1919–1920, consecrated June 29, 1920.
- Original high altar and matching side altars preserved.
- Major Gothic-style restoration completed and rededicated Jan. 29, 2017.
- Modern lighting, sound, electrical, and fire-safety upgrades.
Parish Life & Outreach
Life at Sts. Peter & Paul centers on the Altar Society (PCCW), which carries on a long tradition of Czech-Catholic hospitality and benevolence. Parishioners gather monthly for coffee and rolls after Mass, run a hand-quilted fall raffle quilt, host an annual Rummage and Bake Sale, play Bingo at nursing homes in David City, and help prepare the annual Duck and Ham Dinner. Outreach extends well beyond the parish itself: the Altar Society supports Catholic Social Services, contributes to the LDCCW Diaper Drive, gathers items for the St. Gianna House, stocks local Food Pantries, sews baby quilts for Birthright and Catholic Social Services, and sponsors two children in Latin America through cash donations.
- Monthly coffee and rolls after Mass.
- Annual Rummage and Bake Sale.
- Hand-quilted fall raffle quilt.
- Bingo at David City nursing homes.
- Annual Duck and Ham Dinner.
- Catholic Social Services support.
- LDCCW Diaper Drive participation.
- St. Gianna House item collection.
- Local Food Pantry collection.
- Baby quilts for Birthright and Catholic Social Services.
- Sponsorship of two children in Latin America.
Visit & Contact
Sts. Peter & Paul welcomes visitors to its restored historic church in the village of Abie, Nebraska. The parish shares a pastor with St. Anthony de Padua in Bruno; the two churches cooperate closely in scheduling Masses, faith formation, and parish events. Inquiries can be directed to the parish office by phone or to the shared parish email.
- Street address: 222 Maple Street, Abie, NE 68014.
- Mailing address: PO Box 144, Bruno, NE 68014.
- Rectory phone: 402-543-2233.
- Church phone: 402-543-2493.
- Email: [email protected].
- Diocesan directory: lincolndiocese.org/directory/parishes/663-sts-peter-paul-abie.
- Facebook: facebook.com/SSPeterPaulChurch/.
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Jaroslav Hancikthrough fall 1917
Endeavored to build a new church; secured the land donation from James F. Pavel.
- Rev. Francis Kopeckyfall 1917 – September 1919
Served during the period after the 1918 church fire.
- Rev. Victor MlejnekSeptember 1919 –
Ordained 1910 by Cardinal Gibbons; oversaw the building and consecration of the present brick church, completed fall 1919 and consecrated June 29, 1920.
- Rev. Ronald Homesapproximately 2003–2025
Led the major Gothic-style restoration; mentioned as having served at least 11 years when renovations began; attended the 150th anniversary celebration.
- Rev. Thomas Lux
Former pastor; attended the 150th anniversary celebration.
- Rev. William Holoubek
Former pastor; attended the 150th anniversary celebration.