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Featuring the Falls City Deanery

St. Mary Church - Arago, St. Joseph Church - Auburn, Sacred Heart Church - Burchard, St. Mary Church - Dawson, Sts. Peter & Paul Church - Falls City, St. Clara Church - Peru, Immaculate Conception Church - Rulo, St. Anne Church - Shubert, St. Mary Church - St. Mary, St. Anthony Church - Steinauer, St. Andrew Church - Tecumseh

Featured Parishes: Crete Deanery, David City Deanery, Fairbury Deanery, Falls City Deanery, Grant Deanery, Hastings Deanery, Indianola Deanery, Lawrence Deanery, Lincoln Deanery, Orleans Deanery, Plattsmouth Deanery, Wahoo Deanery, York Deanery

St. Mary, Arago

Historical Highlights

  • A group of men from Buffalo, New York, who had lost their jobs due to the depression of 1857, settled in Nebraska.
  • The Catholics among the settlers were derived of religious services. Several attempts were made to construct a church but Bishop O’Gorman informed them that a church could not be constructed due to lack of priests in the area.
  • Finally, by 1870 there were enough Catholics in the area that a church was renovated from a small building that had been purchased from Methodists in the town.
  • In 1899 a new church financed by Joseph Frederick was built on land donated by Mrs. Lawrence Santo.  The Reverend John J. Hoffman supervised the construction of this frame church, which still serves the Catholics in the rural parish located thirteen miles from Rulo.
  • Through the decades, the priests from Rulo have served the congregation at Arago.

St. Joseph, Auburn

PCCW Activities

  • Help with funeral luncheons, K of C fish fries, Meals on Wheels, Confirmation & 1st Holy Communion receptions, and Meal Train (meals for families with newborns or recent surgeries, etc)
  • Purchase crucifixes w/K of C for graduates, scholarship for seniors w/K of C, provide altar flowers and seasonal decorations
  • Send financial support to CSS, St. Gianna Home, Matt Talbot Kitchen, SKY Camp & others.

Historical Highlights

  • St. Joseph building completed, July 1882.
  • Parochial school built, 1900, staffed by Sisters of Loretto. 
  • Church destroyed by lightning, Aug. 1905. Second church dedicated, June, 1907. Rectory built, 1932. 
  • Fire destroyed the school in July 1936, it was not rebuilt.
  • Church redecorated 1950. Religious education center built, 1984 and then remodeled, 1997.
  • New church elevator blessed, 2004. Rectory remodeled, 2007.

Sacred Heart, Burchard

PCCW Activities

  • Decorate the church's altar throughout the year, paying special attention during all holidays.
  • Preparing Father's robes and vestments.
  • Church cleaning.
  • In 2013 the Sacred Heart Altar society funded a revitalization of the church's basement.  New floor covering, tables as well as paint.  All the work was done by Altar Society members or spouses.
  • Annual Harvest Supper and Quilt Raffle every October.  
  • Advent Baby Shower. October Diaper Drive.
  • Work closely with the community and donate to various clubs, organizations, food pantry's and outreach programs.

Historical Highlights

  • Irish and German settlers came to Plum Creek Settlement between 1858 and 1970, Benedictine priests came from Nebraska City to celebrate Mass in homes 3-4 times a year.
  • Land was purchased in 1872, but no church was built until Fr. Augustin Rausch was appointed pastor of St. John in Table Rock, with Plum Creek Settlement as his mission.
  • Traveling to Burchard by train twice a month, he supervised the 25 families who built Sacred Heart Church in 1882.
  • In the 1890s the Church was enlarged and remodeled.  In 1897 a windstorm destroyed the church, but it was rebuilt the next year.
  • In 1908 Fr. James Gilroy became the first resident pastor and a rectory was built.
  • In 1951 ground was broken for the present Romanesque brick church, completed in spring 1953 and dedicated in June.
  • Since 1968, when St. John, Table Rock was closed, Sacred Heart has been a mission to St. Anthony, Steinauer.
  • The church was refurbished and redecorated for the Centennial Anniversary, celebrated Aug. 29, 1982.

St. Mary, Dawson

PCCW Activities

  • Rolls & Coffee following the 8:30 Mass on the first Sunday of the month
  • A Soup Supper during the month of February
  • A community Mother/Daughter potluck during the month of May
  • Funeral Dinners as needed
  • First Communion reception, Confirmation reception, honor the graduating seniors
  • Assist with the Richardson County fair stand and the parish Pork Barbecue dinner.
  • Officers are Co-presidents - Joyce Huppert and Evalyn Clancy,  Secretary - Norma Arington, Treasurer - Bonnie Kanel

Historical Highlights

  • The parish was founded in 1873 by the congregation.
  • The first St. Mary's Church was built under the direction of Rev. C. J. Quinn and the cornerstone was laid July 4, 1878.
  • The current church, dedicated on July 31, 1900 by Bishop Bonacum, is the fourth one erected.  The former ones, all situated on the southeast corner of the church property, were destroyed by fire or storms.
  • The cemetery on the hilltop west of town was purchased for $100.00 in 1984.
  • There are two priestly vocations from the parish: Msgr. John Kean and Fr. Tom McQuire; and one religious vocation from St. Mary, Dawson: Sister Mary David Kean.  She and Msgr. Kean were brother and sister.

Sts. Peter and Paul, Falls City

PCCW Activities

  • The Annual Turkey Bazaar helps supports many things, the more visible include: First Communion veils, ties and reception, liturgical supplies, missalettes, hosts, cleaning supplies. Vacation Bible School and candles to name a few. 
  • The Altar Society is broken into 8 groups of women who help clean the church twice a year and are also called upon to make or donate salads and desserts for funeral dinners or other dinners given by our parish.
  • Officers are: President - Jeannie Mullins; Vice-President - Kay Taft; Secretary - Vicki Martineau; Treasurer - Mary Martineau

Historical Highlights

  • The first Sts. Peter and Paul’s Catholic Church was built in 1910. The current church was built in 1975.
  • Sacred Heart School was started in 1891 to assist Catholic parents in the education of their children. The campus includes various buildings adjacent to Sts. Peter and Paul Church in Falls City. The main school building contains classrooms for the elementary, middle school and high school, as well as the school offices, library, and art room. Tiehen Gymnasium houses the music room and preschool room, gymnasium, weight room and locker rooms. The Roh Activity Center was built and dedicated in 2015.

St. Clara, Peru

PCCW Activities

  • 2016 Officers: Cecilia Marnell, Pres. Miranda Decker, Secretary and Margaret McConnaughey,Treas.
  • Once a month, after an early evening Mass, we provide a meal for the PSC students.
  • Take turns cleaning the church
  • Participate in community events 
  • Fundraising: Old Man River Days Food booth

Immaculate Conception Church, Rulo

PCCW Activities

  • Lenten pancake Breakfast
  • An Ice Cream Social
  • Bake pies for the Men's Club Pork Barbeque & Fish Fry
  • Serve coffee and rolls after Mass every Sunday
  • Clean church several times a year
  • Decorate for Christmas
  • Recite the Rosary before Mass, the first Sunday of every month, with the exception of May and October, when the rosary is recited every Sunday in honor of the month of Mary and the month of the Rosary.
  • We host funeral dinners when asked to do so.
  • At local farm sales we have a lunch stand upon occasion.

Historical Highlights

  • The first pastor in Rulo was appointed June 1863, with instructions to build a church.
  • After first attempting an imposing edifice which could not be afforded, a modest brick church was almost complete in 1865, but then leveled by a tornado.
  • A combined church and rectory were were erected from 1871-1873.
  • The third church was devoured in flames Jan. 5, 1913.
  • The current Gothic-style church was blessed Apr. 29, 1914.
  • A basement was added under the church in 1956, excavated by hand by many volunteers, along with a new roof, organ, sound system, rectory renovation and cemetery cross.
  • In preparation for the 1963 centennial, all the buildings were renovated, a new entrance to the parish hall built, and automated chimes were installed.

St. Anne, Shubert

PCCW Activities

  • Monthly coffee and rolls
  • Annual lenten fish fry

Historical Highlights

  • St. John the Baptist church in Barada, built in 1869, soon was too small for its growing population.
  • Thus in 1885 the Church of St. Anne was built, and for a time there were two parishes.
  • By 1911, lacking membership and finances, St. John the Baptist closed. In 1920 it was dismantled and the lumber used for a semicircular addition to St. Anne Church.
  • When the church and rectory burned in 1940, it was voted to rebuild in Shubert.
  • The second St. Anne Church was dedicated in 1942, a new hall was dedicated in 1984.

St. Mary, St. Mary

PCCW Activities

  • Funeral dinners, church cleaning
  • Bake Kolaches for 3 Knight's fish fries during Lent, annual Soup Supper in October
  • Monthly Rolls and Coffee or Breakfast
  • Bake Pies for and assist with County Fair Foodstand (with St. Andrew, Tecumseh)
  • Serve Meals on Wheels and Canteen at Red Cross Blood Mobile
  • Receptions for First Communion, Confirmation, World Marriage day, and graduating seniors
  • Assist parish CCD program 
  • Provide support for KVSS, St. Gianna’s Home, diaper drive, and other diocesan projects
  • Fundraisers for church maintenance and renovation, such as chicken dinner and spaghetti dinner
  • Holy Rosary Altar Society officers: Karen Lempka, President; Janice LaPatka, Vice President; Susan Williams, Secretary; Mandy Goracke, Treasurer

Historical Highlights

  • 1890 fourteen Catholic Polish families built the first Catholic Church in St. Mary, NE.
  • 1908 the priest and parishioners built a school with boarding facilities and a convent for the Felician Sisters. There were 88 pupils enrolled in the school.
  • In the 1930’s The Holy Rosary Altar Society was established according to one of our older members.
  • From available records there approximately 15 women that joined the Benedictine and Felician orders as well as 2 men joined the priesthood from the church.
  • 1973 St. Mary parish was declared a mission of the St. Andrew’s Parish in Tecumseh.
  • 1989 Rev. Raymond Hain and several of the parishioners remodeled and repaired the church; the communion railing and altar were removed and a new pulpit and altars were designed and built.  Bishop Glennon P. Flavin rededicated the church on Oct. 7, 1989.
  • 2015 - 125th Anniversary.
  • 2017-2018 Renovations of the church, with re-dedication on Oct. 7, 2018.

St. Anthony, Steinauer

PCCW Activities

  • Church Support to Parish
  • Purchase supplies for KC Hall
  • Help with cost and caring of Candles and Flowers
  • Church cleaning and funeral luncheons
  • Help with food pantry monthly, bloodmobile, Meals on wheels
  • Parish dinner and bazaar in October
  • CSS Diaper drive and Advent baby shower
  • Support for Sunday Homebound Mass, St. Gianna Homes
  • Gifts for 1st Communicants, Graduates, and Homebound

Historical Highlights

  • In 1856 Joseph, Nicholas, and Anthony Steinauer introduced the Catholic faith to the families who settled nearby.
  • In 1882 Fr. Rausch build the first church on a plot of ground donated by Anthony Steinauer.  The original site still serves as our Cemetery.  Cost of Church was $300.
  • The second church was build in 1889 one mile west of original site.  Cost was $3,000.
  • The building of the third and present church was started in 1926 located just east, under the guidance of Fr. Dowd.  The Romanesque architecture stands out as one of the most beautiful and magnificent churches in the Diocese.  Dedicated in 1927, the cost was $104,000.
  • The second school, convent and chapel build in 1932 closed in 1970.  In 1993 it was made into “The Convent House Bed and Breakfast” which can sleep 17 people and includes a beautiful just restored “Divine Mercy Chapel”.
  • The parish’s largest project was the “Gate to Heaven” restoration in 2013.  Money was raised to restore the church, including repairs, remodeling, and restored elements, at a cost of $605,000.

St. Andrew, Tecumseh

PCCW Activities

  • Clean the Church
  • Purchase candles
  • Provide funeral lunches
  • Purchase paper products for use in the Hall Kitchen
  • Serve the Bloodmobile canteen when it is our rotation time
  • Provide cakes and punch and gifts for First Communicants and High School Graduates
  • Participate in the monthly Lincoln Food Bank drops at our parish hall
  • Fundraisers: rummage sale in the Spring, and an occasional bake sale
  • St. Andrew Altar Society Officers: Teresa Pena, President; Dana Johnson, Vice-President; Rita Parrish, Secretary; Barb Gottula Treasurer.

Historical Highlights

  • In 1866 Fr. Emmanuel Hartig made Tecumseh a Mission of Nebraska City, and initiated the building of the first Church
  • St. Andrew’s Church was the first church in Johnson County, built in 1877
  • Today’s Church (number 3) was built in 1927
  • Fr. James Halligan began expansion of the parish to include a school, convent and parish hall - the school was completed in 1963 and the convent in 1966
  • The parish hall became a reality in 2004
  • Contact

    Contact

    Rev. Thomas Lux
    Spiritual Advisor

    Phone: 402-489-1946

    Rev. Thomas McGuire
    Spiritual Advisor

    Phone: 402-335-3742

    Valerie Able
    2026-2028 President

    Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

    Treasurer: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

    Leadership Commission: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

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