Southern Nebraska Register
All are welcome to the Catholic Center in Waverly for a drive-thru family event, “CHRISTmas at the Center,” Saturday, Dec. 9, from 5 to 7 p.m.
Our Lady of Good Counsel Retreat House, Villa Marie School and Home for Exceptional Children and Marycrest Motherhouse are hosting the celebration as their first joint Christmas event.
Participants may drive up in cars, first stopping at Our Lady of Good Counsel Retreat House to receive a blessing from St. Nicholas and candy canes.
“We’re inviting families to redirect their focus and recall that Christmas is a holy day,” explained Father Gary Coulter, director of the retreat house.
After that, cars may follow a stream of lights to Villa Maria School and Home for Exceptional Children, to see a live nativity with Villa Marie students, real animals and an array of lights.
Shepherd’s Rest and Rescue will provide sheep to make the nativity truly come to life. Magical Lights of Lincoln assisted with lights.
At the top of the hill, cars may stop at Marycrest Motherhouse to hear Christmas caroling of the Marian Sisters. Mother Ann Marie Zierke said they are greatly looking forward to sharing the true joy of Christmas with so many people.
“The sisters love to sing and give the gift of song to others,” she said.
She added that she hopes families “drive away with a renewed sense of the true meaning of Christmas, and who should be at the center, CHRIST!”
The Catholic Center is located at 112th and Alvo R, just southwest of the intersection of Interstate 80 and Highway 6 near Waverly. Free-will donations will be accepted at the drive-thru event. Funds will be split between the three entities.
The celebration is one of a number of events celebrating the 60th anniversary of the Catholic Center. The site was blessed by Bishop James Casey April 10, 1962. The buildings were constructed in 1963, and the three entities of the Catholic Center were blessed and dedicated by Cardinal Joseph Ritter of St. Louis May 24, 1964. The property, 80 acres of rolling hills between Lincoln and Waverly, is sometimes also called the “Marian Center” because of the statue of Mary under the large belltower in the center of the grounds.
Events to celebrate the anniversary in 2024 include the feast of Our Lady of Good Counsel April 26, with Mass at 8:30 a.m. and an afternoon social; a Catholic Center open house May 19 from 1 to 4 p.m.; and Corpus Christi Mass, Eucharistic procession and family carnival and lunch June 2 at 10:30 a.m.
Upcoming retreats at Our Lady of Good Counsel Retreat House are “Five Marian Stones and Consecrations to the Immaculate” Retreat with Father Elias Mary, F.I. Dec. 1-3; “Men’s Spiritual Exercises Retreat” with Regnum Christi and Father Shawn Aaron, L.C. Dec. 7-10; and “Masses and Tears” Retreat with Father Jay Buhman Dec. 15-17. Learn more and register for retreats at goodcounselretreat.org, email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call 402-786-2705.
