by Father Kenneth Borowiak
for the Register
Seven successors of the Apostles in Nebraska gathered Nov. 20 in Omaha.
After a Nebraska Catholic Conference meeting at the Chancery of the Archdiocese of Omaha, the seven shared the opportunity to catch up over lunch. Seven Catholic bishops – active and retired – are the most in the history of the Catholic Church in Nebraska.
There are three dioceses in Nebraska: The Archdiocese of Omaha was created in 1885 and the Diocese of Lincoln was established in 1887. The Diocese of Grand Island, elevated first as the Diocese of Kearney in 1912, was renamed the Diocese of Grand Island in 1917.
Bound together by the priesthood and distinct in their call to leadership and service in the Church as bishops, the seven bishops share a fraternity as successors of the apostles. Collectively they have served the Church as bishops for more than 163 years.
Two are native Nebraskans: Bishop William Dendinger, bishop emeritus of Grand Island, is a native of Coleridge; and Bishop Joseph Hanefeldt, ordinary of Grand Island, is a native of Creighton. Bishop Dendinger was also a two-star general in the U.S. Air Force.
Archbishop Elden Curtiss, archbishop emeritus of Omaha, is one of the longest ordained bishops in the United States and the world. He will be a bishop 50 years in early 2026.
Four of the seven bishops served as bishops in other dioceses. Bishop James Conley served as auxiliary bishop in the Archdiocese of Denver before being appointed Bishop of Lincoln in 2012. Archbishop Michael McGovern, installed in the Archdiocese of Omaha in 2025, was previously the Bishop of Belleville, Ill. Archbishop Curtiss was the Bishop of Helena, Mont., before being appointed Archbishop of Omaha in 1993 and Archbishop George Lucas was Bishop of Springfield, Ill., prior to being named Archbishop of Omaha in 2009. Each of the retired bishops lives in the diocese in which he served
It was noteworthy that the seven bishops of Nebraska met during a Nebraska Catholic Conference meeting. Since 1969, the Nebraska Catholic Conference has been serving the three current active Bishops of Nebraska and their mutual public policy interests.
The Nebraska Catholic Conference has had the privilege of serving 13 bishops throughout the Conference’s history.
“This historical photo opportunity is a snapshot of the gift of apostolic succession that Our Lord Jesus Christ gave His Church,” said Tom Venzor, executive director of the Nebraska Catholic Conference, “as well as a sign of unity which is a key mark of the Church.”
