by Katie Patrick
After nearly three years of planning and construction, our newly-renovated and expanded headquarters in Lincoln is open for business!
We celebrated Saturday, Oct. 14 with a blessing and open house. If you were unable to attend that day and would like to receive a tour of our facility, please contact our Community Engagement Coordinator Rachel Tvrdy at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or (402) 327-6245.
There were so many people involved along the way. From those who directed their charitable gifts toward the project, to those who invested their time and talent in its creation, and those who prayed for the successful completion of the project itself. Please know how truly grateful we are to each and every one of you who was a part of this!
Our new space has already affected the community, both physically and spiritually. We are receiving a high number of first-time clients seeking help from our Family Support Services team, and spiritually, from the first day we opened, our clients have been asking if it is okay for them to go into our chapel. YES! Yes, it is!
In preparation for the day, I reflected on the past 20 or so years of CSS. As you might remember, I first volunteered for CSS in 1999 while I was a sophomore at Pius X High School, and then worked in the refugee program after college, so in a way, I had the opportunity to serve the poor and marginalized under the leadership of three executive directors: Father Joseph Walsh, Father Christopher Kubat, and Father Justin Fulton.
In so many ways, each of my predecessors inspired this renovation. It was Father Fulton’s vision to renovate and create a more inviting space for our clients and a more versatile working space for our staff. He also led the fundraising efforts that secured the $3.5 million for this project prior to the start of construction. With just a small handful of donors and several foundations, we met that goal with absolutely no disruption to our programming.
Father Kubat demonstrated a deep awareness of and connection to the homeless. He would often walk or ride his bike to encounter the men and women who lived under the bridge or nearby on the streets, taking sandwiches and inviting them to CSS, particularly inviting them to the chapel. With our renovated chapel and expanded café area, we can now accommodate even more of our homeless friends off the streets and into our facility.
When Father Walsh was at CSS, he started our thrift stores. He would work side by side with the staff, receiving and processing donations, and interacting with donors, volunteers and customers. We have recently expanded these operations by adding a monthly, onsite sale at our Lincoln warehouse, an online shop on Facebook Marketplace, and an ecommerce shop on eBay. All of these avenues are allowing us to generate more revenue for our programming as we spread our mission nationwide.
However, while each aspect of the renovation adds to the functionality and success of our programs, the true beauty of our newly renovated space is the place where Jesus resides.
He is present every day in our chapel, though He is also present in each and every one of us. Our thoughts, words, and actions as we serve the poor and vulnerable demonstrate our love for Him.
Our days in nonprofit work can be hard, yet every day, we come to work for those we serve because Jesus Christ nourishes us and gives us the strength we need to help make the world a better place for the person in front of us. Our chapel invites our staff, volunteers, donors, community partners, and most importantly our clients to encounter Jesus. Our chapel invites our clients who are weary and burdened and who need to know and experience that Jesus loves them, too. Thank you and may God bless you!
