By Natalie Bender
Photojournalist serving the Register
Since my first photo assignment for the Southern Nebraska Register, I’ve covered hundreds of events. But one ongoing assignment is becoming my favorite: the “Sunday at” feature. It’s sent me to 14 parishes so far, and I look forward to visiting more.
The repeating “Sunday at” feature – which simply highlights Mass at one of the parishes in the diocese on a typical Sunday – started as an idea in December of 2024. I attended a wedding near All Saints Church in Holdrege and wondered if I could take photos during a Sunday Mass there, so others could see what the parish was like. Father Jay Buhman is pastor of All Saints, and I was sure that people who remembered him from other places he’s served in the diocese would be glad to “check in” on him. The church also has a great mural by local artist Corbert Gauthier, who was, in 2024, in the midst of creating the crucifixion mural at St. Michael Parish in Lincoln.
I found all of that interesting. But would readers be interested, too? They were! It wasn’t long before I would arrive at a parish and people would ask, “are you here for the Sunday feature?” I was thrilled.
Growing up in Nebraska, I am very familiar with – and proud of – our culture of “Nebraska Nice,” but I think the people of the Catholic Diocese of Lincoln are living that out better than most. Each Sunday I’ve been welcomed into parishes with people who are eager to have visitors, and glad to share the beauty of their parish.
I’ve been truly humbled and grateful to the people of our diocese for so openly sharing their hearts with me. I’ve heard about the history of parishes, and the families who received sacraments there, and many stories of the beautiful items that adorn the churches, from carved wood to stained glass windows and more. These photo features only get one page, but I wish there was space to share the stories, too.
Even without words, all the people in the photos illustrate that there’s a place for everyone in the pews of our diocese. At every parish, there are people of all ages, and all states of life. I love to see the families of all sizes, from new parents to groups who fill more than one pew, and groups that include multiple generations. And I love to see everyone else – married couples and single people, laity and consecrated religious. Everywhere I go, parishioners smile at babies, lend a hand to older members, and chat with one another after Mass.
This whole project has been a clear example to me – and I hope to you as well – of the love that God has for each of us in His plan for us. Whatever your place in life, you aren’t alone and you belong. You are loved by God and that is shown through the witness of the faith of the people around you and through the witness of your parish priests.
Seeing the witness of our parish priests has been another gift of this series. It’s been clear to me in each parish visit how much each priest truly loves his people, and it’s a beautiful reminder of the way our priests give so much for each of us. If you have a new pastor at your parish, or if you’re near a parish with a new pastor, I encourage you to attend their installation Mass to hear the promises they make during that liturgy. They make a public profession of faith and promise to share the truth of the Catholic faith with you, and with the people around you, to “preserve the deposit of faith in its entirety, hand it on faithfully and make it shine forth.” Their vocation comes from the outpouring of love of Christ into their lives, and they take seriously the role they play in letting His love overflow into their people.
The priests have also been a gift in their homilies. How lucky am I to get to hear so many of our priests preach, and preach so well? In reflecting on this project, I realized that each time I leave a church for a “Sunday at” feature, I call a different friend or family member to tell them about the homily, because each one has been a message worth sharing! Moving forward, in addition to photos, I hope to capture the homilies to share with all of you as well.
Our diocesan priests want to lead us to know, love, and serve God, and the people I see in their churches are striving to do so. By coming with your kids – on their good days and their less-good days – by inviting friends, by sitting with family, you are living out the mission of our faith to encourage the worship of God.
While this project was easy for me to love – I also love the quiet Sunday morning drives along Nebraska highways and the comforting view of rolling plains – it’s been a tremendous honor to hear that people in our parishes are looking forward to the project as well. I loved being asked if I was there for the “Sunday at” feature, and I love being asked where I’m going next. It’s a blessing to get to see so much of our diocese, and I’ve been touched by the living faith everywhere I’ve gone.
Thank you for sharing your parishes and your faith with me. The 14 parishes I’ve been to so far make up just over 10 percent of the parishes in the diocese, so I’m looking forward to where I’ll go next!
Editor's Note: see photos of Sunday at:
Holdrege
Seward
Utica
Loma (photos by Corbin Hubbell)
Plattsmouth
Cortland
Wahoo
Denton
Davey
Lincoln (Blessed Sacrament)
York
Lincoln (St. Francis) (photos by Corbin Hubbell)
David City (St. Francis)
Lincoln (St. Patrick)
Fairbury
Lincoln (Cathedral)
