Our Bishop

James D. Conley

 
 

May 30, 2026 Bishop Conley celebrated Catholic education and the Class of 2026 at the Lincoln Pius X High School Graduation

March 13, 2026, Bishop James Conley lecture for the Institute of Catholic Culture

Praying Through Suffering (a free membership signup is required)

St. John of the Cross said, “The soul that longs for divine wisdom chooses first, and in truth, to enter the thicket of the cross.” Yet so many have difficulties finding God in the midst of suffering. In this special Lenten reflection, we will explore how to embrace our crosses and seek the Lord, even when he seems far away.

Jan. 28, 2026 Bishop Conley recently celebrated Mass at Pius X as part of our Catholic Schools Week celebration, "Claiming this school for Jesus"

January 22, 2026 Opening Mass of the 2026 National Prayer Vigil for Life
Celebrant: His Excellency, Most Reverend James D. Conley, Bishop of Lincoln

Bishop James Conley lecture for the Institute of Catholic Culture, September 29, 2025

Let Them Be Born in Wonder: Rediscovering a Christian Vision of Reality
(Free membership signup is required.)

"Wonder is the beginning of knowledge, the reverent fear that beauty strikes within us." –John Senior
The corruption of the pillars of civilization, such as education and healthcare, has resulted in a disconnect from reality. How do we begin to renew a sense of wonder and appreciation of the real world around us? In this lecture, Bishop James Conley discusses the importance of seeing the world through the integrated lens of faith and sound Christian anthropology. 

April 1, 2025 Bishop Conley joined the Catholic International University to talk about his Pastoral Letter on Education.

Oct 29, 2024. A Bishop’s Raw Story of Anxiety and Depression: Why ‘Try Harder’ Doesn’t Work on the Being Human podcast. Bishop James Conley shares his raw and personal journey of battling anxiety and depression with Catholic psychologist Dr. Greg Bottaro. His story is a powerful reminder that real healing often begins when we stop trying to push through on our own.

September 24, 2024 Lecture for the Institute of Catholic Culture subtitled "Rediscovering a Christian Vision of Reality", Bishop James Conley discusses the importance of seeing the world through the integrated lens of faith and sound Christian anthropology.

Note: creation of a free account is required to watch the lecture.

September 23, 2024 listen to an 8-minute interview on the Son Rise Morning Show as Bishop Conley tells the story of his conversion to the faith in college and how it relates to his talk.

July 29, 2024 OSV Podcasts - Hope Stories with Sr. Josephine Garrett, CSFN
Living in the Wound: Anxiety and Depression with Bishop James Conley

Bishop Conley shares a deeply personal account of his struggle with anxiety and depression, how his overwhelming responsibilities and traumatic events led to a profound psychological crisis, resulting in a diagnosis of PTSD and major depressive disorder. Seeking healing, he took a leave of absence, during which he received medical, psychological, spiritual support, and key relationships played a vital role in his recovery. Bishop Conley's testimony emphasizes the importance of reaching out, the power of community and relationships, and finding hope through faith, even in the darkest times.

July 29, 2024 United States Conference of Catholic Bishops records Bishop James Conley of Lincoln sharing the origins of his recent pastoral letter "A Future with Hope" which focuses on the importance of mental health alongside physical and spiritual health and how our faith community can offer a counterpoint to the isolation found in society. Bishop Conley also discusses his favorite saint, the importance of seeking a trusted mentor when discerning, and the importance of focusing on teaching and healing through his role as bishop.

July 7, 2024 Hope in the Good Life Podcast with Catholic Social Services
The Darkness of Mental Illness Can Result in a Future With Hope with Bishop James Conley

“Our world is experiencing a mental health crisis. Anxiety and depression weigh heavily on the lives of many people.” So says Bishop James Conley of the Diocese of Lincoln as he talks about his own battle with mental health and how his recovery is ongoing. In this interview, he also talks about why there can be A Future with Hope, as reflected in his recent pastoral letter of the same name.

May 20, 2024 Mental health with Bishop James Conley

In this bonus episode of The Pillar Podcast, JD Flynn talks with Lincoln Bishop James Conley about his recent pastoral letter addressing mental health, his own mental health journey, and the relationship of nature and grace.

Bishop James Conley Celebrated Ash Wednesday Mass at St. Mary Catholic Church in Lincoln Nebraska, February 14th, 2024.
In his homily, he preached about the season of Lent and the sacrifices that go with the 40 days before the Easter season.

Bishop James Conley joined Dr. Larry Chapp - writer at GaudiumEtSpes22.com - to discuss the reform of the liturgy. Feb. 4, 2024

Bishop James Conley joined with the local Ukrainian community in Lincoln for a prayer rally across from the Nebraska State Capitol. The rally marked one year since the Russian army invaded Ukrainian territory.

Bishop Conley talked about the good work being done by Catholic Social Services of Southern Nebraska helping more than 100 families in our area displaced by the fighting in Ukraine. He also spoke of the efforts of the Knights of Columbus to help the people in that war-torn region. Bishop Conley concluded his remarks by leading the group in prayer.

Bishop of the Diocese of Lincoln James Conley is Pastor Stu Kerns' guest on Friendly Fire (KLIN) February 4, 2023 (audio only)

The Diocese of Lincoln held a Memorial Mass for Pope Benedict XVI at the Cathedral of the Risen Christ in Lincoln, Thursday, January 12, 2023. In his homily, Bishop James Conley talked about the late pope's faith, humility and contributions to the Catholic Church.

Wednesday, January 4, 2023 Bishop James Conley was celebrant and homilist at SEEK23, a conference hosted by FOCUS.

Bishop Conley spoke at the annual Nebraska Bishops' Pro-Life Banquet in Lincoln on September 23, 2022

Bishops James Conley, James Wall and Archbishop Paul Coakley share highlights from their recent experience on El Camino de Santiago in Spain, Sept. 12, 2023
Read the story from the National Catholic Register: "The Camino Compadres: 3 US Bishops Find Spiritual Refreshment and Fraternity Via Ancient Pilgrimage"

Bishop James Conley gave this homily during the Blue Mass, which thanks and honors law enforcement, fire and rescue, and corrections personnel for their dedication and service. Sept. 11, 2022