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Featuring the Crete Deanery

St. James Church - Cortland, Sacred Heart Church - Crete, St. Mary Church - Denton, St. Stephen Church - Exeter, St. Joseph Church - Friend, St. Wenceslaus Church - Milligan, St. Joseph Church - Tobias, St. Wenceslaus Church - Wilber

Featured Parishes: Crete Deanery, David City Deanery, Fairbury Deanery, Falls City Deanery, Grant Deanery, Hastings Deanery, Indianola Deanery, Lawrence Deanery, Lincoln Deanery, Orleans Deanery, Plattsmouth Deanery, Wahoo Deanery, York Deanery

St. James, Cortland

PCCW Activities

  • Fellowship: World Marriage Dinner, Lenten Services, Mother's Day/Father's Day Recognition, Christmas Potluck/Program, Fellowship Sunday, Secret Prayer Pal 
  • Fundraising: Pancake Breakfast, Cortland BBQue Fest, Spaghetti Dinner, Soup Supper, Monthly Bake Sales
  • Service: Scholarship Program, Clothing Share – St. Louise Thrift Store, Diaper Drive/Baby Clothing Share, Christmas Giving Tree – Catholic Social Services, St. James Building Fund, St. James Crafters –  supplies/items donated to Charities
  • Parish Events: First Communion, Confirmation, Flowers/Decorations for Church and Altar, Funeral Luncheons, Special Functions

Historical Highlights

  • In 1884, when there was about 25 Catholic families, it was decided a church was needed in Cortland.
  • For many years, St. James Church was a mission, with priests coming from Tecumseh, Crete, Lincoln and Wilber.
  • In 1950, the first Rectory was built in Cortland, and they had a resident priest.
  • The second structure for St. James was built in 1958.
  • As membership continued to grow, a new church was dedicated in 2001, and parish hall added in 2003.

Sacred Heart Parish, Crete

PCCW Activities

  • Sponsor a summer festival which features foods from other cultures with games for kids and our fall dinner, serving turkey and winsor loins. 
  • We send get well, sympathy and special birthday and anniversary greeting cards to parishioners.
  • We pay for half of the cost of retreats.
  • We support the local program CRETE CARES through donations and fund raisers.
  • Several ladies formed a quilting group.
  • Host Bible Studies

Historical Highlights

  • St. James church was built in 1873.
  • The first Altar Society was organized in January of 1874.
  • The school was dedicated March 1888.
  • After St. Ludmilla church (the Czech parish in Crete which opened in 1890) closed in 1915, a new and larger church was built, named Sacred Heart Church of the St. James Parish.
  • Due to recent growth, the process has begun to build a new hall and church.

St. Mary, Denton

PCCW Activities

  • Weekly church cleaning; Monthly rectory cleaning
  • Meatless supper on Fridays during Lent
  • Jubilee dinner for the religious sisters of the diocese
  • Annual spring plant sale
  • Giving four families outdoor statues of Mary
  • Collections: Soles4Souls, Coats and mittens, Diapers, Food drive for CSS, Items for Birthright
  • Assist with fireworks stand
  • Giving tree for residents of Crete Manor at Christmas
  • Prayer chain; Bi-monthly bunco party
  • Assist at Denton Foodnet on Mondays

Historical Highlights

  • St. Mary was established in Denton in 1906.
  • The present church was dedicated in 1964 after a fire destroyed the frame church and rectory in 1961.
  • Currently there are 150 ladies in the Altar Society.

St. Stephen, Exeter

PCCW Activities

  • Parish Events: Serve funeral dinners; parish brunch honoring 8th and 12th grade graduates and CCD teachers. Mother and Father Day recognition, celebrate World Marriage at mass. Celebration activities for first communion and confirmation.
  • Fund Raisers: Annual Salad Luncheon; Dessert table for the Knights of Columbus Fish Fry and Hamburger Feed.
  • Collections: LDCCW Diaper Drive; Items are for Birthright.
  • Service: Assisting with the Red Cross Blood Mobile; health checks at the Senior Center; prayer shawls made and delivered; send greeting cards to parishioners, provide Christmas bags for shut ins.
  • Donations: Matt Talbot, Fillmore County Ministerial Association, Catholic Social Services in Lincoln, and St. Gianna’s.
  • Miscellaneous: Routine cleaning of the parish hall and weekly cleaning of the rectory, Christmas and Easter Cleaning of the church,purchase equipment for Parish Hall. Send children to youth camps.

Historical Highlights

  • First church built in 1878.
  • Fr. Walter McDonald built the current church in 1901.
  • It was restored in 2003 to celebrate the parish 125th.
  • 2013 Dedication of new parish hall and grotto.

St. Joseph, Friend

PCCW Activities

  • Fundraising: Annual Soup Luncheon with Live Auction, Donation Board, Spring & Winter raffles
  • Parish Events:  Lenten soup suppers, coffee & rolls after Sunday Mass, First Communion & Confirmation receptions, Graduates Breakfast, funeral dinners
  • Service:  Meals on Wheels, CCD scholarships, Red Cross Blood Drive, LDCCW Diaper Drive
  • Donations:  TV Mass, Catholic Social Services, St. Gianna's, Saline County Right to Life, local food pantry, various other Catholic events, causes, & charities
  • Misc:  routine church & hall cleaning; Friend Manor Bingo & Birthday parties; sympathy, get well, & special anniversary/birthday cards to parishioners; various Mass offerings

Historical Highlights

  • The original church serving about 39 families (dedicated to St. Ludgerus) and rectory were built in 1878, only to be destroyed by a tornado six months later.
  • The second church was rebuilt with the same materials and within a year the parish size nearly doubled.
  • The first resident pastor was named in 1885, Father Wunibald Wolf.
  • A new red brick church was built in 1903 dedicated to St. Joseph, after a fire in the prior church.
  • The parish constructed a rectory (1913), a school which was later replaced by a parish hall (1923), and a hall (1983).
  • The present church was built in 1994.
  • 2018 marked the parish's 140th anniversary.

St. Wenceslaus, Milligan

PCCW Activities

  • Annual fundraiser: June Jubilee breakfast - 2nd weekend in June includes raffle and polka Mass by Leo Lonnie Orchestra
  • Charitable donations to Spirit Catholic Radio, TV masses, Catholic Social Services, Blue Valley Community Center, Youth Rehabilitation & Treatment Center, Pregnancy Centers, Good Beginnings, Villla Marie School, American Cancer Society, Newman Center, Camp Kateri, Our Lady of Good Counsel Retreat House, Fillmore Co. Military Support Group, Fillmore Co. Holiday Meals, Catholic Relief Services, Backpack program, St. Joseph (Geneva) Christmas Store
  • Serve meals for funeral dinners, Senior Citizens and civic organizations
  • Masses for living and deceased members and birthday Masses for parishioners over 75

Historical Highlights

  • 1905 First St. Wenceslaus church dedicated
  • 1915-1969 Tobias became mission to Milligan
  • 1969 Milligan became mission to Friend
  • 1980 New church dedicated
  • 2014 Milligan became mission to Exeter
  • Currently there are 25 ladies in the Altar Society

St. Joseph, Tobias

PCCW Activities

  • Serve Funeral Dinners
  • Donate to Villa Marie School
  • Donate to Spirit Catholic Radio

Historical Highlights

  • 1912 Catholics in Tobias received permission from Bishop Tihen to build a church.
  • The name St. Joseph was chosen by the original building committee members and their chauffeur, who were all named Joseph.
  • In March 2014 St. Joseph Church was rededicated for its 100th anniversary with Bishop James Conley as celebrant.
  • There are currently 20 families in the parish.

St. Wenceslaus, Wilber

PCCW Activities

  • Baking of 1250 dozen kolaches to sell during the annual Czech Festival
  • Participates in World Marriage Day, Diaper Drive and Baby Bottle project for right to life organizations
  • First Communion, Confirmation and High School Graduation
  • Bringing meals to families in need, donating food to families and the food pantry 

Historical Highlights

  • The early Czech immigants in Wilber had many hardships from 1865-1880, such as no church, priests who did not understand the Czech language and culture, and a lack of funds.
  • In 1882 a protestant Church was purchased and dedicate in 1883 to St. Wencesalaus.
  • In 1948 construction of a new church began, dedicated Nov. 30, 1949.
  • Large parish dinners were held from 1950 to 1963.
  • In 1997 A comprehensive improvement plan was begun including renovations of the hall, CCD and rectory office.
  • In 2001 an elevator and parking lot lighting was installed and the roof repaired.
  • Renovations to the church include tile, carpet, sound system, signs and landscaping.
  • Four religious vocations have come from the parish.
  • Contact

    Contact

    Rev. Thomas Lux
    Spiritual Advisor

    Phone: 402-489-1946

    Rev. Thomas McGuire
    Spiritual Advisor

    Phone: 402-335-3742

    Valerie Able
    2026-2028 President

    Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

    Treasurer: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

    Leadership Commission: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

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