LINCOLN (SNR) – Father Ramón Decaen, pastor of Cristo Rey Parish in Lincoln, died Aug. 10 after a brief battle with COVID-19. He was 48.
Father Decaen was ordained a priest in 2000 and had served as pastor of Cristo Rey Parish for 10 years.
Related item: photo slideshow, Mass at Cristo Rey, June 2021
“Father Decaen was a holy, hard-working priest who loved his people with the heart of Jesus Christ,” said Bishop James Conley in a statement announcing Father Decaen’s death. “He had a special love and devotion to Hispanics in the City of Lincoln. Please keep Father Decaen, his family, Cristo Rey Parish, and his brother priests in your prayers.”
Bishop Conley celebrated a Mass for the repose of the soul of Father Decaen at Cristo Rey Parish in Lincoln Aug. 11.
A rosary will be held at Cristo Rey Church Aug. 20 at 7 p.m. Bishop Conley will celebrate a funeral Mass in the Cathedral of the Risen Christ Aug. 21 at 10:30 a.m. Burial will be in southern California, where he grew up and his parents still live.
Butherus, Maser & Love Funeral Home will handle the arrangements.
Father Decaen is survived by his parents Ed and May Ann, two sisters, three brothers and 14 nieces and nephews.
Father Decaen was a native of Ventura, Calif. and attended Mount St. Mary’s Seminary in Emmitsburg, Md. After ordination, he served as an assistant pastor at St. Mary Parish in Lincoln, St. Mary Parish in Nebraska City, St. Cecilia Parish in Hastings and St. John the Apostle Parish in Lincoln. While an assistant pastor, he taught at Lourdes Central in Nebraska City, Hastings Catholic Schools and Pius X in Lincoln.
Father Decaen assisted with Spanish-speaking ministry in Hastings and Lincoln and was appointed to further studies in Spanish in Mexico in 2006.
He served as pastor of St. Ann Parish in Doniphan and Sacred Heart in Kenesaw, as well as St. Mary in Dawson and St. Ann in Parish. He taught at Sacred Heart School in Falls City.
Father Decaen was appointed pastor of Cristo Rey in 2011 and diocesan coordinator of Hispanic ministry. He also served as chaplain of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, one of the Catholic Church’s outreaches to those facing needs such as food, rent and utility assistance, household items among other basic needs.
Father Rafael Rodriguez-Fuentes has been appointed administrator of Cristo Rey Parish.
