New St. Michael Church in Lincoln dedicated
Southern Nebraska Register
Bishop James Conley consecrated the newly constructed St. Michael Church in Lincoln April 23.
St. Michael Church, located on the southeast corner of Lincoln, was the culmination of 18 years of visioning, planning, fundraising and construction.
More than 1,000 parishioners joined Bishop Conley, Bishop Emeritus Fabian Bruskewitz, priests, religious, civic leaders and other guests as the church was consecrated for the sacred worship of the Trinity through Jesus Christ in the Eucharist.
The lower level academic buildout – encompassing 16,000 square feet like the main level of the church – was dedicated for the education and formation of Catholic youth as part of St. Michael School. The lower level features nine new, state-of-the-art classrooms, teacher prep rooms and an art kiln.
Dozens of 4th degree Knights of Columbus provided an honor guard for the Mass. St. Michael acolytes, Knights and altar servers, led by the processional cross of Jesus Christ crucified, preceded the priests and bishops in the procession into the church. Music composed by Michael Emmerich, with strings, brass, woodwinds and timpani, accompanied a choir.
The Scripture readings for the Mass reminded listeners of the centrality of God in worship spaces throughout Christian history.
“The human person in every age, era, culture has always had a desire to worship God,” Bishop Conley said in his homily, “to acknowledge a Creator, and to remember, and give thanks.”
For Christians, the bishop said, the focal point is always the altar.
“All worship is centered on the altar of sacrifice, where the paschal mystery is made present in time in the Eucharistic mystery – the offering of the body and blood, soul and divinity of our savior.”
He explained how relics of saints are placed in altars, recalling how the early Church celebrated the Masses in the catacombs over relics.
“This reminds us that we are united with the heavenly Jerusalem, with the saints in heaven,” he said.
He added that the 900-square-foot mural above the altar, a work of art by Corbert Gauthier that depicts the communion of saints, “reminds us that we are united with the heavenly liturgy when we come together to pray.”
Bishop Conley shared how, when he was named Bishop of Lincoln in 2012, St. Michael’s pastor Father Kenneth Borowiak told him about his plans – the “vision,” Bishop Conley called it – for the parish’s new church building.
He recalled Father Borowiak saying very clearly he “wanted to do two things.”
“He told me he wanted to build a church that looked like a Catholic church, both inside and out; a church that could be seen from afar, a beacon of light and truth here on this high point in southeast Lincoln; (a church) that would attract souls to God through beauty and transcendence, lifting hearts and minds to God and to the heavenly realities.”
The bishop said that fit perfectly with the New Evangelization, the 're-proposing' of the Gospel.
“We are a missionary Church, and we are missionary disciples,” he said. “We are sent out as missionaries to tell the good news of salvation to all the world. And at this particular time in history, it is an urgent call, to bring the truth and love, forgiveness, healing, peace and joy of Jesus Christ to those who are searching… and asking for answers.”
This is done not only in sharing the Gospel in word, the bishop explained, but “we also must experience an encounter with the living Lord.”
“This is why we make our churches beautiful,” he said, “so that we can lift up our hearts and minds to the truth and goodness and beauty of God.”
“And two,” the bishop continued, recalling Father Borowiak’s 2012 remarks, “he wanted it to be paid for at the end.
“Congratulations to Father Borowiak and the good people of St. Michael,” Bishop Conley said, “for accomplishing this great vision.”
Father Borowiak told the Register that goal was reached through the work and dedication of the parish.
The process “included the involvement of hundreds of parishioners and five capital campaigns. Upon completion of the new church and academic buildout, the parish is debt-free,” he said.
After the homily, Bishop Conley celebrated the rites of dedication for a new church. Eight relics were placed in the altar, followed by the bishop anointing the altar and walls of the church with sacred Chrism.
The bishop then placed incense in a brazier on the altar, as well as in two censors. Acolytes walked through the church, incensing the walls and the people. Parishioners cleaned the altar and covered it with a cloth. Candles were put in place and flowers were placed in the sanctuary.
Finally the church was lighted, as a sign of rejoicing: “Let the light of Christ shine brightly in the Church,” the bishop prayed, “that all nations may attain the fullness of truth.”
The liturgy of the Eucharist followed, with more than three dozen priests concelebrating the Mass.
Construction of the new church began in March 2021. The church seats 650 and has a handicap-accessible sanctuary. The project also included an adoration chapel, confessionals, a cry room, a mother’s nursing room, meeting rooms, a family/bridal room, sacristy and more.
The choir loft features a Rodgers 327 Infinity digital organ and the mechanical rooms are supplied by geo thermal heating and cooling.
Father Andrew Schwenka, a former assistant pastor at St. Michael, carried the church’s cornerstone to Rome where it was blessed by Pope Francis June 15, 2022. Pope Benedict XVI blessed the cornerstone for the school and commons area in 2011.
The new St. Michael Church is the first permanent church in the parish’s 114-year history. The first church built in Cheney was a simple, wooden clapboard church constructed in 1909 with a grant from the Catholic Extension Society. For most of its existence, that church did not have electricity or running water. It was replaced by a “temporary” church built in 1985, which was used until the church relocated just inside the Lincoln city limits in 2011, and began to use a commons area within St. Michael School as a temporary worship space.
After the dedication Mass, a social and banquet were held in the parish’s gymnasium.
Finishing touches will be added in coming weeks, as pews will be installed, stations of the cross added, and a mural behind the altar created.
Masses are celebrated at St. Michael Church, 9101 S. 78th St., Monday through Friday at 7 a.m., Saturday at 8:15 a.m. and 5 p.m., and Sundays at 8, 9:30 and 11:10 a.m.
