By Jonathan Kiehl,
CSS Hastings director
God is so good! The Catholic Social Services (CSS) Hastings open house was absolutely amazing, even though the weather was, without a doubt, the worst I’ve seen in Nebraska (I know, I’m still new!). In spite of slight flooding and cars breaking down and needing to be pushed in the pouring rain, our community partners turned out in full force and made it a day to cherish and remember.
We gathered early in the morning to begin preparing the grounds, fully expecting a beautiful outdoor celebration. However, as the storm clouds rolled in, we quickly realized we would need to bring the celebration inside.
In the end, it was actually perfectly snug. People were able to converse so much easier, having folks on all sides. Instead of having community partners isolated at their own tables, most groups ended up sharing tables. This unexpected closeness sparked beautiful conversations, allowed new friendships to develop, and helped showcase the highly practical, welcoming nature of our new building.
We started off around 12:15 p.m. by honoring our local clergy. It was an emotionally charged moment filled with so much love and mutual respect. Father Cyrus Rowan opened up with a beautiful prayer, while Pastor Lance Clay from First Methodist Church and Pastor Chad Cassell from Oasis Church both shared short, deeply encouraging testimonies. They illustrated the true beauty of Christians coming together, tearing down historical walls, and working side by side. Chad talked about how awesome it has been for his church and CSS to partner together, and the massive impact we can make when we walk in unity.
I was also able to share about my own experiences in the Hastings community and what a profound honor it is to work alongside these selfless ministers of God’s love. In total, we were able to honor around 12 of our local clergy.
We were thrilled to have 16 local partner agencies and churches join us to share how they serve the community! The atmosphere in the room was pure joy. Guests who visited all the stations and got their passports signed were entered into a drawing for 2027 Sodbuster baseball season tickets, a bag of our new coffee, or a CSS swag basket.
We also officially launched the sale of our new coffee blend! Through a partnership with LeNoir Dimbaya Coffee, we created our Hope in the Good Life Blend. A portion of the proceeds from every bag sold will directly support the mission of CSS, helping provide food, essential resources, and compassionate care to individuals and families across south-central Nebraska. We had a great time handing out hot samples to the crowd, which was perfect for the rainy day. We sold both whole bean and ground coffee bags, and the general consensus was that it is an amazingly flavorful roast!
Meanwhile, outside, Angus McGee’s food truck was absolutely swamped! It rained cats and dogs, leaving many of us completely soaked to the bone as we tried to set up canopies to keep our guests dry. Despite the chill and the water, everyone kept up a fantastic, joyful attitude. Father David Oldham got out in the pouring rain to help us carry canopies. It really was a beautiful group effort just to help keep people as dry and fed as possible.
Later on, Diana Amaya gave a beautiful, moving testimony about what CSS has meant to her. She found CSS in her own time of need, and now she is the hands and feet of Christ, serving as the means for so many others to receive the help they need to make it through tough times. We are so incredibly blessed to have her on our team.
Bishop James Conley then shared a beautiful message of hope and love, and formally blessed the new building and our new chapel.
Tom Schik wrapped everything up with a short, powerful description of how far we have come as an organization to get to this point. From our humble beginnings way back in the early 1990s to the current three-building campus that is under construction, God has done and continues to do amazing things through CSS in Hastings.
Thank you, Lord! And a massive thank you to every single one of you who helped set up, tear down, get soaked in the rain, and welcome our community with open arms. I continue to feel so deeply honored to be a part of this loving, compassionate community at CSS and in Hastings.
Please come and visit us if you are ever in the area—we would love to show you around, share a cup of coffee, and give you a taste of all God is doing in our neck of the woods!
