By Andrew Winter
1.
Peter Canisius (kuh-NIH-see-us) was born in 1521 in Holland, on the heels of the outbreak of the Protestant Revolt. He showed promise as a young student, earning his master’s degree at Cologne at 19 years of age. His feast is celebrated Dec. 21.
By Tom Venzor
A major problem in politics is failing to see the human person behind the politics. When engaging in politics, we tend to depersonalize or dehumanize. Rather than seeing a human person, made in the image and likeness of God, we reduce others to political positions, labels, or parties. Our faith, however, calls us to see in every person his or her inestimable dignity and value, that God is living within each of us—that we are called to see Christ living within every person we encounter.
By Fr. Santiago Izquierdo
As a priest only in his second year of priesthood, I am frequently experiencing new things, like unique situations when administering the sacraments and different pastoral encounters. But as 2025 comes to a close, I have realized that it was a distinctive liturgical year that priests ordained after 2014 have also not experienced.
By Kathi Mercure
Head teacher, St. Andrew School in Tecumseh
St. Andrew School in Tecumseh has been providing quality Catholic education in southeast Nebraska for 62 years. St. Andrew School strives to help students and families encounter Jesus with the excitement and enthusiasm which characterized St. Andrew’s first proclamation to his brother, “We have found the Messiah!” We are providing our students with a great education as well as helping them become people who make a positive impact on their communities.
By Andrew Winter
1. The Aztec Empire was only about 100 years old when Spaniard Hernan Cortez arrived. The empire consisted of three ruling tribes and dozens of tributary cities and peoples. It was a loose federation, with its capital at Tenochtitlan, modern-day Mexico City. The Aztecs practiced an extremely violent form of paganism involving thousands of human sacrifices.
By Katie Patrick
For the second year in a row, Catholic Social Services has chosen a patron saint of the year. The CSS team offered thoughtful and inspiring nominations, each reflecting how the saints have embodied the works of mercy throughout history (Who did we pick? More on that another time!). As their leader, I was moved to see how deeply our team identifies with the mission of serving the poor and vulnerable — striving, in its own way, toward sainthood. Shouldn’t we all?
By Fr. Brian Wirth,
Director of Rural Life
As I was praying last week, I was drawn to the beauty of the sanctuary and its adornment, as we have begun the new liturgical year, highlighted by the Advent wreath and nativity scene.
By Bob Sullivan
Many Catholics think the Church suppressed or discouraged the use of Latin in the “New Mass,” which is the Mass the vast majority of us have experienced in our parishes in the Lincoln Diocese since 1964. This simply is not true.
By Andrew Winter
1. The first Catholic church in Lincoln was built in 1867, and at first was simply called “The Catholic Church in Lincoln.” In 1877, it was named St. Theresa, the forerunner of the present St. Mary Church in downtown Lincoln.
By Fr. Thomas Brouillette
Vicar General
Last Sunday we celebrated the beginning of the new Church Year with the first Sunday of Advent. We lit the first candle of the Advent wreath, symbolic of the building anticipation to welcome the light of Christ as he comes into the world. The word Advent means “coming” or “arrival”; “appearance.”
By April Boellstorff
Regional Director in Auburn, Catholic Social Services of Southern Nebraska
Auburn CSS had originally planned to distribute 40 Thanksgiving meal kits, complete with a turkey and all the trimmings, to local families in need. When the Thanksgiving request line opened, all 40 meals were claimed within five minutes!
By Tom Venzor
In these early days of Advent, I think a lot more about the birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. But I also ponder more deeply those early days of His life. One event that always stands out, for me, is the slaughter of the Holy Innocents, when King Herod jealously sought to kill the Infant King through an untargeted, indiscriminate campaign of violence against all male infants and toddlers 2 years of age and under. Anticipating this horrific act, Saint Joseph was instructed by an angel, in a dream, to protect the Holy Family by fleeing Israel for Egypt, which he obediently and courageously did.
By Fr. Gary Coulter
Director, Our Lady of Good Counsel Retreat House;
Website Editor, Catholic Diocese of Lincoln
On pilgrimage to Italy last month, I had the opportunity in Assisi to visit the tomb of St. Carlo Acutis—the first millennial canonized a saint. Praying there, a line from St. Francis of Assisi’s Canticle of the Sun spoke out to me: “Praised be You, my Lord, through Sister Water, which is very useful and humble and precious and chaste.” Lord, how can I, and my use of technology, be like these two saints: useful, humble, precious, and chaste?
Guest column by Teresa Lewandowski,
Head Teacher, St. John the Baptist School, Plattsmouth
I’m sure you would not be surprised to hear it, but being a school leader is hard. Even at a wonderful little school like mine, where children are sweet (mostly) and parents are supportive (mostly), thoughts of school regularly keep me awake in the middle of the night. Worry, fear, and responsibility can be a heavy burden, but I have found that the psalms bring a sense of strength and hope for our Catholic school, and a peace in the mission to serve it. These verses help me focus my prayer for the school and serve as a guidebook for school leadership.
By Sr. Fiat Marie, C.K.
School Sisters of Christ the King
Branding is an interesting thing to observe. Since the Lincoln Diocese is in the Midwest, I do need to clarify that I don’t mean cattle branding. I am speaking of the process of capturing the identity and uniqueness of a group or event, so that it can be expressed in a way that can be shared. We see a plethora of logos, catch phrases and titles every day. Some have one word. Some have many words. Some just have pictures. Some have backward letters or intentionally misspelled words (a terror for teachers of elementary children). It seems at least one major goal of these efforts is to present something attractive.
For me, the brand “School Sisters of Christ the King” failed the test. I was not attracted by school or king. It seemed to be blunt and unpoetic. So why was I drawn to the Community? I saw the joy of the Sisters who were living out the charism of the Community: joyful fidelity to Christ the King.
By Katie Patrick
When we talk about lasting change or making a lasting difference, it often entails maintaining a long-term commitment, or at least making enough of an investment with significant time or resources that lead to permanent change.
The St. Gianna Women’s Home opened its doors in 2011, thanks to the significant commitment and financial investment by our donors. They were original change-makers who advocated with their time and resources for women and children who had experienced domestic violence or under-supported pregnancies. These “original” change-makers, who opened the door, made it possible for the hundreds of survivors of domestic violence that we have served over the years to become change-makers themselves.
By Tom Venzor
Once upon a time, before I had many gray hairs, I was a seminarian for the Archdiocese of Omaha. It was a beautiful and rich part of my life. The Lord blessed me with incredible formation and excellent seminaries.
My brother seminarians were outstanding gentlemen. The seminary formation staff members were committed to Jesus and His Church. The academics were intellectually life-giving. Most of all, I cannot thank the Lord enough for the countless hours of prayer I experienced, which drew me closer into His heart.
By Andrew Winter
1. Mary the Mother of God has many titles, and some are so obscure that they are celebrated only in one small region of the world. Some of these more obscure titles of Mary include: Our Lady of the Bush, Our Lady of the Slain, Our Lady the Helper and Mother Inviolate. The following are some titles readers may know.
By Will Stokebrand
Volunteer Coordinator in Lincoln, Catholic Social Services of Southern Nebraska
It’s hard to believe, but Christmas is just around the corner, which means the staff at Catholic Social Services is starting to prepare the annual Holiday Giving Program in Lincoln. Having worked at CSS for a few years, it always amazes me how generous our donors are and how eager they are to help out in any way they can. Speaking on behalf of all of our staff, I want to thank everyone who has donated and helped out with this program each year.
By Victoria Fassett
Campus Minister
UNL Newman Center
In late October, we held our annual Eucharistic procession around the UNL Campus. If you were a student walking home from the library that night, you would have seen hundreds of college students bundled up against the recently-turned-cold weather, cupping their hands around their candles to protect them from the wind.
You’d have heard solemn hymns sung, echoing off the overhang that connects the north and south parts of the library, and perhaps a few giggles as people get back on pace with the song. You might even have heard some expletives of confusion shouted from a fraternity house as police lights, intended to direct traffic for our procession across intersections, flashed.
By Marion Miner,
Associate Director of Pro-Life & Family Policy
Governor Jim Pillen signed an executive order Nov. 6, revoking Planned Parenthood’s eligibility (and the eligibility of all abortion providers) to receive Medicaid funds in Nebraska.
This is very good news. Medicaid is a federal program, funded by taxpayers. Its purpose is to ensure that people of very low income are able to afford health care. The program has been abused for years by Planned Parenthood, which claims it is entitled to those funds for its “services” upon the poor (which in large part consist of abortion, sterilization, contraception, and transgender “sex-rejection” procedures).
It has long been a pro-life policy priority to kick Planned Parenthood and other birds of the same dirty feather off the taxpayers’ dime. The governor’s executive order does just that for Nebraska. Its effect will be the drying up and discontinuation of hundreds of thousands of dollars in taxpayer funds per year that had been going to the abortion industry in our state.
Why hadn’t this been done before? The short answer is that until recently, the states that have tried to fully defund abortion in Medicaid have subsequently found themselves sued and swamped in years of litigation. South Carolina, to take one example, attempted to defund Planned Parenthood in 2018. That defunding was placed on hold indefinitely while a court battle played out for seven years.
But in June 2025, the U.S. Supreme Court finally weighed in, allowing South Carolina’s defunding of Planned Parenthood to stand (and finally take effect in October!). This ruling gave Nebraska’s state government confidence it could successfully follow in South Carolina’s footsteps. Nebraska then proceeded, by executive order of the governor, to disqualify Planned Parenthood from Medicaid Nov. 6.
Now, a word of caution I feel obliged to include for the Register’s readers: this executive order is not perfect. It includes some throwaway language assuring the public that the state recognizes the so-called necessity of the availability of “family planning.” This is nearly always a code word for contraception, which is not only destructive in its own right, but is also the cultural fountainhead of abortion. (A society that depends on contraception—and contraception always, inevitably, eventually fails—such a society also depends on and demands the right to procure abortion.)
It is important to note that in this executive order, the “family planning” language has no legal effect. Its presence in an otherwise excellent document is nevertheless disappointing.
That defect aside, we are right to be happy and grateful about the ejection of Planned Parenthood from Medicaid in our state. Not only Planned Parenthood’s “abortion services,” but the whole organization and everything it does (including contraception, sterilization, and sex-rejecting interventions) will no longer be subsidized by our taxes in Nebraska. The industry will instead have to get that money from willing donors, if it can find them here, and that’s an important win.
It is also worth emphasizing that given the abortion industry’s hyper-focus on local profit margins to fuel its maniacal political campaigns, this loss of annual revenue makes the business and political environment for Planned Parenthood and company much less appealing in Nebraska, starting today.
This is another milestone passed in our work to break down and tread underfoot the culture of death in Nebraska. Readers may be tired of seeing this in print, but it bears repeating that this work is a bigger challenge than most of us realize. The fortress we are dismantling has, on the most conservative telling of this story, 50 years of legal and cultural weight behind it. But together we are up to the task if we remain faithful, patient, smart, creative, determined, and united. Another important victory won! We press on.
by Fr. Brian Wirth,
Director of Rural Life
November is one of the greatest months of the year in the Good Life, and in the liturgical year. As the harvest continues to progress for farmers, reaping the precious fruits of the earth and preserving them for future ends, the same is true liturgically.
By Andrew Winter
1. Tradition (with a capital “T”) refers to the doctrines of the Catholic Church passed on orally from the Apostles through the intellectual heritage of the Church Fathers. Tradition is the companion to Sacred Scripture, the other half of God’s revelation to man. It contains many of the same doctrines as Scripture and, of course, never contradicts it. But it provides interpretation of and expansions on the truths in Scripture.
By John Soukup
Development Officer, Catholic Social Services of Southern Nebraska
As I walked through the lobby of Catholic Social Services of Southern Nebraska (CSS) in Lincoln, and then observed what was happening in our Food Market this past week, the energy feels a little different. There’s a steady rhythm of families arriving for their food market appointments—parents carrying toddlers, seniors pulling small carts, and volunteers greeting each guest by name.
When SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) benefits were paused Oct. 29 due to the government shutdown, then partially funded Nov. 3, thousands of Nebraskans were affected. For many, CSS has become a place to turn when there’s nowhere else to go for food or basic needs. Normally, our Lincoln food market schedules about a dozen appointments each day, and it’s not unusual for a few clients to miss theirs. But now, almost everyone is showing up, grateful for the help.
By Andrew Winter
1. Charles Borromeo, whose feast day we celebrate Nov. 4, was born in 1538, just after the outbreak of the Protestant Revolt, into a very rich family. His relatives held very powerful positions in the Church, and thanks to his uncle, who became Pope Pius IV, he attained the rank of cardinal at age 22. He was not even a priest at the time.
By Mother Ann Marie Zierke, M.S.
“I would like to introduce you to a friend of mine.”
I tried to start my lesson with my high-schoolers by getting their attention.
“He loves the outdoors; he is from a well-known family. In his free time, he can usually be found helping the poor or hanging out with his friends.”
At this point in the lecture, the students were starting to get excited: “Do we know him?” one student asked. “Is he from around here?” By now they were turning in their desks and looking at the classroom door, hoping to see someone walk in.
By Jeff Schinstock
The Catholic tradition does not pit intellect against emotion, nor doctrine against experience. Rather, it seeks integration.
I have been spending a lot of time with St. Augustine lately. I recently came across something he said in a sermon about living in your own time. “Bad times, hard times, this is what the people keep saying; but let us live well, and the times shall be good. We are the times: Such as we are, such are the times.”
By Katie Patrick
Does it ever seem that your six-month routine visit to the dentist comes around sooner than expected? I often feel that way when I receive a text notification from the dental office informing me of my upcoming appointment. Truly, I feel as if I was just there having my teeth cleaned. However, when I check my calendar – sure enough, it has indeed been six months and the time has come for my next appointment. And so I go.
Now, that’s the dentist where I schedule in advance. The eye doctor, however, is another story.
By Andrew Winter
1. The Pink Sisters in Lincoln are part of a larger religious congregation founded in the Netherlands in 1896 by St. Arnold Janssen and Mother Mary Michael. The official name of the congregation is Sister-Servants of the Holy Spirit of Perpetual Adoration. They are called “Pink Sisters” because of their rose-colored habits, which signify the joy of their vocation.
By Sr. Clareth Chavarria CFP
Sister Clareth, of the Passionist Sisters from Mexico, is from Costa Rica and serves the Hispanic Community at St. Cecilia Parish in Hastings, with Sister Beatriz Guzman from Mexico
At St. Cecilia Church in Hastings, during October, the month of the Rosary and of the Missions, families gather every day in different homes to pray the Rosary. Each family who hosts also invites their neighbors to their home to pray the Rosary and share a meal. Not only do the nuns participate, but there are also lay collaborators who help us in this parish mission. The month of missions culminates with a Holy Hour and a shared meal at the parish.
By Katie Patrick
What started as a routine trip to drop off recycled clothing turned into a powerful encounter with someone in need—and a reminder of how God works through everyday moments.
Just as he did each month, Bill Sullivan—manager of St. Isidore Gift and Thrift in Imperial—traveled to McCook to deliver recycled clothing to a CSS truck coming from our Hastings office.
By Andrew Winter
1.
Pope St. John Paul II instituted the Luminous Mysteries in 2002 with the apostolic letter Rosarium Virginis Mariae (“The Rosary of the Blessed Virgin”). This letter was a long treatise on the importance of the Rosary in the modern Church, and it culminates with the introduction of the Luminous Mysteries.
By Marion Miner,
Associate Director of Pro-Life & Family Policy
Pierce v. Society of Sisters is a landmark case decided by the U.S. Supreme Court in 1925—100 years ago this year—in favor of Catholic parents and schools against state hostility. This decision, so important but not widely known today except perhaps by lawyers and law students, has had many enduring consequences. Most importantly, the decision protected the continued existence of Catholic schools in the United States—something not to be taken for granted—and resoundingly affirmed parental authority over how their children were to be raised and educated. Pierce recognized these realities as principles of natural law and as fundamental liberties demanding constitutional recognition and protection.
By Alexis Brouillette,
Lincoln Outreach Coordinator
Working at the front desk and in the role of Outreach Coordinator at Catholic Social Services, you truly are the hands and feet of Christ, but also the heart and shoulder and ears and… I could go on, but you get the point! I never know what is going to happen in my day, or who I am going to meet and where the conversation will go.
I start my day with a prayer, offering to God all of the people I meet, all of the conversations I have and all of the struggles I encounter throughout the day A prayer I have recently been saying is called Radiating Christ, and it is affiliated with St. Teresa of Calcutta, who is the patron saint of Catholic Social Services this year.
by Fr. Brian Wirth,
Director of Rural Life
As the fall harvest progresses, I again want to assure my prayers to all of our diocesan farm families and hired hands for a safe and successful harvest season. Farmers (and farmers’ wives), thank you for your sacrifices, dedication, and love for the land and God’s creation. Personally, it has been a joy to drive along Highway 6/34 and see all of the combines, grain carts, semis, and trucks hard at work.
By Andrew Winter
1. St. Benedict in Nebraska City is the oldest parish in the Lincoln Diocese. It was “begun” in 1856 when Father John Cavanaugh became the first priest to visit the city. By 1859, however, Father Francis Cannon had only $3.50 with which to build a makeshift altar in a storeroom.
By Tom Venzor
As you likely know by now, Governor Pillen formally announced that Nebraska will be opting into a federal school choice program. This announcement brings me a lot of excitement, and I want to share why I’m so excited. I hope you’ll share in this excitement.
by Fr. Brian Kane
Rector, St. Gregory the Great Seminary;
Director of Seminarians
In an age in which the average American checks the phone 144 times per day, St. Gregory the Great Seminary is taking a different approach.
Our first-year seminarians, those in the Propaedeutic stage, voluntarily embrace what we call a “technology fast,” limiting phone and media use to just a few hours on Saturday afternoons. To help them enter more fully into this experience, new seminarians now arrive with a “wise phone” or similar simplified device—a practical tool that supports their spiritual journey rather than distracting from it.
By Bob Sullivan
Matthew James Christoff is a Catholic convert best known for a project he named “The New Emangelization.” He actually has many projects under his belt, including his role as one of the co-founders of the Catholic Men’s Leadership Alliance and Heroic Men.
By Katie Patrick
When someone calls Catholic Social Services in need of financial assistance, it’s usually because, for one reason or another, they have fallen behind in rent or utilities. Many things can disrupt a household’s ability to pay the bills, including illness, job loss, or the unexpected death of a family member. Natural disasters such as a fire or flood can also affect a family’s financial independence, prompting them to seek temporary assistance.
When I took calls and processed requests at our Lincoln office, I remember many of these scenarios and the families that we were able to assist. However, there is one unique request that we have received several times in the past few years from our office in Hastings: financial assistance to pay for cranial helmets for infants and young children.
By Andrew Winter
1. Francis of Assisi was born in Italy in 1181 or 1182. His baptismal name was John, but he was called Francis because his father was away on a merchant trip to France when he was born.
By Sr. Marie Amata, C.K.
School Sisters of Christ the King
Much has been written on the topic of suffering. Sometimes we receive great inspiration from what we learn about it, and other times what we hear evades that very place in us that is most hurting.
Suffering is mysterious. It may be one of the greatest mysteries of the human experience. Suffering is misunderstood. While many people of Christian faith know intellectually of its great value, so many others throughout the world and throughout history do not. Human suffering is unique. As the only creatures who possess the value of being made in God’s image and likeness, we experience suffering in a different way altogether as compared to any other created being. Perhaps this tells us that something of suffering is sacred.
By Tom Venzor
In last week’s column, I reflected on my 10-year anniversary at the Nebraska Catholic Conference. I talked about the NCC as my dream job and shared the top three reasons my work is fulfilling. Those 800 words didn’t give me enough room, however, to reflect on the major public policy victories we’ve accomplished under the leadership of the bishops these last 10 years.
I’m confident we do good work bearing the light of Christ in the public square and impacting public policy, but when you start looking back over the years, the blessings are all the more evident. Here are those blessings, broken down by our four major social policy areas.
By Naomi Beauclair
Immigration Legal Services Program Manager, Catholic Social Services of Southern Nebraska
“Welcome the stranger.”
This is our missional focus among the works of mercy for the immigration legal services team at CSS. While the immigration legal assistance we provide to the community could look like the social service rendered by any other local non-profit that is also certified by the Department of Justice to practice immigration law, welcoming the stranger “as Christ” calls the team to serve both the practical and spiritual needs of immigrants. It is simply not enough to file various applications successfully (like green cards and citizenship) to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.
By Rachael Tvrdy
Director of Family Life and Discipleship
When the Church declared, “Parents are the first and foremost educators of their children” (Gravissimum Educationis, 3), it’s not a sentimental tagline—it’s a vocation. The family is the “domestic church,” the first school of love, prayer, and virtue. Children learn to pray by watching their parents pray. They learn reverence for the Mass when families dress up on Sundays and show up early to recollect. Our Catholic faith is most impressed on children when they see the faith lived joyfully at home. Strong families are the soil where vocations and lifelong discipleship grow.
By Andrew Winter
1. God’s love for us manifests itself in a most strange and wonderful way through Eucharistic miracles. These unexplainable events have occurred all across history in many different countries, and no two are alike. To date there are approximately 120 approved Eucharistic miracles in the Catholic Church.
By Sr. Mary Michael
School Sisters of Christ the King
St. Teresa School in Lincoln
This spring, we endeavored to take our seventh-grade class on a three-day campout at Camp Kateri Tekakwitha near McCool Junction. Not only did we live, but we were also filled with life.
By Miranda Schumacher
Development Officer at CSS Hastings
It’s that time of year again—the air is cooling, leaves are beginning to change, and farmers are preparing for harvest. Harvest is a season of gratitude, when labor bears fruit and abundance is shared with family, friends, and neighbors. That same spirit of harvest is what we look forward to celebrating at our annual banquet, Bountiful Harvest.
By Tom Venzor
Last week, I celebrated my 10-year anniversary at the Nebraska Catholic Conference. So, I figure it’s a good time to reflect on the years to see how God has blessed our work bearing the light of Christ in the public square. Because it’s tough to pack 10 years into 700 words, I’ll do this in a couple installments.
By Ryan Patrick
CSS volunteer
I volunteered the other day at St. Louise Gift & Thrift in Lincoln. By that, I mean I told Katie I had some free time and she said “You should come to CSS, because I have things you can do!”
I wasn’t able to stay long, but I spent some time in the store room, helping to organize and put out some product, but I was easily distracted, walking around and looking at the shelves and stacks of goods waiting their turn for placement out front. I’m a nerd for history and nostalgia anyway, but I marveled at the books and games, glassware and furniture. The history these items have seen, and the love and enjoyment provided by their previous owners. Now, here they are waiting for their chance at a second life.
About the Newman Center’s theme this year
By Fr. Ryan Kaup
“May they be one.”
This is the cry of Jesus’ heart. It’s a desire He expresses to the Father the night before His crucifixion. He looks out at humanity – at all of human history, at every soul that is to exist – and desires that we all be one, just as He is one with the Father. It is the desire of God and it is theme that is guiding our new academic year at the Newman Center.
There are plenty of places to look for division in the world. There are plenty of ways that Jesus’ desire is not coming to fulfillment in the here and now. The recent news cycle includes senseless murders, never-ending wars, and increased political violence. It can all be disheartening, scary, and overwhelming. Solutions are thrown around like candy at a parade, but the cycle of evil seems to continue.
By Tom Venzor
I usually avoid political commentary on timely matters that fall outside of the Nebraska Legislature. I feel like I have a pretty good grasp on the Unicameral and can hammer out some thoughtful reflections (at least I think they are, and so do my kids, who can’t read!). But when it comes to political matters beyond that realm, there are an endless number of commentators who are more insightful than I will ever be, so why go outside my lane?
However, this time around, with the political assassination of Charlie Kirk, it feels like I should contribute to the commentaries.
by Fr. Brian Wirth,
Director of Rural Life
As I was preparing for Mass this past Labor Day, I came across a phrase that struck me. In a poem titled “On Work,” by the Lebanese poet Kahlil Gibran, he wrote: “Work is love made visible.” Not only was this a great reflection on Labor Day, but even more, these words offer us all a great meditation in our God-given vocations daily.
By Sr. Melissa Moxley
Marian Sisters of the Diocese of Lincoln
Advocate, St. Gianna Women’s Home
It has been a joy for us to be welcomed to the Catholic Social Services family as we begin our work for Jesus at St. Gianna Women’s Home. We have deep gratitude in our hearts for Sisters Bernadette, Karen, and Carol for paving the way for us here. We are grateful to Sister Bernadette and Sister Karen for helping the program to get started and for their many years of service to make this all possible. They truly are trail blazers! As we join Sister Carol in this mission, she has proved invaluable in leading us forward in this new apostolate and teaching us the ropes.
by Fr. Brian Kane
Rector, St. Gregory the Great Seminary;
Director of Seminarians
Last week, St. Gregory the Great Seminary hosted a birthday celebration to mark Bishop Fabian Bruskewitz’s 90th birthday and an important part of his vision — the founding of the seminary in Seward in 1998.
For more than 25 years, St. Gregory’s has been a place of prayer, learning and formation, preparing young men for the priesthood within our diocese and beyond. Bishop Bruskewitz’s decision to establish a seminary has borne fruit in the lives of many men.
By Tom Venzor
I hope you ordered a hodge podge of interesting political updates, because that’s what I’m serving up.
By John McDermott
Vice President, Marketing & Development
Catholic Social Services of Southern Nebraska
One of the many things I love about working at Catholic Social Services is the opportunity to put a “Catholic take” on our fundraising and marketing efforts. For example, for years we have included an image of St. Anthony of Padua holding the child Jesus and the letters “S.A.G.” on the mailing panel of our newsletters. This practice dates back centuries, when Catholics would write “S.A.G.”—short for St. Anthony Guide—on the back of letters sent to loved ones, imploring the aid of St. Anthony to ensure they receive the correspondence. (Heads up: you can read more about the origins of this devotion in our newly redesigned newsletter “Hope in the Good Life” coming soon to a mailbox or inbox near you!)
By Tom Venzor
Have you ever been in an argument with somebody, only to find out that you don’t disagree about the moral principles that are important to each of you, but that you are disagreeing about how the moral principles apply to a certain situation? I know I have—and I bet you have, too.
Catholic social teaching is beautiful. It provides a framework for how to think clearly, truly, and consistently about the world and the many social, political, and cultural issues we face. The Church—through the gift of God’s revelation—provides us thousands of years of wisdom on the human experience and how we can remain true to God’s vision for building the Kingdom on earth as it is in Heaven.
By Katie Patrick
Thanks be to God, another successful “Walk to End Hunger” event was held Sunday, Aug. 10, at Pius X High School in Lincoln. It was a beautiful 87 degrees that day—one of the coolest yet in the history of this particular summer evening event.
The friendly competition among parishes led by Knights of Columbus Councils and sponsored by Better Life Insurance had its fifth year of raising dollars and food for the Lincoln CSS Food Market.
by Tom Venzor
President Donald Trump signed into law the “One Big Beautiful Bill” Act July 4. The 870-page budget reconciliation law contained any number of policy items. While the U.S. bishops do not generally take a position on budget reconciliation bill packages, there were a number of provisions they favored but also numerous provisions they opposed. Among the favorable items was a permanent federal school choice program.
This newly enacted program is the nation’s first federal K-12 scholarship tax credit. Millions of children across the country will have an opportunity to benefit from it. In Nebraska, we will have the chance to resurrect school choice for thousands of families in need of better educational opportunities. This marks an incredible starting point for federal school choice and certainly worth celebrating.
Here’s what you need to know.
by Fr. Brian Wirth,
Director of Rural Life
Greetings from Adams County!
Following the latest round of priest assignments this past June, I am excited to officially write to you for the first time as a rural pastor in Roseland (Sacred Heart) and Juniata (Assumption).
It is wonderful to once again be surrounded by cornfields and the beauty of God’s creation here in the Heartland. Regarding my devotion to the Most Holy Family in the hearts of Jesus (Sacred Heart), Mary (Assumption), and Joseph (the Worker), this setting is a home away from home. That being said, the last four years in Lincoln have been a blessing. Regardless of where the Lord sends me to work in the vineyard as his lowly servant, know that you all remain in my prayers (Jn 15:1; 5)
by Katie Patrick
With the summer heat finally taking a break Friday, July 11, the Catholic Social Services (CSS) team headed to Denton—a small town west of Lincoln—for our third annual summer retreat.
By Fr. Brian Kane
Rector, St. Gregory the Great Seminary;
Director of Seminarians
“He was my Totus Tuus leader!” exclaimed a grade school student I met this summer. As I travel around the diocese, when I mention that I work with our seminarians, one of the first things I hear are the names of the seminarians the students have met at their parish or on Totus Tuus or at Camp Kateri.
By Marion Miner,
Associate Director of Pro-Life & Family Policy
June 24 marked the third anniversary of the Dobbs decision, which overturned Roe v. Wade after five decades of life under the scourge of a legal and social regime that despised the lives of unborn children as irrelevant when weighed against adult desires and fears.
Dobbs ended that national legal regime, holding that Roe was “egregiously wrong from the start” and that there is not and never has been a right to kill unborn children in the U.S. Constitution. This was a real victory.
But the social regime—the public acceptance of a “right to abortion” supported by a false vision of adult “individual autonomy” as the greatest human good—remains strong, and it still negatively affects our state laws. It is difficult for society to shake such a deeply embedded evil, especially one that long had the sanction of our highest public authorities.
By Katie Patrick
A couple of weeks ago, my daughter Keira and I spent a rare day with just the two of us. My brother, Father Caleb Hile, was about to be installed as the new pastor of St. Anthony Parish in Bruno and Ss. Peter and Paul in Abie. We had gone to visit him with my parents, and each of us was given tasks to help prepare the rectory and church for his installation, and for the 125th anniversary of St. Anthony Parish in Bruno.
By Sister John Marion
School Sisters of Christ the King
“What was it like?” It was after first Communion, and I had gathered my class on the floor and looked into their beaming faces as I asked the question, “What was it like to have Jesus inside you?”
Hands shot up.
By Rachael Tvrdy
Director of Family Life and Discipleship
Not too long ago, it was a common understanding that families needed the support of other families to survive. In the days of the pioneers, homesteaders would travel in wagons with other families, knowing they couldn’t settle in the new world unless they had neighboring families to offer protection and help.
Why is it that now, in 2025, we think we are so far removed from our ancestors that we can “do it all” on our own? I venture to say it is the culprit of many factors, such as technology, a hyper-individualistic culture, and the constant mobilization of younger generations, to name a few.
By Katie Patrick
Last week, my husband and I took turns driving our 3-year-old twin daughters – Keira and Saoirse – to Craoi na Tire Studio of Irish Dance in Omaha for a beginner’s summer dance camp.
Since March, the twins have been asking for Irish music to be played as they dance “jigs” and “reels” around the house, having seen the dancers perform at the annual St. Patrick’s Day parade and at the Hooley, an annual celebration of Irish culture organized by the Omaha chapter of Ladies Ancient Order of Hibernians. If Riverdance comes to mind as you read this, you’re not far off.
By Fr. Scott Nemec
Assistant pastor, St. John the Apostle, Lincoln
Hispanic Ministry
The home altar is set with flowers and candles, all the chairs in the house line the living room, and the kitchen is filled with the sweet aroma of Mexican food. It’s time to welcome the Blessed Virgin Mary and her pilgrims into the home!
In Hastings, each evening in the month of May, the month of the Blessed Virgin Mary, a family signed up to host the rosary and a meal at their home. The host families each night invited extended family members and friends from the Hispanic community, usually filling their homes with 10 or more guests. As everyone enters, they are welcomed with warmth and kindness: “es su casa.”
By Curt Feilmeier
Principal, St. Peter School in Lincoln
In the heart of Lincoln, nestled within the vibrant and faith-filled parish of St. Peter Church, a remarkable milestone is being joyfully celebrated: the 35th anniversary of St. Peter School.
Since opening its doors in 1991 to students in kindergarten through the third grade, the school has grown into a beacon of Catholic education, academic excellence, and spiritual formation. This year, the entire community—students, faculty, alumni, parents, parishioners, and friends—is invited to come together in celebration of the school’s enduring mission and bright future.
By Katie Patrick
When Francis Oleru boarded a plane in Nigeria with his pregnant wife and four children, he was stepping into the unknown. Without a prior visit, the medical laboratory scientist accepted a job at Chase County Community Hospital in Imperial, Neb. He knew America could offer his children the safety, security and opportunity that Nigeria couldn’t, and so with faith that God would provide, he and his family set off on their new adventure in rural southwest Nebraska.
By Tom Venzor
On June 2, the Nebraska Unicameral adjourned sine die (a fancy Latin term meaning “without a day”). This means the 109th Nebraska Legislature, First Session, is completed. State senators won’t convene together as a body until January 2026 (unless a special session is called).
by Fr. Brian Wirth,
Director of Rural Life
First of all, I want to thank those of you who participated in last month’s Novena to St. Isidore the Farmer (May 15) and have been continuing to pray for safe, seasonal, and sufficient rainfall. Although there is still a lot of ground to make up concerning the statewide drought (and some events of storm damage), God has nevertheless blessed us with the grace of recent moisture across many parts of the state. I am confident this is due, in part, to your concerted efforts of prayer and sacrifice. As such, God, through the intercession of St. Isidore, has generously provided for our needs and will continue to do so.
By Marion Miner,
Associate Director of Pro-Life & Family Policy
In last week’s column, we spent some time on LB89, the “Stand With Women Act.” This week, we return to some of the foundational themes touched on in that column and explore them in a little further detail.
by Fr. Brian Kane
Rector, St. Gregory the Great Seminary;
Director of Seminarians
“I beg you, I beg you, I beg you, be a man of prayer.”
Msgr. Thomas Wells looked over at me and said these words during the homily at my first Mass of Thanksgiving at St. Peter Parish in Lincoln 25 years ago this week.
By Katie Patrick
Because the poor were fed, clothed and sheltered at a personal sacrifice, the pagans used to say about the Christians, “See how they love each other.”
In our own day the poor are no longer fed, clothed, sheltered at a personal sacrifice, but at the expense of the taxpayers.
And because the poor are no longer fed, clothed and sheltered, the pagans say about the Christians “See how they pass the buck.”
These striking words from Peter Maurin, co-founder of the Catholic Worker Movement, are just as relevant today as when he first spoke them nearly a century ago.
By Sr. Joy Le,
Marian Sisters of the Diocese of Lincoln
As summer is approaching, families are planning where to go for summer vacation. Disneyland. Mount Rushmore. The Grand Canyon. My family never had to plan, because we went to the same place every year: Marian Days, in Carthage, Mo.
Marian Days is hosted by the Congregation of the Mother of the Redeemer, a Vietnamese male community who came to America after the Fall of Saigon in 1975. The church in Springfield-Cape Girardeau sponsored 178 priests and brothers who came as “boat people.” They were able to rent the vacant Oblates of Mary Immaculate Seminary for $1. The pastors from Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish in Lincoln come from this religious community. Thousands of Vietnamese come annually to their campus as a Marian pilgrimage. Marian Days started as a way to ask Mary for peace for the Vietnam War. Now, it’s a place of prayer and reunion.
Ever since I can remember, the first weekend of August, my family would drive five hours to Carthage. As a kid, I hated it. We slept in tents. With more than 50,000 people in one place, I would often get lost. I would sweat through my clothes. The lines to the shower seemed like they never got shorter. My phone never had service. Plus, Mass was always two hours long.
By Marion Miner,
Associate Director of Pro-Life & Family Policy
The Catholic Conference advocates for and against many bills every session in the Nebraska Legislature. Whether legislation is good or bad always depends, in large part, on the answers to questions about the human person. Who is the human person, and what does he need to flourish individually, in the family, and in community? Is the proposed legislation conducive to human flourishing, or does it damage our ability to live well together in truth, justice, and peace?
Last week, senators debated and ultimately advanced—in amended form—LB89, the “Stand With Women Act.” This bill touches on some of these foundational questions.
By Katie Patrick
Springtime is often associated with new life and fresh beginnings. After a long, cold winter, nature reawakens—birds chirp, flowers bloom, and the grass turns green. In my backyard, for example, near our Marian statue, our rose bushes, which struggled last year, are beginning to show signs of hope.
Just like those rose bushes, there are many people in our community who are given the chance to grow and rebuild, no matter how difficult their past has been. One such person is Jacob, a young man who, after more than a decade in federal prison, is navigating his own journey of transformation with the help of Catholic Social Services and RISE.
By Tom Venzor
When Cardinal Dominique Mamberti walked out onto the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica, very few people would have guessed he was about to announce the election of the first U.S.-born pope to the See of Saint Peter. But that is precisely what we received, and what a joy it has been to watch these early days of the papacy of Pope Leo. The election, though, raises the question: who is this man the College of Cardinals elevated to Christ’s vicar on earth?
While we have much to learn about Pope Leo, I wanted to reflect on a few things in these early stages of his papacy that shed light on the work we do at the NCC to bear the light of Christ in the public square.
By Fr. Christopher Stoley
Sacred Heart Church, Crete
Hispanic Ministry
I’ve read a few different studies that have made two claims: first, that when an English speaker is learning a new language, his or her voice will get higher when speaking that language, and that a non-English speaker learning English will have the opposite effect (his voice will get lower speaking English); and second, that when one learns a new language his personality will change, based on what language one is speaking.
By Katie Patrick
On Mother’s Day, we often picture flowers, breakfast in bed, handwritten cards, and perfectly behaved children. But for one mother in our community, the day begins—like most days—with quiet sacrifice and deep faith.
Maria, like many immigrant mothers, balances her own dreams with her children’s needs. Before the day starts and while her children are still asleep, Maria sits with her coffee at the kitchen table and opens her U.S. Citizenship workbook. It’s been more than 10 years since she and her children made the dangerous journey to the United States. Two of the children are too young to remember the trip, but Maria remembers it all—the fear, the uncertainty, and the early years of hardship.
By Tom Venzor
State senators have been going hard with all-day debate for more than a month, and they have about a month of sustained effort remaining. Just last week, senators were debating bills on cutting the inheritance tax, limiting increases to the state minimum wage, banning certain types of cannibinoids, and clarifying how “good time” sentencing is calculated for those serving in city or county jails, among many other issues. But this week, the Nebraska Legislature has been tackling the statewide biennial budget.
by Fr. Brian Wirth,
Director of Rural Life
Though busy to the point of exhaustion, May is an exciting month in our diocese.
As farmers continue to labor by the sweat of their brow, planting new crops this spring while also mitigating weeds in the field; and cattle farmers continue to provide ongoing health/profit checks for their cow/calf operations and work on pasture management; so too the academic school year and graduations are right around the corner.
By Corbin Hubbell
Social media coordinator
In my time as social media coordinator for the Diocese of Lincoln, I have had the opportunity to help grow our online presence in many different ways. The diocese is on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube, and the growth we have seen on these platforms tells us what we already knew: this is where people are!
By Tom Venzor
With great sorrow, we continue to mourn the loss of the late Holy Father, Pope Francis. We commend his soul to the Father of Mercies, who Pope Francis so often invoked and invited us into His love.
By Katie Patrick
The call to the peripheries isn’t just for popes and bishops. You can go to the peripheries, too.
by Fr. Brian Kane
Rector, St. Gregory the Great Seminary;
Director of Seminarians
For many years, we have ordained new deacons and priests on Memorial Day weekend in the Diocese of Lincoln. We will do that again this May, ordaining two deacons May 23 and two priests May 24 at the Cathedral of the Risen Christ in Lincoln. That tradition will shift next year as the Church implements the last part of the Vatican document guiding the formation of priests: Ratio Fundamentalis Institutionis Sacerdotalis (Ratio) or The Gift of the Priestly Vocation.
The fundamental goal of the document is to help young men be well-prepared to enter the priesthood. The addition of the Propaedeutic Stage at the beginning of formation will be book-ended with the Vocational Synthesis Stage at the end of seminary formation.
By Sr. Regina Marie, C.K.
School Sisters of Christ the King
After a long Lenten journey, the beautiful, grace-filled season of Easter is finally here! I know I need Lent so that I may know with greater clarity the places in my life where I have come to depend more upon myself and less upon Jesus, but I am always grateful when the “alleluias,” flowers and celebrations return!
As we begin these 50 days of Easter joy, I find myself asking, “How do I reconcile the real presence of the cross in my life and in the lives of those I love with this time of rejoicing?” Even during these Octave days, I have a friend who is struggling with ongoing health issues that seem to be beyond her control, a Sister in my community is gathering with her family to bury her last grandparent, the universal Church is mourning the loss of Pope Francis, and I myself am dealing with chronic pain that seems like it will never be resolved. Where are the Easter celebrations in all this suffering?
By Miranda Schumacher
Development Officer at CSS Hastings
Our vision at Catholic Social Services is to inspire hope and love in every encounter. We’re here to help our neighbors, like Annette, who come to us in their most challenging times yet are so grateful for the assistance they receive. We’re here thanks to many of you, our partners in hope, because of your past support through Give Hastings Day.
By Tom Venzor
The Nebraska Legislature is over two-thirds of the way done with session. If this were an even-numbered year (or short-session year), the Legislature would be adjourned by now—and my feet would be kicked up. But, working days remain in this “long” (odd-numbered year) session.
While it would seem the Unicameral is on the “downhill” in terms of the number of days left, they are otherwise climbing uphill with the enormous amount of work ahead of them. State senators must still put together and approve a statewide biennial budget, debate dozens of key priority bills, and pass a few laws throughout that time—just to name a few things left on their agenda.
By Fr. Dominic Winter
Hispanic Ministry
Assistant Pastor, Cristo Rey in Lincoln
At the Nebraska Walk for Life, most of the Hispanic Catholics gathered on the east side of the rally, listening as best they could to the English-speaking politicians and activists. I was so proud of their presence there, with their lovely Guadalupe banners flying and their strong devotion visible to everyone there. They, too, were visibly encouraged by my presence as well, both as a priest and as a translator.
By Levi Baus,
Volunteer Coordinator in Lincoln, CSSS
For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me…Truly, I say to you, as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me. — Matthew 25: 35-36, 45
By Bob Sullivan
Editor's Note: The first part of this column was published April 4.
If I spend all week praying, sacrificing, reading Scripture, and stuff like that, will I get more out of Mass? Yes. But there is more to it.
Well-known podcaster Father Mike Schmitz has a talk about “not getting anything out of the Mass.” There is a very short version on Ascension Press, and he will sometimes give a longer talk at conferences. I heard the longer version last year at Steubenville of the Rockies.
By Hope Weninger
Accounting & HR Manager, Catholic Social Services of Southern Nebraska
Chances are you are a caregiver. Maybe you are a mom or dad raising your children; a daughter or son aiding your aging parents; or caring for others in your chosen profession or vocation.
Just as you are told in the preflight check, put your own oxygen mask on before assisting others. Conceptually, most of us know that, in order to effectively help others, we must take care of ourselves first. But do we?
By Marion Miner
As we enter the final third of the legislative session—always its fastest and most volatile time—I want to introduce readers to three important bills this year that address the human dignity of unborn children and their mothers. There are others deserving mention, but we’ll focus today on LB632, LB512, and LB669.
By Katie Patrick
It was springtime, and the rain was pouring down. I had just met with one of my first clients in my new position at Catholic Social Services in 2019. Let’s call her “Casey.” She and her friend “Naomi” had been badly beaten by their boyfriends the night before. They seemed to be each other’s only support, both fleeing from domestic violence.
By Tom Venzor
Time for one of my legislative updates on various topics, rather than focusing on any one specific matter. So, let’s jump right in!
By Bob Sullivan
Nearly 20 years ago, in a Gallup poll of Catholics in Chicago, 48% of men answered that “Mass is boring” and 55% said they “don’t get anything out of the Mass.”
By John Haag
Lincoln Warehouse Manager,
Catholic Social Services of Southern Nebraska
Catholic Social Services of Southern Nebraska (CSS) has been, and hopes to continue to be, blessed with very generous donations across 24,000 square miles of southern Nebraska. One of the most-asked questions is, “What happens to the items I donate?” Well, dear readers, that is an excellent question! So together let’s tackle that question and more, and hopefully gain a better understanding of CSS’s role in showing dignity to all we encounter while providing “Hope in the Good Life.”
