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In May of
1976, Bishop Glennon P. Flavin announced the
formation of the new Parish Community of St.
Joseph. Father Thomas L. Holoman was named
the new pastor on June 1, 1976. With the
help of many parishioners, the house at 7821
Trendwood Drive was made into our first
rectory.
The
parishioners of our newly formed community
met to celebrate Sunday Mass for the first
time on June 6, 1976, at Pius X High
School's gymnasium. Due to the lack of air
conditioning, Masses were moved to Lincoln
East High School a month later. When the new
Pius X Learning-Performing Arts Center was
completed in November, 1977, Mass was moved
there. Our parish community remained at Pius
X until the completion of a church.
Although
our parish was without its own facility for
almost three years, Father Holoman
celebrated daily Masses in the homes of
parishioners. Determined to build a strong
spiritual and social family of God, he
initiated study clubs, a liturgy planning
committee, inquiry classes, the parish
picnic, card marathons, and the Holiday
Fair. In addition to these activities, an
organ and guitar choir and bible studies
were all functioning long before our church
building was completed.
Groundbreaking ceremonies for our first church
took place on the eve of the feast of St.
Joseph, March 18, 1978. Construction
progress was sufficient to all Masses to be
celebrated in our new church on Palm Sunday,
April 8,1979, and Easter Sunday, April 15,
1979, after which we returned to Piux X
until the church was completed. The formal
dedication of our church and school was held
on June 10, 1979.
Three
Immaculate Heart of Mary Sisters from
Immaculata, Pennsylvania, were the first
administrators and teachers in our school,
which housed only 63 students initially,
kindergarten through fourth grade. A grade
was added each year for the next four years.
As the number of students increased, ten
more classrooms and a hardwood floor
gymnasium were added. Later, six more
classrooms, a music/band room, enlarged
faculty room and store rooms were added. The
school is now staffed by a diocesan
community of sisters, the School Sisters of
Christ the King, and more than 30 full-time
and part-time teachers, plus a large staff
of supportive personnel to serve the needs
of over 580 students.
Father
Holoman was named a monsignor in 1991. In
June, 1995, he was transferred to St. Mary's
Parish in Denton, Nebraska. His replacement
was Monsignor Myron J. Pleskac.
Construction of our present church began
started the week of June 14, 1999.
The links in the gold bar above will take
you on a visual tour of those days.
The remodeling added much needed space to
our school as well.
The Father
Liam Barr is the present pastor of St.
Joseph's.
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Lincoln, NE 68506