St. Rose of Lima Church

Our Parish Family

St. Rose of Lima - Crofton, Neb. 

St. Andrew - Bloomfield, Neb.

 

Our Pastor

Father Michael Schmitz

 

This Page Includes:

Contact Information – Mass Times – Sacrament Information –

Parish Personnel – Ministries and Organizations - St. Rose Parish History – Fr. Mike’s Biography - St. Rose School Centennial Plans

 

St. Rose of Lima Church

1316 W. 5th St.

Crofton, Nebraska 68730

Parish Secretary – Mary Thoene

Rectory Phone – 402-388-4814

Social Hall Phone – 402-388-2417

Email – strosecrofton@gpcom.net

Fax – 402-388-2680

 

St. Andrew Church

304 S. McNamara

Bloomfield, Nebraska 68718

Parish Secretary – Mary Thoene

Phone – 402-388-4814 (Crofton-St. Rose)

 

St. Rose School

1302 W. 5th St.

Crofton, Nebraska 68730

Head Teacher – Mr. Scott Becker

School Secretary – Mary Thoene

Phone – 402-388-4393

Website – www.stroseschool.us

We encourage all parents to send their children to St. Rose School. Contact our School Office (402-388-4393) for more information and check out school pages on this website to learn more about our parish school family.

 

Mass Times

Weekend Masses

Saturday Evening - 5:30 p.m. - St. Rose

Sunday Morning - 8:30 a.m. - St. Rose

Sunday Morning - 10:30 a.m. - St. Andrew

 

Weekday Mass

Monday – No Mass

Tuesday - 10:30 a.m. - Bloomfield Good Samaritan Center – 1st/3rd Tuesday

                - 8:00 a.m.  - St. Andrew Church – 2nd/4th and 5th Tuesday

Wednesday 8:15 a.m. St. Rose School Mass/Exposition of the Eucharist

Thursday - 7 p.m. - St. Andrew

Friday - 8:15 a.m. - St. Rose School Mass

Eucharist Adoration - Wednesday - St. Rose

Rosary Service - Friday – 3:15 p.m. – with St. Rose School Students

 

Other Area Parishes Weekend Mass Times

Saturday Evening - 7:30 p.m. - St. Joseph - Constance

Sunday Morning - 8:30 a.m. - St. Boniface - Menominee

Sunday Morning - 10:30 a.m. - St. John the Baptist – Fordyce

 

Reconciliation Times

Wednesday – 11 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.  – St. Rose

Thursday – 6:30 p.m. to 6:55 p.m. – St. Andrew

Saturday – 5 p.m. to 5:20 p.m. – St. Rose

Other Times by Appointment – 402-388-4814

 

Anointing of the Sick

First Fridays after 8:15 a.m. Mass. Call the Rectory (402-388-4814) to schedule. Father will also visit homes, hospitals or nursing homes to administer the Sacrament when requested.

 

Marriage

Arrangements must be made with the Pastor at least nine months in advance. Please call the Parish Office (402-388-4814) for an appointment.

 

Baptism

Please contact the Parish Office (402-388-4814) as soon as possible, at least one month in advance of baptism of your child.

 

New Parishioners

We welcome all new parishioners to our community and parish family at St. Rose and St. Andrew. We invite you to join us by contacting the Rectory (402-388-4814) to learn more about how to register and fully participate in our family of faith.

 

Coffee and Fellowship (Every Third Sunday after 8:30 a.m. Mass)

St. Rose School families and supporters offer coffee and fellowship at St. Rose Hall after 8:30 a.m. Mass the third Sunday of each month. Everyone is welcome to enjoy coffee, a roll or donut and the company of our fellow parishioners.

 

Parish Personnel

Pastor – Father Michael Schmitz

Deacon – St. Rose – Rev. Mr. Andrew Steffen

Deacon – St. Rose – Rev. Mr. Don Seaman (on leave)

Deacon – St. Rose – Rev. Mr. Norman Kube (retired)

Deacon – St. Andrew – Rev. Mr. Steve Achbold

Deacon – St. Andrew – Rev. Mr. Jack Dahlseid

Parish Secretary/School Secretary – St. Rose/St. Andrew – Mary Thoene

St. Rose School Head Teacher – Scott Becker

St. Andrew Youth Coordinator – Mike and Lisa Nissen

St. Andrew Religious Education Coordinator – Barb Jackson

St. Rose High School FFY Coordinator – Leslie Donner

Crofton Area CCD Coordinator – Terry Mueller

 

St. Rose Parish Centennial History Books

St. Rose Parish Centennial History Books are still available. For information, contact Fr. Mike at 402-388-4814.

 

Parish Ministries and Organizations

 

Parish Council – St. Rose

Meets 4th  Wednesday of each month at 7:30 p.m.

President – Dale Foxhoven, Diane Allen, Bill Cobler, Brett Boecker, Russ Dendinger, Dean Kleinschmit, Donna Steffen (APC), Steve Wieseler, Cindy Schumacher and Elaine Woockman

 

St. Rose School Board

Meets 3rd  Wednesday in all months except June and December at 7:30 pm

President – Jeff Steffen, Joselyn Arens, Shauna Janssen, Keith Koch, Roger Sprakel, Lisa Van Heek

 

Parish Council – St. Andrew

Dave Morton, Scott Fiedler, Barb Birmingham, Loren Bratetic, Carolyn Kaiser, Kristi Bruns

 

St. Rose Parish Organizations and Committees

 

Finance, Development and Endowment Committee – MaryAnn Wortmann

Meets the 2nd Wednesday of each month at 8 pm

Buildings and Grounds Committee – Alan Poppe

Meets 3rd Wednesday in January and July at 7:30 pm

Liturgy Committee – Mardy Mackeprang

Meets 1st Wednesday in February, June and October at 7:30 pm

Family Ministry and Human Needs Committee – LaVerta Mauch

Meets 1st Wednesday in January, May and September at 7:30 pm

Evangelization, Faith and Formation Committee – Leslie Donner

Meets 1st Wednesday in April, August and December at 7:30 pm

St. Rose Guild – Charlene Buschkamp

Meets 2nd Wednesday of each month at 7:30 pm

Cemetery Committee – Jim Wortmann

Meets 3rd Wednesday in June and December at 7:30 pm

St. Rose School Boosters – John Van Heek

Meets 1st Wednesday in March, July and November at 7:30 pm and as needed

Unity Supper Committee – Pam Goeden

Meets as needed

Fall Bazaar Committee – TBA for 2009

High School FFY – Leslie Donner

Student instruction each Wednesday evening during school year

Crofton Area CCD – Terry Mueller

Also each Wednesday evening during school year

 

Other Organizations

St. Rose School Legacy Drive for a Faith Filled Future – Curt Arens

Catholic Daughters of America – Maxine Steffen

Catholic Order of Foresters – Kelly Mauer, Plainview

Christian Mothers – Gerry Schumacher

Knights of Columbus – Wendell Strom

 

St. Rose Parish History

 

In the Beginning

The late 1800's found Catholic families migrating to what is now the Crofton, Nebraska vicinity, a few coming from Illinois, and several moving here from Bow Valley, Neb., where parents had previously taken homesteads. The great majority were of German descent, whose families had come to America from the region of Westphalia, Germany. The German families crossed the Atlantic Ocean for varied reasons. Some left Germany because they saw no future in farming the tiny ancestral lands that had been subdivided among their family members for centuries. Others wanted to avoid revolution and strife, and a compulsory stint in the German army. Many Catholic families left because of a new policy enforced by the German government that strangled the traditional rights of the Catholic Church. They looked forward to the religious freedom of America and the openness of the Great Plains, where they could develop their own settlements, their own parishes and schools.

 

They were soon followed by other families, but since the Homestead Act of 1862 no longer applied to land in this area, it had to be purchased. The migration was somewhat slower as the 1880s and 1890s drew to a close.

 

In those early days, Catholic settlers in this area attended Mass at St. Boniface Parish in Menominee, Neb., traveling by team and lumber wagon. Often they would stay the entire day, visiting relatives. When St. Joseph's Church was built near Bow Creek at Constance, Neb., they transferred to that parish. The horse and buggy soon replaced the wagon, yet, in inclement weather, they sometimes resorted to riding horseback or going on foot.

 

In 1891, J.M. Pierce, an Englishman with financial aid from friends in England, attempted to bring the railroad from Yankton through this area and on to Norfolk, hoping to build a town in this vicinity. Enthusiastic local farmers offered their teams of horses and set out to help build a railroad grade across their land. Having come from Crofton Courts, England, Pierce offered the name "Crofton" to this town he hoped to build. In 1893, Crofton’s first general store was opened by John Carmichael, which was a great help to the settlers in this area, as they previously had to drive to Hartington for their supplies. Unfortunately, the railroad venture failed and Pierce fled to South America. In the winter of 1896, a diphtheria epidemic struck the whole area, leaving a heavy death toll.

 

In 1906, the tracks for the Chicago and Northwestern Railroad were finally laid to Crofton and regular service began. This brought in more settlers and boosted the morale of the community. The section foreman living in Crofton, Mike Casey, and his family, often rode to Constance for Mass on the handcar used by the railroad section men.

 

Catholic families in Crofton were attending Mass at Constance using any form of transportation available, but Mass was quite often held during the harsh winter months of 1906 and 1907 at the John B. Kuehn home in Crofton, which was located where the present St. Rose Church now stands. The Kuehns had two large parlors or living rooms which could be opened into one large room, with chairs and benches accommodating twenty or more people for Mass. Father Adam Brass from Constance, who had a room and office in the Kuehn home, was the celebrant.

 

In 1906, this area numbered about 19 Catholic families and five single adults, namely, the families of John B. Kuehn, Edward Kuehn, Frank Noecker, Tom Goetz, John Meyer, Frank Sudbeck, Joseph Kremer, Henry Willenbring, Sebastian Werthman, Henry Rohe, Bernard Rohe, Benedict Hegge, Frank Perk, Mike Biernbaum, Joseph Schumacher, William Thunker, Sr., John McCabe, Mike Casey, Joe Kuehn, Joe Meyer, Bill Schaefer, Joe Thunker and John Reifenrath. They now decided to take necessary steps to see if a Catholic Church could be built in Crofton. On October 8, 1906, a meeting was called in Omaha to incorporate the new parish of St. Rose of Lima in Crofton. Present at this meeting were the Right Reverend Richard Scannell, D.D., Very Reverend Augustine Colaneri, V.G., Reverend Louis Becker, pastor, John B. Kuehn and Frank Noecker.

 

For the church site, Lots 1, 2, 3 and 4 in Block 26 of Crofton’s Park Addition were purchased October 19, 1906, from Mr. and Mrs. J.M. Talcott and Mr. and Mrs. D.A. Matthews for the sum of $375. It was decided to place the church at the southern end of this property. To learn more about the rest of the story, and all about St. Rose Parish, St. Rose School, parish founders, parish families, ministries, organizations and the faith journey of the past century, contact Evelyn Hennings to purchase your copy of the St. Rose Centennial History Book.

 

St. Rose Parish History Timeline – Our First Century of Faith

1892 – Crofton is platted and early Catholic families begin to settle in the vicinity

1906 – Families gather at Kuehn residence for Mass by Father Adam Brass

1906 – St. Rose of Lima Parish is incorporated

1908 – St. Rose Church is dedicated and Father Adam Brass named first resident pastor

1909 – Father Anthony Alberts named new pastor and land purchased for cemetery

1911 – St. Rose School dedicated and staffed by School Sisters of St. Francis

1916 – Sanctuary addition built onto the church and Father Joseph Bosheck is named pastor

1922 – Adolph Carlson home and lots purchased for use as a convent

1932 – Father William Cappius named new pastor

1940 – God’s Acre Program begun

1945 – Father Cappius passed away and was buried in St. Rose Cemetery

1945 – Father Bernard Westermann named new pastor

1946 – West section of the present day cemetery was purchased

1949 – Several lots purchased for site of proposed new church

1952 – New church dedicated by Archbishop Gerald T. Bergan

1958 – Remodeling of old church building for use as social hall and Father Westermann moved into the new rectory

1958 – St. Rose Parish celebrates 50th anniversary

1959 – Father Westermann conferred Papal Honors of the title Monsignor

1961 – Bids let for erection of new lower grade St. Rose School building

1962 – Parish is shocked at the sudden death of Msgr. Westermann. He was buried at St. Rose Cemetery

1962 –Father Conrad Spenner named temporary pastor

1963 – Father Conrad Kaup named resident pastor

1964 – School Sisters moved into new convent and new lower grade school completed

1964 – Father Dan Galas joins parish as associate pastor

1966 – Father Galas is assigned a parish of his own and Father Ron Battiato becomes St. Rose associate pastor

1968 – First lay teachers hired for St. Rose School to teach along with four School Sisters of St. Francis and church is remodeled to comply with Second Vatican Council

1969 – Father Battiato departs for a new assignment and new lay parish council and school board are established

1971 – Father Dan Galas becomes resident pastor

1976 – Father Tim Lange becomes resident pastor

1977 – Church is remodeled

1983 – Parish celebrates 75th anniversary

1985 – New parish social hall is dedicated and first parish fish fry is established

1986 – St. Rose educational endowment fund is established and Father Emmett Meyer is named new pastor

1987 – RENEW program takes shape and Father Steve Stillmunks serves as temporary pastor, until Father Ralph Steffensmeier is named resident pastor

1991 – St. Joseph Parish at Constance joins St. Rose as a mission parish

1996 – Father Ron Wasikowski is named new resident pastor

1997 – Father Bob English is assigned as pastor at St. Rose and Unity Supper is established

2001 – Holy Innocents Memorial is developed in cemetery, cedar trees and removed, new fence is installed and spruce trees are planted around the cemetery property

2002 – After major remodeling project. St. Rose Church is rededicated by Archbishop Elden Curtiss

2003 – Parish parking lot is upgraded with concrete from a donation from Father Lange and St. Rose School Legacy Drive is established. St. Rose School upper grade building is refurbished

2004 – Father Joseph Broudou is named new resident pastor and new sound system installed in church and social hall

2006 – Major rectory renovation and parish campus landscaping project begins

2006 – Father Broudou officially becomes a U.S. citizen

2007 – St. Joseph Parish joins a new cluster with parishes in Fordyce and Menominee and St. Andrew Parish at Bloomfield joins a new cluster with St. Rose

2007 – A legacy ends as Sister Charlotte Schuele and Sister Sigfrieda Hettinger, the last School Sisters of St. Francis to serve St. Rose School, depart. New Head Teacher Scott Becker is hired and Preschool program begins in the fall at St. Rose School

2008 – St. Rose Parish celebrates Centennial year

2008 – Remainder of parish and school parking lot is paved. New playground equipment installed and new computers implemented at St. Rose School. Plans begin for St. Rose School Centennial in 2011.

 

Our Pastors Through the Years

 

Father Adam Brass – 1906-1909

Father Anthony Alberts – 1909-1916

Father Joseph Bosheck – 1916-1932

Father William Cappius – 1932-1945

Father Peter Grobbel - 1945

Msgr. Bernard Westermann – 1945-1962

Father Conrad Spenner – 1962-1963

Father Conrad Kaup – 1963-1971

Father Dan Galas – 1964-1966 (Associate); 1971-1976 (Resident)

Father Ron Battiato – 1966-1969 (Associate)

Father Tim Lange – 1976-1986

Father Emmett Meyer – 1986-1987

Father Steven Stillmunks – 1987

Father Ralph Steffensmeier – 1987-1996 (Monsignor 2007)

Father Ron Wasikowski – 1996-1997

Father Robert English – 1997-2004

Father Joseph Broudou – 2004-2008

Father Michael Schmitz – 2008-Present

 

Biography of Father Michael Schmitz

 

Fr. Michael D. Schmitz has a very long distinguished career. He was born and raised on a farm near Currie, Minnesota.  After graduating from Immaculate Heart of Mary High School, in Currie, he worked in the Currie Tile factory.   On May 2, 1966, Fr. Michael enlisted in the United States Air Force.  His assignments took him to Homestead, Florida, Offutt AFB, Nebraska, Vietnam, Bitburg AB, Germany, and Washington DC.  While at these places, he was an office manager, in the police force, target intelligence, weather operations, and aircraft maintenance for Air Force One during the President Nixon and Ford’s administrations.

        Throughout his active duty career, Michael worked part-time in the restaurant management and night club business.  The most famous people he worked with were Clint Holmes, Barbara Mandrell, Bill Munroe, to mention a few.

        In 1978, Michael was discharged from the active duty Air Force and went into the Air Force Reserve for 18 years.  His jobs there included Medical Administration and Human Resources.

        His full time jobs during this time frame included working for Valentinos Restaurants out of Lincoln, Nebraska as an assistant manager.  They specialized in Italian food.   After putting in an average of 80-85 hours a week, he decided that the restaurant business was not for him.  Then, Fr. Michael went to be a computer operator for Air Force Global Weather Central as a computer flight planner.  He sent computer flight plans for each air force plane worldwide and was in this position for nine years.

         After this stint, Michael did some reflection and was facing a mid-life crisis and decided to become a priest at the age of 44. The first few semesters were difficult because he had been out of school since 1964.  After the first semester, he was sent to Germany in Desert Storm because he was in the Air Force Reserve. In December 1994, Fr. Schmitz graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Religious Studies from Cardinal Stritch University in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.  In May 1996, Michael graduated with a Masters Degree in Divinity from Sacred Heart School of Theology in Hales Corners, Wisconsin.

          On May 31, 1996, Fr. Michael retired from the Air Force Reserve and on June 1, 1996, he was ordained a Roman Catholic priest for the Archdiocese of Omaha, Nebraska, which was a very joyful and rewarding occasion. Upon ordination, Michael stated, “I did 30 years of service for our country, and I hope and pray that the Lord will give me another 30 years to serve Him.”

          After looking back on his life, Fr. Michael never regretted becoming a priest later on in life, because after high school, he probably would never have made it.  Why?  He uses his life experiences every day in his ministry.

          He comes from a family of seven, six sisters and one older brother.  Both of his parents are deceased. Fr. Michael comes to St. Rose and St. Andrew parishes from his previous parishes at St. John the Baptist at Fordyce, St. Joseph at Constance and St. Boniface at Menominee.

 

St. Rose School Sets Centennial Celebration

 

St. Rose of Lima School opened its doors for classes in August 1911. School boosters have scheduled a Centennial Celebration and are now working on festivities to honor 100 years of Catholic education in Crofton.

 

Festivities will be set throughout the year of 2011, culminating with the large celebration set for July 2-3, 2011. Archbishop of Omaha will celebrate 10:30 a.m. Mass on Sunday, July 3, 2011 at St. Rose Church. Other activities will be developed to coincide and compliment the annual Crofton High School alumni banquet and events, set for the same weekend.

 

If you’d like to volunteer on the School Centennial Committee, please contact Curt Arens at 402-388-4798.

 

Check back to this page for new information.