Holy Family

Mass Time Beginning July 1, 2023
No Sunday Mass
Holy Family Church
703 4th Ave., Decatur, NE 68020

Parish Mission Statement
We are a Parish Family that grows by living and sharing our faith in the Good News of Jesus, welcoming all and reaching out in loving service.

About Us
This small yet faithful community of Decatur lives up to its name as Holy Family parish, which has about 22 families or households. It is located a few blocks away from the historic bridge that crosses over into the state of Iowa. 

History
Since Decatur, in eastern Burt County, was one of the earliest trading posts in the state of Nebraska, it was also one of the first places where Mass was offered. Fr. James Ryan is thought to have said that first Mass in 1862, at the home of Thomas Foley, a brick layer who settled in the Decatur area six years earlier.

Another early settler, John "Johnny Smoker" Henry, bequeathed the Catholic community $700 when he died in 1880. His executor, C.C. Dunn, saw to it that the money was used to purchase a storehouse, owned by a Sioux City company, for the use of a church. This structure was moved to the west side of Decatur, west of the site of the present church. It served the parish until 1924 when James M. Connealy donated the lots on which the present frame church was built-largely with labor donated by parishioners and their friends.

From early days until 1954, Holy Family was a mission church, being attached to parishes in Lyons, Bancroft, Blair and Tekamah through the years. The first resident pastor was Fr. William Connor, and the last to live in the big white priest's house was Fr. Edgar Wortman (1957-1959).

For 50 years now, pastors have driven to Decatur for Mass and parish life. Holy Family will celebrate its 149th anniversary this year.