In 1867 four families came as a group in covered wagons from Springfield, IL and settled south of the present town site of Mead. This was nine years before the Union Pacific established a station there. These pioneers were William Phelan, Fenton Phelan, John Holden, and Quinten McCarty. Because there was no church nearby, they had to travel to Fremont or later to Elkhorn for Mass. Since there were no bridges and the water was too shallow for boats, the only means for reaching the other side was by fording the river. It would require about four hours to make the trip one way. In the 1870’s the Catholic families of Forgettes, Hawkins, Kanes, Ragoos, and Dwyers who were principally of French heritage joined them.

Churches were built in Fremont and Elkhorn in 1877. Because these early settlers were considered part of the Omaha Diocese, Father John Lonergan of Fremont came to the Mead settlement and offered Mass in the dugouts and the sod homes of the parishioners. Other priests from Fremont who served this first area were Frs. P. J. Boyle, and P. McDonald. During the years that Fremont had assistant priests, they also alternated with the priest in visiting Saunders County. These assistants were Frs. J. F. Quinn and J. J. Hannan. 

In 1880 when a new schoolhouse was built, it was also used for Mass. Two years later the families united to construct a church in town at the corner of Third and Cedar. It was 70 feet by 45 feet and cost $2000 to build. Father O’Conner bought the land from the Union Pacific Railroad for $32.50. It wasn’t until 1893 that Father Turgeon added an Altar to the church.

Lydia Ostenburg was the first baby baptized in the new church in 1886. Lydia later married Arthur Challburg. Her sister, Theresa, married W. M. Hannan.

When the boundaries were formed between the Lincoln and Omaha Dioceses, Mead became part of the Lincoln Diocese and was attended to by a priest who had charge of Colon (Sand Creek), Cedar Bluffs (Malloy Settlement) and Estina. In 1888 parishioners of Malloy Settlement, Mead, Sand Creek, and Estina agreed to build a rectory in Colon for a resident priest who would serve the four parishes. Father Charles Browne supervised construction and became the resident priest. Mass was held at Sand Creek and Malloy one week and Mead and Estina the next.

In 1890 the first wedding in St. James Catholic Church took place. The couple was Edward Morrissey and Mary Dwyer. Their descendents are still members of St. James.

Early priests from Colon serving Mead were Frs. Charles Browne (1888-1889), Lawrence A. Dunphy (1889-1893), O. N. Turgeon, C. J. Quinn (1894-1899), C. A. Sticker (1899-1903), David J. Cronin (1903-1904), Michael A. O’Boyle (1904-1908) and Joseph Stockinger (1909-1918). Father Stockinger was directing the construction of the first church in Colon, when he stepped on a nail. He developed tetanus and died on October 8, 1918, at the age of 38. These priests succeeded him: Frs. John O’Sullivan (1918-1921), Joseph Blacha (1921), Samuel Milner (1922-1926), Oscar Schlachter (1926-1929), and John Ekeler (1929-1933).

St. James Catholic Church of Mead was incorporated as a parish of the Lincoln Diocese in October of 1931. Bishop Louis B. Kucera was then Bishop of the Lincoln Diocese, and Father John F. Ekeler was serving as pastor of St. James Church. At that time St. James was a mission of St. Joseph Church in Colon. Fathers Raymond Wageman (1933-1934), Joseph Sinkula (1934-1935), and S. G. Wagner (1935-1936) succeeded Father Ekeler as pastors to St. James of Mead.

On April 1, 1936, St. James Church of Mead became a mission of St. Wenceslaus parish of Wahoo. The following priests served St. James: Frs. Otto Ekhaml (1936), Wenceslaus Beranek (1937-1938), Frank Leiblinger (1938-1939), Frank Flicek (1939-1940), George Livanec (1940-1945), Francis L. Sherman (1945), Victor A. Derwinski (1945-1949).

A decline in the number of parishioners occurred between 1930 and 1940. At this time the Phelans, Forgettes, Koneckys, Morrisseys, McEvoys, McElfreshes, Houfeks, Cords, Audes, Sievers, Gormans, and others persevered during the hard times.

From 1940 to 1960 new families joined the parish from many communities. When the Ordinance Plant opened in 1942, many more families came. There were too many people for Wahoo to take care of, so St. James was transferred to Colon as a mission church in 1949. The parish was made up of people from rural Fremont, Ithaca, Mead, and Yutan.

In 1947, when Father Derwinski was assigned to care for the souls of the Mead Church, the floor of the church was renovated and tiled, oak flooring laid in the sanctuary, and the walls and ceiling were redecorated with “nu-wood” panels and ceiling tiles.

In 1949 Father Trausch organized the St. James Altar Society. It has been a constant help in maintaining the altar linens, cleaning the church, raising funds for diocesan parish assessments, as well as contributing to parish improvements.

In 1952 the statues were repainted and the altar was repaired. A new steel gold-finished tabernacle and two sets of vestments were purchased. Father Robert Trausch designed and constructed stained glass windows for the church with the help of the parishioners. There was an expenditure of $600 for new window glass. Plate glass storm windows were purchased and installed at the same time. A 1954 project of the church was the purchase of a new organ for about $2000.

Approximately twenty families were attending St. James Church in 1955, when the sacristy and sanctuary were remodeled with the front entrance being enlarged and a cry room added. A full basement was put under the church, complete with restrooms and a kitchen, to serve as a parish hall at the cost of $4000. A new heating system was added for $1500. Many parishioners helped in the remodeling. Later Father Trausch designed and made the crucifix on the stainless steel cross that hung on the exterior of the old St. James Church until January 2001.

In 1960 the Estina Church, located seven miles north of Mead, was destroyed by fire. The Estina Church was also known as St. Theresa, Church of the Little Flower of Jesus. Some of these families became part of the St. James Parish, while others went to Cedar Bluffs, Fremont, and Valley parishes. Today the towns of Mead, Yutan, Leshara, Ithaca and their outlying rural areas as well as rural Fremont and Ashland make up our parish. In 1962, $1818 was used to construct a shrine in the Estina Cemetery to commemorate St. Theresa Catholic Church and another $1260 was used for the construction of a chain link fence around the cemetery.

The church spent $1500 for a new organ in 1961. Another $600 was used to purchase tile flooring for the church basement and sacristy and also, exterior paint.

There were 20 eight-foot pews purchased at the cost of $750 to replace the existing pews in St. James in 1963.

In 1963 the then Bishop of the Lincoln Diocese, James V. Casey, called the people of St. James, Mead, and ten other parishes to pursue the possibility of making available a means of Catholic education for the youth of the Wahoo deanery. This resulted in the establishment of Bishop Neumann High School, which opened in the fall of 1964.

Father Trausch served the St. James parish until 1965, when it reverted to being a mission of Wahoo. Father Thomas M. Pucelik served from 1965 until 1967. Msgr. Charles J. Keenan served from February to April as a priest from Wahoo.

On April 18, 1967 Msgr. Keenan became the first resident pastor of St. James. He served until 1969.

Father Philip Rauth, the Principal of Neumann High School, guided our parish from 1969 until 1980. In 1974 a Parish Council was organized, with the first elected members taking office in June. While Father Rauth was at St. James, the six PCCW women’s circles were formed, new CCD programs developed, Vacation Bible School initiated, and a high school youth group established.

In 1980 Father Charles Rada served St. James for a short time. Father James Schrader (1980-1985) followed him.

In 1982 St. James Catholic Church celebrated their first one hundred years. Bishop Glennon P. Flavin administered The Holy Eucharist to the First Communion class, as part of the Centennial celebration. The four oldest members of the parish: Helen Morrissey, Mary McEvoy, Magdalene Sievers, and Irene Hollst presented the gifts at Offertory. Beckie Barta and Aaron Hollst, two members of the First Communion class, also carried gifts up at Offertory.

Father Michael Christensen came to Mead in 1985. During the years Father Christensen was at St. James, the statues were repainted, the St. James Statue and the St. Theresa Statue were added, a handicap accessible ramp was added, and the rectory at 112 North Elm was purchased from the Morrissey family. Father Christensen was at Mead until 1995.

Our present pastor, Father Charles Townsend, came in 1995. He organized a group called Friends of Catholic Education (FOCE) to promote and support Catholic education. The rectory bathroom was remodeled and the patio was enclosed to make an office. About this time, the parish with its 144 families started seriously thinking about a new church and social hall. When the land was donated for the site of the new church, a Building Committee was formed to start exploring the feasibility of a new church. After much discussion and planning, the first soil was turned May 13, 2000, as Bishop Fabian Bruskewitz presided at the groundbreaking ceremonies. During a summer and fall of active church watching and picture taking, the parish watched the plan of a church turn into a reality. The parish held their first Mass in the new church at 9:00 A. M., January 7, 2001. The dedication of the new St. James Catholic Church will take place at 3:00 P. M., February 11, 2001.

The joy of having a new church was tempered when the first funeral was scheduled. The parish was sorry to lose Elizabeth (Ellie) Sabata, 16 years old, in a fatal car accident on January 15, 2001. However, Ellie was able to enjoy two Masses in the new church.

It has been extremely gratifying to see so many church members involved and working in the process of building and organizing a new church. 

St. James History * Estina * Priests * Timeline