By Jerome Gilg
Called into being in the spring of 1973 by Bishop John Sullivan, Holy Spirit parish in North Platte has been a spiritually transforming presence in the lives of west central Nebraska Catholics. It was purposefully set aside from the town's founding parish, St. Patrick's, and was also created to be a "smaller Christian community" intentioned by the vision coming out of the 2nd Vatican Council (1962-65).
Father Bernard Nelson the founding pastor was asked to create the parish in March of 1973, and arrived in North Platte to begin that process in July. The city was segmented with the southwest portion serving as a boundary represented by 320 target families. Arrangements were made to celebrate Sunday Masses in the McDonald Public Elementary School's multipurpose room. Masses were held Saturday evening and Sunday morning beginning in August. In addition, Holy Days of Obligation were celebrated at the Methodist Church building across the street from McDonald Elementary School.
Several acres of land were purchased on the west side of North Platte for the church structure. Bishop Sullivan approved plans for construction and a groundbreaking ceremony was held on Sunday, March 31, 1974. Construction started in August. A church dedication service was held on December 21, 1975.
The original building contained a kitchen, lobby (termed the Narthex), and a multi-purpose room which was later appropriately named Nelson Hall. The Hall and the Narthex served the parish for worship, social and catechetical functions. The cost of construction was $157,000.
The furnishings for the altar area: tabernacle, chairs, ambo and all vestments and vessels were given to the parish by the Sisters of St. Francis of Sylvania, Ohio, after the old St. Mary's hospital in North Platte was closed, and where those furnishings had resided in the hospital Chapel.
On January 10, 1978, Pope Paul VI appointed Most Reverend Lawrence J. McNamara as sixth Bishop of Grand Island. After settling into his new position, Bishop McNamara gave approval to the second building phase at Holy Spirit, the construction of the Church sanctuary. In July 1978 the contract was signed to begin work on the sanctuary, which was started in September. The total cost of construction was $353,188.00 including furnishings.
The concept for the worship space, conforming to the document on Small Christian Communities, was semicircular in design and seated 425. The intention was that no one was seated more than eight pews from the altar. A small Eucharistic chapel located off to the side of the main altar seated an additional ten to 25 people. The chapel incorporated the altar, tabernacle, and ambo from the old St. Mary's hospital chapel in North Platte. The chapel also featured a beautiful hand-carved wooden cross created by parishioner, Doug Dolan. According to a newspaper interview at that time, the cross was the first carving done by Dolan and he worked on it for nearly 300 hours. He carved the corpus entirely out of one piece of wood.
On June 17, 1979, the parish celebrated its first Mass in the new complex. Then on August 19th, a 5:00 pm Mass of Dedication was celebrated.
The first Baptism in the Parish was Christopher Mark Curtis, the son of Mr. and Mrs. James Curtis, on September 2, 1973. The inaugural 1st Communion was Anne Murphy and Julhanne Dryden on March 21, 1974. The first Confirmation was for 25 candidates on May 21, 1978. Mike and Dolly Mroczek were the first couple united in marriage in the new church. They celebrated their wedding on June 9, 1978.
In 1981 Our Lady of Guadalupe Church in Hershey became a mission church of Holy Spirit until 1993 when it was re-assigned as a mission of Sacred Heart Church in Sutherland. Then in 2003, both Our Lady of Guadalupe and Sacred Heart became affiliated with Holy Spirit as mission churches.
Beginning in 1985 Holy Spirit has gone through several building upgrades. The most recent remodel was completed in 2016 with construction of a faith formation building as a home for the parish's religious education program.
Throughout the 50 years of Holy Spirit parish, a total of thirteen Priests have served Holy Spirit since it was established: seven as Pastor and six as Associate Pastor.
Pastors
Father Bernard Nelson, founding Pastor
Father Frank Hoelck
Father Robert Karnish
Father James Heithoff
Father Art Faesser
Father James Novakowski
Father Vidya Sagar Arikotla, current Pastor
Associates Pastors
Father Bryan Ernest
Father Ernest Murillo
Father Joe Hannappel
Father Paul Colling
Father Jerry Wetovick
Father Robert Chamberlain
Additionally, two members of Holy Spirit completed the Diocesan Diaconate training and were assigned to the Parish as Permanent Deacons. Deacon Michael Davis and Deacon Mark Stadler were ordained on May 27, 2017, and celebrated their first Mass as Deacons on May 28, 2017. Both are continuing to serve the Parish.
50th Jubilee Celebration
With the leadership of current pastor, Father Sagar, Holy Spirit has planned a year-long celebration focused on service to members and to the broader community. Even though he was born and raised in India, Father Sagar has authored a beautiful "Nebraska" prayer that expresses the essence of this region of the state and has become a keepsake of the 50th Jubilee celebration.
The Jubilee celebration kicked off with a service project….an outreach to those less fortunate and in need of winter clothing. A 'coat collection' weekend was held January 28th and 29th and resulted in three large boxes full of coats, jackets, caps, scarves, and gloves being collected. These were distributed locally with the help of a North Platte vendor.
In February, Holy Spirit held a Lenten Retreat featuring Father Pachomius Meade from Conception Abbey and Seminary College. Then on March 25th and 26th Holy Spirit completed a service outreach to the Women's Resource Center in North Platte, a local provider of help and support for pregnant women by providing pregnancy testing, information on abortion procedures and pregnancy options, limited ultrasound, and abortion counseling. The result was the complete resupply of the baby items needed by the Resource Center.
In May, Holy Spirit hosted internationally known singer and songwriter Jesse Manibusan for a music and liturgical minister workshop and concert. Many more events and service projects are planned throughout the remainder of the year. The final event is a planned 50th Jubilee Mass and banquet on December 10, 2023.
It is easy to see the work of God's Spirit in the founding, the accomplishments, and the spiritual life of Holy Spirit Parish. May it continue to grow in holiness and loving service to the people of God.