Cherishing our Home - Building our Future

St. Patrick Parish Community is one of the oldest parishes in the Diocese of Grand Island and has been deeply rooted in the Chadron community for many years. Perhaps you joined us at joyful times such as a friend’s baptism or wedding. Perhaps you stepped into our church to say a very hard goodbye at a funeral or wake service. Perhaps you attended Assumption Academy.  

The 100-year-old academy has been a staple part of this Catholic community, but it has outlived its usefulness. The cost of maintaining the old building is impractical, so planning for a new parish life center to replace the academy began several years ago.  

Assumption Academy was opened in September of 1923 with the enrollment of 130 students. The Sisters of Mercy of Omaha staffed the school for its entire 48 years. The Assumption Academy closed in 1971.  

“Like the national landscape, the final 12 years at Assumption Academy were an era of change, transition, and farewells. If a student had enrolled in 1960 as a first grader, he or she had a Sister of Mercy as a teacher, in full habit, the head covered with a veil beyond her shoulders and the long rosary around the waist. The crucifix would swing in a pendulum when the teacher walked by. The footwear was of sturdy constitution, ankle high. 

By 1968, as an eighth grader, that student had instructors who were still nuns, but the habit had changed. It was a modified version with the minimalist veil, half the head uncovered and a shortened veil length. The dress also was shortened, to the mid-calf, and the color was now a medium hued blue. This was in part a reflection of Vatican II.”  (Cathy Donohue, coming to the final chapter) 

The 1968-1969 school year was the year the Sisters of Mercy were not able to staff the academy completely, so it became necessary to charge tuition to help fill the need for lay teachers. Some students who had attended the academy were forced to transfer to the public school due to the cost. Talk of closing the academy began to circulate. Nancy Kuhnel, a senior journalist for the Panthers’ Roar, encouraged the board to keep the school open, citing a survey of parishioners, as well as improvements in the structure of the building. It did remain open, and again in 1970 the issue was voted on by the board. Several high school students appeared before the board in 1970 to urge the board to keep the school operating. The academy stayed open through the end of the school year, May of 1971. When the school board announced in the spring that the school was closing, it was a bittersweet moment for a lot of students. Beth Borges, a senior, recalls how she felt at graduation: "It was a sad day." (Cathy Donohue, coming to the final chapter) 

The old building continued to serve the Chadron community in a variety of capacities including religious education, adult faith formation, funeral and wedding preparations and St. Patrick’s Parish offices. 

The plans for a new Parish Life Center had been developed through the years. St. Patrick’s Parish chose to move forward on these plans and the academy was demolished in the spring of 2024. The new Parish Life Center will be a place for parish offices, classrooms and gathering space. The new Parish life Center will serve St. Patrick’s Parish for years to come. For some, saying goodbye to the academy building brings on some reflection or a touch of sadness. We honor the spirit of our past by including the archway from the Assumption Academy building in the main entrance to our new Parish Life Center. The sight of the limestone arch that will grace the front of the new parish center likely will stir memories, a touchstone for those who attended Assumption. And perhaps an invitation to share the Assumption experience. "I am glad the arch is being saved," said Fred Schlickbernd. (Cathy Donohue, coming to the final chapter) 

Our campaign theme states: ”Cherishing our Home, Building Our Future.” 

St. Patrick Parish worked with the Steier Group of Omaha. The Steier group advised and guided us through a highly successful capital campaign. We still need approximately $500,000 to completely fund the project. We have a group of parishioners who serve on our capital campaign group. They continue efforts to raise funds. Fr. Todd states "I recently watched the movie ‘Cabrini’ and was struck by the tenacity of Mother Cabrini in making things happen. I was especially touched by her quote — start the mission and the means will follow." We have a dream; we pray and work together — we will get this done! 

I went to school here and graduated from the Assumption Academy in 1968. My three children went to religious formation here as well. I was married in this parish, so I have both history and memories of St. Patrick’s and the Academy. To me, even if the building is no longer here, I will always have history and memories of the years I went to school and worshiped here. I will always remember my teachers and the other students. They are a part of my life now, that will not change no matter what happens to the building. I understand change is hard, but change makes us stronger in our faith and in ourselves. I know that as I get older, I have to change the way I do things because I’m not able to do them the way I could when I was younger. That happens to buildings too. They get older and it takes more time and money to keep them up. (Mike Hinman) 

We are a community of faith rooted in prayer. Please join us in prayer for our community and our dream. We have had a highly successful fundraising capital campaign with a little more to achieve. If you can relate to our story or you have a connection with St. Patrick’s or Assumption Academy, please consider giving a gift or pledge to the new Parish Life Center by going to chadronstpatricks.org/capital-campaign/. 

Photos courtesy of Father Todd Philipsen