Kimball church observes 100th annivesary

St. Joseph’s Church in Kimball observed 100 years of faith with a Mass Dec. 5 celebrated by Bishop Joseph G. Hanefeldt at the church. Before 1921, area Catholics practiced their faith in their homes. In 1911, a simple white wooden church was built on land donated by Pat Maginnis, just south of the current Dollar General Store. As the congregation began to grow, the church was expanded to seat 110 people and was used until 1951. Father Patrick Moriarty was the first permanent priest. Other priests were Father Lambert Heinen, Father Henry Keil and Father Michael Lyons. In 1928, Msgr. Lawrence Kintz was named pastor and remained their for nearly 40 years until his death in 1967. Father Jack Schlaf assisted Msgr. Kintz until Msgr. Leo Keating was appointed pastor followed by Msgr. Carl Hayden in 1973. After Msgr. Hayden retired, Father Francis Curran was named pastor followed by Father Robert Karnish in 2002, Fathers James Joseph, Vidya Sagar, Mike McDermott and the current pastor, Father C.P. Varghese. 

(Photo courtesy Western Nebraska Observer.) 
Kimball's original St. Joseph's Catholic Church, the building with the steeple near the top center of this historic image, sat along 2nd Street across the road from the current Dollar General location.