CSS Lincoln needs your help restocking shelves for St. Gianna Program families/Family Support Services clients.
We celebrate St. Gianna Beretta Molla’s feast day on April 28th, and for the St. Gianna Program this is a pretty special day.
By Levi Baus,
Director of Prison and Reentry Apostolate (PARA)
During this academic year, the Prison and Reentry Apostolate (PARA) received several batches of letters from the fifth and sixth grade CCD classes at St. Mary Church in Sutton. Thanks go out to Mrs. Tracy Galusha for spearheading this effort.
This June will mark the 4th time we’ve been blessed to participate in the Chase County Challenge. This event is in conjunction with Smokin’ on Broadway, a barbeque competition and concert. The Challenge is a dollar for dollar percentage match for non-profits in Chase County.
Easter Vigil began in darkness with the blessing of the Paschal Candle, which represents Christ as the light of the world. Slowly all of the Candidates, Catechumens and Sponsors lit their candles from the Paschal Candle and then one by one shared that light with the whole congregation and the whole parish was lit up by candlelight.
During this academic year, the Prison and Reentry Apostolate (PARA) has received several batches of letters from the 5th and 6th-grade CCD classes at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Sutton, NE. Thanks go out to Mrs. Tracy Galusha for spearheading this effort.
In March, at our annual Celebration of Hope Gala and Silent Auction, I found myself drawn not only to the conversations among friends, but to the quiet, beautiful presence of mothers and their children. Several women had their babies in tow, their small squeals and bright smiles weaving joy into an already meaningful evening. In a room filled with faithfulness and generosity in support of Catholic Social Services, these mothers offered a living witness to love in its most tangible form.
Mark your calendars for Saturday, June 20th! Catholic Social Services (CSS) is throwing a community celebration, and you are invited. From 12:00 PM to 3:00 PM, we are opening the doors of our brand-new facility at 124 S. Colorado Ave for an unforgettable Building Blessing + Family Festival. Our goal is simple: to bring together Hastings' churches, organizations, and families for a day of joy, fellowship, and awareness of all God is doing in our town.
This month’s "180 with Katie" highlights the many ways CSS staff and volunteers brought hope, dignity, and connection to the people we served throughout April. In 180 seconds, you’ll hear about a Good Samaritan who helped one of our refugee clients, and how sharing meals with clients inside the new Hastings building is so special. This episode captures meaningful moments that reflect Hope in the Good Life.
Read the latest HOPE IN THE GOOD LIFE news from across southern Nebraska!
By April Boellstorff
Regional Director in Auburn, Catholic Social Services of Southern Nebraska
I often find myself reflecting on the profound words of our executive director, Katie Patrick: “One of the most powerful moments is when someone who once came to us in need becomes the one giving back. That transformation from receiving to becoming help is at the heart of everything we do.”
Featured speaker Johnny Ray shared a powerful testimony of hope at our 2026 Celebration of Hope gala, themed "You Are Not Alone," detailing his journey from a life sentence in prison to redemption. His story closely mirrors the mission of the CSS Prison and Reentry Apostolate (PARA) of the Diocese of Lincoln, which walks alongside incarcerated men and women and those returning to society, believing that restoration and redemption are possible.
“What does it feel like to be a mother?”
“What does it truly mean to be a mother?”
“How does a mother come to love her child so deeply?”
These were the questions that I asked myself for 13 years, before motherhood became part of my story.
In this episode, we travel to Auburn, Nebraska, to sit down with Dr. John Crotty, a longtime board member of Catholic Social Services of Southern Nebraska. With more than 20 years of involvement, John shares why his commitment to CSS has remained strong—and how he has witnessed lives changed through acts of compassion, care, and faith. Through personal insight, this conversation highlights the real impact of generosity and invites listeners to be part of that mission, especially during the Nebraska Catholic Day of Giving. Make your donation now at csshope.org/NCDG and it will be matched dollar for dollar!
