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!
One of my favorite days of the year is just around the corner—Give Hastings Day. It is a day that showcases our community’s generosity as neighbors come together to support local nonprofits and strengthen the place we all call home. Each year, I am amazed at what Hastings can accomplish in just 24 hours.
Catholic Social Services is excited to participate again this year on May 7, with all proceeds benefiting our Open Table Sack Lunch Program.
Open Table provides free sack lunches to an average of 100 people every day. With a “no questions asked” approach, we serve everyone with dignity, compassion, and care.
By Fr. Kenneth Borowiak
for the Register
Catholic Social Services of Southern Nebraska (CSS) knows well the meaning of the familiar idiom: “One man’s trash is another man’s treasure.”
CSS provides a myriad of services and support systems to individuals and families. It operates a food market and meal services for those with food insecurity. CSS provides immigration legal services, refugee resettlement services, St. Gianna Homes for Women, a prison and re-entry apostolate, and a host of other outreaches and ministries. Yet many people, including Catholics, are not aware of or do not understand the comprehensive breadth of the work of Catholic Social Services.
By Veronica Barreto Rosa
St. Gianna Program Specialist
I encountered this verse while reading the Second Epistle of St. Peter, and it has stayed with me as I have tried to understand what it truly means to trust in God’s timing: “With the Lord a day can mean a thousand years, and a year can be like a day.” 2 Peter 3:8.
It is a simple idea to express, yet far more difficult to live out in daily life.
On the evening of March 14th, we were blessed to have approximately 400 supporters gather at Embassy Suites in Lincoln for our annual Celebration of Hope Gala & Silent Auction. The evening centered on our theme “You Are Not Alone,” highlighting the message that no one is beyond God’s mercy and no one walks alone through the struggles of life.
St. Louise Gift and Thrift has recently rolled out a new opportunity for volunteers: our Thrift & Sip evenings
St. Francis Gift & Thrift volunteers show up week after week, serving with dignity, integrity, empathy, trust, and sustainability. I couldn’t be more appreciative of every volunteer who gives their time, talent, and heart.
This 180 second update gives you a clear, real look at how lives are changing across Catholic Social Services of Southern Nebraska. From record growth last March in our thrift stores to powerful one-on-one encounters with individuals and families, you’ll hear how your support is making a difference right now by helping people find stability, dignity, and Hope in the Good Life.
By Julie Perry,
St. Francis Gift and Thrift Store Manager
By definition, a volunteer is a person who freely offers to take part in an enterprise or undertake a task. At Catholic Social Services of Southern Nebraska (CSS), it is so much more. It is showing up with heart and compassion, and serving with CSS’s core values of Dignity, Integrity, Empathy, Trust, and Sustainability.
By Katie Patrick
Two weeks ago, I shared the story of a young woman who was living in an unsafe situation. Her mom reached out to me on Christmas Eve begging for local resources that could help her daughter. The parents lived in another state, and with a little more information, I gathered that the daughter was a drug user and the parents forbade drug use in the home.
While there may have been other reasons that the daughter chose to live in a city a thousand miles away, the reality of her being so far from her family—her natural safety net—caused deep physical and emotional distress. In other words, due to distance and previously severed relationships, the crisis displaced the family as the primary responder. When this happens, neighbors and the local community become the next line of support—followed by organizations.
UPDATE: St. Francis Gift & Thrift (Auburn) will have adjusted hours for Thursday, April 9th OPEN 8:30-12:30 (CLOSED 2:00-6:00).
This Easter season, the Lincoln Catholic community is focusing on something simple, but powerful. The community is leaning into the message of hope.
Members of the CSS team and other nonprofit agencies share insights regarding shifts in Nebraska's refugee resettlement landscape.
Catholic Social Services and
Southern Nebraska Register
Around 400 supporters gathered March 14 at the Embassy Suites Lincoln for the annual Celebration of Hope Gala & Silent Auction hosted by Catholic Social Services of Southern Nebraska (CSS), an evening centered on the message that no one is beyond God’s mercy and no one walks alone.
The event, themed “You Are Not Alone,” highlighted stories of faith, redemption, and the Church’s call to accompany those on the margins.
Featured speaker Johnny Ray shared a powerful testimony of hope that began in the darkest moment of his life.
HASTINGS, Neb. (KSNB) - Catholic Social Services has relocated to a new building in Hastings, aiming to create a more welcoming environment for residents seeking family support services.
In the latest 180 with Katie—a quick, three-minute update—CSS Executive Director Katie Patrick and Development Officer John Soukup share how your support is making a real difference in both immediate needs and lasting transformation. From a powerful story of faith and generosity at “Mercy Station” in Lincoln to record numbers of families served with basic necessities—and lives being changed through the prison and reentry apostolate—February was filled with impact made possible by you. You’ll also hear how growing donor support and expanding sustainability efforts are helping strengthen our mission of providing more Hope in the Good Life for the future.
Read the latest uplifting HOPE IN THE GOOD LIFE updates!
In this video, we share more about the 2026 Heart of Christ Award recipients: the St. Gregory the Great Seminary Propaedeutic Year Seminarians.
These young men embody the spirit of Christ through their humility, service, and willingness to accompany those in need. Their year of formation has been marked by deep prayer, intentional community, and a commitment to living out the Gospel in tangible, compassionate ways
In this powerful 2026 Stories of Impact video, Catholic Social Services of Southern Nebraska shares real stories of courage, healing, and transformation.
By Katie Patrick
The first Friday of Lent marked a retreat day for the staff at Catholic Social Services. Our St. Teresa of Calcutta Committee, composed of CSS staff from across our different offices and programs, organized the day for us.
Father Timothy Danek, newly appointed clergy for the incarcerated, celebrated Holy Mass and gave one of three talks. Staff signed up to bring homemade soups and bread, and we had Eucharistic adoration continuously that day.
“Our new building and location will enable us to expand services and keep human dignity at the forefront of our vision to inspire hope and love in every encounter.”
By John McDermott
Vice President, Marketing & Development
Catholic Social Services of Southern Nebraska
One of the first things we do when we are planning for our annual Celebration of Hope Gala & Silent Auction is to come up with a theme for the event. The theme sets to the tone for the evening and conveys the message we want to share for that year’s event. The process usually begins with suggestions being tossed around, and then tossed out because they just don’t “feel right.” Then, right on cue, the Holy Spirit inspires one of the committee members to say, “What do you think of this for a theme?” followed by a suggestion that is the perfect message for the evening.
Megan Conway from 10/11 News sits down with CSS Development Officer John Soukup to share more about our upcoming gala and silent auction.
“Christ is in the poor. Christ loves the poor. Christ desires for us to love the poor.” In this episode of Hope in the Good Life, we hear from seminarians of St. Gregory the Great Seminary who volunteer with Catholic Social Services Community Street Outreach. Together with Alexis Broulliette who leads this program, they share powerful stories of encounter, transformation, and what it truly means to bring the Heart of Christ to the streets of Lincoln. This year, these men will be honored with the Heart of Christ Award at the Celebration of Hope Gala & Silent Auction — a celebration of hope lived out in action.
Read all about it! Here's the latest HOPE IN THE GOOD LIFE updates from across southern Nebraska!
In a small warehouse building on Lincoln’s O Street, toy collectables, books, sports memorabilia and ceramic Christmas decorations are neatly sorted on the shelves. Vintage Husker gear, jackets and jeans line the walls.
By Jonathan Kiehl
“I am about to do a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert” (Isaiah 43:19)
Starting over is always challenging and exciting. There are new landscapes, new possibilities, and new blessings; but it can also cause fear. There are so many unknowns, possible failures, and perceived dangers.
By Katie Patrick
Last Friday, we had our first open holy hour at Catholic Social Services’ St. Joseph Chapel in Lincoln. This holy hour was organized so that staff, volunteers and the public could spend intentional time together praying for our clients and their intentions. In a way, we wanted to transform our daily works of mercy that occur in the front lobby, in our food market, on the streets, and in meeting rooms into moments of silence, gratitude, and trust in God’s presence.
By Cathy Blankenau Bender
Editor-in-chief
An elementary school principal can easily log more than 10,000 steps in an average school day: attending meetings and walk-throughs, performing various duties and providing coverage, remaining visible and present to students and staff.
For Curt Feilmeier, principal at St. Peter School in Lincoln, each trip to and from his desk during Catholic Schools Week added 40 more steps than usual, thanks to the ingenuity and generosity of the school community – and a brightly colored cardboard maze.
By Katie Patrick
The sound of trumpets will once again fill St. Joseph Church in Lincoln Sunday, Feb. 15, at 2 p.m., as musicians and community members gather for Trumpet Fest 2026, an annual charity concert benefiting Catholic Social Services of Southern Nebraska (CSS).
