Holy Family Catholic Church (Omaha, Nebraska)
Encyclopedia
Holy Family Church was built in 1883 at 1715 Izard Street, at the intersections of 18th and Izard Streets in North Omaha
, Nebraska
. It is the oldest existing Catholic Church in Omaha
, and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places
.
. The complex includes a parish church
, school and rectory
. Later, the church served Omaha's growing Italian
immigrant community. Priests at Holy Family Church were ultimately responsible for establishing Creighton University
in the late 1800s. There was also a priest assigned to serve the Omaha's Czech
immigrant community in 1915.
Holy Family Church was regarded as a center of progressive
activism in the 1960s and 1970s under the pastorate of Father John McCaslin. David Rice, of the Rice/Poindexter Case
, was a guitar player at the church in the early 1970s.
The building was designated an Omaha landmark in 1985, and listed on the National Register of Historic Places
in 1986. According to the City of Omaha, Holy Family is the oldest remaining brick church structure in the city.
North Omaha, Nebraska
North Omaha is a community area in Omaha, Nebraska, USA. It is bordered by Cuming and Dodge Streets on the south, Interstate 680 on the north, North 72nd Street on the west and the Missouri River and Carter Lake, Iowa on the east, as defined by the University of Nebraska at Omaha and the Omaha...
, Nebraska
Nebraska
Nebraska is a state on the Great Plains of the Midwestern United States. The state's capital is Lincoln and its largest city is Omaha, on the Missouri River....
. It is the oldest existing Catholic Church in Omaha
Omaha
Omaha may refer to:*Omaha , a Native American tribe that currently resides in the northeastern part of the U.S. state of Nebraska-Places:United States* Omaha, Nebraska* Omaha, Arkansas* Omaha, Georgia* Omaha, Illinois* Omaha, Texas...
, and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
.
History
Holy Family Church was built in 1883 for Irish railroad workers and their families. It was designed by Omaha architects Charles and August Cleves in Gothic Revival and Romanesque Revival StyleRomanesque architecture
Romanesque architecture is an architectural style of Medieval Europe characterised by semi-circular arches. There is no consensus for the beginning date of the Romanesque architecture, with proposals ranging from the 6th to the 10th century. It developed in the 12th century into the Gothic style,...
. The complex includes a parish church
Parish church
A parish church , in Christianity, is the church which acts as the religious centre of a parish, the basic administrative unit of episcopal churches....
, school and rectory
Rectory
A rectory is the residence, or former residence, of a rector, most often a Christian cleric, but in some cases an academic rector or other person with that title...
. Later, the church served Omaha's growing Italian
Italian people
The Italian people are an ethnic group that share a common Italian culture, ancestry and speak the Italian language as a mother tongue. Within Italy, Italians are defined by citizenship, regardless of ancestry or country of residence , and are distinguished from people...
immigrant community. Priests at Holy Family Church were ultimately responsible for establishing Creighton University
Creighton University
Creighton University is a private, coeducational, Jesuit, Roman Catholic university located in Omaha, Nebraska, United States. Founded by the Society of Jesus in 1878, the school is one of 28 member institutions of the Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities. The university is accredited by...
in the late 1800s. There was also a priest assigned to serve the Omaha's Czech
Czechs in Omaha, Nebraska
Czechs in Omaha, Nebraska have made significant contributions to the political, social and cultural development of the city since the first immigrants arrived in 1868.-About:In the 1860s many Czechs, primarily from Bohemia and Moravia, immigrated to Nebraska...
immigrant community in 1915.
Holy Family Church was regarded as a center of progressive
Progressivism
Progressivism is an umbrella term for a political ideology advocating or favoring social, political, and economic reform or changes. Progressivism is often viewed by some conservatives, constitutionalists, and libertarians to be in opposition to conservative or reactionary ideologies.The...
activism in the 1960s and 1970s under the pastorate of Father John McCaslin. David Rice, of the Rice/Poindexter Case
Rice/Poindexter Case
David Rice and Edward Poindexter were charged and convicted of the murder of Omaha Police Officer Larry Minard. Minard died when a suitcase containing dynamite exploded in a North Omaha home on August 17, 1970...
, was a guitar player at the church in the early 1970s.
The building was designated an Omaha landmark in 1985, and listed on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
in 1986. According to the City of Omaha, Holy Family is the oldest remaining brick church structure in the city.
See also
- Landmarks in North Omaha, Nebraska
- Roman Catholic Archdiocese of OmahaRoman Catholic Archdiocese of OmahaThe Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Omaha is a particular church of the Latin Rite of the Roman Catholic Church in the midwestern region of the United States. Archbishop Elden Francis Curtiss...
- List of churches in Omaha, Nebraska