Around the archdiocese: New pastor appointed at Omaha parishes

Father Ben Boyd has been appointed pastor of St. Bernadette Parish in Bellevue and Holy Ghost parishes in Omaha.

Father Boyd had been associate pastor of St. James parish in Omaha and will suceed Father Jeff Mollner as pastor of Urban Family O.

In March, Boys Town named Father Mollner national director of mission and spirituality. Father Mollner will also serve as Immaculate Conception Parish-Dowd Chapel on the Boys Town campus.

Chairs named, Archbishop’s Dinner for Education campaign kicks off

Jeanie and Lance Jones of Christ the King parish in Omaha will chair the 2024 Archbishop’s Dinner for Education.

At a kickoff dinner this week, Archbishop George J. Lucas and Archdiocese of Omaha Catholic Schools Superintendent Vickie Kauffold described how the dinner helps hundreds of students annually attend archdiocesan schools by raising hundreds of thousands of dollars to fund scholarships.

This year’s dinner will be held Thursday, Sept. 12, at the CHI Health Center in Omaha.

To reserve your seat or donate to its mission, visit archomaha.org/dinnerforeducation.

Archbishop George J. Lucas poses for a photo with Jeanie and Lance Jones of Christ the King Parish. The Joneses are chairpersons for the 2024 Archbishop’s Dinner for Education, held on Sept. 12 at the CHI Health Center in Omaha.

New performing arts center opens at Skutt Catholic High School

A new performing arts center at V.J. and Angela Skutt Catholic High in Omaha was blessed, dedicated and broken in with inaugural performances on April 22.

During the ceremony, Archbishop George J. Lucas blessed the performing arts center, named after Msgr. James E. Gilg, the founding president of Skutt Catholic.

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Msgr. Gilg was part of a ribbon-cutting ceremony, along with the high school’s current president, Jeremy Moore.

Then Msgr. Gilg, in an inaugural on-stage performance, played the piano for guests. The Skutt Catholic band and choirs followed with their performances.

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The venue’s stage has been named after John and Michaela Blazek, while theatrical performances have been named in memory of Benjamin H. Ryan, and the lobby after Archbishop Lucas.

The new addition was funded through The Nex Act capital campaign, which so far has raised $9 million toward a $10 million goal, said Kristi Berger, Skutt Catholic’s director of communications. Other components of the fundraising effort include classroom upgrades, endowment growth and renovations of Moylan Field.

The performing arts center includes a 425-seat auditorium and an expanded performance area with professional lighting and sound. Masses and educational and community events also will be held in the new space.