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Father Stolinski helped found Bellevue parish

Father Dennis Stolinski, a retired priest of the archdiocese who grew up in Holy Cross Parish in Omaha, helped found St. Matthew the Evangelist Parish in Bellevue and was known for his kindness, died Oct. 15. He was 78.

Visitation is set for Oct. 18 from 2 to 4:45 p.m. and 6:15 to 7 p.m., and a wake service at 7 p.m., all at Holy Cross Church. A funeral Mass will be Oct. 19 at 10 a.m. at the church, with interment at Calvary Cemetery in Omaha.

“He was a very caring, compassionate man,” said Patsy Hart, office manager at St. Matthew. “He loved going over to the school, popping into the classrooms and visiting with the kids,” she said.

“He really wanted to see St. Matthew grow and build a church, and he had wonderful plans in mind,” Hart said. (Since its founding, Mass has been held in the parish multipurpose worship center and elementary school gym. Plans are underway to build a church.)

Father Stolinski attended then-Holy Name High School and Creighton University in Omaha, Mount St. Bernard Seminary in Dubuque, Iowa, and Conception Seminary in Conception, Mo. He was ordained in 1969 at Holy Cross Church.

Father Stolinski served as assistant pastor of St. Pius X Parish in Omaha from 1969 to 1972 and St. Gerald Parish in Ralston from 1972 to 1975. He was associate pastor of St. Mary Parish in West Point from 1975 to 1980, and St. Thomas More Parish in Omaha from 1980 to 1983.

His first assignment as pastor was at Holy Family Parish in Lindsay from 1983 to 1987. He was pastor of St. Mary Parish in Omaha from 1987 to 1996, and served as administrator of then-St. Anthony Parish in Omaha from 1995 to 1996.

In 1996, Father Stolinski helped found St. Matthew the Evangelist Parish, where he served as pastor until his retirement in 2010.

He also served on the archdiocese’s priest’s council, parish study committee, board of education and urban south deanery.

Father Stolinski was preceded in death by his parents, Frank and Bess Stolinski; brother, Jerome F. Stolinski Sr.; sister-in-law, Patricia Stolinsky. He is survived by brothers and sister-in-law, Paul and Colleen Stolinski, and Martin Stolinski, and numerous nieces and nephews.

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