St. Patrick Parish – Fits and starts

Parish

1868 – a group of Irish settlers makes their home in Elkhorn; Masses said in houses.

1871 – first church is built, destroyed by fire.

1872 – second church is built, damaged by tornado.

1873 – church is reconstructed.

1899 – church is destroyed by fire.

1900 – third church is built.

1931 to 1956 – church renovations take place.

1966 – George and Helen Boland donate 10 acres north of West Maple Road and west of Nebraska Highway 31, the present church location. 

1969 – the first worship space is built on that site, currently referred to as Boland Hall.  

1981 – the present church is built, seating 450, and the parish center is built.

2000 – church is renovated to what is seen today, with seating for 700.

2018 – number of families – 2,360, and total church members – 8,547.

 

School

1967 – lack of funding and lack of religious sisters frustrate efforts to open a parish school.

1993 – an elementary school opens.

1995 – the school closes with about 20 children in preschool, kindergarten and first grade.

2000 – the parish school reopens, with 80 students in preschool through third grade.

2002 – parishioners build a new school with nine classrooms, school and religious formation offices, administrative space and commons area.

2003 – preschool and kindergarten wing is built.

2006 – the school celebrates its first eighth-grade graduation. 

2008 – combined school and religious formation programs serve more than 1,200 students.

2010 – the school celebrates its 10th Anniversary 

2018 – school serves 841students, religious formation serves 878.