Directory -- Saint Columbkille Parish

Priests	Email & Phone
Pastor Fr. Damian Zuerlein has been pastor of St. Columbkille Parish since June of 2004. He was ordained in 1981 and served in several parishes as an associate before becoming pastor of Our Lady of Guadalupe in 1990. Fr. Damian is originally from Columbus, Nebraska, and is the oldest of six children. He received a BA in Philosophy from the University of St. Thomas and his Master of Divinity from St. Paul Seminary in St. Paul, Minnesota. He learned Spanish at the Spanish Language Institute in Cuernavaca, Mexico. Fr. Damian has also done post-graduate work in spirituality and counseling at Creighton University and the University of Nebraska-Omaha.	402-339-3285 ext. 103
Associate Pastor Fr. Kevin Vogel, our Associate Pastor, grew up on a farm near Howells, Nebraska as a member of Ss. Peter and Paul parish. He is the second oldest child of Kenneth and Carol Vogel. He has an older sister, Therese, and three younger siblings Rita, Rachel, and Adam. He attended Howells Community Catholic Schools, Howells High School, and the University of Nebraska at Kearney where and received a BS degree in Physics. He attended seminary at Conception Seminary College in Conception, Missouri, and at Kenrick-Glennon Seminary in St. Louis, Missouri.	402-339-3285 ext. 106
Weekend Associate Pastor Fr. Steve Emanuel is assigned to Gross Catholic High School where he is the Chaplain and Campus Minister as well as a teacher and coach. He assists with sacramental duties at St. Columbkille as well.	402-734-2000
Deacons	Email & Phone
Deacon Dave Graef is originally from Detroit Michigan. He retired from the U.S. Air Force after 24 years of service, and currently works at the U.S. Strategic Command. He and his wife Ruth Ann have been married since 1971 and have two children, both boys, and four grandchildren. Dave has been a member of the parish since 1988 and Ruth Ann was Confirmed into the Catholic Church in 2007. He was ordained a deacon in May 2013. Dave conducts Communion Services at Welcov and Granville assisted living facilities.	402-592-4741
Deacon Bill Hill was ordained in 2002. He is involved with Marriage Preparation, Come and See (RCIA), Stephen Ministry, and Knights of Columbus. Originally from Connecticut, Bill is retired from the Air Force and Creighton University and now serves as the Director of Catholic Cemeteries for the Archdiocese of Omaha. He has been married to his wife, Kathy, since 1972, and they have four grown children and seven grandchildren..	402-250-3030
Deacon Steve Jordan and his wife, Maryann, were married in 1976, having met in Puerto Rico while they were both serving in the Navy. With their daughter, they joined the parish in 1994, and Deacon Jordan was ordained in 1999. He is the coordinator for Ministers of Care and holds Communion services at Immanuel Trinity and Grandville Assisted Living Center. He is also a graduate of the Omaha Catholic Biblical School. Retired from the Navy after 22 years, he is a civilian employee of the Air Force.	402-290-4916
Deacon David Krueger graduated from Concordia College in Moorhead, Minnesota with a major in International Relations and a minor in Film & Video. After six years as managing partner of a growth business, he was a Problem Solver for a Fortune 250 company. He was ordained in 2004, and joined the St. Columbkille staff in 2007 as Director of Stewardship. Archbishop Lucas assigned him to the parish as a deacon in 2010. Deacon Krueger is involved with That Man is You!, Strengths Groups and Mystagogia. He continues to lead retreats for parish leaders around the country and is an Advisor for Gallup’s Faith Division. He and his wife, VanNessa, have three children.	402-339-3285 ext. 104
Deacon Eldon Lauber and his wife, Judy, have been members of St. Columbkille since 1969. Born in Shickley, Nebraska, Deacon Lauber is a US Army veteran. A graduate of Kearney State College, he has a Certificate in Pastoral Studies from Loyola University, New Orleans. Deacon Lauber was a member of the Building Committee for the present church, past member of the Pastoral Council, past Chairman of the La Vista Planning Commission, and past president of the Papillion/La Vista School Board. He was ordained in 1963, and has served as the Pastoral Associate at St. Columbkille since 2000. He and Judy have five children, ten grandchildren and one great-grandchild.	402-331-4634 402-339-3285 ext. 105
Deacon Frank Mascarello was ordained in 1983 and served at Our Lady of Lourdes Parish before transferring to St. Columbkille in 1985. Deacon Mascarello spends three days a week as a Hospital Chaplain at Methodist Hospital. Besides his training as a Family Life Minister and Marriage Preparation Minister, Deacon Mascarello is involved with RCIA and ministers to WEL-Life at Papillion Assisted Living. He and his wife, Judy, have been married since 1954, and have six children, 20 grandchildren and 22 great grandchildren.	402-296-3659
Deacon Jerry Overkamp is from St. Charles, Missouri. After leaving seminary, he graduated from St. Louis University with a degree in History. Deacon Overkamp served in the United States Air Force from 1966 until 1988, retiring as a Lieutenant Colonel. He taught and coached at Cathedral High School in Omaha and St. Albert’s High School. He has a Masters in Business Administration, a Master of Science in Secondary School Administration and a Licentiate in Canon Law. Ordained in 1991, Deacon Overkamp has served as a Judge on the Marriage Tribunal of the Archdiocese of Omaha since 1996. His primary function in the parish is working with couples preparing for marriage. Deacon Overkamp and his wife, Christine, were married in 1965. They have three grown children and seven grandchildren.	402-339-2998
Deacon Russ Perry was born in San Antonio to an Army family and served for 24 years in the Air Force. He married his wife, Patty, in 1972, while stationed at SAC and returned to Papillion in 1988. He has a BS, Foreign Service from Georgetown University and three MA; Communication from the University of Northern Colorado, National Security Affairs from the Naval Postgraduate School, and Theology from Creighton (2010). His ministry experiences have included being Chair of the Archdiocesan Catholic Committee on Scouting. Ordained in 2003, he has been a chaplain with the Omaha Police Department since 2006. He was certified as a hospital pastoral care giver by the National Association of Catholic Chaplains in 2011 and retired as Director of Pastoral Care at Creighton University Medical Center in 2012 . Deacon Perry and Patty have three grandchildren.	402-593-8148
Deacon Bob Stier is originally from Middlebury, Connecticut, and settled in Papillion after an Air Force career and was ordained in 1998. He and his wife, Sandy, were married in 1968, have three grown children and five grandchildren. They coordinate the Stephen Ministry program in our parish and are active in the Omaha area Stephen Leadership. Deacon Stier is also involved in Meals on Wheels for Eastern Nebraska Office on Aging.	402-331-0716
Deacon Brian Thomas and his wife, Pat, were married in 1986, and have been members of St. Columbkille Parish since 1996. He was ordained a deacon in 2009, and they have one son, Noah, who attends St. Columbkille School. He works as a service tech for JQ Office Equipment. Deacon Thomas is involved with Baptism Preparation and Communion Services at WEL-Life Assisted Living Center.	402-592-7646
Deacon Duane Thome was ordained a deacon in 1980. He teaches Character Skills, Theology and Mathematics at V. J. and Angela Skutt High School. He grew up on a farm near Wichita, Kansas. He and his wife, Judy, were married in 1976, and they have four children and five grandchildren. Deacon Thome is involved in Marriage Preparation, Faith- Sharing Groups, officiates at Wake Services, and teaches in the Omaha Catholic Biblical School.	402-593-1167
Deacon Eric Vande Berg and his wife, Kathy, were married in her home town of Nebraska City, in 1971. He joined the Navy and they moved to California in 1972. They moved back to Nebraska and became members of St. Columbkille Parish in 1985. Deacon Vande Berg was ordained in 2008, and is a member of the RCIA core team and ministers to the residents at Hillcrest Country Estates. He builds computer software for a living. They have a daughter not residing in Papillion, and a son residing in Omaha. .	402-592-4359
Staff	Email & Phone
Director of Liturgy & Music David Batter has been Director of Music and Liturgy since December, 2006. He has previously worked at the parishes of St. Cecilia Cathedral, St. Vincent de Paul, St. Robert Bellarmine, St. Leo the Great, and St. Pius X. David’s formal degrees are in music education and conducting. He has taught in various schools, most recently at Duchesne Academy. In addition to his work at St. Columbkille, David is the founding conductor of the Omaha Chamber Singers, and chorus master for the Omaha Symphony.	402-339-3285 ext. 107
Finance Director Jan Bode grew up on a farm in northeast Nebraska and graduated from Battle Creek High School. After graduating from college, she was a Court Reporter for several years, and was employed at Northern Natural Gas until 1989. Jan managed the financial operations for several small companies before becoming the Finance Director of St. Columbkille Parish in 2001. She has been a member of St. Columbkille Parish since 1983, and is involved in many parish activities. Jan and her husband, Steve, have three children who are St. Columbkille School alumni.	402-592-8494
Bulletin Editor/Athletics Jackie Buso graduated from UNO with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration. She worked for nine years at Hewlett Packard, beginning as an Inside Sales Representative and moving on to be a Client Program Manager. After the birth of her second child, she left her full time job to stay home and raise her children, working in real estate part time. Jackie and her husband Rob have been parishioners of St. Columbkille since 1998. They have three children, who are all currently attending St. Columbkille School.	402-592-1533
Coordinator of Disciple Formation Nicole Cook has been a member of St. Columbkille since 2003 when she came to the parish as the director of music ministry. She left for a few years to work at her alma mater, Creighton University, but has now returned to work with the youth ministry and adult formation programs. Nicole grew up on a farm in Iowa, and moved to Omaha after graduating from Audubon High School to attend Creighton, where she earned her BA in music in 2002. She and her husband, Tyler, often travel back to Iowa where the majority of Nicole's large extended family lives. Nicole has gone into the "family business," as her mom served as the director of religious education at her home parish, St. Patrick's, for 29 years. Nicole and Tyler live in Papillion and have one daughter. They enjoy spending their free time listening to live music, spending time with family and friends, cheering for Jays basketball, being outdoors, cooking and having Wii tournaments!	402-339-0990
Director, Sacred Heart Pre-School Julie Crnkovich has served as the Director and a teacher at Sacred Heart Preschool since 2002. A graduate of Daniel J. Gross Catholic High School, Julie received a Bachelor of Science degree in Elementary and Special Education from UNO in 1989. Her post-graduate work has been in the areas of early childhood education, developmental disabilities and brain based learning. Julie and her husband, Steve, have been members of St. Columbkille Parish since 1994. They have three boys who have all attended St. Columbkille School.	402-991-3405
Coordinator of SPIRITuality Alive Sr. Jean Marie Faltus was born and raised in East St. Louis, Illinois, with three older sisters. Like two of her sisters, she entered religious life in 1961. She has taught at all levels from fourth grade to post-graduate classes at Creighton University. Thirteen years were spent at Daniel J. Gross Catholic High School teaching and working in the administration of the school. She has lived in Omaha for 35 years, has attended St. Columbkille since 1996 and has been on the staff since 2001. She currently coordinates SPIRITuality ALIVE. Recently, she has coordinated the outreach programs: Habitat for Humanity and Step Out and Serve. She loves to read, spend time in the mountains, meet and work with folks interested in deepening their commitment to the Catholic faith, attend to her large flower garden, and walk and spoil her beautiful dog, Francie.	402-593-9214
Director of Administrative Services, Grade School Valarie Galing is the Director of Administrative Services at St. Columbkille School. After graduating from American University she worked in nursing for many years with a concentration in management and administration. Her post-graduate work was also in nursing. Anticipating that the move to Nebraska was temporary (a 3 year military tour of duty) she agreed to help out until the end of the school year . . . She and her husband decided to make Papillion their permanent home. They have two children, both graduates of St. Columbkille School, and two grandchildren (who they hope will someday be graduates of St. Columbkille School!). One of Valarie's favorite jobs is teaching second grade Religious Education classes.	402-339-8706
Maintenance Coordinator Bill Heese grew up in Earling, Iowa, a small town of 500 people. He and his wife, Deb, were married in 1981, and have two adult children who are St. Columbkille School graduates. Bill has been the Maintenance and Grounds Coordinator since 1999. He and Deb have been active in the parish since 1990.	402-616-4740
Director of Stewardship Deacon David Krueger has served as the Director of Stewardship since 2007. For more information please look under Deacons.	402-339-3285 ext. 104
Pastoral Associate Deacon Eldon Lauber has served as the Pastoral Associate at St. Columbkille since 2000. For more information please look under Deacons.	402-331-4634 402-339-3285 ext. 105
Office Manager Judy Lauber was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota but has lived in Nebraska since she was three years old. She graduated from Shickley High School and Nebraska Business Institute in Lincoln. She and Deacon Lauber have been members of St. Columbkille Parish since 1969 and she has been the parish secretary since 1980. Judy she began teaching Religious Education (CCD) while in High School. At St. Columbkille Parish, she has been involved in: EMHC, Lector, Minister of Care, RENEW, small faith-sharing groups, Religious Formation catechist, Come and See, and the Pastoral Council. She and Deacon Lauber have five children, ten grandchildren and one great-grandchild	402-339-3285 ext. 100 402-592-4753 (FAX)
Secretary, Grade School Marge Leimbach, .	402-339-8706
Interim Principal, Grade School Mary McGuire was born and raised on a farm by Humphrey, Nebraska and graduated from St. Francis High School as well as Creighton University. In 1987 she was the first PE teacher at St. Wenceslaus and became the Principal there in March of 1990. She and her husband have three children, all living in Omaha. She retired from St. Wenceslaus at the end of the 2009 school year to enjoy and watch their grandchildren grow. They are expecting their eighth grandchild any day in April. Among the many volunteer roles she fills, she is the Metro Catholic Coordinator for the TeamMates Mentoring Program. Principal, Grade School † Dr. Cheryl Blue had been the school principal since July 2010. Dr. Blue passed away on April 13, 2013.	402-339-8706
Office Manager, Religious Formation Judith O'Connor was born in Monongahela, Pennsylvania and moved to Nebraska with her family as a baby. She worked at the Archdiocese of Omaha Catholic Schools Office and then Madonna School before coming to the Religious Education Department in July 2009. She and her husband Tim were married at St. Columbkille in 1980 and have three daughters who all attended St. Columbkille School.	402-339-0990
Administrator, Religious Formation Judy Thome has been Director of Religious Formation at St. Columbkille Church since 2001, and served in a similar position at St. Wenceslaus Church. Her interest in faith formation as a lifelong process led her to receive a Master’s Degree in Religious Education from Loyola University, New Orleans. Judy enjoys the opportunity to be a special part of not only the children’s faith journey, but also their parents and other members of the parish community. Judy and her husband, Deacon Thome, were married in 1976, and have four children and four grandchildren.	402-339-0990
Other	Email & Phone
President, Pastoral Council Curtis Edwards	402-502-4554
Prayer Line Art and Cathy Beccard	402-592-5862
Webmaster Jim Dennis

Clergy and Staff

200 East 6th Street Papillion Nebraska 68046 (402) 339-3285