Arsenic & Old Lace at the West Point Community Theatre!

In case you've been wondering about the lag in posts lately, this is the reason why! I'll be playing a part in the West Point Community Theatre's Fall Comedy, Arsenic and Old Lace this weekend! It's going to be a fantastic production! This will also be the first time in nearly 60 years that the audience will see the full height of the stage used to it's full potential! The Fremont Tribune wrote an excellent article on the play - read it here! And if you want to come this weekend, order your tickets online here!

Write Me!

I've received a few notes in the comment boxes recently about how to obtain copies of my photos and I just realized that I have not provided my readers with any way to contact me, other than the comment boxes! I guess I'm continually perfecting the whole blogging thing!

At any rate, the email address above and also on the sidebar is how to reach me. If you have any suggestions about places you'd like to see me "Steeplechase" or any thoughts about the blog in general, please feel free to drop me a line! I look forward to hearing from you!

Salem Evangelical Covenant Church, Rural Oakland, NE

Salem Evangelical Covenant Church is a quaint, simply decorated church located southwest of Oakland.

The nave of the church is square shaped, rather than the usual rectangular to bring the congregation into closer proximity with each other as well as the pastor.

Lots of subtle curves! Pews, windows, arches, ceiling. Subtle, simple, and beautiful.

The ceiling of the church features sweeping Gothic-like ribbing.

The windows are a newer addition to the church, but fit the overall scheme very well.

Salem Cemetery is located one half mile west of the church and is the resting place of many early Swedish settlers. Many of the gravestones are marked with Scriptural verses written in Swedish as well as other interesting inscriptions.

The above gravestone bears this heart-rending memorial:
We miss thee from our home mother, We miss thee from thy place, A shadow o'er our life is cast; We miss the sunshine of thy face, We miss thy kind and willing hand, Thy fond and earnest care; Our home is dark without thee, We miss thee everywhere.

Another inspiring inscription: She is gone to the land where the weary enjoy the sweet rapture of sacred repose.

The view from the cemetery is spectacular. The rolling hills of the surrounding farmland make for a truly peaceful and reflective experience.

Notre Dame Sisters Motherhouse, Florence (Omaha), NE

The Sisters of Notre Dame arrived in Nebraska in 1911 from their native Bohemia. Initially, they ministered in Dodge, NE and eventually arrived in Omaha in 1917 to assist Fr. Edward Flanagan at his newly formed Boys Home.

In the fall of 1921, Father Flanagan purchased Overlook Farm, the present site of Boys Town, and the Sisters bought from him the tract of land he had originally intended to use, Seven Oaks Farm. This later became the location for the Notre Dame Motherhouse at 35th and State Streets.

The construction of the Motherhouse on the grounds of Seven Oaks Farm began in 1925, and by 1926 Notre Dame Academy opened with 26 students. The unique "E" shaped Italian Renaissance Revival style convent and school was constructed in phases from 1926 to 1965.

The staircase just inside the main entrance features a unique green marble wainscot and terrazzo floor.


A Shrine to St. Joseph on the Motherhouse grounds.

Except for this rear addition from 1965, the original plans dawn up by Omaha architects Matthew Lahr and Carl Stangel were followed in the phased construction of the Notre Dame Motherhouse.

The chapel (the center section of the "E" shaped building) was constructed in 1951 and renovated in 1980. A quick search of WorldCat.org revealed an interesting dissertation entitled "Environmental persuasion and Roman Catholic Church interior design after Vatican Council II, 1963-present : a case study of Notre Dame Chapel, Omaha, Nebraska." I'll have to see if I can read a copy of that sometime!

The chapel is simple and airy. The windows are of a yellowish tint, which bathe everything in a warm, yellow light. The former sanctuary has been tastefully transformed into an area of private prayer before the Blessed Sacrament.

I was at the convent last weekend for an auction, as the sisters have begun the redevelopment of their property into affordable senior housing. If you are interested in seeing the items that were sold and what they brought, click here.

I'm not sure what this redevelopment will mean for the structure as a whole or for the chapel. I'm told that the exterior will remain the same. Say a prayer for these good sisters as they transition into a new phase of their ministry!

News & Miscellany Roundup

It's been a very long time since I've featured a News & Miscellany Roundup and unfortunately, a fair amount of these articles are a bit dated. Anyways, I still think they might be of interest. Enjoy!

The Cathedral of St. Paul in St. Paul, MN was recently designated as the National Shrine of St. Paul. The title of a "National Shrine" is generally bestowed on a church that has a special devotion to a given saint. An increase of pilgrims is expected because of this designation. Read more here.

An interesting article appeared titled "What do Pope John Paul II and Hugh Hefner have in Common?" It give an interesting view of Catholic sexuality in the light of John Paul's Theology of the Body.

KTIC hosted its annual Great Nebraska Tractor Ride this past June. We had a grand total of 182 tractors! The Fremont Tribune has a great article with photos here.

Another article on the Tractor Ride in the Ashland Gazette here.

Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Brainard, NE completed a massive restoration and renovation. Work included restored high and side altars, paint and stenciling, flooring and more - all for a whapping price tag of $200,000. Read the full article and see a photo here. Hopefully I can get to Brainard sometime soon to get photos of this renovation!

Probably one of Nebraska's lesser-known breweries, Spilker Ales in Cortland was featured in the Norris Public Power District's Magazine. Read the interesting article (in .pdf form) here.

Back in the 1950s, St. John's Abbey in Collegeville, MN established Trinity Monastery in Japan. In the 1990s, this monastery moved from Tokyo to a rural area outside of Fujimi. Today, this monastery is thriving. The Minnesota Post has a fascinating story about its growth here.

Immaculata Benedictine Monastery in Norfolk, NE was rededicated after nearly two years of renovations. For photos of the renovated chapel, click here. To see photos of the chapel prior to the renovation, click here.