Polish Heritage Society of Nebraska, Inc.

10/31/2026

POLISH HERITAGE MONTH HIGHLIGHT WEEK #4:
St. Stanislaus Catholic Church, 41st and “J” Streets, South Omaha.

Polish immigrants began to settle in the “Magic City” of South Omaha in the late 1800s, attracted by employment in the livestock industry. As with many immigrant groups of the time, they were eager to learn English and become American citizens, but they also wished to build churches and worship in their native language. Initial efforts led to the short turbulent existence of St. Paul’s Polish Church from 1891 through its fiery demise in 1895. Ultimately, three Roman Catholic churches were established by the Polish immigrants: Immaculate Conception Church in 1898 at 24th and Bancroft Streets, near the Polish neighborhood that sprang up in the Sheelytown area, and two parishes close to the South Omaha livestock industry—St. Francis of Assisi near 33rd and “J” Streets in 1899, and later, as the South Omaha Polish population increased, St. Stanislaus Catholic Church at 41st and “J” Streets in 1919.

Of the three, St. Stanislaus continues to maintain a strong connection to its Polish roots and is the Polish national parish of the Archdiocese of Omaha. Its patron is St. Stanislaus, the Bishop of Krakow, who was martyred by King Bolesław in 1079 following his excommunication of the king.

St. Stanislaus parish hosts an annual Polish festival in August, the Polish Heritage Mass in October, and special ethnic celebrations at Christmas and Easter. Until 2013, it operated a five-day school which first opened in 1919 in the brick building that housed the original church on the top floor and classrooms below it. The "new" church was completed across "J" Street from the original building and was dedicated in 1955. St. Stanislaus Church was a recipient of the 2010 City of Omaha Mayor’s Historical Grant and erected a permanent monument on-site honoring Polish settlement in South Omaha. The parish celebrated its centennial in 2019 with alumni dances, a pilgrimage to Poland, and a Centennial Mass with Archbishop Lucas. English Masses are at 5p on Saturday and 8a on Sunday and include Polish hymns.

10/23/2026

Support The Polish Home Omaha's fundraising efforts for local Polish activities!

Join us for our annual Bigos & B**r fundraiser on November 13!

Tickets are $35 per person, with proceeds benefiting special projects of the Polish Heritage Society of Nebraska.

Visit https://www.polishhomeomaha.org/events/bigos111326 to learn more and purchase your tickets by November 9. Registration will close earlier if seating fills!

10/23/2026

POLISH HERITAGE MONTH HIGHLIGHT WEEK #3:
Pulaski Park, 40th & G Streets, South Omaha

In 1929, Congress passed a resolution designating Oct 11 as General Casimir Pulaski Memorial Day. In Omaha, we pay tribute to General Pulaski year-round with a park named in his honor. Pulaski was born in Warsaw, Poland, on Mar 6 1745. Outlawed in his own country for his opposition to the Russian and Prussian interference in Polish politics, Pulaski volunteered his services to the American colonies in their fight for freedom. He was known as the "Father of the American cavalry," and on Oct 9 1779, during the Battle of Savannah, charging into battle on horseback, Pulaski fell to the ground mortally wounded.

"In 1923, the City (of Omaha) purchased two acres at 40th and G Streets [originally named Clearwater Park and later] and named it Pulaski Park at the urging of Polish residents in that neighborhood," according to "A History of Omaha's Parks and Recreation System, City of Omaha Planning Department, 1982."

Today, this neighborhood park includes playground equipment and a basketball court. In 2009, the City updated the park with benches and a picnic area, as well as an interpretive panel telling the story of Polish immigrants and their contributions to the development of South Omaha. The panel was vandalized several years ago and a replacement panel is awaiting installation by the City. At the northwest corner of the park is a monument to General Pulaski, established by private funding and enhanced in 2026 with flowers, mulch, and a butterfly garden funded through a Nebraska Environmental Trust plant grant with efforts of The Polish Home Omaha.

(monument photo from The Polish Home Omaha and PHS archival photos)

10/23/2026

St. Stanislaus Catholic Church is celebrating Polish American Heritage Month on Sat Oct 24.

Our schedule for October 24/25, the 30th Sunday in Ordinary Time, includes Mass at 8a on Sunday preceded by recitation of the rosary and confessions.

On Saturday, October 24 the 5pm Mass is our annual celebration of thanksgiving for our Polish Catholic heritage during Polish Heritage Month.
4:00p Eucharistic exposition and benediction
4:15p Rosary in Polish and English
5:00p Mass with Polish hymns & prayers
If you are able and have a Polish outfit please join us in the opening procession! We will gather at the back of church around 4:50p.

Unable to join us for Mass? View the Mass for Shut Ins on WOWT or at the website for the Archdiocese of Omaha.

To view an electronic copy of Sunday's bulletin with other parish news, go to the "parishes online" web-based parish directory and search for St. Stanislaus Church, Omaha, Nebraska.

(photo, Polish Heritage Mass 2025)

10/16/2026

POLISH HERITAGE MONTH HIGHLIGHT
WEEK #2:
The Polish Home Omaha, original location at 25th and “L” Streets, South Omaha; now relocated to 201 East First Street, downtown Papillion.

https://www.polishhomeomaha.org/

The Polish Home Omaha was the center of social life and settlement for Polish immigrants. Following many years of planning and the ultimate agreement on this 25th & L Streets location, the building's grand opening as the Polish Home was held in June, 1937, although October, 1933 is considered the official establishment of the organization itself. Over the years, the Polish Home was the site of dramatic productions, music recitals, parties, dances, and wedding receptions.
After many years of use, the building was old, needed many repairs, and was not easily accessible to its aging membership. In the early 1970's, plans were made to look further south or west where many Polish Home members had moved from their traditional South Omaha homes. June 6, 1999, saw the grand opening of the new Polish Home location in downtown Papillion.

The new Polish Home location at the Belvedere Hall continues the tradition of celebrating Polish heritage by hosting public dances, Polish cultural and cooking experiences and the beautiful Wigilia (Christmas Eve vigil) dinner in early December, as well as other members-only events.

Polish Home Omaha--it's more than a building, it's family!

Share your memories and photos of the Polish Home in South Omaha or in Papillion.

10/07/2026

POLISH HERITAGE MONTH HIGHLIGHT
WEEK #1: St. John Kanty Cemetery, Bellevue, Nebraska, 7605 South 36th Street, Sarpy County

St. John’s Cemetery Association purchased land in 1923 for a cemetery in Sarpy County after originally planning to locate on Q Street in Douglas County. The deed for the Sarpy County location was filed March 26, 1924. The Cemetery Association was made up of members of three predominantly Polish Roman Catholic parishes in South Omaha--Immaculate Conception, St. Francis of Assisi, and St. Stanislaus. St. John Kanty, a patron saint of Poland and Lithuania, was selected as the patron of the cemetery. The majority of burials at St. John's are Polish Catholics, but other ethnic groups and faith traditions are represented. It is interesting to note that many of the early burials at St. John's were re-interments of family members who had been buried in other South Omaha cemeteries, including St. Mary Magdalene and St. Mary’s Cemeteries.

A featured monument is the World War I memorial honoring local Polish immigrants who volunteered to return to Poland in 1917 to defend its newly regained independence. The monument includes a cannon with markings indicating that it likely was manufactured in France for use in World War I. On one side of the four-sided cannon base, there are two military medals--first, the "Krzyż Żołnierzy Polskich z Ameryki," ("Cross of Polish Soldiers from America”). The Cross bears the image of a crowned eagle and denotes the locations of four major battles in which Polish volunteers distinguished themselves. On this same side is the medal for the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States, and below these two medals is an acknowledgment to Polish organizations and patrons. The second side of the marker lists the names of the Nebraska volunteers to Alliance Army World War I. The third side of the marker memorializes deceased members of several Polish groups. The fourth side is a plaque honoring the Polish Army Veterans Association of America, Outpost 42, on the date the monument was dedicated, May 30, 1931.

The cemetery features an outdoor altar where every Memorial Day, the local Polish American community gathers for an open-air Mass to remember its loved ones buried at St. John's.

10/01/2026

America celebrates its long history of Polish heritage, going back to 1608 when the first Polish settlers arrived with English settlers in Jamestown, Virginia, and opened a glassblowing shop, which became the first American industry. After fulfilling the needs of the new Jamestown colony, the Polish settlers produced glass,
pitch and tar for export to England. These products became the first commercial items to be exported from America to Europe.

Local events include activities at the The Polish Home Omaha and St. Stanislaus Catholic Church. Check their webpages and pages for details.

07/04/2026

From the Embassy of the Republic of Poland in Washington, D.C.
"Happy 250th Birthday, America! 🇺🇸 Celebrating 250 years of Polish-American friendship!"

Happy Independence Day, United States of America!

05/01/2026

Spring is officially here, bringing with it Poland's ‘National Holiday Season,' which kicks off the warmer months every year with a few much-awaited holidays: May 1 (Labor Day) and May 3 (Constitution Day), collectively known as Majówka (from "Warsaw In Your Pocket").

In between is The Day of the Polish Flag, officially celebrated since 2004 (from "Website of the Republic of Poland").

Time to celebrate our Polish heritage!

(image from Euronews website)