Manna--What is it? - June 5, 2026

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

A few months ago, I was making my daily communion rounds at one of our assisted living facilities. As I entered Harbor House to visit one of our longtime parishioners, Margaret, I noticed a therapy dog making its rounds. The beautiful Husky came to Margaret’s wheelchair while I knelt beside her with the communion pyx. Eventually, the dog moved to my side, looked intently at Holy Communion, and then lowered itself onto all four legs—almost like an act of worship before Jesus in the host.

This weekend we celebrate the Solemnity of Corpus Christi, the Body of Christ. In the Old Testament, the Israelites wandered the desert for forty years and were near starvation. God rained down manna from heaven to feed them. It looked like bread and tasted like bread, but it was not made by human hands, so they called it “manna,” meaning, “What is it?”

Since the Protestant Reformation in the 16th century, Christians have debated that same question. Some believe communion is only a symbol or a memorial. Catholics and Orthodox Christians, however, profess that Holy Communion truly becomes the Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity of Jesus Christ.

A 20th-century Catholic novelist once attended a tea where Protestant friends insisted the Eucharist was merely symbolic. She famously replied, “Well, if it’s just a symbol, then to hell with it.” Her point was simple: if the Eucharist is not truly Jesus, then Catholics would be guilty of idolatry. But if it is truly Him, then nothing on earth is more sacred.

Even a therapy dog seemed to recognize something holy that day.

In His Mercy,

Fr. Eric Clark, Pastor

St. Paul VI - May 29, 2026

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, 

"Every night about midnight I open my mail of the day. Almost every letter has a thorn in it. When I put my head on my pillow at night, I really lay it on a crown of thorns." said Pope St. Paul VI to Archbishop Fulton Sheen. 

Today is the feast day of St. Paul VI (+1978).  He was pope in a turbulent time of society and the Church. He was a pope reformer of the liturgy and ecclesial structure of the Church. He was an advocate for peace and social justice in a world of turmoil. All these advancements brought praise by many inside and outside the Church, so what were the ‘thorns’ he was referring to? It was the rejection of his encyclical, Humanae Vitae (On Human Life) in which he prophetically warned the world about the dangers of contraception. This document was rejected by many U.S. Bishops, priests, faculty at esteemed Jesuit colleges, Notre Dame and Catholic University of America. The sexual revolution of the 60’s was the “Smoke of Satan that has entered the temple of God.”

The openness to life in the marital act “is based on the inseparable connection, established by God, which man on his own initiative may not break, between the unitive significance and the procreative significance which are both inherent to the marriage act. ...a man who grows accustomed to the use of contraceptive methods may forget the reverence due to a woman, and, reducing her to being a mere instrument for the enjoyment of his own desires, he may no longer consider her as his respected and beloved companion" (St. Paul VI).

“The transmission of human life is a most serious role in which married people collaborate freely and responsibly with God the Creator” (St. Paul VI). Parents, I thank you for your witness and openness to life and to work together with God!

In His Mercy,

Fr. Eric Clark, Pastor

PS – Please click here for tickets to our annual parish fellowship and fundraiser SADDLE UP AND SIP

St. Rita the Suffering Servant - May 22, 2026

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, 

Suffering is a gift to participate in the love of Christ (Col. 1:24). I recently read a clever analogy for this. Suffering is like boiling water. It has a different effect on people, depending on how they choose to react. 

If you put carrots in boiling water, they get soft. That's like the person who has made comfort and pleasure the goal of life. When suffering comes his way, it drains him of all his zest for living.

If you put an egg in boiling water, it gets hard. You get a hard-boiled egg. That's what happens to the arrogant and self-centered. When life gets hard, they also get hard. They clench their fists and lose their smile. They become angry and cynical.

If you put coffee in boiling water, the water releases the coffee's hidden flavor. It fills the room with a delightful aroma and makes the water delicious. The soul that courageously trusts God amid suffering, clinging to Christ's cross and staying faithful, learns to love like Christ, to be humble, to persevere in what is right. That person's life lets off the aroma of mature joy and is filled with the robust flavor of purpose and wisdom.

St. Rita of Cascia (+1457), whose feast day is today is a great example of suffering. Her full name is Margarita (Rita for short) which means pearl. She grieved immensely throughout her life and this is why she is invoked as the patron saint impossible causes, abuse and couples with marital problems. 

She wanted to become a religious sister, but her parents married her off at age 12 to a man known for his violent temper. She put up with his abusive nature for 18 years before he finally converted. But soon after that he was tragically murdered.

Her two sons wanted to avenge their father’s death. Fearing for their mortal souls, Rita prayed that God would take her sons before they could commit murder. Within a year, both boys died of natural causes—their hands and souls unstained by revenge. 

She wanted to join the local Augustinian religious sisters, but she was initially rejected because she was a widow and some sisters had ties to the rival feuding families. Through fervent prayer and her efforts, she was finally accepted at age 36 and received the stigmata (wound of Christ) on her head at age 60. 

St. Rita truly let the world smell the aroma of Christ through the powerful witness of her suffering in unison with her Beloved, Jesus. 

In His Mercy,

Fr. Eric Clark, Pastor

The Work of the Lord - May 15, 2026

Mothers- Anchors of Hope - May 8, 2026

Work- May 1, 2026

Turning it Around- April 24, 2026

Dear brothers and sisters,

One of the most remarkable stories this past season was Indiana football winning the National Championship. Who would have thought that Husker basketball would make it to the Sweet 16 and the Hoosiers (a traditional basketball school) would hoist the trophy this year? When the Indiana coach, Curt Cignitti was asked by an ESPN reporter how he turned the program around in a short time, he responded, “It’s all about the people, plan and process.” 

I echo his words for the amazing accomplishments at St. Peter Church. It’s about the people, plan and process. I have been so blessed to be your pastor and work with so many amazing staff members and ministry leaders. Our 2021 strategic plan was the work of the Holy Spirit and a dozen parishioners who are true witnesses to the love of God and His Church. Last year we implemented the Clear Path of Discipleship as our process to implement our plan. 

Since I have been installed as a shepherd at St. Peter, we have implemented perpetual adoration, extra daily Mass and confessions, evangelization, nursing homes, CGS, and Communio Marriage ministry.

Below are the objective results:

Sunday Mass Attendance: 2020                            2025

Of total population                30%                          53%

Sacraments:                          2020                            2025

Baptism                                   35                                76

Marriages                                8                                  32       

Adult converts                        7                                  29

Financial:                               2020                            2025

Offertory                                 $1,747,221                  $2,446,332 (40% increase)

Net Ordinary Income           -$64,941                      $269,578              

Campaigns (2022; 2026)                                            $10.5 million                        

This Sunday is Good Shepherd Sunday. Jesus is the Good Shepherd and leader who had people, plan and process. He called His people by name (John 10:3). He had a plan to walk ahead of the sheep to follow Him (John 10:4). His process was to save the flock so they may have an abundant life in the verdant pastures of heaven (John 10:10). 

In His Mercy,

Fr. Eric Clark, Pastor

The Rising Road- April 17, 2026

Dear brothers and sisters,

A few years ago, I read “Rising Road: A True tale of love, race and religion in America” by Sharon Davies. If you enjoy courtroom stories, you will love this book. This historically true story sets place in Birmingham, AL in the early 1900’s and tells the story of a dynamic Catholic missionary Fr. James Coyle who was shot and killed on the front door steps of his parish after Mass. The assailant was a Methodist minister who was working with the KKK. I will not divulge how the trial ends. 

So, what prompted the crazy Rev. Stephenson to pull the trigger in broad daylight? He found out that his teenage daughter, Ruth, had converted to become a Roman Catholic and Fr. Coyle was the one who brought her into the Church. But before Fr. Coyle and Ruth had met, she was taken by the witnesses of the Catholics who would be going into the parish church early in the morning. One day she snuck into the back of the church and witnessed her first Mass. She later said that her eyes were opened and she recognized Jesus in the breaking of the bread. 

This weekend, we hear about the two disciples who met the Risen Lord on the road to Emmaus.  They too had their eyes opened are realized Jesus was in their midst in the breaking of the bread. It was the original sin in which Adam and Eve’s eyes were closed to seeing God. Fortunately for us, Jesus comes to take away sin and open our eyes so that we can see Him by faith in the Eucharist. 

Every Mass is an Emmaus event. We get the chance to hear the Word of God in scripture and we can exclaim like these two disciples, “Did not our hearts burn within us while he talked to us on the road, while he opened to us the scriptures?” (Lk. 24:32). Secondly, we have the liturgy of the Eucharist and our eyes are opened to recognize Jesus (Lk. 24:31). What a great gift for us to participate in this wonderous exchange of love. I look forward to seeing you this Sunday on the road to Emmaus!

In His Mercy,

Fr. Eric Clark, Pastor

Pastor Change Mission Remains- April 10, 2026

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, 

Six years ago, I received one of the most life-changing phone calls of my priesthood. Archbishop Lucas, in Bishop Conley's absence, had assigned me as pastor of St. Peter Church. I was stunned — I had never served as a pastor before, and it felt like being called up to the major leagues. 

Like the prophet Amos, I cannot claim the pedigree of more distinguished priests in the Diocese. I am simply a shepherd from a clan of shepherds (Amos 7:14). Yet over these years, I have learned what it means to shepherd a flock: to lead with wisdom (Num. 27:17; Jer. 3:15), to seek the lost (Lk. 15), to admonish and teach (Sir. 18:12), to feed those in my care (Is. 40:11), to heal the wounded (Ez. 34:16), and to lay down one's life without fear for the sake of the flock (Jn. 10:12). 

When I arrived, my directives from the Diocese were clear: organize the parish, balance the budget, and evangelize. By God's grace — and through the tireless effort of our parishioners and staff — we have accomplished those goals together. And now, the time has come for me to leave you. 

In February, Bishop Conley informed me that he is reassigning me as pastor of All Saints Parish in Holdrege. This news came as a genuine surprise to me, as I had not requested a change, nor has there been any disciplinary reason or complaints from parishioners or staff to prompt it. Bishop Conley knows the needs of the Diocese, and I trust that the Holy Spirit is guiding him — even when I find myself at a loss to understand it fully. 

My deepest pastoral concern is that this transition may unsettle some among the flock, as it would mean five pastors in fewer than ten years (Zech. 13:7). So, I urge you: remain faithful to the work we have built together these past six years. Through our strategic plan and the Clear Path of Discipleship, St. Peter has become one of the strongest parishes in the Diocese. Members of the Diocese's own strategic planning committee have pointed to us as a leader in carrying out the mission to make disciples. That is not my achievement — it is yours.  

It has been one of the great blessings of my life to serve as your pastor. I praise God for the gift that each of you is to me and to one another. I trust deeply in His plan, even when the path is unclear, and I send you forward with the very prayer Christ offered on the night of the Last Supper: "Holy Father, keep them in your name that you have given me, so that they may all be one" (Jn. 17:11). 

In His Mercy,

Fr. Eric Clark, Pastor

PS – Join us for the “State of the Parish” Tuesday April 14th at 7PM in St. John Paul II Hall

Father Forgive Them- April 3, 2026

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, 

Hanging in agony upon the cross, Jesus cried out, “Father, forgive them, they know not what they do” (Luke 23:34).

The story of Saint John Gualbert is a beautiful example of this. John was the founder of a monastery outside the city of Florence, Italy, in the mid eleventh century, a monastery that has been a factory of holiness ever since. His feast day is July 12^th. 

But John didn't start out as a saint. He was a young nobleman who thoroughly enjoyed all his aristocratic privileges. Besides pleasure, his main passion was revenge. His brother Hugh had been murdered, and John felt it was his duty to put the killer to death. For a long time, he searched for the culprit, becoming angrier the longer he searched.

One Good Friday as he was returning to Florence from a short journey, he was making his way through a narrow pass in the road when his prey entered the same pass from the other side. There was no escape. John drew his sword and prepared to avenge his brother's death. But the killer cast himself on his knees and begged for mercy. At that moment, his sword over his enemy's neck, the thought of Christ on the cross, forgiving his enemies, suddenly came to the future saint's mind. He couldn't bring himself to carry out his long-contemplated plan. Instead, he sheathed his sword, embraced his brother's murderer, and forgave him. After the encounter, he went to the nearest church to pray. That's when he discovered his vocation and began the adventure of becoming a saint.

Just the thought of Christ on the cross, just a quiet little thought nudging his conscience - that's the real work of the Holy Spirit. As we think of Christ on the cross today, may we become the saints He calls us to be.   

In His Mercy,

Fr. Eric Clark, Pastor

PS – Good Friday Liturgy at 7PM; Stations of the Cross at 3PM; Easter Masses are Saturday 8PM; Sunday 8AM; 9:30AM; 11AM

Donkey- March 27, 2026

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,  

One of my favorite movie animated characters is Donkey from the movie Shrek. He is known for his energetic (and sometimes irritating but always lovable) demeanor, his idle babble, and of course, his all-consuming love of waffles.

Holy Week begins this Sunday with Palm Sunday. We will begin the liturgy with the entrance of Jesus into Jerusalem on a donkey. The donkey of Palm Sunday is symbolic of two things: humility and peace.  

The donkey symbolically shows us how Christ won his victory over sin and evil: through humility. A donkey is a useful beast of burden, but not a glorious and impressive one. And that's exactly like the Christian virtue of humility, by which we lower ourselves in order to help raise up others, to serve them. And this is what Jesus did, as St. Paul tells us in today's Second Reading: "...he emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, coming in human likeness... he humbled himself, becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.” God becoming man and taking up residence in this sinful world is the ultimate act of humility. As Jesus rides the humble donkey into the city of Jerusalem, so he rides the virtue of humility through the sinful world in order to blaze a path for us into heaven.

The second symbolic meaning is more directly connected to Christ’s victory and peace. In ancient times, military commanders would ride a strong, powerful, fast warhorse but after a battle was won, the victorious general would parade into the city riding on – you guessed it – a donkey. That is why the people shouted out when they saw Jesus riding into Jerusalem on a donkey. It was a sign for them; it meant that Jesus had conquered and was bringing peace in the kingdom.

Now imagine an ancient chariot race between two competitors, one is a horse named ‘justice’ with the jockey named ‘pride’.  The other chariot is a horse named ‘sin’ with the jockey named ‘humility’.  If you are a betting person, who would you bet on?  St. John Chrysostom wrote, “you will see that sin outrunning justice wins not by its own strength, but by that of humility: while you will see the other pair beaten, not by the weakness of justice, but by the weight and size of pride.”

Brothers and sisters, the race is on! Holy week is upon us. If we find ourselves in the chariot of pride and pulled by our self-righteous horse named justice, we will lose the race of salvation.  However, today, if we recognize that sin is driving our life, all we need to do is climb into the chariot of humility through the sacrament of confession and the mercy of God will pull us to the victory lane of heaven!  

In His Mercy,

Fr. Eric Clark, Pastor

PS – Holy Week Confessions:  Tues. 6-7pm; Wed. 4:30-5:30pm; Thur. 6-7pm & 8-9pm; Fri. 3:30-4:30pm, 6-7pm & 8-9pm

Pilgrimage - March 20, 2026

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

Have you ever been on a pilgrimage? Maybe you have traveled to the Holy Land, Rome, Lourdes, Our Lady of Guadalupe or some other Catholic site to increase your faith. 

A basic definition of pilgrimage is a journey to sites of particular religious significance. Pilgrimage is a part of many of the great religions of the world, for in religion humanity seeks the answers to the perennial questions of life. Pilgrimage is a common human experience in which one seeks to fulfill a ritual obligation, live an experience of spirituality or ask for particular graces or miracles. 

Vatican II’s document Lumen Gentium speaks of the pilgrim Church that journeys toward the heavenly Jerusalem. The word pilgrimage comes from the Latin word peregre, which means to journey through the land. St. Paul identifying that Christians “are pilgrims and strangers on the earth” (Hebrews 11:13). In short, a pilgrimage is an outward journey of an inward movement toward God. 

I am pleased to announce that our parish will be doing a fall pilgrimage to Italy and the French Riviera. We will get to visit the shrines like the Shroud of Turin, St. Mary Magdalene, St. John Bosco, St. Pier Giorgio Frassati and many others. You will get to experience the Alps, Mediterranean Sea, and Italian & French culture.

Please see below for more details about this wonderful opportunity to grow in your faith and fellowship with other parishioners. Space is limited so I encourage you to sign up soon. I look forward to having you join me on this spiritual journey this fall.

In His Mercy,

Fr. Eric Clark, Pastor

Register for the Pilgrimage Here

God Looks at the Heart - March 13, 2026

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,  

What are the deciding factors for you when you buy a car? When I was newly ordained, I needed a car and so I went to the dealer. The car salesman and I were test driving a car and he wanted to impress me with the bells and whistles of the interior. I asked him to turn off the radio because I wanted to listen to the engines RPM’s and how it shifted. And then I began to ask him about what was under the hood and he was at a loss for words.

Too often in life, we choose an item or judge something based upon appearance. But God does not judge by appearance (1 Samuel 16:7). I learned this lesson in the spring of 2005 when I was a FOCUS missionary at North Dakota State in Fargo. It was the second semester on campus and I was discerning who in my freshman bibles studies I would mentor the next year in what was called discipleship. I would spend 2-3 hours a week with the potential student to train him to be a bible study leader and evangelist on campus.  

I had a dozen men in several different bible studies and I surely thought I would mentor Garrett. Garrett had twelve years of Catholic schools and he knew the faith. He was a model of piety with all the religious medals around his neck and a rosary hanging out of his pocket. I thought, ‘Surely Lord this is the greatest candidate that you have put in my path.’

As I was praying my holy hour before Mass one Sunday in March, God told me to ask Paul Wilburn into discipleship. I was dumbfounded and doubted the Lord as I said, ‘Lord, he does not even know what the Trinity is and furthermore, he is shy and a band nerd but if you want me to, please make this more obvious.’  

The 1^st reading at Mass (similar to this Sunday) was the anointing of the young David as king of Israel.  God told Samuel, “Do not judge from his appearance… Not as man sees does God see, because man sees the appearance but the LORD looks into the heart.” (1 Sam. 16:7).  I got it!

Paul Wilburn had a heart full of love for God. He became a great disciple of Jesus and went on to make many converts at NDSU and eventually became a FOCUS missionary. Currently he is one of the senior staff members of FOCUS in the role as Senior Director of Philanthropy Engagement.  

So, the next time you are going to buy a car, turn the noisy radio off and listen to the engine rumble.  The next time you need to hire someone or invite someone important into your life, do not judge by appearance, titles or lofty experiences… ask God to show you their heart.  

In His Mercy,

Fr. Eric Clark, Pastor

PS – please join us tomorrow for SENT Evangelization Training this Saturday from 9am - 1pm.

Relational Outreach - February 27, 2026

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, 

You don’t need to be a missionary to be a missionary. This realization hit me when I was doing missionary work in 2006. That was the year in which three households came into the Catholic faith in my little home parish of St. Patrick in McCool Jct which has100 households. Imagine if 3% of our parish converted (100 new Catholics) or the UNL Newman Center (750 new Catholics). 

These new Catholics came into the church through the relational outreach of my mom. She understood relational outreach. She entered into their lives and loved them where they were but too much to leave them there. They saw the peace and joy that she exhibited and they wanted it so they joined the Catholic faith. 

How well do you know your neighbors? At our parish, we are convicted that abiding in Christ and building His Kingdom starts with relationships. One of the great ways of building trust and relationships is by inviting non-Catholics on Fridays to Stations of the Cross and a Lenten meal following. These are Encounter ministries which help us invite others to meet Jesus through sharing our lives with them.   

You don’t need to be a missionary to be a missionary. All you have to do is be relational by loving God and loving your neighbor. Some people study their way into the church but most are loved into the flock of God.

In His Mercy,

Fr. Eric Clark, Pastor

PS – Please join us for: Stations of the Cross on Fridays at 2:30PM or 6:00PM with Fish Fry to follow.

Going For Gold - February 27, 2026

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, 

Going for gold! On Sunday, we had a divided rectory. As you may know, Fr. Ryan Alemao is from Toronto, Canada and being from the north, he knows more about hockey than I so I asked him to watch the Olympic hockey gold match game between the USA and Canada. The USA won 2-1 in overtime! Their first gold in hockey in 46 years since the “Miracle on Ice” over the Soviet Union in 1980. 

One of the most moving moments after the game is when the USA team honored their late teammate John Gaudreau by bringing out his jersey and kids in the team photo. Johnny was tragically killed at age 31 (along with his brother Matthew) by a drunk driver while they were riding bicycles in New Jersey in August 2024. The brothers were home together that weekend to attend their sister’s wedding. At the time of his death, Johnny played in the NHL for Columbus, Blue Jackets. 

His wife Meredith announced at his funeral in her eulogy that she was pregnant. “In less than three years of marriage, we have created a family of five," said Meredith. "It doesn't even sound possible. But I look at it as the ultimate blessing... Our last one being a blessing and special even in these difficult circumstances.” 

Johnny grew up in a devout Catholic family and he carried a rosary ring blessed by Pope Francis on his NHL gym bag. After his death, rosary rings blessed by Pope Francis have now found themselves within nine NHL locker rooms, which means the rosary has now reached more than a quarter of the NHL due to the faith of Johnny Gaudreau. 

This weekend we hear the promise of our Lord to Abraham, “I will make you a great nation and I will bless you” (Genesis 12:2). So, how will God make the USA a great nation? Families that are open to life and families that pray the rosary together. 

Johnny Gaudreau’s faith reminds me of what St. Peter wrote, “The genuineness of your faith, more precious than gold that is perishable even though tested by fire, may prove to be for praise, glory, and honor of Jesus Christ” (1 Peter 1:7). That is the gold that we need to go for!

In His Mercy,

Fr. Eric Clark, Pastor

PS – Please join us for Stations of the Cross on Fridays at 2:30PM and 6PM.     

The Freedom of Lent - February 20, 2026

Marriage Week - February 13, 2026

Click here to sign up for our Marriage Retreat

Salt of the Earth - February 6, 2026

Click here to sign up for our Marriage Retreat

Forward in Faith and Excellence - January 30, 2026

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,       

I am pleased to announce that St. Peter Catholic Church, in conjunction with Pius X High School, is launching the Forward in Faith and Excellence campaign. This collaborative effort will enable St. Peter Church to:

• Increase security and beauty to our exterior campus
• Build a proper rectory to accommodate extra priests and deacon formation
• Renovate our St. John Paul II Hall and school common spaces

Additionally, funds raised for Pius X High School will help them meet their critical need to replace and improve their aged facilities, thereby strengthening our only Catholic high school. Our children are our future parishioners!

This is a tremendous opportunity to enhance our Catholic community. Just as those who came before us had an unwavering vision and made significant sacrifices, so must we move forward in faith. Therefore, we look to the people of our parish to come together in common purpose.

Our parish target is to raise $2,500,000, of which almost $1,200,000 will stay in our parish. Each household has a pledge card and information that can be picked up after Mass. Attached are the current conceptual drawings for the items of our campaign for your review. 

Thank you for your prayerful consideration and Christ-like generosity. As St. Theresa of Calcutta once said, “Let us do something beautiful for God.” 

In His Mercy,

Fr. Eric Clark, Pastor

Click here to pledge to the Forward in Faith and Excellence Campaign

Click Here to View Conceptual Drawings

Light in the Darkness - January 23, 2026