Bishop Anthony B. Taylor consecrated a former Presbyterian church as the new home of Sts. Peter and Paul Church in Lincoln Oct. 10. Bishop Anthony B. Taylor, six priests and over 250 people attended the dedication Mass. It was standing room only, with over 60 people in the overflow section of the parish.

Father Martin Siebold, pastor of Sts. Peter and Paul Church in Lincoln and associate pastor of St. Raphael Church in Springdale, arrived at the parish in July 2023. Moving to a new location will allow the Catholic flock to grow, he said. The parish is this year’s One Church partner. Funds will help pay off the church loan and renovation costs.

“The first Mass was amazing,” Father Siebold said. “… We have steadily been growing every year since the parish started. I look forward mostly to all the sacraments we will be celebrating now in a church building, an incredible worship space. We have already had our first baptism … and first wedding … and a First Communion. These people, whose faith has made them the living Church for all these years, now get to celebrate these precious moments in their lives in a beautiful sanctuary.”

Father Alex Smith, pastor of St. Anthony Church in Weiner and St. John Newman University Parish in Jonesboro, served as a sacramental minister at Sts. Peter and Paul Church from 2021 to 2023. He attended the dedication Mass Oct. 10.

“It’s a joy to see them grow and to see life in both the English and Spanish communities, as well as seeing the community so active in discipleship and wanting to be a family,” he said. “It is incredible to see, after years of wanting to have a church, being able to move from downtown to now a church of their own. What a joyous moment seeing the bishop bless and consecrate the altar in the church. It’s not something you get to see every day, and I think for that community, that was such an impactful moment, especially for myself, who got to serve and walk with them and see the seeds of love and community grow through the years and see where they are today.”
— Katie Zakrzewski