Alpha
WHAT IS ALPHA?
Alpha is a series of sessions exploring the basics of the Christian faith. Alpha guests share a meal and watch a video that explores the Good News of Jesus Christ in a thought-provoking, relevant way. Then, in a small group setting, guests are free to ask questions, share their thoughts, build relationships, and experience the love of God through the power of the Holy Spirit. Let Alpha take you on a journey leading to a personal encounter with Jesus Christ. Allow yourself the opportunity to experience His love for you. Come and see! Our next session of Alpha will begin in fall 2026.
JOIN US FOR OUR FALL ALPHA SESSION!
11 Wednesdays
Beginning Wednesday, August 26
6-8 PM Fellowship Hall
Each Alpha session has three components:
WHAT TOPICS DOES IT COVER?
Alpha is for everyone! It doesn't matter if you grew up as a Christian or have never been to church. Whether you are new to asking questions about faith or are a lifelong believer, you are invited to join us for this engaging 11-week course. Some topics include:
Who is Jesus?
Why did Jesus Die?
How Can I have Faith?
Why and How do I Pray?
Why and How Should I Read the Bible?
How Does God Guide Us?
How Can I Resist Evil?
Does God Heal Today?
What About the Church?
Why and How Should I Tell Others?
HAVE QUESTIONS?
What if I try it and don't like it?
If you decide Alpha isn't for you at any point, that's not a problem. There's no pressure, no follow-up, and no charge.
Do I have to be Catholic?
No! Alpha is non-denominational and focuses on the central teachings of Christianity. At Alpha, we do not talk about denominational beliefs. All are welcome!
Can I bring a friend?
Yes! Alpha is for any adult.
What about my kids?
We have free childcare. When you register, you can let us know if you need care for your children.
Still have questions? Contact Jenny Wiswell, director of Discipleship and Evangelization, at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call the parish office at 402-331-1955.
TRANSFORMING LIVES
Bible Study
Seeking Truth Catholic Bible Study is a faith building program using the media presentations of Seeking Truth's Sharon Doran. The study is designed to help us grow deeper in love and understanding of our Catholic Faith through Scripture. Seeking Truth offers its curriculum free of charge for parishes hosting a class. Each session meets weekly to discuss lessons prepared in advance by participants from one or more books of the Bible. Parish leaders facilitate the class and breakout group discussions.
Next Study on ROMANS AND EPHESIANS Starts September 3, 2024
Please join us at St. Gerald’s starting on Tuesday, September 3, 2024 for a Bible Study on ROMANS AND EPHESIANS.
The letter to the Romans stands as the clearest and most systematic presentation of Christian doctrine in all the Scriptures. Paul begins by discussing that which is most easily observable in the world—the sinfulness of all humanity. Paul explains how Jesus Christ offers the free gift of salvation to Jew and Gentiles alike through grace by faith in Jesus Christ. The majestic chapters of Ephesians emphasize the unity in the church of Christ that has come about for both Jews and Gentiles within God’s household.
Each week we will view an engaging video presentation by Teaching Director, Sharon Doran. Afterwards, we will break into small groups to discuss a lesson that you prepared in advance at home during the week from scripture. Archbishop George J. Lucas fully endorses the Seeking Truth program. You can read more about the program on their website at www.seekingtruth.net .
This is a 23-week Bible Study with breaks at Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s and is scheduled to be completed at the end of February, 2025. We will be meet at the St. Gerald’s Fellowship Hall. We will be offering a Zoom class with a limited number of openings. There is no charge and materials will be provided.
Where: St. Gerald’s on 96th & Q
When: Tuesdays starting September 3, 2024, for 23 weeks
Time: 7:00 - 8:30 p.m.
Please contact Ralph & Bonni Pulte at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to sign up by August 18, 2024, so that we can prepare the materials.
Called & Gifted
Thank you for being so interested in Called and Gifted. Are you ready to recognize your charisms (spiritual gifts) and begin to discern God’s call? This workshop uses the Catherine of Siena Institute’s three-part process to help discover where you are gifted.
- Part One is the Called and Gifted video workshop, which lays the foundation for the beginning of discernment. You will have one month to view the self-paced videos online, where you will take the Catholic Spiritual Gifts Inventory.
- Part Two is the one-hour in-person gifts interview.
- Part Three is in small groups that will help you begin discernment in the real world. It will teach you how to:
- Develop charism experiments.
- Evaluate your results.
- Identify ways you learned to control life as a child that prevent you from using your charisms as an adult.
Please note the following important information regarding the upcoming course:
The course is designed to be completed within three months. To enroll, you must be able to complete all three parts described above. The maximum capacity for the course is 10 participants. If more than ten people register, we will create a waitlist. If you are unable to participate at this time, there will be future opportunities to do so. Registration ends Sunday, February 16.
The kick-off meeting will take place on Sunday, February 23, at 1 pm and will be held at the library located at St. Gerald - 96th & Q. During the meeting, we will review the course timeline, distribute materials, and collect the $49 course registration fee. You can pay by cash or check, payable to St. Gerald Parish.
Charism discernment is an essential part of the Way of Discipleship at St. Gerald. Come and discover the charisms within you!
SCHEDULE
Sunday, Feb. 23 | Kick-off Meeting
Sunday, Mar. 9 | Q&A
Sunday, Mar. 23 | End of course Q&A
Interviews Mar. 24 - April 5
Small Group Discernment at 1 p.m. in the St. Gerald Library
Sunday, April 6
Sunday, April 13
Sunday, April 20
Sunday, May 4
Christians Encounter Christ: CEC
Christians Encounter Christ Movement believes that Christianity can penetrate all areas of the secular world, living, growing, and transferring Christ's values to society. CEC forms leaders who are willing to live and share their principles of being Christian. Through ongoing spiritual growth, these leaders strive to instill the spirit of Christ in all environments in which they are actively involved. During a CEC weekend, learn about God's grace in you, how this grace comes more alive in a Christian community, and how to share this grace with others.
Discipleship Quads
Do you desire to grow in your ability to hear God’s voice?
If you want to take the next step in your journey to deepen your prayer life and know, love, and serve the Lord more, then we invite you to explore a Discipleship Quad.
Discipleship Quad Interest Form
What is a Discipleship Quad?
A Discipleship Quad is a group of four men or women who journey together as disciples through weekly or bi-weekly gatherings of fellowship, learning, and prayer. The goal of this discipleship group is ongoing conversion through the development of a deeper prayer life and the spiritual disciplines in your life. Each quad is led by a Quad leader, whose goal is to create an atmosphere of authentic prayer, friendship, and spiritual accountability for growth in one’s relationship with God. Quads are made of same gender participants to allow for deeper vulnerability and intimacy for sharing one’s life with another.
Why Be in a Discipleship Quad?
No one is meant to do life alone. Especially as a Christian. Those who have made a decision to follow Christ (believers) need to grow in their lives as disciples (followers) of Jesus. This is a process, and the most long-lasting and effective way to grow as a disciple is through sharing life, prayer, and learning with other disciples. It could be described as peer-to-peer discipling, in that it does not have a hierarchical structure, where one leader is passing along his or her knowledge to the others. Rather, a Discipleship Quad is made up of people who are committed to growing closer to Jesus as his disciples, even if they are at different levels of spiritual maturity and experience.
What Does a Discipleship Quad Meeting Look Like?
Quads meet twice a month for 1 ½ hours. The time consists of three parts: Sharing of Prayer, Sharing of Life (a review of the past two weeks of prayer, highs, lows, victories, and challenges with spiritual disciplines), and Sharing of Learning (focused on the materials used for reflection). Meetings can be held at the parish, in homes, coffee shops, or any space conducive to discussion and prayer.
What Does Discipleship Involve?
Disciples commit to meeting with each other for one year. They commit to taking their formation and study seriously, making a commitment to growing in daily prayer, reading of Scripture, and their bi-weekly meetings with their Quad. After that time period, quad members will be invited to discern whether they are called to lead a new quad, continuing the spiritual multiplication and growth of disciples.
Jesus invested in a few, a little at a time. And his disciples continued that model. Personal prayer and life as part of the Christian community are critical to our ongoing growth in faith and, as such, our peace, joy, and fulfillment in life. As part of a Discipleship Quad, you will get to learn with and from others, pray for and with one another, and share life with those who will become good friends in an otherwise busy and often isolating world.
To sign up to be part of a Discipleship Quad or a Quad leader, contact Jenny Wiswell at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
Foundations
What does Jesus mean when He says, "Follow me"?
Foundations is a two-part course where we dive into what it really means to follow Jesus. We will share God's plan of salvation, reflect on your story of faith, and explore the habits of discipleship that will strengthen your relationship with God. If you want to experience deeper spiritual and personal transformation as a follower of Jesus, sign up for Foundations!
UPCOMING SESSION
Thursdays, February 5 & 12 | 6-9 PM
St. Gerald Fellowship Hall (96th & Q)
Dinner Served
Marriage Formation
St. Gerald's Marriage Formation is a dynamic process for engaged couples. The overall desired outcomes include strengthening relationships, primarily with God, the couple, and the parish community. Review of the FOCCUS inventory to facilitate the conversation with the couple to prepare them for the Sacrament of Matrimony. Providing a mentor couple to lead the engaged couple through the Witness to Love process and accompany them through their first year of marriage. This evangelization process is founded upon classical principles of relational virtues. Sacramental preparation and enrichment, the focus creates an environment through the Mentors that draws couples closer together through Christ and to the Parish.
For questions about the Marriage Formation process, please contact:
- Deacon Dan Buck, Marriage Formation Co-coordinator, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
- Deacon Rick Melrose, Marriage Formation Co-coordinator, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Mentor Couples
Spencer and Erika Choquette
Welcome to the beginning of your marriage journey! We are excited for you to be a part of this process and pray that you find great fruit and growth through 'Witness to Love'.
A little about us: We were married on June 28, 2014 after dating for two years. Prior to our courtship, we met at Nebraska Wesleyan University where we both attended college. Since being married we have lived in the Omaha area where we've been parishoners at St. Margaret Mary and currently at St. Gerald. We have two children, and a third on the way (as of this writing). Grayson is our oldest, 4, and Saige, our second, is our angel. She was with us for nine days before going to her eternal rest. Erika works as a nurse at both Children's Orthopedic Clinic and for Essential Pregnancy Services. Spencer is an educator and serves as the principal at Anderson Grove Elementary in Papillion La Vista.
In our spare time we love to spend time outdoors and with our family. We both enjoy sports and were fortunate to play competitively at Nebraska Wesleyan, but we now enjoy the recreation of sports and activities like walking, running, biking, golfing, and going to the lake . We also love spending time with our families. Erika's family is in the Omaha area, where she is originally from, and Spencer's family is in Kansas City and central Nebraska (Minden), where he grew up on his parents farm.
Since being at St. Gerald's we've found ways to be involved with the parish. We attend mass regularly, have been a part of parish wide book studies, and are now a mentor couple for newly engaged (you). Spencer is an active member of the Knights of Columbus and a part of a "That Man is You" bible study group on Saturday mornings. We love our faith and parish community.
Ryan and Nicole Kisicki
Congratulations on your engagement! Please know of our prayers for you as you prepare for the Sacrament of marriage.
Nicole, originally from southwest Minnesota, moved to Omaha in 2017 and Ryan is an Omaha native. We met at a Bible study hosted at the time by Nicole's roommate in the spring of 2019. After two months of friendship we started dating. Those eight months led to our engagement in February 2020. Six months of engagement during a global pandemic was nothing short of a challenge bringing us to our wedding on September 12, 2020 - feast of the Holy name of Mary! Our marriage has been blessed with the addition of two boys (at the time of this writing) - Simon (2.5 years) and Henry (4 months). Nicole is a middle school teacher and Ryan is a residential designer.
Ryan grew up in St. Gerald's parish and Nicole, while being a lifelong Catholic, joined St. Gerald's parish after our wedding which took place at St. Peter's Catholic Church downtown Omaha. We have become involved in many of the great opportunities that St. Gerald's has to offer - Mass, Adoration, Alpha, Alive and Well, Oasis, discipleship, Nazareth, child care coordinating, mom's group, Knights of Columbus, lector, greeter, welcome desk, coffee ministry, and marriage preparation.
We look forward to meeting you and are honored to be a part of your marriage preparation journey!
Tim and Kristi Mundorf
Tim and Kristi are not quite high school sweethearts. We met the summer after high school graduation and married in the fall of 1991, right after college graduation.
We both grew up on farms in southwest Iowa. Tim grew up Baptist and went through RCIA after we were married. Kristi grew up Catholic, with a Catholic father and a Lutheran mother. We have raised two girls, Katherine (husband Jacob and son John) and Victoria, who both attended St. Gerald’s School, Papillion/La Vista High School and the University of Nebraska Lincoln. We are now proud grandparents.
We have both been involved in many organizations at St. Gerald’s, including Knights of Columbus, Parish Council, Habitat for Humanity, That Man Is You, Maintenance Committee, Home and School, Choir and Alpha. We have always found St. Gerald’s to be a welcoming, faith-filled community and we have made many life-long friends here.
We both felt called to join the Witness To Love ministry and are excited to share our faith and love with couples as they begin this beautiful journey together. God has many amazing gifts to share with you through your marriage vocation. Keep your hearts open to hear His voice.
Evan and Alexa met as freshman at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. They got to chatting at a launch party for the university literary magazine. Alexa was a magazine editor, and Evan was one of the published writers. They grew in their friendship and later started dating at the end of freshman year.Brian and Melissa Svoboda
What an exciting journey you are on! Congratulations on your engagement and approaching marriage! We are excited to meet you and work together on this sacred vocation of marriage you are entering soon!
A little about us:
Brian was born and raised in Papillion, NE. Brian comes from a large Catholic family and attended Catholic school from kindergarten through 8th grade. Brian then attended Papillion/Lavista High School graduating in 2001. After high school, Brian attended UNL-go HUSKERS! And graduated with a bachelors degree in Political Science.
Melissa was born and raised in Red Oak, IA. Melissa comes from a smaller Catholic sized family and community. After graduating from public school in 2002, Melissa attended UNL and graduated with a bachelors degree in Human Science.
Thanks to God and a mutual friend, we met in 2005 and were immediately drawn to one another and became inseparable. After moving to Omaha in 2007, we became engaged and parishioners of St. Gerald and began our marriage preparation. To this day we both acknowledge and appreciate the experience we had with our marriage prep. While we thought we already knew a lot about God and one another, the marriage prep process made those feelings even deeper and we were more confident than ever that we were preparing ourselves for forever to God and one another. We were married in 2008.
In 2009 we received the shock of our lives...we were expecting...TWINS! Our baby boys were due end of April 2010. Unfortunately, much to our surprise, they were born at 28 weeks, 3 months early. We spent the next 3 months praying for their survival and health and our prayers were answered at the end of April when they got to come home!
Parenting together has been an amazing journey and we both wouldn't want to be on this journey with anyone else. We have had several challenges through the years and together with the help of God, we have always come out on top. We have been through career changes, elementary school, and a pandemic together.
Even after a busy day from a full time job, an evening full of homework, and cub scout meetings; one of our favorite things to do is to sit down together at the end of the day and just talk or take a walk with our new puppy and be in each other's presence. In our spare time we do enjoy trying out new local restaurants, running, biking, fishing and traveling to the Ozarks.
This is your journey and no one else's. Remember at the end of day to laugh and enjoy each other! God bless!
Ray and Paula Szczepaniak
Congratulations! You have chosen to be married in the Catholic church in the midst of your parish family. These are exciting days for you, ones filled with planning and building dreams. We rejoice for you and already hold you in prayer.
The two of us met on a blind date and have been married for 32 years. We are parents to five adult children ranging in ages from 22-30 yrs old and are grandparents to one very special grandson! We have many individual interests, but together we love to spend time gardening, taking walks, enjoying evening campfires and spending time with family. Our Siberian Husky is our daily entertainment and constant companion.
We hope you find Witness to Love to be a down-to-earth, yet inspired marriage prep tool. Faith has always been the center of our relationship, but it would have been a real blessing to participate in such a welcoming, easy to use program when we were dating. It can be a challenge to add one more thing during this busy time before your wedding, but a God-centered preparation is important in building a life-long marriage. Enjoy the process! We are very excited for you and look forward to being a part of your journey!
Bryan and Natalie Voithofer
Congratulations on your engagement!
Bryan is a Chiropractor and we own our small business in Omaha. He is from Pennsylvania originally and moved here about 10 years ago. Natalie is an Omaha native and stays home with our children. We are expecting our 4th baby in 2024.
We volunteered to be part of the Marriage Formation Ministry because we believe so strongly about having a strong marriage foundation with God. We look forward to being part of your journey in preparing for your vocation!
Missionary Discipleship
Did you know that every one of us is called to be a missionary? Many people believe that being a missionary means serving or preaching in other countries, but we also need missionaries right here in our own communities! We need individuals whose lives have been transformed by God and who are committed to reaching out to others, both within and outside of their parish. Our Missionary Discipleship gatherings are designed to help you learn how to effectively share your faith through study, prayer, accountability, and encouragement from one another.
Find out more about our Missionary Discipleship gatherings by emailing This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. You can also sign up for email and/or text notifications about future events.
Missionary Discipleship 2025-26
Join us on Saturday, April 25, from 9-11 a.m. in the Fellowship Hall. Build a simple, life-giving rhythm for your relationship with God and with others. This experience invites you to grow not only spiritually but also emotionally, by learning practical tools like attentive listening, understanding your emotions, and navigating conflict with grace. Together, we’ll create a personalized “Rule of Life” to help you stay rooted in Christ and live with greater purpose each day. Come discover how small, intentional habits can lead to lasting transformation in your faith and daily life.
Jesus calls us not only to love God, but to love others with emotional maturity. Join us as we grow in our discipleship journey by cultivating deep Christ-centered relationships, marked by honesty, empathy, boundaries, and grace. Light breakfast and wonderful fellowship provided. To RSVP or for more information, email Jenny at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Suggested donation for the book and devotional is $20.
Mom's Fellowship
St. Gerald's Mom's Fellowship invites you to join us for monthly gatherings, a summer book study, playgroups, and social events. Be encouraged in your vocation and meet new friends who will provide faith-filled support for your motherhood journey. Please contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. with any questions.
Nazareth Groups
Discover a close-knit community and grow in your relationship with Christ.
What is Nazareth?
Nazareth groups are small gatherings of individuals within our parish community. They meet once a month in a member's home, share a meal, pray together, and form lasting relationships. These ongoing groups are intended to promote a deeper sense of belonging and encourage one another along life's journey of faith. The groups offer a supportive and safe environment where members can share their experiences and grow in their personal faith.
To express your interest in joining a group or to find out more, click here to go to www.nazarethgroups.com.
EXPERIENCE NAZARETH!
Join us for our "Come & See" event on Tuesday, May 5, from 6-8 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall. Come and learn about Nazareth Groups while you experience the joy of fellowship and friendship. RSVP to Tina at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call/text 402-214.-1255.
Renewed Hearts Prayer Ministry
“Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28).
Sin, trauma, unforgiveness, and family discord cause woundedness in the human heart. Renewed Hearts Prayer Ministry focuses on emotional and spiritual healing involving forgiveness, repentance, and processing memories to bring healing. The goal of this ministry is to connect your heart with the heart of our Heavenly Father, who desires your wholeness and freedom.
What happens during a Renewed Hearts Prayer Ministry session?
Participants will meet with a team of trained inner healing prayer ministers. Each session is usually 1.5 to 2 hours. The team will lead you through various prayers that help you determine the lies that you have come to believe in your life and help you receive the truth and healing God desires to give you. Everything in a prayer session is confidential.
To learn more about what happens in a Renewed Hearts Prayer Ministry session, please click the button below:
Next steps:
- Fill out this interest form below.
- Someone from the Renewed Hearts Team will contact you within 24 hours. Your prayer team will schedule a session with you.
Questions? Contact Bob English at 402-312-8830 or email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
St. Gerald Prayer Chain
Intercessory prayer is one way to show love for your neighbor. Prayer Chain warriors volunteer to pray for intention requests. Your intentions and needs are passed along to dozens of parish family members to be lifted up in prayer. Prayer requests are received by phone at the parish business office or by entering the request on the parish website. Volunteer to be a prayer partner by contacting the St. Gerald Business office at 402-331-1955.
Reach One More
God invites every one of us to join him in his great mission to reach one more — one more coworker, neighbor, family member, and friend. We know it's not always an easy discussion to have. That's where Reach One More can help. Stay tuned for more information on our next session. Questions? Contact Jenny Wiswell at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call 402-331-1955.
TMIY
That Man Is You is a group study dedicated to helping men grow in their faith through Biblical principles. We have two groups that meet on Friday or Saturday mornings. You pick your day and show up. During our time together, we invite the Holy Spirit to guide us as we watch a video presentation, share our thoughts and reflections in small groups, and conclude with prayer. So, if you want to grow deeper in your faith, grow as a man of God, or connect more with the men of St. Gerald, please join us.
- Fridays at 6:30 am – Family Room (Library). No food is provided. Bring what you want.
- Saturdays at 6:30 am – Fellowship Hall. Coffee and donuts are available.
Men of all ages are welcome to join. There is no fee for joining or required sign-up. A free will offering is taken throughout the study to help purchase materials. If you have questions, please get in touch with the parish office at 402-331-1955.
Kingdom Builders Women's Ministry
Kingdom Builders desires every woman to recognize, love, and honor the unique beauty of their design. Our Mission is to build God’s Kingdom within the heart of every woman. Ladies, you are the crown jewels of God’s creation. You are the beloved daughter of a Glorious King. Come, build with us.
Ladies! Join us for the next Kingdom Builders gathering.
Ladies! Join us on Thursday, July 23, from 6:30-8:30 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall for our next gathering.
Rise above the distractions and discover God's perspective. When we fix our eyes on Christ, our perspective changes. Instead of being consumed by the challenges around us, we begin to see with the eyes of faith. Questions? Reach out to Lea-Ann at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
Thursday, July 23 | 6:30-8:30 PM
"A Higher Perspective"
Fellowship Hall, 96th & Q
Doors open at 6:15 p.m. for fellowship. Childcare available upon request.
*Limited childcare available. Please notify Lea-Ann via email if needed.
ALL SUMMER 2026 DATES
Women's Spiritual Book Club
The Women's Spiritual Book Club gathers as women of faith to discuss books that educate, inform and inspire us in our Catholic faith. All women of the parish are invited to participate. Meets at the St. Gerald Library, 96th and Q.
