Explore the Luxembourg Enclave in Butler County, Nebraska (Part 3). This is the final installment of the spotlight on Bellwood, Nebraska.

In 1924, Presentation Parish celebrated the 50th Jubilee of its founding. A three-day celebration took place from October 7-9. New stations of the cross and a set of vestments representing Our Lady of Luxembourg were donated to the church for the golden jubilee. The book “Franciscans in Nebraska” stated: 

On the 9th of October a Solemn Requiem High Mass was offered for the deceased members of the parish. Fr. Mock also installed very artistic stations of the cross, carved in wood, and surmounted by a small painting representing the scene of the station…Mr. John Morbach donated a most beautiful set of vestments with representation of Our Lady of Luxemburg and the coronation of her statue – the work of Sisters in Luxemburg. They are valued at more than $1,250…

In 2024, the fate of the Luxembourg vestments was unknown. Kevin Wester visited Presentation Church for the parish’s150th anniversary and during research, he stumbled upon information about them. Parishioners thought they may have been given to the Diocese of Lincoln for a diocesan museum, which had since closed. Kevin contacted the diocesan archivist who searched the archives and found the1925 cope, which the papal crowning of the original statue of Our Lady of Luxembourg at the cathedral in Luxembourg City in 1866. Fortunately, one of the vestments still exists and is being preserved. Interestingly, the Presentation Church cope design is identical to a cope belonging to the cathedral in Luxembourg City. 

The statue of Our Lady of Luxembourg remained in the sanctuary of Presentation Church for 45 years until 1950 when the parish built an outdoor stone grotto dedicated to Our Lady of Luxembourg and moved the statue there. The grotto was donated by Nicholas and Margaret (Meysenburg) Remakel. Margaret was the daughter of P. N. and Mary Barbara (Dehner) Meysenburg, the first pioneers to settle in the region. The inscription on the grotto’s granite cross reads: In Memory of the Early Pioneers of Presentation Parish. After a few years, despite being behind plexiglass, the statue began to show signs of deterioration due to the elements. It was returned to the high altar in the interior of the church to prevent further deterioration. 

In 1963, because of the liturgical renewal of the Second Vatican Council, the original high altar and side altars were removed from Presentation Church. A wood-paneled backdrop replaced the high altar, and the statue of Our Lady of Luxembourg was placed atop it.

The next renovation, which took place in 1997, included construction of a new oak altar and pulpit. The tabernacle, located where a side altar had been in 1963, was returned to the sanctuary. Surrounded by a shrine made of oak arches, it housed a crucifix and statues of Mary and Joseph. The statue of Our Lady of Luxembourg was moved to a side altar where it stood on a pedestal suspended from the wall. In 1983, the statue was refurbished and repainted by Betty Hamsa, of Dwight, Nebraska. 

In 2021, the most recent renovation took place in anticipation of the parish’s 150th anniversary in 2024. Parishioners, who dreamed of adding traditional altars back into their church, were able to secure a set of three altars from a Catholic church that had closed in Pennsylvania. The altar fit perfectly, and once again, Our Lady of Luxembourg found her home in the central cove of the main high altar in the church’s sanctuary. In addition to the new altars, the church was repainted, and new flooring was added.   

On September 14, 2024, the parish celebrated its 150th anniversary with a special Mass celebrated by Bishop James Conley, of Lincoln, Nebraska, followed by a buffet dinner, historic exhibit, outdoor reception and music. On behalf of Honorary Consul Mike Ansay of Wisconsin, Kevin Wester, Attaché for Cultural Affairs for the Honorary Consulate of Luxembourg in Wisconsin, presented a sterling silver rosary from Luxembourg to the parish for the statue of Our Lady of Luxembourg. Kevin had purchased the rosary in May 2024 during the annual Oktav of Our Lady of Luxembourg in Luxembourg City. The rosary, which features a medallion of the original statue of Our Lady of Luxembourg in Luxembourg City’s cathedral, was hung on the statue’s arm along with the traditional key and heart.   

The people of Presentation Parish are proud of the fact that they are one of the Luxembourgish settlements further west of the Mississippi. Kevin and Rebecca had the honor of working with numerous people with ancestral roots in Luxemburg Settlement to secure their Luxembourg dual citizenship including 36 descendants of P. N. and Mary Barbara Meysenburg, the founders of Luxemburg Settlement, and 11 descendants of the immigrant Cornelius Schmit, of Canach, Luxembourg. 

Kevin made two brief videos showing the exterior of Presentation Church and its 1909 statue of Our Lady of Luxembourg: 

Exterior of Presentation Church, Bellwood, Nebraska 
https://youtube.com/shorts/3exN7cgBnXs?feature=share 

1909 Statue of Our Lady of Luxembourg in Presentation Church  
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/0nolGhyCeKI

Top row: Interior of Presentation Church with statue on back sanctuary wall, 1970s – Presentation Parish; Aerial view of church, Marietta School, rectory and hall, 1950s – Presentation Parish; Sanctuary after 2021 renovation – Kevin Wester, 2024
Bottom row: Vestments representing Our Lady of Luxembourg were donated to the church for the golden jubilee; Presentation Church – Kevin Wester, 2024; Luxembourg rosary presented to statue – Kevin Wester, 2024; Presentation Church – Kevin Wester, 2024.