Rev. James D. Conley, D.D., S.T.L. | Diocese of Lincoln website

At the Chrism Mass held on April 14 at the Cathedral of the Risen Christ in Lincoln, priests celebrated their jubilee anniversaries, including Father Brian Kane, who is approaching the 25th anniversary of his ordination in May.

Father Kane, originally from Silver Spring, Maryland, has familial ties to Nebraska. His mother grew up on a farm in St. Edward, Nebraska, and the family spent their vacations there, which influenced his decision to attend the University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL) in 1991. Initially a construction management major, Father Kane switched to education. During his time at UNL, he became active in the Newman Center and applied for seminary studies for the Diocese of Lincoln in 1994.

He began his seminary education at St. Charles Borromeo Seminary in Philadelphia, completing his undergraduate studies in 1996 and continuing with a four-year theology program. Bishop Fabian Bruskewitz ordained him as a priest for the Diocese of Lincoln in 2000.

Father Kane's early assignments included roles as an assistant pastor and teacher at St. John the Apostle Parish and Pius X High School in Lincoln. In 2002, he joined the UNL Newman Center and continued teaching at Pius X. In 2003, with Bishop Bruskewitz's permission, Father Kane became a chaplain in the Nebraska Army National Guard (ARNG), starting as a first lieutenant. His first deployment to Iraq occurred in 2005 with the 67th Area Support Group.

After returning to Nebraska in 2006, he served as pastor at St. George Parish in Morse Bluff and Sacred Heart Parish in Cedar Hill, later becoming principal of Bishop Neumann High School in Wahoo in 2007. His second deployment, with the 67th Battlefield Surveillance Brigade, was to southern Iraq in 2010.

Father Kane returned to Nebraska in 2011 to serve as pastor of St. James Parish in Mead and as chief administrative officer of Bishop Neumann High School. He rejoined St. Charles Borromeo Seminary in 2015 as the dean of men and was named rector of St. Gregory the Great Seminary in Seward in 2021.

Reflecting on his priesthood, Father Kane stated, “I received great gifts both times,” while speaking of his time at the seminary. He added, “Priesthood is a series of important relationships.”

Beyond his diocesan roles, Father Kane is now a colonel and the state chaplain for the Nebraska ARNG. He expressed gratitude for the support he has received throughout his service: “I’m so thankful for the gift of so many people’s prayers."

Father Kane, who has been director of seminarians since 2017 and director of ongoing formation for junior clergy since June 2024, aligns his experiences with the advice he received upon entering the seminary: “Seminary formation is a set of important relationships.” He concluded, “God has blessed me with some amazing relationships."