- Donor Stories
A Foundation of Faith: Deanna Sands and the Legacy of St. Benedict Catholic Church
Built by the hard work of its founders and sustained by the love of its parish community since 1856, St. Benedict Parish has long been a cornerstone of Nebraska City.
The church building itself, finished in 1862, was built of bricks handmade by the parishioners before there was a brickyard. It was the largest building in the area for many years. The parish is also the site of the first Catholic school and the first convent in Nebraska.
The parish’s rich pioneer history has shaped a deep sense of ownership and tradition of service among its members. One of these parishioners is Deanna Sands, whose connection to the parish spans at least four generations. To her, the parish represents shared memories, lasting friendships and a sense of belonging that goes beyond geography. “This place has always been very special to me,” she said.
Deanna sees the parish as a long-standing family network that grows stronger year by year: “It’s like intermingled tree roots that grow strong things.”
Rooted in the Land
Like many of her fellow parishioners, Deanna grew up on a farm and learned its lessons about faith and the importance of community.
“Growing up on a farm teaches you that you really don’t control anything,” she said.
“You have to remember that everything is God’s gift and comes in His time.”
She credits her father for being a good teacher. “He gave me a good example of what it means to be a good parishioner. He was on the parish council and served for years as an organizer for what used to be called the DDP campaign. He also donated a lot of volunteer labor.”
Her father also urged her to look beyond the farm for a career after college. That career turned out to be journalism, which she saw as a public service. “I thought of it as helping people know what’s going on so that they could make good decisions for themselves and their communities,” she said.
The Power of Truth
Deanna graduated from UNL with a Bachelor’s degree and earned a Master’s degree from Iowa State. She returned to Nebraska and began a 32-year career at the Omaha World-Herald. She began as a copy editor/reporter on the nightside staff and worked through a number of roles on the way to becoming the newspaper’s first woman managing editor. In addition, she mentored many journalism students during her 20 years of leading the internship program.
The World-Herald gave her opportunities to serve the profession outside of Nebraska, too. She became a board member of the Associated Press Managing Editors, a group that represented the 1,500 member newspapers of the Associated Press. She ended her service as national president and president of the APME Foundation. Deanna was named to the first group of women inducted into the Nebraska Women Journalists Hall of Fame.
Journalism was fun and challenging but it wasn’t home. She had taken responsibility for the farm after her father’s death and needed to be nearby as her mother’s health declined. She was ready for a new chapter.
Deanna joined the parish choir and began attending local adult religious education programs. She has served as Altar Society treasurer and as a member of the parish council. She now is a parish trustee and regular accompanist for Sunday Mass.
Uncovering Possibilities
Her involvement with the Catholic Foundation of Southern Nebraska began with a suggestion from her parish priest. “Father Cyza knew that Chris Raun was looking for a new board member from southeast Nebraska and suggested that I talk to him,” Deanna said. “It turned out to be a great way to help people find unexpected ways to be generous.”
Deanna joined the board, serving two terms as board secretary and two terms as board chairman.
The Catholic Foundation, as she sees it, helps bridge the gap between those who want to give but don’t think that they have the resources, with the causes they care about. “Most people can’t write big checks,” she said, “but they often have non-cash assets such as commodities, farm equipment, and real estate that can be turned into cash and donated to their favorite cause with assistance from foundation staff.”
“The foundation isn’t selling anything,” she added. “The staff advisers ask detailed questions about what’s important to donors and offer guidance on how to achieve their goals.”
Build Bridges, Not Walls
As for her own giving, Deanna has established an endowment for St. Benedict parish. She got the idea as she learned more about planned giving during her foundation board term. Her goal is to help level out the cyclical nature of parish income.
Deanna’s commitment to her parish in Nebraska City is something we see in communities across Nebraska. It takes one spark to show the potential of individual generosity. It’s about being a good neighbor and a steward of the church. It’s about passing on the faith.
