The later years, 1966–1977

An addition was built on to the high school building in August and the new elementary school opened in September even though certain parts of the building were still not finished. The church was being renovated at this time and was not yet completed at Christmas time.

Father Connenly fell on the ice in front of the rectory in January of 1967, and broke his ankle. Julius Cronin was honored as a Knight of St. Gregory and a snow storm hit the community on May 4. Modular scheduling began with the fall term at St. Mary's High School and Archbishop Bergan blessed the new St. Mary's Elementary School on October B. A blizzard before Christmas in 1968 continued for ten days and really tied up the community.

On March 28, 1969, Patrick Benze, a 1965 graduate of St. Mary's, was killed in combat in Vietnam. In November, Father Connenly was reassigned to the staff at Boys Town and Father Peter Dunne was assigned as pastor of St. Patrick's. Father Dunne was born in Omaha, and studied at Maur Hill, St. Louis Preparatory Seminary and Kenrick Seminary in St. Louis. He was ordained a priest in 1944. He served on the Boys Town staff, pastor of Dixon and of Pierce before being made pastor of Norfolk in 1961. He was named to the Social Action Office and Inner City Ministry posts and from these he came to O'Neill.

On November 13, 1970, Our Lady of Perpetual Help Devotions started at St. Patrick's. On October 11, 1971, Archbishop Daniel Sheehan installed the new extraordinary ministers who included: William Mattern, Andrew Ramold, Cyril Peter, and Frank Soukup. The church interior once again was re-decorated because it was in bad need of paint and repair. On November 5, Bob Gokie and John Peter were killed in a two car accident near Tilden.

On June 16, 1972, Father Dunne was reassigned to St. Margaret Mary's in Omaha and Father Martin Conley was assigned as pastor of St. Patrick's. He was born in Omaha and went to St. Lawrence Seminary at Mount Calvary, Wisconsin and to St. Paul Seminary in St. Paul, Minnesota. He was ordained in 1957. He was assistant pastor at St. Cecilia's and St. Bernard's in Omaha. He was then pastor of Newcastle for seven years before coming to O'Neill. In [a few words cannot be read in the scan] girls killed in an auto accident and Eugene Shoemaker and Rex Stowell were killed in a collision of two semi-trucks. The town of O'Neill celebrated its centennial in 1974 and the parish had a Better World Retreat in November. In May of 1975, St. Mary's Schools celebrated their Diamond Jubilee with a three day celebration. Mr. and Mrs. George Pongratz celebrated their seventieth wedding anniversary on February 28, 1976, and Sister Antonella Troshynski celebrated her golden jubilee with many of her fellow religious and classmates present.