Diocese of Wichita

History of the Diocese of Wichita

Catholic life in southern Kansas began under the Vicariate Apostolic of Indian Territory East of the Rocky Mountains, erected in 1850 by Pope Pius IX and entrusted to Jesuit John B. Miège. After Kansas was organized, the Vatican in 1857 replaced that vicariate with the Vicariate of Kansas (later Diocese of Leavenworth, 1877). The first Catholic church in Wichita, St. Mary's, was dedicated in 1872, and the first Wichita-area resident pastor arrived in 1873. With the state's explosive growth, Bishop Louis Fink of Leavenworth petitioned Rome for relief, and on August 2, 1887, Pope Leo XIII erected the Diocese of Wichita from the southwestern portion of Leavenworth, making it a suffragan of St. Louis.

• 1850 — Vicariate Apostolic of Indian Territory erected under Jesuit John B. Miège.
• 1857 — Vicariate of Kansas created from that jurisdiction.
• 1872 — St. Mary's, the first Catholic church in Wichita, dedicated.
• 1877 — Diocese of Leavenworth erected; Bishop Louis Fink first ordinary.
• August 2, 1887 — Diocese of Wichita erected by Pope Leo XIII; suffragan of St. Louis.

Bishops of Wichita in Succession

Eleven men have shepherded the diocese since 1887. The first bishop-elect, James O'Reilly, died before consecration, and was replaced by John J. Hennessy, whose 32-year tenure (1888–1920) set the institutional shape of the diocese. Successive bishops grew Catholic Charities, schools, hospitals, and parishes, with the diocese losing its western counties to the new Diocese of Dodge City in 1951. The current ordinary, Bishop Carl A. Kemme, was installed May 1, 2014 as the 11th bishop.

• James O'Reilly (1887) — died before consecration.
• John J. Hennessy (1888–1920).
• Augustus J. Schwertner (1921–1939).
• Christian H. Winkelmann (1939–1946).
• Mark K. Carroll (1947–1967).
• David M. Maloney (1967–1982).
• Eugene J. Gerber (1982–2001).
• Thomas J. Olmsted (2001–2003).
• Michael O. Jackels (2005–2013).
• Carl A. Kemme (2014–present).

Bishop Carl A. Kemme

Bishop Carl Alan Kemme was born August 14, 1960 in Effingham, Illinois, the son of Donald and Marita (Kortte) Kemme, and grew up on a small family farm near Shumway. He attended St. Henry's Preparatory Seminary in Belleville, then the diocesan seminary of the Immaculate Conception in Springfield, Cardinal Glennon College, and Kenrick Seminary in St. Louis. Ordained to the priesthood on May 10, 1986 for the Diocese of Springfield in Illinois, he served as parochial vicar in Decatur, Collinsville, and Springfield, then as pastor in Brussels, Meppen, Batchtown, Decatur, Petersburg, and Sherman. In 2002 he was named vicar general and moderator of the curia, and from June 2009 to June 2010 he served as diocesan administrator of Springfield. He was named a Prelate of Honor with the title Monsignor by Blessed John Paul II in 2002.

• Appointed 11th bishop of Wichita on February 20, 2014.
• Ordained and installed May 1, 2014 at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Wichita; principal consecrator Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann.
• Episcopal motto: 'Humilitas' (Humility).
• Fourth Degree Knight of Columbus and Knight of the Holy Sepulcher; chaplain for the Courage Apostolate in the diocese.

Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception

The mother church of the diocese is the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception (also known as St. Mary's Cathedral) at 424 N. Broadway in downtown Wichita. The cathedral parish was founded in 1887, the year the diocese itself was erected, and Bishop John J. Hennessy broke ground for the present cathedral church in 1906 and laid the cornerstone that October. The cathedral was designed by Emmanuel Louis Masqueray, the French-born architect of the Cathedral of Saint Paul and the Basilica of Saint Mary in Minneapolis, and was consecrated on September 19, 1912. Cardinal James Gibbons of Baltimore dedicated the building in the presence of 30 other Catholic bishops; Archbishop John J. Glennon of St. Louis preached the sermon. The cathedral was built at a cost of $500,000 in Bedford stone; it measures 169 feet long and 100 feet wide at the transepts, and its dome rises 135 feet above the floor. Italian-made bronze doors by Domus Dei were installed in 1997. The cathedral's dedication anniversary is September 19, and its patron is the Blessed Virgin Mary under the title of the Immaculate Conception.

Venerable Emil J. Kapaun

The diocese's most famous son is Father Emil Joseph Kapaun, a Pilsen, Kansas-born priest ordained for the Diocese of Wichita in 1940 who served as a U.S. Army chaplain in World War II and Korea. During the Battle of Unsan on November 1–2, 1950, Chaplain Kapaun repeatedly exposed himself to enemy fire to rescue wounded soldiers, physically intervened to stop an execution, and refused opportunities to escape so he could stay behind with the wounded. Captured by Chinese forces on November 2, 1950, he spent seven months in the Sambuk and Pyoktong prison camps, where he tended the sick, scrounged for food, secretly conducted services, and led fellow prisoners in prayer. He died in captivity on May 23, 1951. On April 11, 2013, more than 60 years after his death, he was posthumously awarded the U.S. Medal of Honor by President Barack Obama — the first chaplain to receive it for actions since the Vietnam War. Pope Francis authorized the Dicastery for the Causes of Saints to promulgate a decree on February 24, 2025 formally naming Father Kapaun 'Venerable,' recognizing his 'offer of life' for his fellow prisoners. Kapaun's cause is now promoted by the Diocese of Wichita, and a verified miracle attributed to his intercession would advance him toward beatification and eventual sainthood.

• Born 1920 in Pilsen, Kansas; ordained a Catholic priest in 1940.
• U.S. Army chaplain in WWII and the Korean War.
• Captured at the Battle of Unsan, November 2, 1950; died in Pyoktong prison camp, May 23, 1951.
• Posthumous Medal of Honor awarded April 11, 2013.
• Declared 'Servant of God' in 1993; cause transferred to Diocese of Wichita in 2008.
• Declared 'Venerable' by Pope Francis on February 24, 2025.

Mission, Vision and Pastoral Priorities

The diocesan mission statement is 'to go forth faithfully to preach the Gospel to all of God's children and to evangelize today's culture,' and its vision is 'that all of God's children will respond to Christ's call so as to become fully alive as missionary disciples.' Bishop Kemme and the diocesan curia have articulated three pastoral priorities: formation in evangelization to preach the Gospel to all people; renewal of the Stewardship Way of Life; and renewal of parish and family life by reclaiming Sunday as the Lord's Day.

• Formation in Evangelization.
• Renewal of the Stewardship Way of Life.
• Reclaiming Sunday as the Lord's Day for parish and family life.

Catholic Schools

Catholic schools in the Diocese of Wichita are described by the diocese as 'award-winning accredited schools that educate the whole person — mind, body, and spirit.' Newman University in Wichita traces its origins to Sacred Heart Junior College, founded in 1933 by the Sisters Adorers of the Blood of Christ under Bishop Augustus Schwertner. The 'One Family, Fully Alive in Christ!' capital campaign earmarks significant funding for strengthening these Catholic schools.

• Diocesan-wide system of K-12 Catholic schools.
• Newman University in Wichita (founded 1933 as Sacred Heart Junior College).
• Capital campaign priority: strengthening Catholic schools.

Faith Formation and Youth Ministry

The diocesan Office of Faith Formation provides resources, training, policy guidance, and oversight for catechetical, missionary, and youth ministries for children, youth, and young adults from preschool through college in parishes and institutions across the diocese in non-school settings. The office supports faith-formation programs, sacramental preparation, young-adult outreach, and youth ministry — including the World Youth Day pilgrimage tradition. Capital-campaign funding targets forming young people in their faith.

• Catechetical ministry for children and youth.
• Young-adult and campus ministry.
• Sacramental preparation resources.
• Vocations office promoting priesthood and religious life.

Catholic Charities and Outreach

Catholic Charities, Diocese of Wichita is the principal social-services arm of the local Church, alleviating poverty and building strong families throughout 25 counties in south-central and southeast Kansas. Its signature outreach is The Lord's Diner, whose singular mission is to serve a nutritious meal with dignity and respect to anyone who is hungry. The diocesan ministries also include Hispanic Ministry, Marriage and Family Life, Ministry with Persons with Disabilities, Respect Life & Social Justice, and a Tribunal.

• Catholic Charities — services across 25 counties.
• The Lord's Diner — free hot meals with dignity.
• Hispanic Ministry.
• Marriage and Family Life Office.
• Ministry with Persons with Disabilities.
• Respect Life & Social Justice Office.

Parishes and Worship

The diocese is home to approximately 90 parishes and pastoral centers across its 25-county territory. The diocesan Worship Office supports liturgical life, including the celebration of the sacrament of Confirmation, retreats, and other parish-based formation events. The cathedral parish — Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, currently served by Rector Rev. Adam Keiter — is the liturgical heart of the diocese. With 126 priests (123 diocesan, 3 religious), 3 permanent deacons, 168 religious sisters, 3 religious brothers, and 34 seminarians, the diocese maintains a robust presbyterate by contemporary standards.

• Approximately 90 parishes across 25 counties.
• Cathedral parish: Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, Wichita.
• Worship Office supports liturgy, Confirmation, and retreats.
• 126 priests, 34 seminarians (current published totals).

Administration and Offices

The diocesan curia collaborates and shares in the ministry of the Bishop, with both instrumental and ministerial characteristics — the various offices operate according to the bishop's authority and priorities, and approach pastors and parishes with a servant mentality. Offices include the Tribunal, Communications, Marriage & Family Life, Ministry with Persons with Disabilities, Archives, Respect Life & Social Justice, Hispanic Ministry, Worship, Finance, Human Resources, Development, Catholic Schools, Faith Formation, and Safe Environment. The Curia is led by the vicar general / moderator of the curia and includes the diocesan chancellor, finance officer, and other canonical roles.

• Office of the Bishop (Carl A. Kemme).
• Vicar General and Moderator of the Curia.
• Tribunal (marriage and other canonical cases).
• Communications, Development, Finance, Human Resources.
• Safe Environment Office (background checks and child-protection training).

Vocations and Religious Life

The diocesan Vocations Office fosters vocations to the priesthood, diaconate, and consecrated life. Religious communities of women serving in the diocese include the Sisters of the Sorrowful Mother (who have run St. Francis Hospital, now Ascension Via Christi St. Francis, since 1890) and the Sisters Adorers of the Blood of Christ (who founded Sacred Heart Junior College in 1933). The diocese is currently blessed with 34 seminarians and ordained ten men to the priesthood in both 2017 and 2018.

• Office of Vocations.
• Sisters of the Sorrowful Mother (since 1890).
• Sisters Adorers of the Blood of Christ (since 1933).
• 34 seminarians currently in formation.
• Ten ordinations in both 2017 and 2018.

'One Family, Fully Alive in Christ!' Capital Campaign

The 'One Family, Fully Alive in Christ!' campaign is a historic diocesan-wide effort to fund five priorities: strengthening Catholic schools, forming young people in their faith, serving neighbors in need, caring for the 'mother church' (the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception), and enlivening parishes. It is the most ambitious fundraising effort in the diocese's modern history.

• Strengthen Catholic schools.
• Form young people in their faith.
• Serve neighbors in need.
• Care for the mother church (the Cathedral).
• Enliven our parishes.

Provincial and Ecclesiastical Context

The Diocese of Wichita is a suffragan diocese within the Ecclesiastical Province of the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas, the current metropolitan archbishop being Archbishop William Shawn McKnight. Originally a suffragan of St. Louis from 1887, the diocese was reassigned to Kansas City on August 9, 1952. The diocese's territory consists of 25 counties in south-central and southeast Kansas (about 20,021 sq mi / 51,995 km²).

• Suffragan of the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas since 1952.
• Originally suffragan of St. Louis (1887–1952).
• Current Metropolitan Archbishop: William Shawn McKnight.