About Holy Name · Winfield, Kansas
Holy Name Catholic Church is a Roman Catholic parish in Winfield, Kansas, belonging to the Diocese of Wichita. Established in 1878 on land donated by Mrs. Fuller, it is the mother parish of the Winfield area and shares its mission campus with Holy Name Catholic School (opened 1952) and an associated mission, St. Mary's, in a nearby community. The parish serves approximately 269 registered families (about 733 individual Catholics) and runs daily and weekend Masses, religious education for grades 1–12, a Knights of Columbus council, Altar Society, food pantry ministry, and ministry to the men at Winfield Correctional Facility. Fr. Clay Kimbro currently serves as pastor.
- Established
- 1878
- Patron
- Holy Name of Jesus
- Rector
- Rev. Clay A. Kimbro
- Diocese
- Diocese of Wichita
Why belong here
Holy Name is a faithful, multigenerational Catholic community in the heart of the Cowley County prairie that has gathered around the same altar since 1878. Members worship in a historic 1923 brick church, send their children to a parish Catholic school (Pre-K through 6th grade) staffed by a principal who doubles as the school's music teacher, and live out their faith through RCIA, PSR, Catholic Youth Ministry (grades 7–12), the Knights of Columbus, the Altar Society, a monthly food pantry for the community food bank, prison ministry at Winfield Correctional Facility, and ministry to persons with disabilities. It is a parish where stewardship of time, talent, and treasure is taken seriously and where new members, college students from Southwestern and Cowley, and visitors are welcomed and folded into parish life.
Mass times at Holy Name
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday: 7:30 am – 7:50 am (Holy Name)
- Wednesday: 4:45 pm – 5:05 pm (Holy Name)
- Saturday: 3:15 pm – 4:15 pm (Holy Name)
- Sunday: 8:00 am – 8:25 am (St. Mary mission)
- Anytime by appointment (call the rectory at 620-221-3610)
Adoration times
- Monday: 8:30 am – 9:00 pm (per the Diocese of Wichita parish directory)
Parish Identity and Diocese
Holy Name Catholic Church is a Roman Catholic parish in Winfield, Kansas, in the Diocese of Wichita. The parish serves about 269 registered families (733 individual Catholics, per the diocesan directory) and shares pastoral care of the St. Mary mission, where an additional Sunday Mass is celebrated at 8:30 am. The parish mailing address is 412 E. 8th Ave, Winfield, KS 67156, and its office is open Tuesday through Friday from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm.
- Diocese: Diocese of Wichita
- Pastor: Rev. Clay A. Kimbro
- Parish office: (620) 221-3610 · Fax (620) 221-3528
- Charity Assistance: (620) 218-5807 / (316) 202-8625
- Sacramental Emergencies: (316) 202-8625
- Office hours: Tuesday–Friday, 9:00 am – 3:00 pm
Church History (1878–Present)
Catholic life in the Winfield area began with the Jesuit missionary Fr. Paul Ponziglione, S.J., an Italian nobleman who said Mass in the home of a Mr. McDonald in Winfield by 1869. Holy Name Parish was formally established in 1878 on land donated by Mrs. Fuller. From 1878 to 1888 the parish was served from Wichita by Fr. F.X. Kraus; in 1881 Fr. Gregory M. Kelly became the first resident pastor and built the rectory, opened a day school taught by his sister, and established St. Mary's Cemetery.
The Gothic Church (1887) and the Fire of 1921
In 1887, under Fr. B.J. McKernan, the cornerstone was laid for a Gothic stone church at a cost of about $16,000; the Sisters of St. Joseph soon began teaching in its basement school. In February 1921, during the pastorate of Fr. Austin B. Hull, fire destroyed the Gothic church. While the new church was being built (construction began fall 1922), Mass was celebrated in the Old Moose Building on Main Street.
The Present Church (1923) and 2006–07 Renovation
Architect C.A. Smith of Salina designed a new brick church to fit the old foundations, with extensions for the sanctuary and sacristies. Bishop Augustus J. Schwertner dedicated it on November 4, 1923, at a cost of $80,000. Many of the family names who contributed to its construction and furnishing remain on the membership rolls today. In October 2006, Ecclesiastical Studios and Sons began an interior renovation that was completed in March 2007. The parish marked the church's centennial in November 2023 with a Mass celebrated by Bishop Carl A. Kemme.
Holy Name Catholic School
Holy Name Catholic School opened on June 15, 1952, when Bishop Mark K. Carroll laid and blessed its cornerstone — a dream of the late pastor Fr. Austin B. Hull, brought to life under Fr. Thomas C. Glynn. The Sisters of St. Joseph entered the classrooms in 1952 and served until 1987; thirty-three Sisters taught at the school in its first 35 years. The school serves about 60% of parish families and also welcomes children from Wellington, Oxford, Burden, and Arkansas City. The current campus is at 700 Fuller Street.
- Pre-Kindergarten through 6th grade
- Principal: Kim Porter (also teaches Music)
- School Secretary: Kristina Meseke
- Teachers: Mrs. Kari Kent (Pre-K), Mrs. Heather Leuci (1st–2nd), Mrs. Hayley May (3rd–4th), Mrs. Lida Wiley (5th–6th)
- Office hours: Monday–Friday, 7:30 am – 3:30 pm
- Phone: (620) 221-0230
Faith Formation and Youth Ministry
Holy Name runs a complete, age-graded faith-formation program for children not enrolled in the parish school, plus Catholic Youth Ministry for teens and RCIA/OCIA for adults inquiring about the Catholic faith. All adult volunteers age 16+ must complete the Diocesan VIRTUS training to work with minors.
- PSR (Parish School of Religion), grades 1–6 — Wednesdays, 6:00–7:00 pm
- Middle School Youth Group (MSYG), grades 7–8 — Wednesdays, 6:00–7:00 pm, parish hall
- Catholic Youth Ministry (CYM), grades 9–12 — Wednesdays, 7:00–8:30 pm, parish hall
- RCIA / OCIA (Become Catholic) — sponsors, catechists, and team members needed
- Totus Tuus summer program — parish support volunteers
- College outreach to Southwestern College and Cowley College students
- Contact: Sr. Charlotte Brungardt, 620-617-3360
Parish Organizations
Two long-standing organizations help sustain the parish's spiritual and community life. All are open to new members and meet regularly.
- Knights of Columbus Council #4713 — meets the first Thursday of every month; founded on Charity, Unity, Fraternity, and Patriotism; fundraises for parish and community
- Altar Society — Catholic women's group that prays together, plans altar care, and responds to calls from the pastor and parish for assistance
Service and Outreach
Holy Name parishioners are active in service to the wider Winfield and Cowley County community. Outreach includes regular food-pantry support, prison ministry at Winfield Correctional Facility, ministry to persons with disabilities in coordination with the diocesan office, and a transportation ministry for those who cannot get to Mass on their own. A Social Justice committee studies and promotes the Church's social teachings within the parish.
- Food Pantry: food collected the second Sunday of every month for the community food bank
- Prison ministry at Winfield Correctional Facility (DOC training required)
- Ministry with Persons with Disabilities (diocesan)
- Transportation ministry to Mass and parish events
- Social Justice committee
Stewardship Way of Life
Stewardship — the grateful response of a Christian disciple to God's gifts — is a foundational language of the parish. Members are invited to give of their time (especially in prayer), their talent (in service), and their treasure (sacrificially and proportionally), with a parish goal of 8% of gross income to the parish and 2% to favorite charities. Families enrolled in the parish school commit to attending Sunday Mass and Holy Days, participating in the sacraments, serving in parish ministries, and making a good-faith financial pledge.
- Stewardship of Time, Talent, and Treasure
- Parish goal: 8% to parish / 2% to charity
- School families commit to Mass, sacraments, ministry, and a financial pledge
- Quoted from 1 Peter 4:10: "As each one has received a gift, use it to serve one another as good stewards of God's varied grace."
Volunteer Opportunities
Beyond formal ministries, the parish relies on a wide network of volunteers to keep the buildings, grounds, and offices running. Roles include cleaning teams, maintenance and trades, garden care, lawn and snow removal, office backup, laundry of liturgical linens, event setup, and recording parish history.
- Church cleaning (monthly team rotations)
- Carpentry, electrical, plumbing, painting trades
- Garden Angels — flower beds around church, rectory, school, parish hall
- Lawn mowing, edging, landscape maintenance
- Snow and ice removal (parish snow blower, shovels, plow help needed)
- Office volunteer / parish secretary backup
- Linen ministry — wash/iron/fold Mass linens and server albs
- Event setup / takedown
- Church historian
Contact and Practical Information
Parishioners and visitors can reach the parish office by phone, fax, or in person. The parish school has its own line and is located at 700 Fuller Street. The parish hall is reachable at (620) 221-9052. Sacramental emergencies are handled through a separate 24-hour line.
- Parish Office (rectory): (620) 221-3610 — Fax (620) 221-3528
- Parish Hall: (620) 221-9052
- School: (620) 221-0230 (700 Fuller Street)
- Charity Assistance: (620) 218-5807 / (316) 202-8625
- Sacramental Emergencies: (316) 202-8625
- Office hours: Tuesday–Friday, 9:00 am – 3:00 pm
- Address: 412 E. 8th Ave, Winfield, KS 67156
- Web: http://holynamewinfield.org/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HolyNameWinfield/
St. Mary Mission
In addition to Holy Name, the pastorate includes a mission church, St. Mary's, where Sunday Mass is celebrated at 8:30 am and Reconciliation is heard from 8:00 to 8:25 am. St. Mary's Cemetery, established in the early days of the parish, is the resting place of several pioneer priests including Fr. M.C. Duggan (d. 1887).
- Sunday Mass: 8:30 am
- Reconciliation: Sundays 8:00–8:25 am
- St. Mary's Cemetery — historic priest burials
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. F.X. Kraus1878–1888
Served the parish from Wichita as missionary priest.
- Fr. Gregory M. Kelly1881–
First resident pastor; built the rectory, opened the original day school (taught by his sister), and provided for St. Mary's Cemetery.
- Fr. Killian Call1883 (short period)
- Fr. John F. Kelly1884–1885
- Fr. E.F. Dooley
- Fr. P.J. Kennedy
- Fr. M.C. Duggand. 1887
Died while serving the parish; buried in St. Mary's Cemetery.
- Fr. B.J. McKernan12 years (through 1900)
Laid the cornerstone of the Gothic stone church in 1887; brought the Sisters of St. Joseph to teach in the school; transferred to Fort Scott in 1900.
- Fr. Eugenio Bonaciniafter 1900
- Fr. J.E. Chapuisearly 1900s
Swiss-born; conversed and wrote fluently in eight languages.
- Fr. Hilary Walshabout one year
- Fr. John Vanston, C.P.
- Fr. M.J. O'Farrell1903
- Fr. J.F. Burkefrom 1904
Remodeled the rectory and added more rooms.
- Fr. Thomas O'Donahue1910–July 19, 1913
Recalled to his home diocese of Concordia.
- Fr. Austin B. Hull1913–April 9, 1945
Died in office. Oversaw the fire of 1921 and led construction of the present brick church, dedicated Nov. 4, 1923; longed to see the parish have a school.
- Fr. Thomas C. Glynnfrom June 1945
Brought the parish school into being; cornerstone blessed June 15, 1952 by Bishop Mark K. Carroll.
- Fr. R. Raymond SchmidtJune 1957–September 1958
- Fr. James J. Shaughnessyto May 1963
- Fr. Michael Garrahy1963–July 1967
Acquired the former Church of Christ building for a parish hall. Transferred to Wellington in 1967.
- Fr. Ivan Ec.July 1967–July 1970
- Fr. John L. Dinahfrom July 12, 1970
- Fr. Clay A. Kimbropresent (as of the parish's 2023 centennial coverage)
Current pastor.