About Holy Trinity · Paola, Kansas
Holy Trinity Catholic Church is a historic parish in Paola, Kansas, founded in 1859 by Father Ivo Schacht and rooted in the missionary work of the Jesuits and Benedictines among the Peoria and Pottawatomie peoples of Miami County. Today it is served by Fr. Joe Sellas and runs an attached Catholic grade school (Pre-K through 8th) on East Chippewa Street as part of the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas. The parish worships in English, offers daily and weekend Masses, weekday confession before Saturday Mass, faith formation for children, Vacation Bible School, a parish school, youth ministry, and active community outreach. Its mission statement reads: 'Encourage, foster and support the Catholic faith and make others disciples of the Lord.'
- Established
- 1859
- Patron
- Holy Trinity
- Rector
- Fr. Joe Sellas
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas
Why belong here
Holy Trinity is a close-knit parish where 'everyone is known by name, prayers are shared, and faith is nurtured.' Parishioners worship together at daily and weekend Masses, send their children to the parish's own Pre-K through 8th-grade Catholic school, gather for Vacation Bible School, youth ministry, and ongoing faith formation, and reach out to the wider Miami County community through charitable and parish outreach. Whether you are new to Paola, returning to the faith, or looking for a spiritual home rooted in 165+ years of local Catholic history, you are warmly welcomed here.
Mass times at Holy Trinity
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 4:00-4:30 PM (before 5:00 PM Vigil Mass)
About Holy Trinity Catholic Church
Holy Trinity Catholic Church is a parish of the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas, located in Paola, the seat of Miami County. The parish describes itself as 'a place where faith, fellowship, and service come together' and as 'a close-knit community where everyone is known by name, prayers are shared, and faith is nurtured.' Its stated mission is 'to encourage, foster and support the Catholic faith and make others disciples of the Lord.' Holy Trinity operates an attached Catholic school serving Pre-K through 8th grade and is supported by a staff team led by Fr. Joe Sellas.
- Parish mission: Encourage, foster and support the Catholic faith and make others disciples of the Lord.
- Welcomes newcomers, returning Catholics, and visitors to attend any Mass.
- Run by the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas.
History of the Parish and School
Holy Trinity parish was founded in 1859 by Father Ivo Schacht, the first secular priest to minister to settlers on the Kansas plains, and is rooted in earlier Jesuit and Benedictine missionary work among the Peoria and Pottawatomie peoples. Catholic schooling in Paola began in the church basement in 1892-93 under teacher Simon Kennedy. In 1896 Mother Jerome and her Ursuline companions arrived and established an Academy and Motherhouse in Paola. Under pastor Fr. Francis Taton (1895-1903) and at the urging of Bishop L. M. Fink, O.S.B., the original St. Patrick's School was built and opened in 1902 at a cost of about $3,255.
- Founded 1859 by Rev. Ivo Schacht
- Land deeded by Chief Baptiste Peoria of the Peoria Tribe
- St. Patrick's School opened 1902
- Ursuline sisters arrived 1896
- Current school built 1959; east addition 2000; new parish center 2020
- Centennial of Catholic grade-school education in Paola celebrated 2002
Parish Staff and Clergy
Holy Trinity is led by Pastor Fr. Joe Sellas and supported by parish staff in the rectory office and school leadership.
- Fr. Joe Sellas — Pastor
- Luci Kennedy — Youth Minister
- Rexanne Laudan — Secretary & Bulletin Editor
- Michelle Gavin — School Principal
- Marie Sullivan — Marketing and Development Director
- Jeannie Fedor — Physical Education / Virtue Education
- Lisa Rojas, Brent McBride, Wyatt Ramsdell — Custodians
- School faculty: Wendy Kuhlman, Patrick Poetter, Amber French, Becky Scroggie, Natalie Ball, Breanna Wagner, Suzanne Colwell, Alesha Baker, Jennifer Seaman, Jamie Behrendt
Holy Trinity Catholic School
Holy Trinity School is a parish Catholic school serving Pre-K through 8th grade at 601 E. Chippewa St., Paola. It is a member of the National Catholic Educational Association (NCEA) with a student-teacher ratio of about 13:1 and roughly 100+ students. The school's mission statement reads: 'Be it known to all who enter Holy Trinity Catholic School that Christ is the reason for this school, the unseen but ever present Teacher in our classes, the Model of our faculty, the Inspiration of our Students.'
- Grades: Pre-K through 8
- Address: 601 E. Chippewa St., Paola, KS 66071
- Phone: 913-294-3286
- Member of NCEA
- Office hours: Monday-Friday 7:30 AM-3:30 PM
- Sacramental preparation for Reconciliation and First Communion integrated into the curriculum
Faith Formation and Sacraments
The parish prepares children for First Reconciliation and First Communion through the parish school and faith-formation programs, and welcomes adults preparing for the sacraments through the parish office. Confession is scheduled Saturday afternoons before the Vigil Mass, and additional appointments can be requested through the parish office.
- Baptism, First Communion, Reconciliation, Marriage, Anointing of the Sick
- RCIA / adult inquiry via parish office
- Confession Saturday 4:00-4:30 PM
Youth Ministry and Vacation Bible School
Holy Trinity offers ongoing youth ministry led by Luci Kennedy and a parish Vacation Bible School each summer, with online sign-ups available on the parish website.
- Youth Minister: Luci Kennedy
- Annual Vacation Bible School (VBS) with online registration
- School-based virtue and chastity education
Community Outreach
The parish maintains an active community outreach ministry serving the wider Paola and Miami County area. Through this work and through the parish school, Holy Trinity seeks to 'impact and renew Paola locally and beyond with the transforming message of Jesus Christ through words and actions.'
- Parish Community Outreach committee
- School service and family events (e.g., Family Pool Party)
- Lunch Program / hospitality ministry
Bulletin, News and Homilies
The parish publishes a weekly bulletin edited by Rexanne Laudan and posts homilies online, giving parishioners a way to stay connected with Sunday preaching and parish announcements.
- Weekly parish bulletin (online and print)
- Online homilies archive at holytrinitypaola.org/homilies
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Ivo Schacht1858-
First secular priest in the area; regarded as founder of Holy Trinity parish at Paola.
- Rev. Sebastian Favre
Early successor pastor.
- Rev. Francis J. Wattron
Secured the deed of church property.
- Rev. Anthony Joseph Abel
Early successor pastor.
- Rev. Daniel J. Hurley
Early successor pastor.
- Rev. Aloysius Carius
Early successor pastor.
- Rev. Michael J. Gleason
Completed the brick church; transferred to Kansas City in 1889.
- Rev. James J. O'Connor
Died and was buried at Paola.
- Rev. James Colton
Died at Paola.
- Rev. Nicholas Neusius
Pastored during a period of expansion.
- Rev. Thomas Quick
Remembered as a friend of the poor.
- Rev. Thomas E. Madden
Served prior to an interregnum filled by Rev. Moses McGuire of Fulton.
- Rev. Maurice Burk
Led rebuilding after the old church was destroyed by fire; later became Vicar General of the Diocese of Leavenworth.
- Rev. Anthony Dornseifer
Served between Burk and Taton.
- Rev. Francis Taton1895-1903
Born in Illinois, raised in Johnson County, KS; built St. Patrick's School (opened 1902); later chaplain at the National Military Home in Kansas.
- Very Rev. Adolph J. Domann, V.F.
Succeeded Burk as pastor; Holy Trinity Church frescoed under his tenure.
- Very Rev. Thomas H. Kinsella, LL.D.
Historian of 'Our Cradle Land'; chaplain of the Ursuline Academy.
- Fr. Joe SellasPresent
Current pastor.